Zyon McCollum’s Secret To Success
September 20th, 2024
Football smarts.
Joe wasn’t alone in this.
“This Joe” was uncomfortable handing the starting corner job to backup Zyon McCollum this offseason after the Bucs traded Carlton Davis to Detroit.
First, Davis was the corner more often lined up against a team’s No. 1 receiver than any other Bucs defender. While McCollum showed progress, Joe wasn’t sure he’d be able to hang with the best receivers in the game.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles wasn’t worried. McCollum came into the league as one of the best athletes to ever enter the draft. In Bowles’ mind, McCollum just had to learn how to be an NFL player. His physical abilities would take over from there.
Becoming a smart player, Bowles said, was the secret.
“It’s helped him a great deal,” Bowles said today at One Buc Palace. “Any time you’re a rookie and coming in and then you’re a second year and then to your third year, mentally, you need to get better.
“He’s gotten better all three years coming into this year. He’s been athletic his whole life, but he’s understanding the game, and it’s slowed down for him.”
Basically, this is why you don’t see Olympic athletes transition to the NFL. You’d think with all the fastest athletes in the world competing in the Olympics, or the strongest (weightlifting, shotput, discuss) these guys could become NFL players. Very few do.
There’s more to football, much more, than running in a straight line or lifting weights or throwing things.
As the great Warren Sapp once said, “You don’t pump weights on the 50-yard line.”
September 20th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Bowles didn’t hesitate when he named him the most improved player a week or so ago. Glad we got him.
That quote by Sapp was priceless! 🙂
September 20th, 2024 at 3:53 pm
Carlton Davis was one of the worst CB in the NFL last season. The Bucs were lucky to get a decent return for him. Especially with his salary. Zyon outplayed him by a country mile last season.
These players were the Bucs Achilles Heel last season
Carlton Davis
Ryan Neal
Shaq Barrett
Devin White
September 20th, 2024 at 4:29 pm
This will be Zyon’s breakout year.
September 20th, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Couldn’t agree more with LakelandBuc. Davis was a bum. Single-handedly lost the Texans game last year. Neal was a liability all year long and don’t get me started with Deva White.
September 20th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Davis allows a high % of completions to be sure, but he IS really good at tackling them after the catch the pass
September 20th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
this is why bowles is a coach. you should have trusted his development and knowing how to develop defensive backs joe. he proved it in 2019 and beyond.
September 20th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
he knows way more about football than us. enough of this ooohhhh he is obsesses with turnovers. turnovers matter and honestly every coach loves them. it isnt a “only defensive coaches” want turnovers. get over jameis
September 20th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
I think Zion was a good football player who is a great athlete….hopefully he develops into a great CB
September 20th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
If he keeps playing like he has the last two weeks, everyone in the league is going to take notice.
September 20th, 2024 at 5:44 pm
I always liked him at Sam Houston. I thought he had the talent to be something decent.
September 20th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
They should still consider drafting at least one more CB next year though. Probably another CB, another DE, another DT & at least one more OL. Depending on another LB, too! Hopefully they keep playing they way they’re playing because they’re starting better than I thought right now. I expected 1-1 right now & I’m sure many others probably did, too!
September 20th, 2024 at 5:56 pm
That game was a perfect example on why TEAMS NEED TO EITHER JUST KICK THE FG OR PUNT THE BALL because Detroit left those three points out there at the end of the 1st half. If they would’ve kicked it then they could’ve just kicked a FG at the end of the game instead of trying to score a TD but all these teams & coaches think they’re playing Madden & Tecmo Bowl out there. They need the analytics to tell them what to do instead. Just kick the FG or punt it. Now the Bucs are 2-0 & Detroit is 1-1 for that simple reason.
September 20th, 2024 at 6:10 pm
Bowles had my total confidence as a defensive coordinator. I won’t doubt anyone he puts out there. Hell, he could put Tom Moore out there and I’d say “he obviously knows something I don’t “.
September 20th, 2024 at 6:15 pm
@WilieG
That’s why Brady hasn’t been playing right now. He’s been learning how to play CB & then the Bucs are going to resign him & he’s going to replace Dean at CB when Bowled puts him in there.😁
September 20th, 2024 at 7:41 pm
He really stood out on special teams his rookie year. Been fun watching him grow.
September 21st, 2024 at 2:08 am
And to think the Bucs got a starting wide receiver for that CDIII trade. Well done Jason Licht and well done to our coaching staff for creating a shutdown corner out of a 5th round draft pick. Impressive!
September 21st, 2024 at 12:36 pm
I wasn’t worried at all about McCollum starting. I saw enough from him last year to be confident he would be successful. He was a great draft pick and Bowles did an excellent job coaching him up.