Each week following every Bucs game, Pewter Report will take a close 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 the team’s 34-7 whooping of a loss to the Rams on Sunday night. Tampa Bay never kept it close, and it got even worse because Baker Mayfield suffered a left shoulder injury that could keep him out for at least a week – if not longer.

Bucs Offense

Where to begin with this one? Quarterback hardly ever gets talked about on snap counts because they play the whole game. But that wasn’t the case on Sunday night because Baker Mayfield injured his left shoulder just before the end of the first half and didn’t return. He played 56% of the snaps and then Teddy Bridgewater came in for the second half and played 44%.

It’s probably not best to judge Bridgewater’s performance coming off the bench, especially with how the offensive line played. Bridgewater constantly had to run and get rid of the ball. Eventually he was just in there to hand the ball off as the Bucs waived the white flag.

Bucs QB Teddy Bridgewater – Photo by: USA Today

Because of the blowout in the game, center Graham Barton was the only player on offense to play 100% of the snaps. Rookie undrafted free agent Ben Chukwuma was able to play late in the game at left tackle. Luke Haggard and Elijah Klein got in, too.

Tampa Bay was very careful when it came to the return of Chris Godwin Jr. for the first time since Week 5. Godwin played 36% and made two catches for nine years in the game. He played significantly less than Emeka Egbuka (90%), Tez Johnson (86%) and Sterling Shepard (59%), though it’s understandable given the severity of his injury.

Bucs WRs Chris Godwin Jr., Kam Johnson and Ryan Miller – Photo by: USA Today

Cade Otton played less than usual at 86%, but that’d likely had to do with the team playing backups in the second half. He had a terrible game, bobbling a wide-open pass that was ripped away by Rams defensive back Cobie Durant and taken to the end zone for a pick-six. The Bucs went with more three and four receiver sets along with some Pony package as there wasn’t any significant increase for Payne Durham or Devin Culp from it.

All of the talk leading up to this game was that running back Sean Tucker deserved more rushing attempts and should be a bigger part of the offense. He did have more rushing attempts than Rachaad White by a rate of 12 to 7, but it was White that was in the game more at 60% to 37%. I wouldn’t put too much stock into this. The game got out of hand and the Bucs needed to throw the ball more.

And Tampa Bay gave some opportunities to Owen Wirght at the end just trying to run out the clock. Had the game been closer, Tucker would’ve been more involved.

Bucs Defense

With Jamel Dean out, the Bucs also ruled out Benjamin Morrison ahead of the game. It then begged the question of what Tampa Bay was going to do at the outside cornerback position. They could put Jacob Parrish outside and have someone play is slot position, or put Kindle Vildor back at the outside spot where he previously played.

The Bucs split the difference with Parrish playing outside cornerback in base defense and then in the slot when in their nickel package and Vildor coming in. Parrish wound up playing 13 snaps outside, another 13 in the box and 30 snaps at nickel, all while playing 100% of the snaps to Vildor’s 70%.

Rams WR Puka Nacua and Bucs CB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: USA Today

Another cornerback that played 100% of the snaps was Zyon McCollum and the Rams just demolished him. They consistently threw his way, including on two touchdowns for Davante Adams. A rough season continued for the cornerback who’s not playing up to his new contract extension.

There was much less playing time for Yaya Diaby and Anthony Nelson with each at 66%. The latter of the outside linebackers suffered an injury and missed some of the game. This gave an opportunity for Chris Braswell to play his most snaps of the season at 56%, but he didn’t do anything with it, recording zero tackles and one quarterback hit.

Bucs GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Tamp Bay was able to get some rest for Vita Vea in the lopsided game, as it was actually Logan Hall that led the defensive tackles at 79% followed by Vea at 71%. Elijah Roberts played 45% of the snaps.

Since the game was out of hand, Lavonte David didn’t play a full game and settled for 91%. This gave undrafted free agent rookie John Bullock five snaps on defense at 9%. He made the team out of training camp for his work on special teams, but got some looks on defense late for some experience. Typically teams want new players in for blowouts where your team is winning, but Sunday night’s game wasn’t the case.