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 20-17 win over the Cardinals as Tampa Bay returned home and snapped a three-game losing streak. Getting Bucky Irving, Ben Bredeson, Jamel Dean and Haason Reddick back all proved to be very important for the group.

Bucs Offense

If this was the Bucs’ version of putting Bucky Irving on a pitch count, then so be it. Playing for the first time since Week 4, Irving was in for 52% of the game and was the focal point of the running game with 17 attempts for 61 yards and a rushing touchdown. The next closest player in attempts was Baker Mayfield with six scrambles, followed by Rachaad White and Sean Tucker each with two carries.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Cliff Welch/PR

Irving immediately became the main guy once again with hardly any usage of Tucker, who was in for just nine snaps, which was 15% of the snaps. White resumed a lot of third down responsibilities, but his 38% of the snaps was the lowest it’s been since the first three weeks of the season, and went down 22% compared to a week ago. When Irving is healthy it’s clear the Bucs will feature him.

Chris Godwin Jr.’s pitch count was expanded this week. He improved by 30% going from 36% in Los Angeles to 66% on Sunday, and he had a huge impact for the Bucs offense with his best game of the season. Godwin had three catches for 78 yards, which led team. The Bucs said he would play more in this game and it paid off well. Emeka Egbuka’s snaps were down only 5%, but it was Tez Johnson and Sterling Shepard that saw less playing time with more involvement from Godwin.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With the Bucs wanting to run the ball with Irving while also protect Mayfield coming off of a shoulder injury, Tampa Bay played way more 12 personnel with two tight end sets. Payne Durham had the biggest jump going from a mere 16% of the snaps last week all the way up to 43% on Sunday.

Another fun note to point out was backup tackle Charlie Heck playing one snap. He was the extra lineman on the goal line played that made Tristan Wirfs an eligible receiver. Wirfs caught a touchdown pass from Mayfield, scoring the first TD of his NFL career in an awesome moment.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Bucs Defense

Tampa Bay threw outside linebacker Haason Reddick right back into the mix after missing several weeks. He played 77% of the snaps and even out-snapped Yaya Diaby at 70%. Anthony Nelson went all the way back down to 30%, as the Bucs leaned heavy on their starting edge rushers.

Bucs OLB Haason Reddick – Photo by: USA Today

It’s the second week in a row that nose tackle Vita Vea has seen a drop in his playing time. His 59% was also the second-lowest amount he’s played all season. Maybe Tampa Bay is trying to keep him fresh for some more pivotal stretches and a postseason run. Logan Hall and Elijah Roberts each played 57%, and it was a good game by Hall, who forced a fumble. Hall’s playing time has increased as of late.

There’s no more substituting for Jamel Dean anymore – well for the most part. Dean was in on 95% of the plays and knocked the ball into the air in the first half, leading to Antoine Winfield Jr.’s interception. Of course with Benjamin Morrison out, there was nobody to fill in with him, so he shouldn’t have been off the field for any part of the game.

Bucs SS Tykee Smith – Photo by: USA Today

We’ve typically seen SirVocea Dennis in for all 100% of the snaps, but he missed 5% with Deion Jones going in for a few plays. Tykee Smith missed on play briefly as Christian Izien came in, but he was able to come back in and help Tampa Bay win.