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 Bucs’ last game of the season as Tampa Bay lost in the Wild Card Round to the Commanders, 23-20, in what was a close, back-and-forth type of game.

Bucs Offense

There were many questions throughout the week on what Tampa Bay was going to do with their tight ends given the return of starting tight end Cade Otton. Typically, Otton plays a majority of the snaps hardly never getting off of the field. But at the same time, he’s coming off of a knee injury and backups Payne Durham and Devin Culp had done well in the previous weeks replacing him.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

We got our answer early when Culp was listed as a gameday inactive. Otton immediately went back to his high snap total, staying in for 96% of the snaps, which was most among Tampa Bay’s skill position players. Durham played 31%, going to back to the typical amount he’s in for when Otton is available.

Ko Kieft played two snaps on offense. He has an important role on special teams, but the fact that Kieft is seldom used on offense means it’s understandable to question why Culp couldn’t get some chances.

Jalen McMillan played the most out of the wide receivers, getting ahead of Mike Evans 92% to 81%. With Sterling Shepard coming in at 56%, Evans and Shepard’s percentage of play were down slightly, but not enough for it to be alarming. It appears Trey Palmer is out of favor with the Bucs for the time being. Palmer played just two snaps on offense compared to Rakim Jarrett playing seven and Ryan Miller playing six. In other weeks, Palmer would be right around that number as well.

Tampa Bay went all in on Bucky Irving again with Rachaad White relegated to just third downs and important passing plays. Irving out-snapped White by a big amount again at 69% to 38%. This is the third week in a row where there’s been this significant of a difference, so it’s not an anomaly anymore. What’s even more telling of the whole situation is that White had just one rushing attempt that went for a yard along with two targets, catching both for 14 yards in the passing game.

And in another oddity, White was used on kick return even though he hadn’t been there all season. Either the Bucs love Bucky Irving and only want to use him or they see something in White’s game that is an issue. We saw Irving struggle pass blocking a bit in Sunday’s game, even getting penalized for a chop block, while White has developed into a great pass blocker. The Bucs will have all offseason to assess what they want to do.

Bucs Defense

Welcome back, Antoine Winfield Jr. He was the only Bucs player to be in for 100% of the snaps, although Lavonte David was one away at 99%. The secondary as a group had players going in and out like a revolving door. Zyon McCollum missed a little bit of time as he was being evaluated for a concussion, but still was in for 93% of the snaps.

Jamel Dean left the game in third quarter after re-aggravating his knee injury and was ruled out for the rest of it. This put in Josh Hayes, who the Commanders picked on, and at one point Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk were in together. Dean played 66% of the game while Hayes finished out at 34% during the end of it.

Safety Mike Edwards and nickel corner Tykee Smith each played 82% and were needed the whole time. Kaevon Merriweather chipped in at 19%.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and Commanders RB Austin Ekeler – Photo by: USA Today

Using all the inside linebackers was an adventure. Besides David playing virtually the whole game, J.J. Russell, K.J. Britt and Deion Jones all played a similar amount. Russell just edged out the others at 30% with Britt at 26% and Jones at 25%. Tampa Bay attempted to get Jones in on passing downs, and it almost worked at the goal line, but he dropped an interception. The Bucs did get the fourth down stop, only for the offense to fumble it a couple of plays later.

All of the play at outside linebacker mostly came from the starting duo of Yaya Diaby (77%) and Anthony Nelson (70%). Joe Tryon-Shoyinka would give them a break, playing at 42% while Chris Braswell and Shaq Barrett were hardly used. Braswell was in for seven snaps and Barrett played five.

It was to be expected that Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey would play the most for the Bucs at defensive tackle. Vea played 70% while Kancey was used 74% of the time. Kancey exited the game briefly, which gave a couple more snaps to Greg Gaines at 36%.

Logan Hall played 45%, averaging the similar amount to what he has been during the last stretch of the season. In what might be his last game in the NFL, Will Gholston played four snaps with some brief appearances. Gholston has done a lot in his career with the Bucs and is fifth all time in team history with 186 games played.

There’s no doubt that this defensive unit will look different next year. Certainly moves are going to be made in the secondary, inside linebacker and outside linebacker as they prepare to revamp the group and make a Super Bowl run next season.