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 a heartbreaking primetime loss to the Cowboys, 26-24, which no longer gives Tampa Bay a direct path to the postseason.

Bucs Offense

It was always going to be a big question for how the Bucs were going to replace Cade Otton and his overall snap usage. Otton typically plays almost every snap on offense, constantly going in for over 95%. As it turned out, the Bucs didn’t piece this together by going tight end by committee, it was mainly just using Payne Durham to a similar amount. Durham played 60 out of 72 snaps and 93% of the game. He recorded five catches for 29 yards and had a fumble, but it was recovered by Baker Mayfield. Ko Kieft was in for 12 snaps while rookie Devin Culp played just three.

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

After Durham, wide receiver Jalen McMillan played the most snaps by any skill position player on Tampa Bay’s offense at 83% closely followed by Mike Evans with 81%. Sterling Shepard would usually be next on this list among the wide receivers but a hamstring injury kept him out for the rest of the game after 33%.

And it was Ryan Miller of all players that picked up the slack, coming in at 46%. That was more than Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett, who each played 18% of the snaps. Miller was rewarded by scoring a wide-open touchdown in the fourth quarter to cut the Bucs’ deficit to two.

Last week, it was Rachaad White that out-snapped Bucky Irving 51% to 44%. This week, Irving had more playing time than White at 57% to 50%. I’ll never complain about having more of Irving, it wasn’t just interesting to see how it played out with White getting most of the snaps at the beginning of the game, and then with the Bucs trailing and needing to throw more at the end, that’s when White was also in. What unfortunately will get remembered most was the ending where White’s fumble on the first play of the final drive ended the Bucs’ chances of making a comeback  and coming out on top.

Bucs Defense

The Bucs are riding defensive tackle Calijah Kancey as much as they possibly can. Kancey was in for a whopping 95% of the game, making it the highest percentage of snaps he’s ever played in. He recorded two tackles and had a half sack, splitting it with Yaya Diaby on the evening. It’ll be interesting to see if Kancey can keep up that production for the rest of the season. That’s a lot to put on a player at that position.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and S Christian Izien and Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb – Photo by: USA Today

It appears that the Bucs have greatly trimmed their usage of all defensive tackles after Kancey, Vita Vea and Logan Hall. Vea played 80% and Hall clocked in at 48%. Meanwhile Greg Gaines had just 14 snaps and Will Gholston was in at four. The Bucs don’t seem to trusting of other outside linebackers either. They’ve cut into the play of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka as Anthony Nelson once again out-snapped him. Chris Braswell has become an afterthought in the rotation, getting in on two plays.

Inside linebacker J.J. Russell saw an increase in his snaps going from 60% last week to 73% last night. His biggest contribution was dropping an interception that would’ve put Tampa Bay inside the Dallas’ 20 when they were down two scores. There will be a complete revamping of the linebackers next season, or at least their should be.

Safeties Kaevon Merriweather and Mike Edwards split their snaps right down the middle 31 snaps and 52% each. Christian Izien at 93% played almost the whole game at strong safety. Only two players on defense – cornerback Jamel Dean and linebacker Lavonte David – played 100% in the entire game.