After a nail-biting win at home against the division-rival New Orleans Saints, here were the Bucs most disappointing players of the game.

Bucs Running Game

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette – Photo by: USA Today

Despite a commitment to the run game, the results just weren’t there for the Bucs rushing attack. In the first half alone Tampa Bay attempted to run the ball 14 times (not counting Brady’s kneel down to end the half). The results of those efforts were 46 yards and a paltry 3.3 yards per carry. Neither of the Bucs featured runners was able to set himself apart from the other as Rachaad White generated just 25 yards on eight carries (3.1 ypc) while Leonard Fournette was able to amass 21 yards on six totes (3.5 ypc).

The offensive line didn’t open up many holes for the backs as the longest rush of the night was just 7 yards. Fournette led the way with 10 rushes for 49 yards in the game White ran nine times for 28 yards.

Bucs Defensive Line

The Bucs were unable to generate any type of pass rush unless head coach Todd Bowles dialed up a blitz. I could try to wax poetic about how much the defensive line struggled to get to Dalton, but I’ll let someone who is much better than I sum it up.

Dalton could read a book on some of these dropbacks

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 6, 2022

RT Josh Wells

Wells was no match for Saints defensive end Cameron Jordon. He allowed Jordan to gain pressure throughout the night. Wells was also flagged for a holding penalty that negated a nine-yard run in plus territory that knocked the Bucs back into their own territory. The offense ultimately failed to generate any points on the drive. Wells followed that holding penalty up with another one late in the fourth quarter when the Bucs were trying to mount a comeback that put the offense behind the eight ball once again.

CB Jamel Dean

Bucs CB Jamel Dean- Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Dean, who has been a staple of consistently great play this season was victimized on a 40-yard bomb from Andy Dalton to Rasheed Shaheed. Shaheed was able to get a step on Dean on a go route and was able to turn and get the under thrown ball. Dean was unable to stay with Shaheed and failed to get his head around to break up the pass. He finished the game with four tackles and a pass defensed. 

CB Zyon McCollum

McCollum has physical gifts that defensive coordinators dream about. But he is currently not ready to be a major contributor on a defense that has playoff aspirations. McCollum looked lost at times in zone coverage, would leave his coverage assignment on longer-developing plays, and missed several tackles on the evening. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, with the possibility of getting the ball back for the offense on 3rd and three McCollum allowed Saints’ receiver Chris Olave to make a 26-yard catch to keep the drive alive.

The Bucs coaching staff’s insistence that McCollum play over Dee Delaney, who has proven he at least knows what he is doing in mind-boggling. McCollum recorded five tackles on the evening.

CB Carlton Davis

Probably should have just said Bucs secondary, huh? Davis uncharacteristically struggled in coverage, allowing multiple catches and drew a defensive pass interference flag in the fourth quarter on the drive that ultimately broke the Bucs back. He made five tackles and one pass breakup in the game.

LT Donovan Smith

With 18 seconds left on the clock the Bucs seemingly came back from the dead and scored a game-tying touchdown on a pass from Brady to Chris Godwin. But it was for naught as Donovan Smith was called for holding, negating the score and dashing the Bucs hopes of mounting the improbable comeback. Smith had a quiet night overall (which is good for an offensive lineman), but that holding penalty in that crucial moment of the game was inexcusable. The offense bailed him out three plays later, scoring the game-winning touchdown. But it was almost a back-breaker.