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 their big upset win of 20-16 over the Lions on the road on Sunday.
Bucs Offense
Tampa Bay had plans to chip block Lions’ edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, but everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth, as Mike Tyson once said. The Bucs plan consisted of having tight end Cade Otton provide the chip, but it was to no avail.
The Bucs kept Otton on for 100% snaps on Sunday, which they did a lot last season. In the first game of this year, Otton was on for 86% in Week 1, however, Otton played 48 snaps yesterday which was seven less than the 55 he endured last week. Otton nearly had a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, but it was broken up by Brian Branch. He technically didn’t have a catch, but Baker Mayfield threw him the ball as he was about to get sacked and was quickly tackled, resulting in a four-yard loss that counted as a rushing attempt.
The wide receiver snaps were perfectly symmetrical as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan all were in for 79%. It shows how much they believe in McMillan, and how committed offensive coordinator Liam Coen is to running 11 personnel, also known as a three receiver, one tight end formation. Godwin did all of the damage in the first half with seven catches, 117 yards and a touchdown while Evans and McMillan picked it up in the second half. McMillan’s lone catch went for 21 yards in the third quarter and helped spark a drive that led to a go-ahead rushing touchdown by Baker Mayfield.
Despite a groin injury to running back Rachaad White that cost him to miss a little bit of the game, he still doubled up on the amount of snaps that Bucky Irving had. White was in for 34 (71%) while Irving was in for 17 (35%).
That was an upgrade in usage for Irving, which was good to see. They used a little more of the “Pony” package, which is a formation that has both running backs on the field at the same time, and even scored a touchdown using that personnel on a the 41 yard touchdown to Chris Godwin in the first half. It seems that good things happen when they’re on the field together.
Bucs Defense
A huge amount of credit needs to go to defensive tackle Greg Gaines for taking up a lot more responsibility after nose tackle Vita Vea was out for the rest of the game. Gaines typically plays around 25 snaps per game, but over the first two games of the season has been asked for more due to injuries of other players. Gaines was in for 66 snaps and 78% of the defensive plays. The next closest defensive lineman after Vea was Logan Hall at 35% and Will Gholston at 32%.
It appears that it’s an inside linebacker by committee approach each week between K.J. Britt and SirVocea Dennis. Last week Britt was on for more, playing 66% to Dennis’ 36%. This time around it was much closer and Dennis played more at 52% to Britt’s 48%. Surely, the game plan will dictate a different outcome for these two this week against the Broncos. Dennis was fantastic again, recoding 11 tackles in the game, which was second most for the Bucs.
The rotations were relatively the same at outside linebacker with the exception of Chris Braswell. His role was diminished to 21% of the game, cutting his role exactly in half. This probably had to do with the Bucs playing more of Yaya Diaby after easing him in last week. Diaby’s snap count soared up to 76% on Sunday.
Fully healthy, cornerback Zyon McCollum and inside linebacker Lavonte David joined cornerback Jamel Dean in playing 100% of the snaps. Also in that group was defensive back Christian Izien filling in for Antoine Winfield Jr. at free safety. Playing all 85 snaps, Izien had a very important role and a huge impact on the game with a clutch interception in the second half.