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 yet another loss at home, this time falling 17-14 to the Green Bay Packers, dropping to 0-4 on the season in what was the first career start for rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels.

Bucs Offense

So running back Sean Tucker did get more snaps after all…for just three snaps. Somehow, it feels like Tucker was punished for having a positive impact on the game, scoring the first touchdown for the Bucs. After his first run went for no gain, Tucker then ripped off an 8-yard run, followed by a 2-yard plunge into the end zone for a score. Yet after that, he did not receive one more snap, let alone a rushing attempt. How? How does that happen?

Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bucky Irving led the way for the running backs with 37 snaps, while Kenny Gainwell had 10 less. Gainwell made an impact with a receiving touchdown and being the primary back on pass plays, but with the offense struggling to move the ball, one would thing that Tucker may have helped considering what he’d already done in the game.

Another thing that isn’t helping is that the Bucs wide receivers have gone invisible. Emeka Egbuka had the most snaps at 94%, but was rarely seen as he made two catches for 13 yards in a pedestrian effort on Sunday. Less snaps were had for Ted Hurst III compared to a week ago, dropping from 74% to 40% despite averaging the most yards per attempt.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Adam Warren P/R

The Bucs went back to their regular usage at tight end after going more 12 personnel a week ago. This time it was just Cade Otton with very little snaps for Payne Durham. For whatever reason, Otton has become the focal point of Tampa Bay’s passing game, as he led the team with 37 receiving yards on four catches. Despite having talents like Chris Godwin Jr. and Hurst, Otton is second on the team in targets with 23, just one behind Egbuka, but is three receiving yards ahead of Egbuka for the team lead at 157.

No wonder this offense is struggling.

Bucs Defense

All week long we heard about how outside linebacker David Walker has earned more playing time. According to the Bucs coaching staff, their definition of getting more playing time means just an eight percent increase in snaps and still playing the fewest snaps among the outside linebackers behind Yaya Diaby (60%), Al-Quadin Muhammad (53%) and Anthony Nelson (47%).

Bucs OLB David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

By the way, the Bucs did not record a sack on Sunday against a Packers team that completely reshuffled their offensive line going into the game. It’s mind-boggling at this point why Walker doesn’t get more snaps in important moments. Tampa Bay’s reasoning that Walker doesn’t play well against the run is a farce. He had a tackle for loss last week, and the impact Green Bay had running the ball in this game didn’t come from Walker’s side. The Bucs will continue to lose without implementing Walker as Diaby and Co. have failed to consistently generate pressure.

Another player who should probably get more playing time is defensive tackle Elijah Roberts. With the return of Rakeem Nunez-Roches to the lineup, Roberts saw his snap percentage take a dip 29% to 22%. Both players had moments in the game, though, each making a tackle for loss.

Inside linebacker Josiah Trotter returned to the lineup and played 83% snaps. I’m not sure if he had left the game due to injury briefly or if it was by design to mix Christian Rozeboom in there. Trotter played 91% of the snaps in Week 1 and 83% in Week 2 before miss last week. Does Trotter seem like a player that needs to be platooned? Probably not.

Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

We’ll have to monitor the status of safety Antoine Winfield Jr. during this short week. He left early with what Todd Bowles said was an oblique injury. Ifeateu Melifonwu came in to replace him. Injuries are starting to pile up in the secondary.