8/18/2023 0 Comments Nfl snap counts by team![]() ![]() Kicker Joey Slye was tied for 19 th in the league in field goal percentage (83.3%) and a disgraceful 31 st in extra points at just 85.7%. The Commanders were also not good at scoring on special teams. The Commanders were slightly better at returning kicks, ranking 7 th in the league in total return yards (902), but were 19 th in the league in return productivity at 22 yards per return. In fact, the Commanders ranked 23 rd in the league in punt return productivity at 7.6 yards per return. They ranked 7 th in the NFL in total punt return yards (336), but that was largely a function of having the most punt return opportunities, thanks to the efficiency of the defense on third downs. The Commanders were not strong in the return game. The coverage unit allowed the 4 th fewest kick return yards (350), but also allowed the 11 th highest yards per return (23.3). Slye had the 9 th highest touchback rate on kickoffs in the league, at 77.9%. The Commanders faced the 2 nd fewest kick returns (15, 3-way tie with LAR and LAC) thanks largely to Joey Slye’s kickoffs. The coverage unit was not quite as good against kick returns, but was not a complete disaster either. They, nevertheless, allowed the 12 th fewest punt return yards (219) and the 4 th fewest yards per return (6.4). The Commanders’ coverage unit faced the 8 th most punt returns in the league (34, tie with Patriots). ![]() More importantly, however, they ranked 4 th in net yards per punt (43.0), and 5 th in percentage of punts downed within the opponent’s 20 yard line (44.6%). The Commanders ranked 6 th in total punting yards (3885) and 14 th in yards per punt (46.8). The Commanders punt unit was one of the best in the NFL due to strong performances by 2022 Pro Bowl punter Tress Way and the coverage unit. ![]() Then, for the three critical weeks after the bye, they fell to 30 th in defensive efficiency (0.095 EPA/play), before recovering their midseason form and then some in the season finale against Dallas (-0.498 EPA/play, 1 st ranked in Week 18). From weeks 4 through 13, they became the 4 th most efficient team on defense (-0.094 EPA/play). The Commanders performed poorly on defense through the first three games, ranking 22 nd in defensive efficiency at +0.071 EPA/play. What is particularly remarkable about the Commanders’ season production stats on defense is that they did most of the heavy lifting in just 10 games, from Weeks 4 through 13. The Commanders’ defense also tied with the Giants for the fewest missed tackles in the NFL (49). The Commanders’ defense ranked 11 th best in rushing yards allowed (1,926), tied for 15 th best in rushing yards per attempt (4.4), allowed the 8 th fewest rushing first downs, and tied with Buffalo and the Chiefs for 5 th best in rushing TDs allowed. The Commanders’ pass rush ranked 12 th in total sacks (43), 6 th in percentage of dropbacks resulting in sacks, and 10 th in pressure rate (23.1% of dropbacks). They were not so good at preventing scoring, allowing the 8 th most passing TDs. ![]() They allowed the 2 nd lowest completion percentage (59.9%), 4 th lowest completion yardage, and held opponents to the 10 th lowest net yardage per passing attempt (5.8). The Commanders’ passing defense allowed the fewest completions (308) and first downs (155) in the NFL. The defense was very good at avoiding penalties, ranking 27 th in the NFL in total penalties committed (85), and tied for 26 th in penalty yards. They ranked 26 th in total takeaways (18), 28 th in interceptions (9), and 29 th in percentage of drives ending in an offensive turnover (7.6%). The one area where the Commanders’ defense was not strong was takeaways. The Commanders’ defense ranked 7 th best in points allowed (343), 4 th best in percentage of drives ending in an offensive score (31.5), 4 th best in yards allowed (5178), 32 nd in first downs allowed (286), and held opponents to the lowest 3 rd down conversion rate (31.9%) in the league. Some creative and wishful narratives about the offense notwithstanding, the Commanders’ defense was really what kept them in games in 2022. SOME STATISTICS 2022 Stats Summary - Defense We will also have a look at the Commanders’ special teams unit, which produced Washington’s first AP first team All Pro since 2020 (G Brandon Scherff) and the second one since 1996 (P Matt Turk). The second part should offer some relief as we revisit the performance of the defense which enjoyed a 10 week reign as the fourth best stop unit in the league. © 2023 Detroit Lions, Ltd.The first part of the Stats & Snaps recap may have brought back unpleasant memories to many of the degradation of the offensive line and the ongoing struggle to field a competent starting quarterback. No portion of this site may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Detroit Lions. ![]()
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