Zyon McCollum: Bucs Got Comfortable, Had Wrong Mindset
October 15th, 2024
It’s understandable how a high school basketball team could take a 19-point lead in the second quarter of a game and then relax a bit.
Maybe they get a little sloppy and loose on defense, and then lose focus and launch ill-advised shots and attempt risky passes more suited for a pick-up game.
All of a sudden their lead is cut to 7 points and their coach is freaking out and calling timeout.
They’re kids. It happens.
But should it happen to professional football players? Especially a Bucs team that had just gotten groin-stomped in Atlanta after choking away a lead?
No, it shouldn’t. But that’s sort of what happened Sunday in New Orleans. The Bucs jumped out to a 17-0 lead then fell apart and trailed 27-24 at halftime.
Cornerback Zyon McCollum told the Buccaneers Radio Network the Bucs relaxed and had the wrong mentality after getting the quick lead.
“We just need to learn to not get as comfortable,” McCollum told the Buccaneers Radio Network. “I mean, I think that we just thought, ‘Like oh, we got this in the bag’ and like, you know, ‘Nothing can stop us.’ And when you kind of have that mindset, the game will kind of humble you a little bit. So I think it was really important, though, for us to get back into a close game like that and then to be able to re-focus and re-compose ourselves and to go out there and finish it the way that we did. That’s going to be a good win for us.”
Joe gets that players are human, but damn, pros shouldn’t be relaxing in the second quarter of a critical game and thinking a game is locked. Where was the leadership to prevent that from happening?
Yes, the Bucs won the game going away in the fourth quarter, but McCollum’s take is still scary.
Joe can only hope the Bucs learn from Sunday’s roller coaster — or that McCollum is wrong on his assessment of the Bucs’ attitude after jumping out to a 17-0 lead.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:24 am
“”Joe gets that players are human, but damn, pros shouldn’t be relaxing in the second quarter of a critical game and thinking a game is locked. Where was the leadership to prevent that from happening?””
That’s my big complaint about this team and head coach.. How many times must they learn the hard way that you play balls to the walls for 60 MINUTES every game? Let’s hope that was a lesson learned that they’ll remember for the rest of the year.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Not an excuse, but maybe a cause: the Bucs are the second youngest team in the league.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Not sure why this would lead to a complaint about leadership. The fact they came back after the half and pitched a 24-0 dominant shutout shows they reacted wonderfully.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:33 am
McCollum is cb1 also question should w have traded Dean instead of Davis ?
October 15th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Turnovers, penalties and punt return for TD is what fueled Saints’ 2nd quarter.
Was it lack of execution and focus? Saints’ execution? Defensive strategy that lacked pressure on Rattler?
Seems Bucs can be their own worst enemy at times.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:41 am
There is a strong POSITIVE to take from this! I struggle to remember, perhaps our SB team that would have responded as well. In the past the Bucs would not have shown up like that in the 2nd half! All of us whining about injuries had a point! The return of Kancey and Winfield enabled Bowles to make halftime adjustments that not only secured a WIN but gave this D the ability to SLAM the door just like the SB defense. The 2nd Quarter collapse should keep them hungry and motivated. While the Bucs are not a classic RPO team like their next opponent, this offense cannot succeed without a VERY mobile, BALLSY QB! Is that Trask? I haven’t seen enough of him to know.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:50 am
OT. Prayers and thoughts 🙏 to all JBF posters and Florida’s. I’m learning to type these from my phone on our 5th day without power. Lucky enough to find a hotel room for 3 nights. Meanwhile some people are going their 5th day without a HOME!!! So I’m not whining I am beyond blessed and grateful! Talked to a girl yesterday who lost 2 cars because they weren’t in an evacuate zone but water ran yup to their door handles ruining their engines totalling their cars. Now all these folks face Insurance hell on a MAJOR scale.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:51 am
During Bowles tenure, the Bucs have a lot of lapses in focus and sense of urgency. That wasn’t an issue with BA and TB12.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:54 am
C’mon!?? We all know that’s been a tendency of this team. This is what happened in Atlanta as well. Todd always has this tendency to soften up the defense when we get ahead. Regardless, it’s beginning to look like maybe this lesson was learned. If so, this team is going to be hard to beat. If they can play for 60 minutes like they did in the second half on Sunday I would hate to be their opponent.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:56 am
Right, that’s why good teams go undefeated all season. Wait, are we talking about the nfl? Go BUCS!
October 15th, 2024 at 9:57 am
A team with even an average head coach doesn’t get full of themselves. This team does it far too often.
Sad that a second year player has to be the one to recognize the problem. Might be nice if there was a coach who, in preparing the team and managing the team during the game, would notice the tendency and have a remedy. Finally after a game and a half of giving up yards and points like if Dartmouth played the KC Chiefs, the head couch did something different.
Don’t expect it to last though.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:59 am
Why even mention Trask? Baker has made even the loyal Trask lovers silent with his play and infectious attitude. I don’t even want to hear his name again unless Baker misses time.
That might be McCollums take being young himself, bit he wasn’t the reason for the implosion.
Sterling Shepherd and coaching were the main cause.
