With Zyon McCollum Playing Well And Carlton Davis And Jamel Dean Healthy, Who Starts?
December 21st, 2023
Earned more playing time?
So Bucs coach Todd Bowles has a good problem on his hands.
Bowles said the team is probably as healthy now as it has been for a long time — so long Bowles cannot remember.
Cornerback Jamel Dean came back last week in Green Bay after missing four games with a foot/ankle injury and he started against the Packers.
Carlton Davis appears to be healthy as he fully participated in practice yesterday after missing Sunday’s game with a bad groin.
While Davis and Dean bounced on and off the field with injuries, Zyon McCollum has started the last four games. And he’s played decently. Maybe good enough to start Sunday against the Jags.
You hear folks say the Bucs don’t miss Devin White because the Bucs have won their last three games without him. Well, McCollum, too, has started the last three games, all wins.
(McCollum also started against Indianapolis, which was a loss. But hey, why ruin a good narrative?)
Some now think Bowles may rotate his three corners. Think again.
“You don’t really rotate [cornerbacks],” Bowles said. “You find a way to play the third one and you get him in the ballgame because he’s such a good football player.
“We’re working on that right now, but I expect to play him and I expect to play him quite a bit.”
Bowles did not elaborate. But if he’s not rotating corners, then the third corner will be playing slot corner? Or does Bowles plan to run a lot more dime coverage?
Either way, Joe thinks Bowles indirectly gave McCollum a huge vote of confidence.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:07 am
In training camp, Zyon didn’t display any aptitude for slot corner, which is why Izien got it. (No insult, Winfield wasn’t very good at it either)
December 21st, 2023 at 9:08 am
Keep McCollum on the field he has been the best corner
December 21st, 2023 at 9:19 am
Carlton and Zyon start. Dean subs in as needed
December 21st, 2023 at 9:27 am
It’ll only take a quarter or so before Carlton Hargreaves is injured again. Problem solved.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:27 am
Carlton and Dean should be traded……Play Zyon and pick one of them…..
I just can´t see why CDIII and Dean are sometimes so beloved by fans….
December 21st, 2023 at 9:48 am
Zion will get into the game early…..after either the Davis or Dean injury.
We are unbelievably healthy entering our 15th game…..that should help us down the stretch.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:51 am
Hey Joe, why nothing on Baker winning offensive player of the week? Or did I miss it?
December 21st, 2023 at 9:51 am
Now that he has shown he can play well there is no reason to not play all three in press man which is there strength.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:26 am
2/3’s of the game is played in nickel defense anyway. They’ll all play.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:49 am
What’s the word on Izien? I know he’s a rookie but he’s got talent. BM is OPOW. Way to go, Mr. Feisty with brains. You, too, Canales.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:50 am
To hell with loyalty there Todd, Go with what you have been winning with. Don’t break the momentum. It takes an entire game for these injured guys to get back into sink. If you must, rotate them. Don’t fix what’s right. Same with White. Rotate him with Britt. We can beat these jags If..we are smart. They do have a very good dense though. Looks like they peaked to early in the season. BEAT THEM JAGS!!
December 21st, 2023 at 11:03 am
Zyon has been the best of the 3 but don’t worry Davis and Deannare like glass one of them will be broken by halftime.
December 21st, 2023 at 11:28 am
Trade Davis for a draft pick, last year of his contract not worth 15 k a year.
December 21st, 2023 at 11:50 am
McCollum is fast and agile. His body type appears more flexible and hopefully less injury prone. Dean is fast and has good length and decent ball skills but is hurt all the time. Davis isn’t particularly fast and his ball skills aren’t as good as Dean or McCollum.
If the Bucs need to move a corner, my vote is move Davis. He would fit better with a team that plays less zone than the Bucs do. He is good at covering guys in tight areas but once you put him out on a speedster he needs safely help.
December 21st, 2023 at 11:57 am
I’d start McCollum without question.
December 21st, 2023 at 12:24 pm
McCollum was Ira’s pre-season pick to regress this season…so much for being a Sage.
December 21st, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Love how our 5th rd pick has developed in his 2nd season as a starter. Dean b Davis developed nice too but seem to regress this season. Just pick the hot can or when one gets tired sub them out instead of going to zone. Every time we play zone we get torched and guys are running wide arse open
December 21st, 2023 at 1:01 pm
It’s the NFL boys, the guys getting the most money play, like it , or not. When Betty White decides he wants to play Bowles will sit K.J..Doesn’t matter we’re winning without them their jobs are safe.
December 21st, 2023 at 2:07 pm
I agree with you 100% ED. Keep the two 4.3 guys and trade Davis. If we can get something back for him when the season is over that would be better. I do believe that Zyon McCollum is going to turn into a shut down corner for us. I just have that feeling about the kid that he is going to develop into something special.
December 21st, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Gotta hand it to Licht on these mid-late round picks. McCollum is another later round gem.
December 21st, 2023 at 2:40 pm
Maybe move Zyon to the slot? or keep him outside and bring on Dean when Zyon is needed n the slot
December 21st, 2023 at 7:15 pm
Our defense need to close alot of holes. I never thought I’d say this with a Todd Bowles defense but I’m worried about the defense not the offense. we had a lot of holes that quarterback missed last week..
December 21st, 2023 at 8:54 pm
Sit izen and put McCollum in @ nickel.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:06 pm
zzbucs Says:
December 21st, 2023 at 9:27 am
Carlton and Dean should be traded……Play Zyon and pick one of them…..
I just can´t see why CDIII and Dean are sometimes so beloved by fans….
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