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 44-32 loss to the Bills on Sunday. The Bucs had no answers on defense for how to stop Josh Allen and Buffalo, and since Tampa Bay’s offense wasn’t perfect, they couldn’t keep up at the end of the game.

Bucs Offense

They’re getting closer to it! During the build up to this game on the Pewter Report Podcast, myself and Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds had been calling for the Bucs to feature Sean Tucker more and even give him the role as the starting running back. Tampa Bay has closed the gap in snap percentages between Rachaad White and Tucker, as it went from 72%-32% last week in favor of White to 60%-44%. Still in favor of White, but a closer range for Tucker, who’s 44% is fitting, given that is his jersey number.

It sure looked like Tucker was the starter and main rusher as he had the most attempts at 19 and was spectacular with three touchdowns (two rushing and one receiving) and 106 yards rushing. White played really well too, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, but Tucker just has an extra gear with his explosiveness, which was best exemplified on his first rushing touchdown going for a 43-yard score. White has a good spot as the third down running back and typical passing plays, but Tucker should be the top running back until Bucky Irving returns.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: USA Today

The rest of the offense relatively was the same in terms of their snap percentages with only brief increases for most players. Emeka Egbuka bumped all the way up from 88% last game to 94% on Sunday while Tez Johnson played exactly the same at 83% and Sterling Shepard had just a 1% increase. Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson played a little less, but it wasn’t anything that majorly impacted the offense.

There was a thought that the Bucs would play more two tight end sets due to the weather conditions in Buffalo combined with the Bills’ porous run-stopping defense. While Tampa Bay certainly committed to the run and thrived with 202 yards on the ground, it didn’t really come because of added blockers and more tight ends. Cade Otton was the exact same snaps as last week at 97%, and Payne Durham only had a 2% bump.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard – Photo by: USA Today

Overall, the offense played its best in over a month, putting up 32 points. It wasn’t enough in a 44-32 loss, but the offense is not the reason that Tampa Bay lost this game on Sunday afternoon.

Bucs Defense

The immediate injury to star cornerback Jamel Dean on the opening drive of the game put Benjamin Morrison into action – and for the whole game, as he played 94% of the snaps. Much like last week, Morrison was the culprit on big touchdown pass – this time a 43-yard score to Tyrell Shavers. Then again, Tampa Bay allowed several huge plays and just couldn’t find ways to get enough stops all day long. Even with three takeaways by Tampa Bay –a pair of interceptions and a recovered fumble on special teams – it was a circus where only Buffalo was having fun.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison and Bills WR Tyrell Shavers – Photo by: USA Today

Some of the problem was the Bucs’ inability to generate a pass rush. I find it kind of odd that Anthony Nelson, who is the team’s third-string outside linebacker, is consistently getting more snaps than Yaya Diaby, who is a starter for the second year in row, and has been all season long. Nelson had a career game against the Saints, but that luster has worn off. And yet he still ends up playing more snaps than Diaby at 88% to 82%. Chris Braswell played 3% more than last week and did nothing with it. The same story as usual.

Vita Vea played the same amount of snap percentage as he does, and the only big difference was Logan Hall dropping from 64% last week to 55% along with Elijah Simmons dropping from 11% to 7%. This was all because the Bucs weren’t in their base defense as much with the Bills having more receivers on the field, and that made Tampa Bay play more nickel with getting an extra cornerback on the field.

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

That extra corner was the rare defensive player that looked good on Sunday with Jacob Parrish. He’s playing time percentage grew to 61% as he recorded an interception and also had a tackle for loss on different plays. Depending on if Dean is out for an extended period, it wouldn’t be bad for Parrish to play outside corner instead of Morrison and then find someone else to play the slot.

It’s obvious the Bucs needed to make some kind of changes after allowing 44 points, whether it’s schematically or with personnel. Todd Bowles deserves a lot of the blame for the defensive blunders, and it’s not going to be a fun tape to review.