Week 17 Snap Count Analysis: Bucs At Dolphins

Interestingly enough it was Chris Godwin Jr. that led over Mike Evans amongst all wide receivers in the snap counts at 79% to Evans’ 75%. That was still the most that Evans has played in his third game back from his collarbone injury. Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan’s snaps stayed relatively the same from a week ago. McMillan led the team with 114 yards receiving, which was a career high.

Running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White came as close as they’ve been all season to having 50-50 snap counts. Irving led as per usual, but only at 54% to White’s 48%. This was likely because the Bucs needed two scores late and were constantly throwing the ball with five minutes to go, putting White on the field as the best pass blocking running back. It was Irving that dominated the rushing attempts having nine, while White and Sean Tucker had just two. Tucker continues to get single digit snaps with four snaps, which was just 6% of the snaps in the game.

The Bucs went a little more four and five wide on certain passing plays, often lining up Irving or White outside, so there wasn’t much tight end use outside of Cade Otton, who had his usual 97%. Payne Durham’s number dropped all the way down to 13%. Backup tackle Charlie Heck was in for one play as a swing tackle and extra blocker.

Bucs Defense

The biggest personnel move of note in this game was the benching of strong safety Tykee Smith. It appeared that Smith was out of position or had miscommunication on the Theo Wease Jr. 63-yard touchdown and the Greg Dulcich touchdown catch. Todd Bowles benched Smith towards the end of the second quarter at the second half, opting for backup Christian Izien instead.

Smith typically plays every snap and 100% of the game. There was no injury announced by Tampa Bay, so it had to be a benching. The second-year safety was in for only 47% while Izien was in for more at 53%. Only three Bucs played 100% of the snaps and that was safety Antoine Winfield Jr, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Benjamin Morrison.

It was a busy game for Izien as he played safety and also moved into the slot after Jamel Dean got hurt and the team moved slot corner Jacob Parrish to outside corner. After the game Todd Bowles said it was a shoulder injury that has been bothering Dean all season long. He wound up playing 60% and Parrish was in for 75%. Kindle Vildor got a little time at corner playing 11%.

Inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis played 84%, a season low for him in a game where he didn’t get injured. Outside linebackers Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick actually had their numbers drop to 67% and 60% respectively. The Bucs leaned into Chris Braswell and Jason Pierre-Paul a little bit more. Braswell jumped all the way up to 40%, the third highest he’s played all season long. JPP’s 29% was also an increase as he had a pass breakup in the game.

There wasn’t much to take away from the defensive line rotation. Tampa Bay relies a lot on Vita Vea while everyone else played their roles. Logan Hall had a bit of an increase at 65%. It seems that no matter what the team does or who plays, nothing is helping Tampa Bay win lately.