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2017 Regular Season Snap Counts: Defense

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Check out how many defensive snap counts Washington Redskins players appeared on during the 2017 regular season.

When the Washington Redskins signed safety D.J. Swearinger within the first 24 hours of free agency last year, they did so with the intention that he would solidify the backend of the secondary.

Swearinger did just that during the 2017 season, recording a team-high 1,092 defensive snaps. Additionally, Swearinger set personal bests in combined tackles (79), solo tackles (61), passes defensed (10) and interceptions (four).

While Swearinger was the only defensive player to record more than 1,000 snaps, cornerback Josh Norman appeared on the second most defensive plays with 901.

The Coastal Carolina product did not record an interception in 14 appearances, but Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said that was due to teams avoiding him.

"If you look at, just say the last three games, how many balls were actually thrown his way? He didn't really get a lot of opportunities," Gruden said. "I think he is a solid tackler and did some good things, but the opportunities just didn't come across and come his way that often. They were throwing the other way or throwing to the middle of the field or what have you. He did have a solid year, but we are looking for more than solid.

"We are looking for impactful and I think he is going to do everything he can next year to be that impactful type guy. We have to put him in better situations possibly to make some more impactful type plays. So that is something we have to look at as a staff also."

Below is the complete list of defensive snap counts from the season along with some nuggets of info:

  • D.J. Swearinger 1,092
  • Josh Norman 901
  • Bashaud Breeland 855
  • Zach Brown 834
  • Ryan Kerrigan 820

Check out the Redskins top 10 players in 2017 for defensive snap counts .

Preston Smith 754 * Jonathan Allen 720 * Deshazor Everett 589 * Matt Ioannidis 584 * Ziggy Hood 539 * Stacy McGee 432 * Martrell Spaight 413 * Junior Galette 407 * Zach Vigil 394 * Quinton Dunbar 372 * Anthony Lanier II 339 * Terrell McClain 328 * Montae Nicholson 319 * Mason Foster 288 * Ryan Anderson 193 * A.J. Francis 164 * Jonathan Allen 159 * DeAngelo Hall 158 * Will Compton 150 * Josh Harvey-Clemons 93 * Fabian Moreau 59 * Pete Robertson 27 * Arthur Jones 23 * Stefan McClure 23 * Brandon Banks 12 * Joshua Holsey 9 * Fish Smithson 4 * Chris Carter 2


--Despite appearing on the second fewest snaps of his seven-year career, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan once again was Washington's top pass rushing threat. Named to his third Pro Bowl, Kerrigan recorded 13 sacks along with three fumbles forced and an interception which he returned for a touchdown in the regular season opener. The Purdue product is now nine sacks away from surpassing Charles Mann for the second-most sacks by a Redskins player.

--Zach Brown, meanwhile, appeared on the fourth most defensive snaps despite missing Washington's final three games of the season. Brown led the league in tackles for most of the year and still finished ninth in tackles (127) despite being inactive the last three weeks.

--Along the defensive line, Matt Ioannidis led the group in defensive snaps with 584. In 14 games with 10 starts, the second-year Temple product recorded 27 tackles with 4.5 sacks and one fumble forced. Ioannidis also led the team with 81 quarterback pressures/hits, six more than any other Redskins player.

--Junior Galette returned from back-to-back seasons lost to torn Achilles to appear on more than 400 defensive plays. The Stillman College product finished the year with 20 tackles, three sacks, two passes defensed and one fumble forced. Galette also finished with an 82.4 Pro Football Focus grade.

--And while his rookie season was cut short due to a Lisfranc injury, defensive lineman Jonathan Allen showed promise on his 159 defensive plays. The 2017 first-round pick recorded 10 tackles with one sack while creating issues for opposing rushing attacks.

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