Each week after every Bucs game, we’ll take a closer look at the snap count distribution for the Tampa Bay offense and defense. We’ll assess what we can learn from who played the most and least from the game.

Here is a closer view of of which players received the most and least amount of snaps in the Bucs’ 20-18 loss on Sunday afternoon against the Steelers in Week 6.

Bucs Offense

It’s really baffling that star wide receiver Mike Evans could play 69 out of 72 snaps and only get four targets against a defense that was playing third- and fourth-stringers in their secondary. Evans’ 96% of the snaps was the most out of any skill position player and yet he wasn’t really a factor with four receptions for 42 yards. Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich needs to do a better job of scheming plays up to get the ball in the hands of his best receiver. We talked about Leftwich a lot in the latest Pewter Report Podcast.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

At this point, Russell Gage is really an afterthought in this offense and the Bucs overpaid for him. He was involved in 76% of the offensive plays and made just two receptions for 20 yards. To put it into perspective, tight end Cade Otton was more productive in 40 snaps and was playing behind Cam Brate until Brate unfortunately was stretchered off the field with a head and neck injury in a scary moment. When Otton became the first tight end in the second half, he made two catches for 20 yards with way less work.

Also, where are the other receivers? Scotty Miller and Breshad Perriman both had two snaps each. Perriman was the hero in Week 2 and couldn’t sniff the field after returning from injury. Miller had his most productive game of the season last week, but the coaching staff didn’t see fit for him to contribute in this one.

The Bucs don’t have a set number three target on offense after Evans and Chris Godwin. Gage just isn’t it, and it’s really been running backs Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White that have been those options. Fournette tied for the team lead with six receptions and scored the team’s only touchdown of the game. He out-snapped White 82% to 22%, which I’d like to see at more of a 65-35 range. But Fournette was productive so that’s okay for this week.

Bucs Defense

Tampa Bay had decisions to make with safety Mike Edwards inactive for the game and already knowing they’d be without Logan Ryan. They elected to keep Antoine Winfield, Jr. at safety and use backup cornerback Dee Delaney as the slot corner. Delaney played in 53 out of 64 snaps, good for 83 percent of the time. It was by far his most playing time of the season and he finished up with five tackles and a tackle loss.

Bucs ILB Devin White and Steelers RB Najee Harris – Photo by: USA Today

Keanu Neal joined the 100% snap club along with Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis, Winfield, Devin White and Lavonte David. He made four tackles in another game where he was in for the injured Ryan.

It was interesting to see along the defensive line that outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka had the most snaps out of all the players outside of the 100 percenters. He was on the field for 84 percent of the plays when usually it’s Shaq Barrett that receives more snaps than him. Barrett wasn’t wildly far behind with 77%, but to put another player at his position over him came as a surprise.

Deadrin Senat only had 12 snaps on Sunday. That was five less than last week despite the fact that Senat was the talk of the town this week. It felt like he had earned more playing time, but it wasn’t the case. Genard Avery was just called up and was able to play on four snaps. The rotation among defensive tackles was similar to what it’s been and look like that’s how it’ll continue.