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 team’s 28-23 loss to the Patriots. The Bucs had their chances to win the game, but too many big plays allowed and a lack of efficiency on the offense late in the fourth quarter did them in.

Bucs Offense

It appears that Emeka Egbuka looks much healthier and is over his hamstring injury. Though his 88% was the same amount he had played two weeks ago, he was much more efficient yesterday with six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Egbuka looked like the player who burst onto the scene over the first month of the season with that type of production.

Tez Johnson was really the player that saw a bigger uptick in usage, joining Egbuka in the 80th percentile at 83%. That’s a 12% increase for the rookie seventh-rounder, who rewarded the Bucs for giving him more playing time with two touchdowns. Sterling Shepard had a major rise in playing time, going all the way up to 65%, though his biggest impact on the game was a negative one where he was called for a pass interference on a crucial fourth down.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

I’ve been banging the table for Kameron Johnson to get more playing time. He didn’t help his case by dropping a pass over the middle that hit him in the hands. Johnson only played 13% of the snaps, and it’s evident that the Bucs just want to keep him for kick and punt return and the occasional end-arounds.

It was downright shocking looking at the snaps for running backs Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. Not because White played 72% and Tucker played 32%, but because it felt like Tucker was out there much more than he actually was. He clearly had way more of an impact for Tampa Bay with 53 rushing yards on nine attempts and an average of 5.9 yards per rush. White played okay, but didn’t gain as much traction and was a non-factor in the passing game.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photo by: USA Today

We’ll see how long Bucky Irving continues to be out for, but Tampa Bay needs to seriously consider making Tucker the primary rusher with White playing on third downs. Tucker has made more plays when given more snaps.

Cade Otton was in for his usual amount playing at 97% of the snaps. Payne Durham had a significant drop all the way down to 28%. There were often times that the Bucs tried to get to an empty set with five receiving targets, which is probably why Durham saw less snaps than usual.

Right tackle Luke Goedeke played well in his return to the lineup, playing the whole game. Left guard Ben Bredeson exited the game after the first drive due to a hamstring injury, and Michael Jordan came in to replace him and played 93% of the snaps. He’ll likely stay in that spot with Dan Feeney continuing at right guard. We’ll see if Luke Haggard gets into the conversation too, as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

Bucs Defense

Let’s address the elephant in the room, cornerback Jamel Dean shouldn’t be taken off the field to put in Benjamin Morrison when Dean is playing at a Pro Bowl level. This badly hurt the Bucs, as Morrison allowed a 72-yard touchdown catch-and-run, plus had a pass interference penalty. Dean, who leads the team with three interceptions, was on for 79% of the snaps while Morrison was on for 16% – just 10 snaps. It may not seem like a lot, but the Patriots targeted Morrison often when he was playing.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

The snap numbers were always going to be higher in this game versus their last one since Tampa Bay beat New Orleans in a blowout and this game came down to the wire. Lavonte David was back to playing 100%. Anthony Nelson was used more at 92%, while Yaya Diaby played his similar amount.

We saw a lot less of Tykee Smith, which came as a surprise considering he’s a top player for the defense. He was in for 84% compared to typically being in the 90% mark. He made a huge play late in the game intercepting Drake Maye in the end zone, but Tampa Bay’s offense couldn’t score with the momentum.

Bucs SS Tykee Smith, DT Elijah Roberts and ILB SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: USA Today

There was also a lot less Jacob Parrish in this game with him at 48% due t0 playing less nickel defense. Plus, Elijah Roberts only out-snapped Logan Hall by 3% at 67% to 64%. This all likely had to do with the personnel that the Patriots were running with more two tight end sets. Roberts had a big game with a sack and pass breakup. It gets no easier for the Bucs with two more tough games ahead at Buffalo and at Los Angeles against the Rams.