Snap Count Analysis
September 21st, 2022
Planted on bench.
Unless there is an injury no one outside of One Buc Palace is aware of, this is a bad sign for a former starter.
Sean Murphy-Bunting was a starting cornerback since Week 8 of his rookie year in 2019. In the Super Bowl run in the 2020 playoffs, SMB had three picks in four games, nearly tying an NFL record for postseason picks.
Now? Well, unless SMB is hurt, he’s been an afterthought. Through two games, SMB has yet to log a snap on defense.
Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Antoine Winfield and Mike Edwards have yet to miss a snap on defense.
SMB couldn’t even get on the field to give a fellow defensive back a breather.
Also interesting to Joe about the snap counts is that Lavonte David, 32, hasn’t missed a snap. All the other defenders who have been on the field for each defensive play this season are in their 20s, and all but Davis are on their rookie contracts.
David will be 33 in January. Can a guy that age at his position keep this up through 17 games and be in top shape for the postseason?
Vita Vea so far has 63 percent of the snaps on defense. Last year Vea had 53 percent, but factor in that he missed a game with a bum knee in 2021.
On offense, aside from Tom Brady (duh), Luke Goedeke, Robert Hainsey, Shaq Mason and Tristan Wirfs have all logged 100 percent of the snaps.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:05 am
Thanks Joe! Appreciate the analysis.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:05 am
I don’t think Suh missed many snaps either ?
September 21st, 2022 at 10:14 am
SMB sucks, that’s why he’s not playing, and won’t get a new contract.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:17 am
He’s no longer on the team.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:18 am
Vea is going to have to ball with Hicks out. Vea is playing well, but he’s not a game-wrecker…yet.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:23 am
Starters are doing excellent, no reason to take them out if they dont need a breather.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:23 am
SMB isn’t better than a bottle of cologne?
September 21st, 2022 at 10:24 am
The bottle of cologne, at least currently, is out of football. SMB is employed on the roster of a Super Bowl contender. So just based on that alone, yes of course, SMB is better. smh
September 21st, 2022 at 10:25 am
Does this include Special Teams?
I could have sworn I seen him out there a few times. I will have to go back and rewatch the Special Teams plays.
BUT I thought I saw him put the gunner on his ARSE a time or two. IDK
September 21st, 2022 at 10:25 am
SMB on the bench and the secondary has improved. Coaches must have seen the same thing most of us did.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:28 am
There is no way we make it through the whole season without any injuries to our corners. SMB will get his chance to play. He needs to stay ready if he wants to get a big contract next year from the Bucs or a different team. He was instrumental in our run through the playoffs on our way to winning the Super Bowl. He has a lot of football left to play.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:33 am
The Bucs would have loved a “back up” defensive back like Murphy-Bunting last season. The way the injury bug has been biting…he may come in very handy during the lengthy regular season and/or playoffs.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:36 am
After last years disaster, good to have a good CB in reserve.
I think he’ll get in the rotation this week.
More a matter of everyone else playing great together, than SMB playing bad, IMO.
September 21st, 2022 at 10:39 am
I’m not going to read too much into SMB’s lack of snaps. The defense is playing so good to start the season that the coaches probably want to keep rotations to a minimum. This 3 safety look has been impressive to start the season
September 21st, 2022 at 10:47 am
Hopefully it’s not getting him down too much and he is preparing and ready to roll if/when needed… We saw last year how quickly a player may be needed. We are seeing it this year with O lineman and receivers
September 21st, 2022 at 10:51 am
I would put him out there just to mess with Rogers.
But yeah, I think we are all on the same page with this situation for sure!
September 21st, 2022 at 11:08 am
SMB is a solid player. I just think the current starters provide more flexibility and give Bowles a better chance to disguise coverages. Someone in the D backfield is bound to get hurt at some point this season. So, what an advantage to have someone of SMB’s caliber as a backup
September 21st, 2022 at 11:09 am
Very clear and specific what this is story referring to.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:11 am
SMB is good but he is coming off an injury. That takes time and the coaches are smart not to throw him in there if he’s still compromised or getting up to speed.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:20 am
SMB does play at least some special teams.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:26 am
Don’t fix what’s not broke. In fact historically excellent.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:26 am
@Crackwise.
SMB has 27 special team snaps though two games. About 50% of the special team snaps.
Neal has 23 special team snaps.
Delaney has 36 special team snaps.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:30 am
Ah yes, “on defense”. My mistake. I clicked on the link and was trying to figure out if it included Special Teams and did not see that you said that.
I did figure it out BTW. He has logged 54% of the snaps on special teams.
Thanks for the Link BTW.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:30 am
Looked it up. Actually 50 special team snaps through two games so SMB has played 54%.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:31 am
I don’t see any big mysteries going on here. Everyone knew that SMB was more of a Nickel CB than he was an Outside CB. Dean beat him out fair & square this preseason … Dean’s faster & much better in coverage.
SMB’s new bench address came about because we added Logan Ryan. He’s a lot more experienced, and a lot more versatile. SMB will get his opportunities during the course of the season though; it’s up to him what he makes of them.
September 21st, 2022 at 11:32 am
Thanks @geno711
September 21st, 2022 at 12:42 pm
He’s depth at this point.
September 21st, 2022 at 1:14 pm
Trade him no point in having a guy around who practically won the super bowl.
September 21st, 2022 at 3:31 pm
Defense is playing great right without SMB, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.