Despite his lack of production playing through a torn rotator cuff, the Bucs coaching staff is still trotting out veteran Jason Pierre-Paul each week and giving the 32-year old the most snaps of any outside linebacker on the roster.

The mindset with how the coaches are functioning when dealing with playing Pierre-Paul so many snaps – he played 76 percent of the snaps while fellow starter Shaq Barrett played 72 percent – is as frustrating to watch as Pierre-Paul’s bad game film. Yes, Pierre-Paul is a leader and a warrior, but his shoulder injury significantly hinders his play, and that clear when watching the tape.

There have been cries from Pewter Report and elsewhere to play rookie Joe Tryon-Shoyinka more instead of giving the ailing JPP so many snaps. After all, in his first two starts while replacing Pierre-Paul in Weeks 3-4, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick had seven combined pressures and two sacks in those games.

In fact, despite playing just more than half the snaps Pierre-Paul is playing, Tryon-Shoyinka has more pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. In 159 pass rush snaps this season, JTS has 21 pressures per PFF. In 282 reps, Pierre-Paul has 17 pressures.

What’s been maddening is that since Week 4 when Tryon-Shoyinka had a pair of sacks while playing 50 snaps, his snap count has dipped dramatically with the return of Pierre-Paul.

Tryon-Shoyinka’s Weekly Snaps

Week 1 vs. Dallas: 21 snaps
Week 2 vs. Atlanta: 19 snaps
Week 3 at Los Angeles Rams: 51 snaps
Week 4 at New England: 50 snaps
Week 5 vs. Miami: 17 snaps
Week 6 at Philadelphia: 19 snaps
Week 7 vs. Chicago: 37 snaps
Week 8 at New Orleans: 8 snaps
Week 9: Bye
Week 10 at Washington: 19 snaps
Week 11 vs. New York Giants: 29 snaps

Tryon-Shoyinka has averaged 27 snaps per game this season – but that includes the 51 and 50 snaps he played in L.A. and New England, respectively. Since Week 4, Tryon-Shoyinka has averaged just 18 plays per game, which is criminal given how talented he is, and how hurt Pierre-Paul is.

Tryon-Shoyinka is tied for second on the team with three sacks – half a sack ahead of Pierre-Paul.

Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians was really pleased with the rookie’s performance against the Giants in Tampa Bay’s 30-10 win on Monday night. Tryon-Shoyinka had two tackles and a game-high seven pressures. On Bucs Total Access, Arians revealed that he wants to see Tryon-Shoyinka play around 30 plays per game.

“Joe Tryon played inside a bunch in this game and got his snap count up to where we want [it] and we want to keep it up to around 30 plays a game,” Arians said. “As a group I thought they just hounded Daniel Jones all night.”

Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles deserves for credit for using Tryon-Shoyinka inside as a three-technique interior lineman in some nickel rush situations with Vita Vea out in an effort to get the rookie more plays.

“There is no doubt,” Arians said. “He’s earned every single rep. Todd is getting very creative now with where we’re using him and how we’re using him. He’s a very, bright, bright player.”

After playing 29 reps against the Giants, let’s hope the Bucs coaches stick to the plan and continue to play JTS around 30 plays – or more – in the future.