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

Let’s get a closer look at the Bucs players who received the highest and lowest number of snaps in their tough 36-30 overtime loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.

Bucs Offense

Wide receiver Chris Godwin is quickly becoming the next player to have that iron man role. On a short week where the Bucs had to go on the road, Godwin was in for 52 of 53 snaps on offense, which is good for 98%. Only tight end Cade Otton played more between the skill players, being on for all 53. It’s no surprise why Godwin has been the most consistent receiver for the Bucs this season.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs were thin at wide receiver with Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan out, plus Kameron Johnson got hurt at one point in the game. With Sterling Shepard as the third wide receiver he ended up scoring a touchdown while playing 68% of the snaps.

When McMillan has played, he would wind up very close to the same number of snaps as Mike Evans and Godwin. It appears the Bucs used a little less of 11 personnel as Evans was all the way up 87% with a significant gap before Shepard’s numbers.

The margins remained the same for the running back rotation of Rachaad White and Bucky Irving. Last week White was on the field for 45 plays at 58% while Irving had 32 snaps for 42%. On Thursday night, White’s total snaps were less at 34 but his percentage of playing time was higher up at 64%. It was slightly different for Irving, who was in for 23 snaps but had relatively the same percentages at 43%.

Overall the run game was better for Tampa Bay as the team totaled a season-high 160 yards. This can be a little misleading, though, as Baker Mayfield accounted for 42 of the yards on scrambles. White’s production doesn’t tell the whole story as well. His 10 rushes for 72 yards was supported by a big 56-yard run. If you take out that one play, it means White had nine attempts for 16 yards, which is incredibly low. Something seems off with White and he looks slower than usual. Irving rushed nine times for 44 yards but had a costly fumble at the end when the Bucs were trying to close the game out.

Bucs Defense 

The distribution at outside linebacker certainly stood. Yaya Diaby and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka typically lead the lead the way in this category each week. And while they did so again, their numbers were over 60% in Week 5, but Diaby dropped down to 56% with JTS actually having the most snaps at 57%. Seeing an increase was Anthony Nelson at 49% and Chris Braswell really got a big jump going all the way up to 41%. Diaby did get banged up in the game, which could be a reason, or maybe the Bucs were trying to find answers to get pressure. They didn’t find any answers during it.

Many wondered how the Bucs would use K.J. Britt at inside linebacker with SirVocea Dennis unavailable. It turns out that the Bucs kept him in for a majority of the game, clocking in at 93%. There were thoughts of maybe throwing J.J. Russell in on third down or having the Bucs play some dime. This wasn’t the case as Russell came in for one defensive play to replace Lavonte David quickly as he was banged up for a play.

The Falcons exploited Britt in the passing game, throwing often to his area. Looks like it’s back to the drawing board for the Bucs in that department.

Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather and CB Jamel Dean and Falcons WR Darnell Mooney – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Safety Jordan Whitehead exited the game with a groin injury in the second half. He usually plays every snap in the game but went down to 69% because of it.

Coming in for him was Kaevon Merriweather as he played 31%. It was a rough night overall for the Bucs’ secondary, but Tykee Smith deserves some credit for 99% of the snaps. Smith took a nasty hit from Britt in the first half that looked helmet to helmet as his upper body contorted backwards. Somehow he only missed play and was able to keep playing his nickel spot despite dealing with a rough hit.

Defensive tackle Logan Hall probably had his best game as a Buccaneer, recording two sacks and five QB hits. He also led the Bucs’ defensive linemen playing 67% on Thursday. That was five percent more than Vita Vea, who usually leads the way for his group.

The rest of the rotations were around the same. The Bucs did a good job of stopping the run, but generating pressure and stopping the pass was a whole other issue that needs to be figured out by their next game the following week.