Each week after 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 from the game.

Here’s a closer look at which players received the highest and lowest number of snaps in the Bucs’ 20-6 home loss while wearing the creamsicle jerseys against the Lions in Week 6.

Bucs Offense

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin played even more than they typically do, reaching the 80% snap range. There were no limitations on Evans after coming back from a hamstring injury, though Evans struggled in the game with a bad drop and costly penalty. Trey Palmer continued to get the third-most snaps amongst the wide receivers as he establishes himself as WR3. He played a little less than Week 4, but still much more than Deven Thompkins and Rakim Jarrett. Godwin led the receivers with 77 yards on six receptions.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

The utilization of the running backs was quite odd. Rachaad White significantly out-snapped Ke’Shawn Vaughn 79% to 21%, but White only had one more rushing attempt than Vaughn. I’m all for not overworking White and he did limp off the field at one point in the first half, so he could’ve been limited. But with the snap counts being what they were, how are the carries even? Isn’t White supposed to be RB1?

The experiment with Vaughn is over as he recorded nine yards for an average of 1.5 yards per attempt. It might be time to use Sean Tucker again despite his limitations as a pass blocker.

White wasn’t stellar either. He ran seven times for 26 yards and an average of 3.7 yards per attempt. On the day, the Bucs only accumulated 46 rushing yards and 2.9 yards on average per attempt. The run game was abysmal and there’s a l0t of fixing to be done.

Tight end Cade Otton didn’t play 100% of the snaps but still clocked in at 96%. Rookie tight end Payne Durham got into his first NFL game and even made his first career NFL catch in the first quarter. He was in for 11% of the snaps while Ko Kieft played 25%. Much like the running backs, the Bucs aren’t getting much production from their tight ends either.

Bucs Defense

All eyes are were on rookie first-round pick Calijah Kancey as he played for the first time since Week 1. Kancey only got in for 11 snaps that game, so yesterday’s contest really felt like the first time to watch a full performance from him. Kancey was a full go, playing 57% of the defensive snaps.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: USA Today

That’s a great sign for the Bucs moving forward as he played really well, recording three tackles, one sack and two quarterback hits. The presence of Kancey dropped the numbers of Logan Hall, who went from 63% in Week 4 to 47% on Sunday. The rest of the defensive line played a similar amount to what they usually do.

Shaq Barrett was questionable to play because of an illness, but that didn’t slow him down as he played 64%. It was Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, though, who led all outside linebackers at 73% of the snap count. With Anthony Nelson out, YaYa Diaby got more playing time, moving up to 43%. Cam Gill also saw his most playing time of the season with 23% of the snaps.

The return of Jamel Dean meant that Zyon McCollum went back to CB3. With that said, it was pretty jarring to see that McCollum got in on only 3% of the snaps. There’s an argument to be made that McCollum has been the best corner this season and Dean struggled once again. They barely used him at all on Sunday and that heavily needs to be re-considered.