Each week after every Bucs game, we’ll take a closer look at the snap count distribution for the Tampa Bay on offense and defense. We’ll assess what we can learn from who played the most and least from the game.

Here’s a closer look at which players received the highest and lowest number of snaps in the Bucs’ 20-17 win on Sunday afternoon on the road against the Vikings in the Week 1 season opener.

Bucs Offense

Having a new offensive coordinator and system made it exciting for the first game to see how the Bucs would utilize their personnel. The game got off to an unexpected start with backup tight end Ko Kieft getting the first two targets of the game and three in the first half, but it was starting tight end Cade Otton who surprisingly had the most snaps outside of quarterback and the offensive line with 66 of out 68 (97%).

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

We know the Bucs are going to feature the tight end and plenty of 12 personnel often this season, but for Otton to be an ironman playing that much was interesting right out of the gate. Dave Canales called Otton a Swiss army knife, so clearly he trusts him in any type of formation. Kieft played almost half of the snaps with 32 (47%) while reserve tight end David Wells played in eight plays (12%).

It was also interesting to see how the rest of the wide receiver group would be utilized – outside of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – after Russell Gage was out for the season. It was very much a by-committee approach, as Trey Palmer accounted for 23 snaps, Deven Thompkins had 18 and Rakim Jarrett was in on six plays.

Of that trio, Palmer had the big moment with the go-ahead touchdown catch, and Thompkins converted a first down on a designed screen pass to him. They both made two receptions. Jarrett did not get a target, but was given a handoff on an end around on the final drive as the Bucs tried to run out the clock.

Tampa Bay only had 173 passing yards and it took the team until late in the second quarter to start finding a rhythm. I’m sure we’ll see a variance in both snap count and production when the group is a little more in-sync. Evans and Godwin ran the show with Evans in for 84 percent of the game and Godwin getting one more snap at 85 percent.

Rachaad White was the feature back on Sunday, as he got in for 54 snaps. He out-snapped the Sean Tucker and Chase Edmonds by a wide margin. Tucker had 10 plays and Edmonds was in for eight. White had the bulk of the work but tallied just 2.3 yards per rushing attempt on 17 carries for 39 yards. On the other hand, Tucker averaged three yards per attempt (five rushes for 15 yards) and Edmonds had four after gaining eight yards on two attempts.

The Bucs did not use any other offensive linemen as an extra blocker or a swing tackle in any of their formations.

Bucs Defense

Cornerback Carlton Davis III and newcomer safety Ryan Neal led the defense, playing in all 64 snaps. A lot of the secondary wasn’t far behind with safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and cornerback Jamel Dean each in for 63 plays. Rookie Christian Izien, who had a major impact on the game, clocked in at 36 snaps (56%) as the team’s starting nickel cornerback.

Linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David probably most likely would have played for 100 percent of the snaps, but White missed one snap after grabbing his leg and David missed three snaps after going in concussion protocol and getting tested. David and Vita Vea collided with each other, with David staying down for a bit.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and Vikings WR Justin Jefferson – Photo by: USA Today

Because of their very brief absence, K.J. Britt took on the role at inside linebacker for two snaps when each of the starters left separately. SirVocea Dennis got in as well playing three snaps. On one of them in particular, Dennis lined up at outside linebacker with both White and David in their traditional spots. This was a little wrinkle thrown in by Todd Bowles.

There was a heavy rotation on the defensive line as the Bucs typically implement. Believe it or not, Logan Hall led all interior defenisve linemen with 40 snaps. Then it was Vea with 38, followed by Mike Greene (30), Greg Gaines (26), Will Gholston (11) and first-round draft pick Calijah Kancey with 11 as well. It would have been interesting to see how much Kancey would’ve ended up playing in this game. He exited in the first half with a calf injury flaring up again.

The Bucs had a good mix in the rotation at outside linebacker, too. Shaq Barrett had no limitations as he played 39 snaps, tying the amount played by Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Interestingly enough, rookie third-round pick YaYa Diaby out-snapped Anthony Nelson by one play, going 26 and 25. It was Nelson, though, who garnered the only sack of the group.

It was Winfield and Nelson that recorded sacks for the Bucs’ defense while Tryon-Shoyinka, Winfield and Izien each had turnovers in the game.