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 Bucs’ 43-13 dominant win on the road against the Panthers, giving Tampa Bay their second win of the season and being 1-0 in the NFC South division. 

Bucs Offense

Let’s keep in mind that this was a blowout win for Tampa Bay and the game was over by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, so each team wound up emptying its bench, giving more players an opportunity to get in the game. Only center Graham Barton and tackle Ben Chukwuma, who was filling in for Luke Goedeke, played every snap on the offensive side of the ball.

There was no better way to protect quarterback Baker Mayfield in his return to the lineup than by having him throw just 11 times with a run-heavy game plan. All three of Tampa Bay’s running backs were terrific as Bucky Irving rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns, Kenny Gainwell had his best game of the season going for 88 yards and averaging 6.3 yards per attempt, while Sean Tucker ripped off a 46-yard touchdown run.

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

Irving led the way with 59% of the snaps followed by Gainwell at 30% and Tucker with 14%. It’s tough to say how much these numbers would have changed had the game been closer, but what we do know is that the Bucs have an extremely talented group at the running back position.

It’s no surprise that wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. led the position in snaps with Emeka Eguka out. Not far behind him was Tez Johnson at 65% and Ted Hurst III with 56%. There wasn’t a ton in the passing game as the Bucs had their way on the ground, but Johnson definitely stepped up on Sunday leading the team with 33 receiving yards and scoring a touchdown.

Johnson has been a great example of the “next man up” decree that every team preaches. He’s not typically starting, but has made the most with his opportunities.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

We got to see some more of tight end Bauer Sharp due to the nature of the game. His 16 offensive snaps were the most played in his career. Cade Otton got a little bit of break due to the Bucs being up by so much.

Bucs Defense

We typically begin each defensive snap count revelation complaining about why isn’t David Walker playing more? But Sunday’s game showed that Walker played the second most amongst outside linebackers at 54% with Rueben Bain Jr. leading with 66%. Yaya Diaby’s numbers dropped all the way to 39%, while Al-Quadin Muhammad was down to 29% and Anthony Nelson came in at 18%.

Credit to Diaby, who was fantastic for the Bucs, having his best game in a long time with three sacks. Muhammad had a major impact, too, knocking the ball out of Bryce Young’s hands for a strip-sack that was then picked up by defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and ran in for a defensive touchdown.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

That’s the second game in a row where Tampa Bay recorded five sacks, and four of them came from the outside linebackers yesterday. Will the numbers stay this way, or was it a product of a blowout game that gave Walker more playing time and allowed for the veterans to get more rest? We’ll find out next week against Atlanta.

Tampa Bay has started to give a little more 4-3 looks instead of its traditional 3-4 base defense, adding another inside linebacker on the field. This backfired, though, as SirVocea Dennis allowed a 50-yard touchdown to Panthers tight end Darren Waller. Dennis only wound up playing 12% of the snaps, and that may have been why.

Everyone got in on the rotation along the defensive line due to the outcome of the game. Their best players stood out as Vita Vea recorded a sack and Calijah Kancey had the scoop-and-score.

What a day was had by the Bucs’ secondary as well. Cornerback Zyon McCollum took a blocked extra point to the house for two points and recorded an interception. Safety Tykee Smith was the one who blocked the extra point on McCollum’s score and also had an interception of his own later in the game.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

This secondary is thriving while playing as a cohesive unit. Really the whole defense has for several weeks to help the Bucs stay competitive in the downtrodden NFC South.