If you want to recognize a player’s price to an firm the finest area to start is their snap count.
This is the most current in a sequence of article content at Lions Wire inspecting the snap counts of the Detroit Lions’ 2018 rookies, analyzing how they had been utilised in purchase to aid us make predictions on their job in upcoming seasons.
If you skipped any of the earlier critiques, be positive to check out out: Frank Ragnow, Kerryon Johnson, Tracy Walker and Da’Shawn Hand.
The chart down below displays Crosby’s snap counts for the 16 games he was on the lively roster, damaged up by offensive snaps, the share of offensive snaps, distinctive teams snaps and the share of distinctive teams snaps.
Crosby was viewed as one of the most important steals of the 2018 draft when the Lions had been able to snag him in the fifth round. His talent led to him locating an speedy job in the two-deep rotation, backing up Taylor Decker at remaining deal with in teaching camp. His job steadily grew all over the pre-season and he finally been given snaps at proper deal with as very well.
Like with most rookies, the Lions took it gradual with Crosby holding him lively on gamedays but not forcing him into action. Then in Recreation 7 towards the Seahawks, Decker was injured and Crosby crammed in for the ultimate 8 snaps of the video game — showing very well in his NFL debut.
The upcoming video game — Recreation 8 towards the Vikings — Decker sat out yet another five snaps and once again Crosby observed himself at remaining deal with as an harm replacement. In this video game, Crosby also started filling in for Decker on distinctive teams, something he would do the remainder of the season.
In Recreation 9 — in Chicago — Crosby took his to start with snaps at limited finish/sixth offensive lineman, as the Lions started experimenting with the operate video game in the back again 50 % of the season.
In Recreation 12 — towards the Rams — the Lions made the decision to deploy Crosby once again as a sixth offensive lineman, hoping it 3 instances. He also crammed in at proper deal with for two snaps when Rick Wagner was briefly injured.
In Game 13 — towards the Cardinals — the Lions stayed with Crosby as a sixth offensive lineman, supplying him an additional four snaps in this job, but Wagner was once again injured — this time extra noticeably with a concussion — and Crosby crammed in at proper deal with for the ultimate 31 snaps of the video game. Unable to clear concussion protocol, Wagner also missed Game 14 towards the Expenses and Crosby crammed in at proper deal with for the complete video game.
In excess of the ultimate two games, with Decker and Wagner at full well being, Crosby observed the area once again as a sixth offensive lineman, receiving 8 offensive snaps in every single.
Crosby invested all of his 2018 offensive snaps on the perimeter of the offensive line, but his ability established illustrates he is able of increasing his job even extra. His capability to move in place, pull laterally and wall off lanes on operating performs suggest he is not only able of earning an eventual starting job at possibly deal with but a possible starting location at guard as very well.
When Crosby hasn’t taken an formal snap at guard in the NFL, offensive line coach Jeff Davidson talked about that in truth Crosby experienced been acquiring reps at guard in practice. “I see him as an offensive lineman,” Davidson advised Dave Birkett of the Cost-free Push. “I like the reality that he’d be prepared to go in anyplace that we set him.”
Crosby’s flexibility to perform a number of spots at a high stage offers the Lions a lot of alternatives in 2019.
If proper guard T.J. Lang retires, Crosby could be in the combine for a starting job right away. If Lang returns, Crosby could nonetheless be viewed as an selection as an harm replacement on the inside of.
If the Lions made the decision to keep Crosby at deal with, he will most likely shell out 2019 in the exact job he experienced in 2018 as depth and an harm replacement. If this comes about, it also keeps each Decker and Wagner on recognize that they have to have to perform their finest soccer as their replacement could be waiting around in the wings.
Bottom line, Crosby’s job in 2019 is much from settled as a number of other selections on the offensive line have to have to be made, but no matter what comes about, his possibilities will pretty much assuredly develop relocating forward.
