Each week after every Bucs game, we’ll take a closer look at the snap count distribution for the Tampa Bay offense and defense. We’ll assess what we can learn from who played the most and least from the game.

Here is a closer view of which players received the highest and lowest number of snaps in the Bucs’ 17-16 comeback win on  Monday night against the Saints in Week 13.

Bucs Offense

Leonard Fournette returned to the lineup and took back the lead for running back snaps over Rachaad White. He got 48 out of 80 plays compared to 33 of 80 for White. I’m curious how much of this was by design or if White was punished for fumbling in the third quarter, thus giving Fournette more opportunities. Either way, it was better to see a closer number of snaps than in recent weeks when both are healthy. I’d still prefer for White to have the most, but both players were productive in helping the team win. White obviously had the highlight play, scoring the game winning touchdown with three seconds remaining to cap off a thrilling comeback.

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: USA Today

The wide receivers had their typical split of playing time. Julio Jones had more snaps than last week, increasing by 11 plays and 3%. It appears that the Bucs played it right by keep Jones out for multiple weeks while he dealt with a knee injury. He’s been healthy the last three games and has made splash plays in each. His sideline catch late in the game helped set the Bucs up for the win.

Russell Gage made his return with 26 snaps, but he didn’t provide much of an impact for the offense. Scotty Miller made the most of his 15 plays with a clutch third-down reception over the middle to get a first down in the red zone on the game-winning drive.

Cade Otton came alive in the second half once again, making six catches for 28 yards and scoring the first touchdown of the fourth quarter. Cam Brate was out with an illness, but can the coaches make Otton TE1 already?

Bucs Defense 

Only four players were in on all 59 plays for the Bucs defense: Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis III, Devin White and Logan Ryan. The veteran safety Ryan had missed the last eight weeks, but he showed no signs of rust going the whole distance when Tampa Bay especially needed it with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Edwards out. Credit to Keanu Neal for playing 98% of the time as well. He kept the Bucs in it with a thunderous hit on Taysom Hill after he appeared to catch a pass on a third-and-17, knocking it loose for an incompletion so the Bucs’ offense could get the ball again.

Bucs LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lavonte David was the best defender for the Bucs with 12 tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss. He briefly missed two plays in the second half when the Saints were at the goal line and was replaced by Olakunle Fatukasi, but quickly came back into the game.

The rotation at outside linebacker was odd. Usually, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka leads the way. But it was Anthony Nelson who got the most snaps with 41. I don’t recall JTS being injured, but he was second coming in at 34. Regardless, the best outside linebacker in the game was Carl Nassib, who was on for 29 snaps. He was clutch in the fourth quarter with pass breakup to end a Saints’ drive and then a sack on second down of the final drive that helped get the Bucs the ball back for the game winner. Nassib plays with a high motor and deserves more playing time.

“Carl has become very valuable,” head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday.  “The best play he made was the tipped ball on the third-and-2 that went down where they had to kick a field goal in addition to the sack. Carl has been very physical – he brings a lot of energy for us. We can’t replace Shaq [Barrett], but he can do some different things in the run game and be a power pass rusher for us to help out with the sacks.”

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

On the defensive line, Akiem Hicks got the advantage in snaps over Vita Vea for the second week in a row. It was only by two snaps, though, so not a huge difference. The amount of play for Logan Hall fluctuates each week. He went from 16 snaps (31%) in Week 10 to 20 snaps (25%) and then just 11 (19%) on Monday night. He may have hit that rookie wall as his pass rushing skill set hasn’t been visible for weeks.

Zyon McCollum was a mess at slot corner, but Tampa Bay didn’t have much of a choice. He played 41 snaps for 66% of the time and whiffed on a number of tackles while looking lost in zone coverage. The Bucs might have to go in another direction before next game because they can’t continue to keep him playing in moments with such high stakes.