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’ throttling of the Panthers, 48-14, where Tampa Bay now controls its own destiny again following the Falcons losing to the Commanders on Sunday Night Football.

Bucs Offense

Bucs TE Payne Durham – Photo by: USA Today

I’m always curious to see how the running backs are used considering their talents and the ever discussed amount of time that they get in for each game. The Bucs got straight to the point in this game, riding Bucky Irving. They didn’t try to hide it or be seclusive when deciding to play him. Tampa Bay just threw him out there and dared the Panthers to stop him, which they couldn’t.

What’s more intriguing is that Rachaad White was used 36% when typically he and Irving are used a similar amount. For example, last week. Irving was in for 57% to White’s 50%. This week, Irving stayed at a similar average of 55%, though White’s numbers dipped. Third-string running back Sean Tucker was also in for 19% of the snaps, though it felt like more.

It was a huge day for the tight ends as Payne Durham scored his first career touchdown and Devin Culp made his first career catch and ended up being third on the most receiving yards for the Bucs with three receptions for 52 yards in the game. Last week Durham was a direct replacement for Cade Otton, playing 93%, but in this game he was scaled back a little bit playing 77% while Culp was in for 26% and really made it count.

This should be reiterated that the game was a blowout, so a lot of players got in the game. Baker Mayfield was replaced by Kyle Trask late in the fourth quarter and so forth.

Looking at Tampa Bay’s wide receivers, Jalen McMillan led the group at 69% of the snaps with Mike Evans not far off at 62%. Had the game been closer, Evans probably takes the lead. As offensive coordinator Liam Coen said, Ryan Miller would be the guy taking the role for the injured Sterling Shepard, and he played 56% of the snaps while Rakim Jarett and Trey Palmer came in at 32% and 30%, respectively.

Bucs Defense

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Thanks to the big win, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey didn’t have to play 95% of the snaps like he did in the last game. Kancey clocked in at 62%, and it wasn’t even the most for his position, as Vita Vea played the most with 68%.

Was it a sign that Anthony Nelson played the most among the outside linebackers at 68% with Yaya Diaby being second at 62%? Probably not, but something to monitor for the season finale.

Inside linebacker K.J. Britt returned from injury this week but was seldom used. He was only in for 17 snaps, as J.J. Russell took the bulk of it with 28 snaps. Russell had a career game as he returned a blocked punt for a touchdown right after the good luck duck was shown on the Jumbotron.

Cornerback Jamel Dean got injured and exited the game at halftime with a knee injury that is not believed to be severe. His replacement was second-year cornerback and top gunner, Josh Hayes, who played 51% of the snaps. Hayes wasn’t a liability when he played, so good on him for being an important, positive factor in a big game.

Safety Jordan Whitehead made his return to the lineup and played the whole way, joining Zyon McCollum as the only player to be in for 100% of the snaps.

No player was in the 90 percentile, as nickeback Tykee Smith and safety Mike Edwards played in 87% of the game in the Bucs’ very important win.