Zyon McCollum Humbled By Trust Todd Bowles Has In Him
January 21st, 2024
Where will he play today?
Monday against the Eagles, one adjustment Todd Bowles made with his defense was turning backup corner Zyon McCollum into a joker.
McCollum played some at corner, some at safety and other snaps at slot corner while logging 71 percent of the defensive snaps. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was fully confused.
So yeah, McCollum was a wild card in a wild card game.
Last week Joe asked McCollum about the trust Bowles had in him to pull this off.
“It was extremely cool and extremely valuable feeling to me that he trusts me that much,” McCollum said. “It leads me to believe that I am doing the right thing.
“It gives me so much confidence to go out there and fly around. And if I make mistakes, I make mistakes but I’m going to make them full speed.”
McCollum told Joe he had a blast playing various spots as he loved the variety and he loved toying with Hurts’ mind.
“It was extremely fun,” McCollum said. “Especially knowing that the quarterback always has to keep his eye on me. So I’m always playing mind games on him.
“[The quarterback] doesn’t know where I am going to line up. He doesn’t know where I am going at any point. So I love the mind games.”
Will Bowles try the same thing today against Jared Goff? Joe isn’t sure. The Lions quarterback struggles under pressure like any quarterback but he was very good against the blitz.
However Bowles uses McCollum, the fact he is flying around playing with confidence is a very good thing for the Bucs defense.
Baker gonna bake 👨🍳@SteveMariucci | @Geraldini93 | @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/wId28hfljO
— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) January 20, 2024
January 21st, 2024 at 12:38 am
Pffft. Mooch don’t know what he talking bout
January 21st, 2024 at 1:21 am
McCollum becoming lock down is fun watching
January 21st, 2024 at 4:38 am
Glad to read McCollum’s thoughts about Coach Bowles. It sounds like they respect and trust their head coach. Defense will bring the pressure on the Lions today.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:27 am
I like the way the kid has been hitting. He for sure hits like a safety, He’s long, fast, with great range. Safety might be his best position to play.
January 21st, 2024 at 8:51 am
Izien has me intrigued, too. Wonder how Bowles is going to play him in his Defensive chess game? Major kudos to McCollum. Now, who is going to spy on Goff? Watch out for the refs, Bucs!! And WIN!!
January 21st, 2024 at 9:24 am
I’m wondering if McCollum can be our permanent strong safety. Does he have the right body type?
January 21st, 2024 at 11:38 am
My heavens! Humility? This kid GETS IT!
If pride is at the root of every vice, then humility must be at the root of every virtue. In a very real sense, it is the virtue of virtues.
I could list some achievements that used to make me very proud. As I’ve aged I realize I’m simply the beneficiary of God’s blessings…or as I have tattooed on my thigh inside a four leaf clover…”The Luck of the Irish”.
Now it’s not so much pride I feel as satisfaction. Don’t rest on the laurels but I certainly take personal satisfaction and McCollum seems to get it at a very young age.
I was already impressed by his talent and effort and now we can add his amazing attitude to the mix.
January 21st, 2024 at 12:49 pm
He is our future FS.
Bye bye Neal.
Hello Antoine + Zion. The baddest safety duo in the NFL for the next 5 years.
He’s 6-2. Runs a 4.3. Great tackler.
Im sorry. But he needs to pair up with Winfield.
Keep Davis and Dean 1 more year.
January 21st, 2024 at 1:33 pm
That hit he layed on Julio Jones was priceless! Like he was saying “get back on that injured reserve boi!”. Julio stole all that money from us being injured all the time but now wants to make an impact for the Eagles in the playoffs? Zyon put an end to that ridiculousness! Still wish dbs would stop with the shoulder strikes like that and wrap up. Seen TOO many ball carriers bounce off and keep running. Julio ALMOST did that but luckily there were some other defenders to put him down
January 21st, 2024 at 1:40 pm
Now Russell Gage is the next mooch that’s got to go. Don’t sign anymore NFC South players because they’ll come to us for easy money