Finally healthy, Lions edge rushers get more playing time

With the Detroit Lions operating a skeleton coaching staff, dealing with a plethora of injuries, including losing Matthew Stafford after the first series, facing off against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team looking to clinch their first playoff appearance in over a decade, and led by arguably the best quarterback to ever set foot on the gridiron — the results were predictable.

An ugly 47-7 loss that featured almost no redeeming qualities, illustrated the fact that there is plenty of blame to be spread around the Lions organization.

The defense is currently getting most of the heat — allowing 47 points tend to do that — but the offense didn’t do them any favors. The offense’s inability to sustain drives afforded them only 53 snaps over 24-minutes, while the defense was forced to defend for 77 snaps over 36-minutes.

This imbalance pushed the Lions into situations where they needed to force the passing game, while also shifting to a more aggressive defense. Again, predictably, nothing worked.

With the Lions essentially telegraphing their gameplan, the Bucs merely adjusted accordingly, and Bucs coach Bruce Arians swiftly outmaneuvered the Lions’ inexperienced play-callers.

Looking forward, the Lions have one final game remaining in the 2020 season: at home against the Minnesota Vikings. If they hope to be competitive in Week 17, they will need significantly better output from their offense, while getting more efficiency out of their defense — specifically, their pass rushers, who are getting healthier and seeing more playing time.

That and more in this week’s snap count review.

Quarterback

Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

One series in and a Stafford ankle injury forced the Lions to turn to Daniel, who then eventually gave way to Blough. This offense is startling bad without Stafford — which should be food for thought when discussing trading him this offseason — and it proved no matter how much money this team spends on an experienced backup quarterback, their chances of success are minimal. Daniel signed a three year deal with the Lions last offseason, but if this game is representative of what he offers, the Lions incoming front office will give serious consideration to if he is worth the allocated investment. In 2021, Daniel is scheduled to make $5.3 million (with $3 million guaranteed), while Blough costs just $850,000 (no guarantees) in cap space. On Sunday, there wasn’t a lot separating the two:

Story continues

If either backup gets a chance to play in the season finale, they’ll have a chance to prove themselves — because this game didn’t do either any favors.

Running back

Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

• D’Andre Swift: 36, 68-percent

• Kerryon Johnson: 11, 21-percent

• Adrian Peterson: 6, 11-percent

• Jason Cabinda (FB): 2, 4-percent

The snap distribution has been about the same since Swift returned from injury, with him seeing over 60-percent of opportunities. The only difference in this game was that Johnson and Peterson flipped snap totals due to the Lions being behind and needing to lean on their passing game.

Wide receivers

Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

• Marvin Jones Jr.: 50, 94-percent

• Mohamad Sanu: 38, 72-percent

• Quintez Cephus: 31, 58-percent

• Danny Amendola: 20, 38-percent

• Jamal Agnew: 12, 23-percent

Overall, the wide receiver usage went up, but was that due to wide receiver coach Robert Prince being the interim interim coach, or because the Lions were playing catchup? Likely the latter. Every receiver saw an uptick in their snaps, except Amendola, who has seen a steady decline over the last month.

Tight ends

AP Photo/Al Goldis

• T.J. Hockenson: 46, 87-percent

• Jesse James: 12, 23-percent

• Hunter Bryant: 1, 2-percent

With the Lions trailing Hockenson saw more playing time — his highest percentage of the season — but, with wide receivers getting more run, James and Bryant saw their opportunities dip.

Offensive line

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• LT – Taylor Decker: 53, 100-percent

• LG – Jonah Jackson: 53, 100-percent

• C – Joe Dahl: 25, 47-percent

• Reserve C – Evan Brown: 28, 53-percent

• RG – Oday Aboushi: 53, 100-percent

• RT — Hal Vaitai: 53, 100-percent

The Lions needed to turn to their third option at center in Brown, which is an underrated problem not getting enough attention. Center is arguably the second most important player on offense and leaning on a practice squad player is an even worse situation than the Lions have at quarterback right now.

Interior defensive line

Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

• John Penisini: 56, 73-percent

• Kevin Strong: 47, 61-percent

• Nick Williams: 41, 53-percent

Shifting from a fourth interior defensive lineman to an extra EDGE defender was a decision made ahead of this game, as evidenced by the team declaring Frank Herron a healthy scratch. The more surprising decision was opting to play Strong, who was just re-signed and elevated from the practice squad three weeks ago, over prized free agent Williams. Like with Daniel, Williams is a player whose contract will get a hard look this offseason. He is scheduled to make $5.7 Million with $1 million guaranteed.

EDGE rushers

AP Photo/Al Goldis

• Romeo Okwara: 41, 53-percent

• Everson Griffen: 35, 45-percent

• Austin Bryant: 34, 44-percent

• Julian Okwara: 20, 26-percent

With Griffen and Julain Okwara back in action, Romeo Okwara got a break in his responsibilities. Despite the scaled-back workload, Okwara still produced a strip-sack (a career-high ninth sack). Griffen also registered a sack this week, bringing his total to 3.5 sacks over six games with the Lions. Beyond those two sacks, this group was far from successful. With the focus up front shifting to them, this group needs to step up more in Week 17.

Linebackers

Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

• Jahlani Tavai: 62, 81-percent

• Jarrad Davis: 39, 51-percent

• Reggie Ragland: 38, 49-percent

• Christian Jones: 24, 31-percent

• Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 15, 19-percent

With Jamie Collins inactive, the Lions turned to Tavai to pick up his workload, with Davis shifting back to the MIKE. Ragland also saw an uptick in snaps with the Lions needing more off-the-ball help, while Jones saw his numbers sharply decline with Bryant and Julian Okwara available.

Corners

AP Photo/Lon Horwedel

• Amani Oruwariye: 77, 100-percent

• Justin Coleman: 52, 68-percent

• Tramaine Brock: 39, 51-percent

• Darryl Roberts: 34, 44-percent

• Mike Ford: 4, 5-percent

Oruwariye and Coleman’s role continues to stay steady, while the opposite side outside corner is still operating like a turnstile. This week is was Brock getting more time than Roberts — whose injury could have played a factor here — and Ford.

Safeties

Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

• Tracy Walker: 77, 100-percent

• Duron Harmon: 73, 95-percent

• Will Harris: 35, 45-percent

• C.J. Moore: 4, 5-percent

With Jayron Kearse unavailable, the Lions inserted Walker back into the starting lineup and Harris back into a third safety role. Moore saw his first defensive snaps of the season.

Special teams

AP Photo/Lon Horwedel

• Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 29

• Miles Killebrew: 29

• Mike Ford: 28

• C.J. Moore: 21

• Jason Cabinda: 21

• Jamal Agnew: 20

• Will Harris: 18

• Christian Jones: 18

• Jarrad Davis: 13

• Romeo Okwara: 12

• Jack Fox: 11

• Don Muhlbach: 9

• Jesse James: 9

• Jahlani Tavai: 9

• Amani Oruwariye: 8

• Duron Harmon: 8

• Kerryon Johnson: 8

• Quintez Cephus: 8

• Hunter Bryant: 8

• Everson Griffen: 5

• Tracy Walker: 4

• Justin Coleman: 4

• Matt Prater: 1

Two of the only bright spots of yesterday’s game came on special teams. Agnew ran back a punt return for a touchdown, bringing his 4-year career totals to four punt return scores and one kick return score — the most in the NFL over that time period. https://twitter.com/erikschlitt/status/1342923977447141378 Fox continues to break NFL records, further cementing his Pro Bowl recognition. https://twitter.com/LionsPR/status/1342897072329158658