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’ 16-14 home win over the Panthers on Saturday. Tampa Bay’s playoff chances are still alive with a chance to win the division if the Saints can beat the Falcons on Sunday.

Bucs Offense

The Bucs leaned a lot more on Bucky Irving in this game than they have previously. Its likely the weather had a lot to do with it, as it was a torrential downpour during parts of the game. After Irving and Rachaad White played as close to matching snap percentages as they could all season last week in Miami, the gap was much wider on Saturday. Irving played 63% of the game and was impactful with a season-high 85 rushing yards on 26 attempts. White was in for 33% and had 23 yards rushing and 18 yards receiving.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nathan Ray Seebeck

It was Chris Godwin Jr. that led the Bucs receivers in snaps last game, but Mike Evans took back the top spot on Saturday at 75%. Godwin wasn’t far behind at 70%. What stands out more, though, is that Emeka Egbuka continues to have the third-highest snap count among the receivers and yet is absent in games.

Its understandable that he’ll be ahead of Jalen McMillan due to McMillan coming back from a serious neck injury, but Egbuka’s been a non-factor in three games in a row. He played 58% of the snaps and just eight receiving yards on one catch. Fellow rookie Tez Johnson, who was in for 13%, had more of an impact with a 17-yard reception and a 5-yard rushing attempt.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

What a game it was for tight end Cade Otton, as he led the Bucs with seven catches for 94 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season. He also made the catch to get a first down on a crucial third down late in the game that essentially sealed it for Tampa Bay. Per usual, Otton led all Bucs’ skill position players at 96%. Payne Durham’s number jumped up a lot more to 27%, as the Bucs used more 12 personnel wanting to run the football and playing with extra blockers. That also gave swing tackle Charlie Heck one extra snap, as he had two in the game to help block for the ground game.

Bucs Defense

Its a sigh of relief to say the Bucs didn’t have to make any in-game adjustments to the secondary as everyone got through unscathed. Tampa Bay decided to have Jacob Parrish move to outside cornerback with Jamel Dean out and it paid off as he recorded an interception, which led to three points. It was Parrish, fellow rookie corner Benjamin Morrison, safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith and inside linebacker Lavonte David that all played 100% of the snaps.

Inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis played 94% of the snaps with 48 snaps out of 51, so it looks like the Bucs went to a dime package on three different plays swapping Dennis out for another defensive back. Safety Rashad Wisdom played three defensive snaps in the game, so they were the tandem that went in and out. It was a big game for Christian Izien, as Todd Bowles started him in the slot at nickel corner. He played 61% of the snaps and recorded two tackles.

Bucs DB Christian Izien – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Everybody wanted to know how defensive tackle Calijah Kancey was going to look playing in his first game since Week 2 coming off injured reserve. Bowles said during the week that Kancey was going to be on a pitch count, but it didn’t appear as such, as he played 55% of the snaps. That was the same amount of snaps as defensive tackle Logan Hall played, and was well ahead of Elijah Roberts at 29%. Only Vita Vea had more snaps at 78%.

Kancey registered a quarterback hit in the game and helped play a big role in the Bucs’ shutting down Carolina’s run game, as the Panthers only had 19 total rushing yards on the evening.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

There wasn’t much a of a difference in rotation at outside linebacker. The team stuck to the same system of a lot of Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick at 78%, followed by Chris Braswell at 22% and Jason Pierre-Paul at 20%. Markees Watts got in for a snap. Tampa Bay did not record a sack, but overall had a good defensive performance, especially against the run, and most importantly got the win.