Week 7 Snap Count Analysis: Bucs at Lions

The numbers were always going to but a little skewed with Mike Evans getting injured with five minutes to go in the second quarter. It was his first game back since injuring his hamstring in Week 3, and Monday night became potentially his last game of the regular season – depending on when he can come back from a broken clavicle and concussion. Evans wound up playing 20% of the snaps – just 14 plays.

The plan was to have a one-two combo with Evans and Emeka Egbuka finding a way to play after his game was cut short last week. Egbuka certainly didn’t look 100%, but he still wound up playing a good amount for the Bucs and led all wide receivers by playing 75% of the snaps. He actually wasn’t that far off from his typical snap percentage when playing a full game. A good example would be that in Week 1 he played his highest amount at 93% of the snaps, and in Week 5 he played his lowest amount in a complete game at 85% – so not far off.

I do wonder how much more Egbuka had to play because of Evans’ injury. The Bucs relied on Egbuka, Tez Johnson (68%) and Sterling Shepard (64%) to essentially be the trio of receivers that Mayfield was targeting. Kameron Johnson only was in on 22%, which is surprising considering he led the Bucs in receptions and receiving yards a week ago. It’s evident that most of the Bucs’ faith is in Tez Johnson after Egbuka, and that’s hard to argue after Tez’s exciting 22-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

With Evans out until the end of the year and Chris Godwin Jr.’s fibula injury still keeping him out, this is the group that’s going to have to get the job done moving ahead. I’d recommend a little more of Kameron Johnson to mix in with the aforementioned players, especially with Egbuka not fully healthy right now.

While the Bucs showed trust in Tez Johnson, they showed very little when it comes to running back Sean Tucker. The third-year back out of Syracuse played just seven snaps in the game. Rachaad White, on the other hand, played 90% of the snaps and was in for essentially the whole game.

A lot of what was going on in the game dictated the usage as the Bucs were down two scores for most of the second half and needed to throw it to try and get back in the game. White is easily the best pass blocking back, even when Bucky Irving is available, so it made sense why he was in at the end. Tampa Bay couldn’t find any traction in the running game or passing game, and throwing 50 times will keep White in more than Tucker. It proves that White can be a bellcow back, but it also feels like the Bucs might wear him out if they don’t mix in Tucker in more often next week at New Orleans.

The tight ends played the same amount as usual with Cade Otton playing 97% of the snaps and Payne Durham playing 35% with Devin Culp getting in on three snaps. Otton was involved in two of the more controversial plays of the game, and has been a top target for Mayfield in recent weeks.

Offensive guard Michael Jordan got the start at right guard in his return from a knee injury but it was interesting to see that they brought in Dan Feeney as an blocking fullback on a successful fourth down run. Jordan has no more practice squad elevations after Monday, so we’ll see if the Bucs sign him to the 53-man roster soon.

Bucs Defense

Almost playing every defensive snap was inside linebacker was SirVocea Dennis, who played 97% of the time. That was 9% more than a week ago and the most he’s played since going 100% of the snaps in Week 3. Despite making 12 tackles and recording a sack, it wasn’t an overall good game for the third-year inside linebacker. His missed tackle on a swing pass to Jahmyr Gibbs on the first drive of the game that went for a 30-yard gain. There were several terrible angle of pursuits that allowed for some explosive plays for Detroit.

The beginning of the game also saw Deion Jones in as the Bucs used three inside linebackers. Jones only ended up playing 7% while Lavonte David missed out on a play due to injury and ended up playing 99% of the snaps. Only cornerback Zyon McCollum played all 100% of the snaps, with Antoine Winfield Jr. coming close and also joining David at 99% and missing one play.

The cornerbacks had a different rotation with McCollum and Benjamin Morrison back. Morrison occasionally subbed in for Jamel Dean, keeping Dean fresh. It paid off as Dean recorded his third interception of the season. Dean was in for 66% while Morrison clocked in at 32%. It’s an interesting set up because Tampa Bay wants to keep Dean healthy while getting Morrison some experience, but it’s been Morrison that is more often injured this season.

Jacob Parrish saw a huge drop in snaps going back to playing primarily in the slot. He went a full 97% last week playing both outside and slot cornerback to just 44% on Monday. That’s the role he’ll continue to have if everyone else is available. Parrish had a costly penalty early in the game and slipped on Amon-Ra St. Brown’s first quarter touchdown, but still plays with high effort.

Adjustments had to be at outside linebacker after Haason Reddick left the game with a knee and ankle injury. Yaya Diaby had a good game with a strip sack and played the most at 78% with Reddick at 65%. Next up was Anthony Nelson at 35%, who had a chance to make a big play on fourth down stopping a Jahmyr Gibbs run in the backfield, but couldn’t hold on as Gibbs got just enough to get the first down.

Unless the Bucs make a trade, Nelson is the next best option for Tampa Bay at outside linebacker with Reddick expected to miss several weeks. Chris Braswell was in for just 22% of the snaps, but his playing time is also about the increase.

The Bucs have fully gone with rookie defensive tackle Elijah Roberts as the primary defensive tackle after Vita Vea. While Vea led Tampa Bay’s defensive tackles with at 81% of the snaps, Roberts had the next highest at 68%. He has some pass rushing prowess that the team likes and helped his case by recovering a fumble on the Diaby sack and also break up a pass at the line of scrimmage on third down. Hall hasn’t been exonerated from the rotation either, as his 63% was the next highest.

They’ve settled in on having Vea, Roberts and Hall as the mainstays while Greg Gaines (28%) and Elijah Simmons (18%) get sprinkled in. The group will be fine as long as Vea is available. The run defense took a huge hit with Gibbs running for a 78-yard touchdown, but they’re still a top level run stopping group most weeks. Adding in Roberts helps them get some more pressure on the pass rush from the interior.