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 triumphant, 40-17 blowout win over the Chargers on Sunday afternoon.

Bucs Offense

Bucs offensive snaps vs. Chargers

The play count numbers got a little skewed at the end because the Bucs won by so much and started using their backups to run out the rest of the clock. Still, it seems crazy that wide receiver Mike Evans only played 65% of the snaps and did the damage that he did in the game with that also being the second-most playing time for a skill player after Cade Otton (92%). Wide receiver Jalen McMillan was right behind him as well at 64%.

It was always going to be curious to see how running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White were going to be used considering Irving was playing through a back injury and certainly wasn’t fully healthy coming into the game. It ended up being White playing more than Irving by a count of 51% to 44%.

The Bucs did a great job of preserving Irving while still getting the best of him with 117 rushing yards on 15 attempts. White had 15 attempts as well for 64 yards and ended up scoring a touchdown on a screen pass in the game.

Another interesting note was that tight end Ko Kieft, who also plays a fullback role, played 26% of the snaps, coming in at a season high for him. The Bucs had a big lead and knew they wanted to run the football. Kieft had some key blocks to help Tampa Bay get it done on the ground. Tampa Bay used a lot of 13 personnel, which was a three-tight end set, against Los Angeles, especially in the second half of the game once the Bucs reclaimed the lead.

Bucs Defense

Bucs defensive snaps vs. Chargers

The Bucs came in very thin at safety without Antoine Winfield Jr, Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards. Tampa Bay’s replacements were Kaevon Merriweather and Christian Izien with Tykee Smith playing his typical nickelback role in the slot.

Merriweather wound up playing the entire game, taking the field for 100% of the snaps while Izien was in a lot at 83%. Remember, Izien was a game-time decision coming into the game with a groin injury, so to get that much out of him was big. Merriweather, who recovered a fumble, Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean, who had an interception, were the only defensive players to go every snap.

Linebacker Lavonte David came in at a 98% snap count. He would’ve played the entire game if not for a gigantic difference in the score late in the second half.

Playing 81% and 77% of the snaps respectively, defensive tackles Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea each played their second-most highest percentage of snaps on the season. This likely had to do with the quality of their opponent, understanding that the Chargers were the toughest offense that the Bucs had remaining on the schedule and that every remaining game is a must-win from here on out.

We saw a big difference in snap counts as well at outside linebacker. Yaya Diaby playing the most snaps at 77% wasn’t a surprise, but Joe Tryon-Shoyinka returning from injury and coming in at 50% was a lot lower than what he is typically playing.

Chargers WR Ladd McConkey and Bucs S Kaevon Merriweather – Photo by: USA Today

Anthony Nelson had made the most out of the absence of JTS, forcing the key fumble against the Panthers weeks ago and playing very solid when Tryon-Shoyinka was out the previous two weeks. That was the third-lowest percentage of snaps for JTS, but second lowest when he’s played a full game. On the other hand, Nelson’s 67% was the third highest has played all season.

Tampa Bay’s defense pitched a shutout in the second half of their win, 27-0 in the final two quarters. It was one of the team’s best performances of the season – if not the very best. We’ll see if the Buccaneers can continue that type of play for the remainder of the season. This win was definitely at the top for the Bucs this year due to how they accomplished it on both sides of the ball plus a perfect day from kicker Chase McLaughlin, who was 4-of-4 on field goals.