Analyzing the Snap Counts in Browns vs. Bengals (Defense)

This week, the Browns' defense did not have to see 95 snaps on defense like they did against the Eagles. The issue they had against the Bengals was that players were put into different positions due to injuries or suspensions. You had Billy Winn and Juqua Parker leave the game with injuries. Both starting cornerbacks were basically out. Scott Fujita started after missing Week 1. How did all of that change the snap count distribution? Find out after the jump. [Week 2 offensive snap counts for Cleveland can be found here]

Defensive Tackle
Ahtyba Rubin	John Hughes	Ishmaa'ily Kitchen	Billy Winn
91% 63/69 plays	80% 55/69 plays	19% 13/69 plays	10% 7/69 plays

Ahtyba Rubin: 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined).
John Hughes: 3 tackles, 3 assists (6 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit.
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen: 0 tackles, 2 assists (2 combined).
Billy Winn: No stats registered.

Thoughts: The concussion that Billy Winn suffered early in the game really changed the rep count from a week ago. John Hughes was in the game a lot more often (he played in 33% of the snaps in Week 1). Kitchen's percentage of reps did not increase too much; instead, the team just decided to stick with Ahtyba Rubin a little more often. Rubin was above his average percentage from a year ago. Hughes made the most of his playing time after not registering any stats in Week 1.

Defensive End
Jabaal Sheard	Frostee Rucker	Juqua Parker	Emmanuel Stephens
81% 56/69 plays	65% 45/69 plays	29% 20/69 plays	26% 18/69 plays

Frostee Rucker: 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit.
Juqua Parker: 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit.
Jabaal Sheard: 2 tackle (2 combined). 1 pass defended.

Thoughts: Just like the defensive tackle position, injury played a role at defensive end. Juqua Parker was doing a good job for the second week in a row until he had to leave (he played in 51% of the snaps a week ago). Frostee Rucker had a nice "homecoming" game, but I think we're looking for little bit more productivity out of Jabaal Sheard, who is off to a quiet start this year.

Linebacker
D'Qwell Jackson	Scott Fujita	Kaluka Maiava	Craig Robertson
100% 69/69 plays	52% 36/69 plays	51% 35/69 plays	46% 32/69 plays

D'Qwell Jackson: 3 tackles, 2 assists (5 combined). 3 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits, 1 interception, 1 pass defended.
Craig Robertson: 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined).
Scott Fujita: 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined).
Kaluka Maiava: 0 tackles, 1 assist (1 combined).

Thoughts: With Scott Fujita seeing his first action of the season, rookie L.J. Fort did not get any snaps on defense after starting in Week 1 and seeing 40% of the reps. Craig Robertson's reps remained the same, presumably as a linebacker in the nickel package. The only real change here was a swap of Fujita-for-Fort. D'Qwell Jackson just keeps racking up big plays.

Cornerback
Dimitri Patterson	Buster Skrine	Trevin Wade	Sheldon Brown
100% 69/69 plays	100% 69/69 plays	48% 33/69 plays	1% 1/69 plays

Buster Skrine: 7 tackles (7 combined).
Dimitri Patterson: 6 tackles (6 combined). 1 pass defended.
Trevin Wade: 0 tackles, 1 assist (1 combined).
Sheldon Brown: No stats registered.

Thoughts: The only reason Sheldon Brown saw one snap was so he could keep his streak of consecutive games played in active. Dimitri Patterson and Buster Skrine started, and the tandem couldn't match the production Cleveland would get out of Brown and Joe Haden. Rookie cornerback Trevin Wade saw the same percentage of reps (48%) that Skrine did a week ago (49%).

Safety
T.J. Ward	Eric Hagg	Tashaun Gipson	Usama Young
100% 69/69 plays	88% 61/69 plays	12% 8/69 plays	0% 0/69 plays

T.J. Ward: 6 tackles, 3 assists (9 combined).
Eric Hagg: 3 tackle, 1 assist (4 combined).
Usama Young: No stats registered.
Tashaun Gipson: No stats registered.

Thoughts: The safeties were scheduled to play the entire game, but Eric Hagg had to leave for eight plays to tend to an eye injury. That is when Tashaun Gipson filled in for him. Despite being active, Usama Young saw zero reps on defense.

History of Snap Counts on Defense:

-Week 1: Philadelphia vs. Cleveland