The Zyon McCollum Gamble
July 22nd, 2024
Joe still thinks this is a helluva gamble.
Yes, Joe knows a lot of folks grew to dislike the Bucs’ corners last season. So when Tampa Bay traded its best corner, Carlton Davis, in Marh, Bucs fans cheered in some circles.
Not Joe. The old Raheem Morris saying stuck in Joe’s head. “I will tolerate you until I can replace you.”
So Joe’s question is, do the Bucs have Davis’ replacement on the roster?
Bucs coach Todd Bowles thinks so. Last year with Jamel Dean and Davis getting hurt so often, backup corner Zyon McCollum played a lot. In the eyes of Bowles, McCollum is a true starter and played well enough that Davis became expendable. In fact, Bowles just called McCollum “an unbelievable football player.“
It seems the gang at Sharp Football Analysis agreed, at least from a data/analytical/stat geeky way. They say McCollum’s 6.8 yards per target allowed was pretty solid.
Joe thought McCollum was inconsistent. He had a decent game one week, then got exposed the next. But perhaps that is just NFL life for a corner? It’s only a matter of time — not if, but when — a corner will get roasted.
Even the very best get burned once in a while. Deion Sanders didn’t pitch a shutout every time he faced Jerry Rice?
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Got hall waiting in the wings. That kid can plsy
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:10 pm
Saw 27 miss tackles last 2yrs that needs to get cleaned up !
U got to tackle at corner with Todd
Overall trust Bowles with who he puts on left side
All DBs get beat at times, but Carlton seemed to get beat much more than Dean
Look it up for all u Dean haters
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Dean is soft.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:24 pm
Although I rarely agree with Coach Bowles, I believe his is spot on regarding McCollum. His athletic talent is undeniable. All of those snaps he got last year at both corner spots will prove to be invaluable. This kid is set to make a huge leap forward.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:26 pm
I would like to ask Todd how many coverage busts he measured last year, and see who they were on, what the negative impact was, and what corrective action was attempted.
Obviously Ryan The Stump Neal was inept.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:28 pm
He essentially lost the Detroit game in the playoffs by his lonesome. Performances like that very well can turn a player into a stud. Or Johnathan Banks.
Go Bucs!
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Watch what Davis does in a defense that actually applies consistent pressure , I believe you will be surprised.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:32 pm
Maybe that’s why they signed Tavierre Thomas and Bryce Hall who both have years experience as starting corners in the NFL. That’s more depth than we’ve had in years past.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:38 pm
Gambling would be paying Davis 10x what zyon makes hoping he plays more than 9 games
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Hmm, I think what makes Zyon a little more valuable than CDIII heading into the 2024 season stems from all the time he got to play at pretty much every position in the secondary last season and that makes him an asset in the communication process moving forward. Also think Davis is a fraction of the athlete Zyon is.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:47 pm
We will not miss Toast Davis. He is just not very good. Simple as that.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Dude Says:
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Hmm,
Hmmm….
July 22nd, 2024 at 2:07 pm
All of our younger players need to step up this season if this team is to have a chance.
I believe 33 out of 53 players who will probably be on the final roster are still playing on their rookie contracts many of them will be either starters or rotational players.
This season will be a true testament to Jason Licht’s past 4 drafts…
July 22nd, 2024 at 2:48 pm
Really hoping, and expecting that Todd and Jason know what they’re doing with the secondary and Zyon.
Very interested to see how our secondary shapes up, and how the newbies factor in, as the season approaches. What’s the deal with Izien?
July 22nd, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Davis was an excellent corner when he was actually on the field. Take a look at the number of games missed over the last two seasons due to injury. Too many. They had to move on. Dean will have the same thing happen to him unless he stays on the field and actually shows he can catch a ball when its thrown to him. That first quarter drop in Detroit last year in the end zone could have been a huge play going the other way if he didn’t have hands of stone. Catch the damn ball.
July 22nd, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Gut feel is that McCollum will start Game 1, but that he’ll be under pressure to perform to keep the starting gig. Bryce Hall & Tavierre Thomas have shown some excellent skills in the past. They’ll both take a big step forward IMO in Bowles’ defense.
Bucs will probably keep 4 CBs (Dean, McCollum, Hall & Thomas), 4 Safeties (Winfield, Whitehead, Merriweather + 1) plus 2 Nickel/Safety DBs (Izien & Tykee Smith). ALL of those guys are playmakers. This is gonna be a very good Secondary. Fully expect that Todd Bowles will have a ball creating new & unique ways to use virtually all of them during the season.
July 22nd, 2024 at 3:25 pm
“What’s the deal with Izien?“
Nothing, but I do remember Coach Rapone saying he might get x-trained at either safety position while competing for the nickel postion. Sounds like, there’s already a plan in place for whomever doesn’t win the job. My money is on Tykee at Nickel and Izien learning safety while being a back up NB and getting some burn on special teams
July 22nd, 2024 at 3:32 pm
They’re just going to play a soft zone where everyone stands around and waits for the play to happen – then Zyon can use his perfect 10 RAS athletic ability to react quickly and get to the ball. If that’s all you want out of your corners, that’s why you dump your top man-to-man players.
July 22nd, 2024 at 4:12 pm
That’s surely the way it’s been since Todd gained HC responsibilities in addition to DC, Rod. But this is a different Todd who knows that changes must be made to win more than an 18-19 record. He is directing more aggression on both sides of the ball, scoring more in the 1st quarter and giving up considerably fewer passing yards.
#AsToddEvolves11-6
July 22nd, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Dave Pear Says
“He is directing more aggression on both sides of the ball… ”
That’s a guess, because he has not done it, nor has he said he will. I can believe it on defense…but more aggression on offense? Maybe running the ball, but that’s it.
July 22nd, 2024 at 6:42 pm
If a corner doesn’t start in year three he likely won’t ever.
July 22nd, 2024 at 7:22 pm
This is not a gamble. The Bucs drafted McCollum late and have developed him. McCollum has insane, elite athleticism. He just needed development. Expecting him to be a starter in Year 3 is reasonable based on where he was drafted and his steadily improving play on the field. This is what good teams do. They draft well, get starters early, and develop the players drafted in the later rounds.
July 23rd, 2024 at 2:23 am
If the last few years have taught us fans anything. This defense will start strong. Then the defensive backs will get hit by the injury bug around week four.
July 23rd, 2024 at 6:44 am
CDIII was our best CB. The decision to trade him was bout money and the bet we could add enough pieces to become better overall. Starting with bringing back Whitehead. Zyon is athletic but inconsistent. We lost the playoff game to Detroit when Dean went down and Goff torched Zyon repeatedly, including the winning score.