Each week following every Bucs game, we’ll take a closer 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 very tough 23-20, last-second loss to the 49ers on Sunday. It was a game in which the Bucs tied the game at 20-20 late in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t stop the 49ers from kicking the game-winning field goal. For the third time this season, Tampa Bay’s offense did not get a chance to win the game as the opposing offense had the ball on the game’s final possession.

Bucs Offense

Running back Sean Tucker was a major factor in this one. Just kidding, he didn’t register one single offensive snap.

It’s understandable why Rachaad White leads the room every week in playing time, this week he was on for 61% of the snaps, and that’s because he’s the team’s best receiving back, and just as important, their best pass protecting back. But even with all that, it’s ridiculous that Tucker can’t be involved even in the slightest of ways.

Bucs RB Rachaad White and 49ers ILB Fred Warner – Photo by: USA Today

He’s the Bucs’ fastest runner and arguably best back. Who cares if a run is telegraphed when he’s in the game? The defense still has to stop it. Bucky Irving was in for 46% of the snaps, so not far off from White. Of course when the game mattered most and the Bucs were going to run the ball in the red zone, Irving wasn’t in despite being the best rusher. Another mistake by Tampa Bay’s coaching staff.

Wide receiver Jalen McMillan couldn’t go again after testing out his hamstring, but the persona non grata for the Bucs at wide receiver appears to be Trey Palmer. His snaps have been cut significantly in recent weeks and he was all the way down to 15 snaps and 25% on Sunday. Ryan Miller was a practice squad player for most of the season and yet he led the Bucs receivers in snaps with 85%.

Maybe that’s because the veteran Sterling Shepard can’t be in for that long with a hamstring injury, but it’s not like it made a difference. Tampa Bay’s receivers were invisible in the game. Rakim Jarrett, who played the second most at 82%, made just two catches for 10 yards. The team severely misses Mike Evans.

This isn’t a big deal but thought it was interesting. Tight end Cade Otton played 93% of the snaps. He’s typically at 98% if not 100%, so it was just odd to see his numbers dip slightly. He still out-snapped the rest of the skill position players.

Bucs Defense

Do we have an inside linebacker platoon back on our hands? Well, sort of. Backup inside linebacker J.J. Russell played 12 snaps, which was 19%, so he did replace K.J. Britt at times – but not enough. Credit Todd Bowles for trying something different and attempting to shake things up, however, the defense is still a liability. Allowing the 49ers to drive down the field with 40 seconds to go and kick the game-winning field goal speaks to it.

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and KJ Britt and 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The one good thing the Bucs have going is their unit at defensive tackle with Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. They played the same amount of time at 67% and that’s great to see. Your best players should be playing most of the time. Returning from injury, Greg Gaines played 34%. That number should go up a little bit more, positive things tend to happen when he’s in. Gaines recorded a sack in the game.

Christian Izien was the nickel replacement for Tykee Smith as expected. He’s played everywhere this season based on what’s been needed from him, and he clocked in at 59% on Sunday. There was a point late in this game after Zyon McCollum tweaked his hamstring that Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk were in at cornerback for the Bucs. Hayes played the whole game and Funderburk was in for nine snaps, though they were a very important nine snaps on the final drive. No wonder San Francisco was able to drive down in crunch time.

Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby played 72% of the snaps. That was the sixth-most on the team. He made two tackles and had one quarterback hit. No sack once again for him. Chris Braswell left the game early with an oblique injury, so he was in for 31%. Regardless of if he heals up, maybe this means Jose Ramirez can finally get an opportunity. At this point, what is Tampa Bay getting from their other outside linebackers that should influence the Bucs to keep the same rotation? That’s just one of the many questions that this team has at the moment.