Shep looked out of place with his attitude for this team.
Put him back on the bench.
Our special teams has actually gotten worse and that was the fear after hiring the NY Giants guy who already sucked.
Breaking a huddle with 12 guys is actually on the QB, but it was probably Shep again wanting to play and feeling like he should be out there.
Most was actually dumb luck in the 2nd quarter but those things happen. Better for it to happen when it did. Scoring 51 is no joke.
Should have been 70.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:59 am
Here go the Bowles haters
October 15th, 2024 at 10:04 am
My biggest criticism of Todd Bowles as a head coach (other than when he chooses to play that soft coverage, garbage defense) is this right here. They need to consistently play 60 minute games. They didn’t do it in Atlanta and they lost and it almost bit them again against the Saints except they were playing against a rookie QB. The best head coaches are the ones that have their teams giving consistent effort for 60 minutes, week in and week out. I won’t trust Bowles until I see it happen and if he isn’t able to get that out of them yet, I wonder if he will ever be able to. I hope I am wrong.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:07 am
It’s a pretty immature reaction. The vets need to nip it, nip it in the bud.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:20 am
Anyone gonna talk about how much Shepard cost us in that game
October 15th, 2024 at 10:34 am
@Dave
We get it!!! Todd SUCKS! blah blah blah blah
October 15th, 2024 at 10:39 am
BillyBucco Some like me mention Trask out of fear! Watching Baker take that HIT on his hip, seeing Ichabod Crane warming up on the sideline scared the bejesus out of me!
October 15th, 2024 at 10:46 am
This was obvious watching. 17-0, ah we can breathe easy and they lost focus. It is terrible of professional players but happens everywhere. The teams it doesn’t happen to… championship pedigree dynasties with great HCs. The Belicheck Patriots and Reid Chiefs.
Again, this is a downfall of Bowles and being a player coach. Some guys even up 17-0 need an earful on the sideline, there needs to be fire somewhere. Instead things go south and then the veteran players have to take control.
So in the future, a guy takes his second bad penalty (Shepard Brederson) while up big, yank him, tell the guys to get their sheet together and call an aggressive play or 2.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:46 am
Some of those calls agiast Shep were total bullspit. Those refs were terrible.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Shepard is not the kind of dumba.. he looked like a few times during Sundays game. I even lost my cool watching that officiating. Sterling plays a bit emotionally at times but if McMillan and Palmer are not available he’s an experienced NFL receiver for a reason. If he has to keep playing watch for him to make a game changing play down the line because he’s a playmaker. And you can’t have enough of those.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:52 am
Confession to make. The 2nd quarter collapse was MY fault. I was at the game in great club seats giving the sucky Saints fans the business thru 1Q. I had amazing chicken and waffles at Daisy Mae Southern Fried Chicken and 2 spicy bloody marys so I had to leave my seat for the restroom. Mind you, it was right after we were pinned 1st and 20 after the 12 men on the field penalty and false start. So as I left my seat, I said “just protect the ball and punt…”.
Took wayyyy too long to find a urinal but by THAT time, punt return for TD, INT and I come back to my seat and we’re down 20-17 AND that section let me have it!!! I told them….”Keep that same energy in 3rd and 4th quarters!!!”…
The redemption was that by mid 3Q the section had cleared out in embarrassment. Oh…freakin’ well. Go Bucs!!!!
October 15th, 2024 at 10:55 am
The overall quality of the NFC is not very good. Saints were without a starting QB and the defensive line exposed the secondary.
The Saints are not currently capable of being a barometer for how good Tampa is a but the Ravens will be. Baltimore is not a great matchup for our defense – hopefully our offensive line gets a little more healthy – but it will be a game that can be a more accurate measure of whether we have taken another step. I don’t think our defense is a championship caliber without a definite edge rush. I don’t think we can determine the current state of this defense unless/until our defense can contain a running attack like Baltimore’s. Looking forward to this upcoming game, a lot of questions will be answered.
October 15th, 2024 at 10:56 am
EL HEFE, I was screaming at my TV, get that f…er off the field. But, then he would make a great play. He just needs to play with more discipline. Hopefully, Coen and Bowles can get him to settle down, because the guy can definitely play like the veteran he is.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:00 am
Why would anyone talk about Trask right now??? Like…… wtf really?
October 15th, 2024 at 11:01 am
Attitude is a reflection of leadership. That starts at the top. Bowles still thinks you can coast along and lose as much as you win and be fine. That only works in this gutter of a division. Anywhere else he’d already be exposed and gone. If we can get to 6-4 at the bye it will be a miracle. 5-5 is the most likely scenario with him, or worse 4-6.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:04 am
When Todd gets that weird smile that looks like a grimace, the team relaxes.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:06 am
Pops Malone with the truth. The Bucs head couch does have a cult following though, insisting that he’s still a defensive masturmind. Watch what John Harbaugh and Lamar do to him Monday night.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:07 am
A returned punt and a couple of short fields had a lapse with the penalties if that’s what your are nitpicking about maybe take a breathe cuz that’s not that bad saints defense was ranked pretty high and bucs laid 50 on them heck yeah. Tucker had himself a game and buckey looked great. Go bucs
October 15th, 2024 at 11:22 am
They get paid too much to relax.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:37 am
The entire team was displaced from their homes. Mindset, of course, would be an issue here, as a moment of relief in a storm of uncertainty is natural.
