Panthers inside the numbers: Watching the snap count

For the first time, the NFL is tracking playing time by players from week to week. Here's a look at which Panthers have been iron men this season.

By Shawn Krest

Sep 27, 2012 at 5:30 pm ET • 1 min read

Geoff Hangartner is one of two iron men for the Panthers offense. (US Presswire)

For the first time, the NFL is releasing playing time data for each player. Each week, the NFL Gamebook data includes the number of snaps each player played on offense, defense, and special teams.

Three weeks into the season, the Panthers only have two iron men on offense. The two guards -- Amini Silatolu and Geoff Hangartner -- are the only players to participate in all 173 offensive snaps (including penalties). Here’s a look at the Panthers with the most playing time on offense.

Silatolu and Hangartner	173 snaps
QB Cam Newton, C Ryan Kalil, LT Jordan Gross	169
WR Brandon LaFell	168
TE Greg Olsen	167
WR Steve Smith	160
WR Louis Murphy	121
RT Byron Bell	111

Five offensive players have dressed but gotten fewer than 10 snaps: TE Richie Brockel (3), C Jeff Byers and QB Derek Anderson (4), T Bruce Campbell (5), WR Armanti Edwards (6).

On defense, only one player has participated in all 214 snaps. Safety Charles Godfrey is the iron man of the Panthers D.

Godfrey	214
CB Chris Gamble	213
S Haruki Nakamura	211
LB Jon Beason	199
CB Josh Norman	191
LB James Anderson	178
DT Dwan Edwards	156
DE Charles Johnson	149
DE Greg Hardy	132
LB Luke Kuechly	126

Safety Sherrod Martin (3) and LB Jason Phillips (9) are the defenders with fewer than 10 snaps.

Like most teams, the Panthers rotate more players on defense than they do on offense. Of Carolina's defensive snaps, 22 percent have been taken by non-starters, compared to 11 percent of offensive snaps.

Here are the five non-starters on each side of the ball who have received the most playing time.

Offense