SPORTS

Snap observations: Despite depth, Lions lean on LBs

Justin Rogers
The Detroit News

Green Bay, Wis. — Given the Packers' passing strength and the Lions' depth issues at linebacker, it's curious how often the Lions were in a base 4-3 defense and not their nickel sub-package during Sunday's 34-27 loss. Primary nickel corner Quandre Diggs actually played two fewer snaps than Zaviar Gooden, who came into the game as a performance replacement for Thurston Armbrister during the first quarter.

It might have had a lot to do with Green Bay jumping out to a big lead in the first half and leaning on run game personnel through much of the final two quarters. Detroit's defensive strategy still came up short as Green Bay running back Eddie Lacy ran for 61 yards on 11 second-half carries.

Packers running back James Starks breaks free of Lions linebacker Kyle Van Noy for a gain in the fourth quarter. Van Noy was on the field for 48 out of 54 possible defensive plays.

This was the second straight week Diggs played fewer than 50 percent of the defensive snaps. That had happened just one in the eight previous games.

Here are some additional observations from Sunday's snap counts.

• Linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who was questionable coming into the contest, played 48 of the 54 defensive snaps.

• Tight end Khari Lee, who was on the field for 20 offensive plays last week, only worked on special teams against the Packers. Rookie Cole Wick returned to action after a one-week injury absence and filled the backup tight end role, playing 16 snaps.

• Running back Zach Zenner also didn't take a snap with the offense in his season debut. He was limited to special teams work.

• In his professional debut, defensive end Anthony Zettel played seven defensive snaps.

• One week after playing a career-high 35 snaps as an emergency linebacker, defensive end Brandon Copeland was limited to one defensive rep in Green Bay.

OffensePositionOffense%Defense%Special Teams%
Taylor DeckerT68100%  621%
Laken TomlinsonG68100%  621%
Travis SwansonC68100%  621%
Larry WarfordG68100%  621%
Riley ReiffT68100%  621%
Matthew StaffordQB68100%    
Marvin JonesWR6596%    
Golden TateWR5987%    
Eric EbronTE5885%    
Anquan BoldinWR5378%    
Theo RiddickRB4566%    
Dwayne WashingtonRB2537%  931%
Cole WickTE1624%  414%
Andre RobertsWR1015%  828%
Michael BurtonFB812%  724%
Corey RobinsonT11%  621%
Nevin LawsonCB  54100%1241%
Darius SlayCB  54100%621%
Glover QuinFS  54100%621%
Tahir WhiteheadLB  54100%621%
Kyle Van NoyLB  4889%828%
Rafael BushSS  4685%828%
Devin TaylorDE  4278%310%
Haloti NgataDT  3667%414%
Kerry HyderDE  3463%1138%
Zaviar GoodenLB  2750%2172%
Quandre DiggsCB  2546%828%
Wallace GilberryDE  2343%310%
A'Shawn RobinsonDT  2241%27%
Tyrunn WalkerDT  2037%310%
Khyri ThorntonDT  1731%27%
Stefan CharlesDT  1426%13%
Tavon WilsonSS  1222%  
Anthony ZettelDE  713%13%
Thurston ArmbristerLB  47%1966%
Brandon CopelandDE  12%1862%
Don CareyFS    2379%
Johnson BademosiCB    1759%
Miles KillebrewSS    1759%
Sam MartinP    1448%
Graham GlasgowC    1345%
Zach ZennerRB    931%
Don MuhlbachLS    828%
Matt PraterK    621%
Khari LeeTE    621%