Going up 17-0 and it wasn’t their attitude that let NOLA back in the game. It was a bad punt and the officiating that was trying to keep it a close game.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:54 am
Or the Bucs were the superior team and only gave up 20 points by their offense and 7 of them off a very short field following a turnover.
The real lesson is that a great offense can overcome bad luck the way a mediocre one cannot.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:55 am
This offense should be scoring a minimum of 30 points a game. They have more offensive weapons than either of our Super Bowl teams. That’s why Liam Coen is the X-Factor, not Todd Bowles. Because Coen is the play caller, and he has complete control of the offense.
I’m not overly concerned about the defense. I have an offense that should dominate defenses!!
October 15th, 2024 at 11:55 am
How many times do you have to slam your head against the wall until you realize that is what is causing you all the pain. First it was the Broncos, who waxed out asses because we got all relaxed. The time almost the Saints. When will they learn.
October 15th, 2024 at 11:56 am
Bucs will be just fine against the Ravens. Need to bottle up Henry at the line and contain Lamar in the pocket. Bowels will be ready for Ravens with right defensive set up. Not sure where we are with ME injury? Going to need him bigtime Monday. At minimum he will occupy 2 Raven defenders the entire game.
October 15th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
So many lapses like this after a big win or being up big. That’s coaching to me. Bowles has to keep the team engaged. Look what they can do when pissed off. Their hair should be on fire all game every game with the results it gets.
October 15th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Team adopts the lazy, complacent approach of Todd Blows
Guy is not good at his job, luckily the offense is bailing this clown out
October 15th, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Yeah, this really caught my attention yesterday, when listening to his interview on WDAE. It’s really mind-blowing that he said this OUT-LOUD. Even more mind-blowing that it happens to be true, that PROFESSIONAL Athletes, after that MANY years of playing their sport, would ALLOW THEMSELVES, to lose complete focus and then play with that kind of mindset, in this way. Mind. Blowing. Actually, he could get a lot of interceptions, IF he just had much better ball-skills.
October 15th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
If Baker, or Mike, or Lavante say that, I believe it. Zyon, as good as he’s getting, is still just a kid and a little green with the media. I doubt he knows the entire team’s mental state.
October 15th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Haha I actually, commented right after reading the headline, and before reading the article. Glad I wasn’t the only one who thought “WHAT Did HE Just Say… A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE!? Wow. I was wondering if anyone else, had actually caught that! Those interviews have gotten better this season so far, but they still SUCK and can be very boring.
October 15th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Tampa Bay-ker” – Yes, he was very raw and ‘shaky’ sounding. You could tell he was not used to this.
October 15th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Coaches lost ATL. Team and coaches won NO.
October 15th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
If the Bucs actually learned that lesson without taking a loss, then this was their biggest win of season.
October 15th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
This is why I still dont have full confidence in this team. Nearly ever week they get weak minded.
October 15th, 2024 at 3:04 pm
The Bucs do this all the time, not just in games, but even after a solid win, they start talking trash like Baker did about Brady, then go out and get destroyed by the Broncos. They got some leadership issues with Baker, he needs to stay focused on football and stop letting his ego trip him up. If he can do that, he’ll level up at QB.
October 15th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
INCONSISTENCY. Thats on the coach to..Coach’em up.
October 15th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
This Joe guy is one of the best at finding something to latch onto and complain about. Absolutely one of the best. Maybe the goat.
October 15th, 2024 at 3:37 pm
zyon is cb1…smart, heady………and a ball hawk !
he’s really a great story…
still upset about sirvocea dennis tho…he was another great story in the making
October 15th, 2024 at 3:39 pm
gm needs to maneuver his broheimer away from philly and get him in the building this offseason too 🙂
October 15th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Bait. Clicks joe bait clicks r ok when u don’t ask such stupid questions what happened is part of football life or life in general it’s called luck of the draw sometimes a bigger being makes things happened sometimes out of u r own control these guys know that they r pros let them b pros I saw a whole team of pros they regrouped without hesitation & kicked butte & boy did they kick butte now on to the Ravens I don’t think Lamar Jackson is all that if anybody’s is over hypied it’s him,they stink for 1st 2 games for a reason,now it’s show time
October 15th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
What r u people talking about didn’t u watch the Detroit game that hobbled defense was spectacular man it’s like short or no memories with u people Todd Bowles is a good coach despite what u morons spew daily, support the whole team not who u prefer,look around the league many coaches including Dallas have so called good ones & they struggle u shud be thankful he is heading this ship he is smarter than most people posting on this site that for sure
October 15th, 2024 at 7:07 pm
U relax in the 4th quarter, 2 min left, up by 30
October 16th, 2024 at 8:35 am
We won and we’re 4-2. We just put a fifty on the Aints in their house. I’m okay with where we’re at. Things happen but we took control. Good season so far.