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 tough, 30-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs on Monday Night Football. It was a game in which the Bucs scored late and decided to kick the extra point and tie it up instead of going for two and the lead. For the second time this season, Tampa Bay’s offense did not get the ball in overtime as the defense gave up a game winning touchdown on the opening drive.

Bucs Offense

Talk about an increase in snaps for wide receiver Rakim Jarrett. After having just 20 snaps (27%) in Week 8, Jarrett’s numbers ballooned up to 46 snaps and 84% in Week 9. That was the second most snaps by a skill position player behind Cade Otton and the most amongst all wide receivers. It didn’t necessarily translate to production on the field as he had just one catch for nine yards, but clearly Tampa Bay shuffled around the receivers.

Bucs WR Trey Palmer – Photo by: USA Today

Part of the moving of the receivers had to do with Jalen McMillan being unavailable for the game. He tested out the hamstring injury in warmups but couldn’t go. It was wide receiver by committee filling out the rest of the snaps. Ryan Miller had the second-most amount of playing time at 62%, followed shortly after by Sterling Shepard at 60% and Trey Palmer at 49%. It was Miller that had big increase in snaps from a week ago while Palmer had more of a decrease.

Shepard played close to the same amount of snaps but was the most productive of the receivers. I’m curious if he wasn’t dealing with a hamstring injury if he could’ve played more. Of course, tight end Cade Otton continued his emergence leading the team in receiving and playing 98% of the snaps.

Running back Rachaad White is head and shoulders above Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker when it comes to pass blocking. That probably explains why there was such a large gap in playing time this week as White was on for 62% while Irving clocked in for 35%. The Bucs had to rally late to tie the game up, so with all passing plays coming, White was called on to take the reigns for the group.

It’s evident that the Bucs have their system in the running back rotation. White is the main guy on passing plays, but Irving is the go-to back when it comes to actually running the football. Irving had the most rushing attempts with seven as White and Tucker only had three each. For those wondering about Tucker, he played just seven snaps again. As talented as Tucker is, he can’t pass block well, which makes it difficult for the Bucs to play him without telegraphing what they’re going to do. The Bucs did have one snap where all three running backs were on the field at the same time together.

Bucs Defense

Goodness gracious, the Bucs actually platooned inside linebacker K.J. Britt. Many, including plenty of us at Pewter Report, have clamored for Todd Bowles and the Bucs to come up with some kind of solution at inside linebacker to try something different instead of continuously trot out Britt given his struggles. Bowles finally gave in and platooned J.J. Russell on passing downs. Britt played 54% and Russell was in for 36% of it.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Bucs OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: USA Today

Vita Vea played 15 more snaps than he did a week ago, but his 71% of the snaps was technically was 2% less than Week 8. However, Calijah Kancey had a big time increase in Week 9 going from 56% to 68%. It paid off having their top defensive tackles on for a majority of the game as they recorded four sacks together, with two for each.

Tampa Bay’s defense did struggle stopping the run, so maybe it’s time to get Earnest Brown more involved after playing only three snaps instead of Will Gholston and C.J. Brewer. Also, Logan Hall had an odd looking number having played two less snaps than the week before but his percentages going down from 52% to 35%.

After missing last week with a concussion, Tykee Smith was thrown right back into the mix playing 85%. Josh Hayes got the start at corner and played 93% with Tyrek Funderburk coming in briefly when Hayes was hurt and played 6% in the game. Smith had a big impact for Tampa Bay, forcing a fumble on Travis Kelce that was recovered by Hayes. It was the only turnover from the defense.

Finally, Yaya Diaby led the outside linebackers in snaps this week with 72%. It was Joe Tryon-Shoyinka that led it the prior two weeks, but they went back to playing Diaby the most this time around. Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell played around their similar numbers. While the Bucs recorded four sacks in the game, none of them came from their edge rushers, which has been a common theme for them all season.