Snaps Lost: Green Bay Packers

The “Snaps Lost” series is a detailed look at the playing time void created by players that have left each team this offseason, whether they were traded, cut, left in free agency, or retired.

Because each unit plays a different number of snaps over the course of the year, we have created the “Full Time Equivalent” metric. FTE is the total number of missing snaps divided by the number of plays the team ran on that side of the ball. This is an equivalent measure of how many full time players (100% snap count) the team would need to add on to make up for their offseason losses, even though very few players actually play a full snap count.

For example, if a team had 1,100 snaps on offense and then lost seven players who combined to play 2,200 snaps, their FTE would be 2.0 (2,200/1,100). This ensures that a team who lost a high volume of players only has a high FTE if those players racked up some significant playing time. FTE can only fall between zero (no players left the team) and 11 (fire everyone!) for each side of the ball.

Each team will have a ranking following their FTE, with the first-ranked team in each category (offense, defense, and total) representing the team with the smallest portion of their playing time in need of replacement.

A few caveats before getting into the good stuff:
-Suspensions and injuries that may limit 2015 snap counts are not considered.
-Biggest Losses are purely in terms of snap count, not necessarily in terms of impact.
-All snap counts are Regular Season only.

Green Bay Packers

Overall FTE Lost: 3.11, 1st

Offense 

FTE Lost: 0.51, 1st

Biggest Losses: Jarrett Boykin (227), Derek Sherrod (142)

Summary – When your two biggest losses on offense are two guys who don’t start, it’s easy to see how next year’s offense could be every bit as good as the 2014 version. Boykin was the fourth wide receiver by year’s end, and Green Bay has hit the position hard in the draft recently. Sherrod became the back-up tackle only after an injury to Don Barclay, who should return healthy in 2015 to lock down the swing tackle spot.

Replacement Plan – With only 544 lost snaps and many of those coming in the second half of blow outs, there’s little to worry about here.

Defense

FTE Lost: 2.60, 13th

Biggest Losses: Tramon Williams (1,032), A.J. Hawk (852), Davon House (411)

Summary – The Packers’ defense wasn’t quite as lucky as the offense, as Hawk was cut and Williams left for Cleveland as a free agent. The loss of Williams was compounded by House’s departure to Jacksonville. The inside linebacker situation looks particularly dire with both Brad Jones and Jamari Lattimore off the team as well.

Replacement Plan – If he can stay healthy, Casey Hayward should have an easy time locking down the starting cornerback spot across from Sam Shields, which should add about 600 snaps. Similarly the Packers’ first two draft picks, defensive backs Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, could easily see significant time. At inside linebacker, Sam Barrington will almost certainly see full-time duty after playing 366 snaps last season. Clay Matthews could see time at ILB again, but Green Bay is hoping that fourth-round pick Jake Ryan develops quickly and can hold down another spot, kicking Matthews back outside. With three starting caliber safeties on the roster, don’t be surprised if Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers goes with an extra safety in lieu of an inside linebacker at times this year.