Zyon McCollum, New Bucs No. 1 Corner?

October 2nd, 2024

CB1?

If you ask Joe, Jamel Dean is the Bucs’ No. 1 corner. He’s a veteran starter. He has a ring. And he’s being paid like a No. 1 corner.

However, analyst James Foster for Mike Tannenbaum’s outfit, The 33rd Team, is starting to think the Bucs have a new No. 1 corner, Zyon McCollum.

One thing McCollum has over Dean is height. A little. McCollum is 6-2. Dean is listed at 6-1.

Foster might be onto something. McCollum has twice (six) as many passes defended as Dean (three). McCollum also has a pick. Dean does not. Dean (33) has more than doubled McCollum’s total tackles (16).

So it isn’t crazy from Foster to suggest McCollum may have surpassed Dean as the Bucs’ top corner. Joe isn’t willing to knight McCollum as No. 1 but he’s giving Dean a run.

23 Responses to “Zyon McCollum, New Bucs No. 1 Corner?”

  1. Brandon Says:

    Are you just figuring this out? according to profootballreference, McCollum has been targeted 22 times and given up 9 completions, ) 1 TDs and gotten 1 INT. When targeted he has surrendered an opposing QB rating of 48.3. He has 6 passes defensed. Before the Eagles game, he was giving up a 24.8 QB rating. The guy is playing elite football right now.

    in 22 throws against him this year, he’s given up 9 receptions for 84 yards and a TD, he’s gotten his hands on 6 passes and picked off 1 of them. Teams will be throwing away from him all season. Those are elite numbers… plus he will tackle. He will break the bank after next season if he keeps playing like this.

  2. Ds Says:

    Teams aren’t throwing at him often and he is sticky in coverage. Starting to think when Bowles said some of the DBs can’t play man he was referring to Dean I’ve noticed Dean always plays off coverage

  3. adam from ny Says:

    i think he lagged off the receiver in the back of the end zone last weekend – and gave up the touchdown…

    otherwise we’ve got a yung baller balling out

  4. Panhandle Buc Says:

    Not there YET…but I will say that Dean frustrates me from time to time.

  5. Casual Observer Says:

    Zyon may be a better corner than Dean. I am frustrated by Dean’s play at times too.

  6. orlbucfan Says:

    McCollum on one side, Izien on the other. Gotta love what I’m seeing. Go Bucs!!

  7. stpetebucfan Says:

    What jumped out at me last year was his physicality. He is fearless. I’m not going to disrepect Dean but he’s just not that physical. Hey I’m not out there trying to stop 6-4 225lb guys so again I’m not putting Dean down at all. It’s just not a part of his game.

    But on last year’s highlight reel a thread emerged. McCollum is not just tremendously talented physically, he is a WILLING HITTER. Dude likes to blow people up. Last season as raw meat being that aggressive sometimes led to mistakes but I’ll take them because other times they resulted in forced fumbles and passes defended.

    I wouldn’t wish to be a receiver running through the Bucs secondary these days.
    When Winfield gets back, you add in Mr Crusher Whitehead and now a very physical CB who unlike most corners hits more like a safety.

    IF…always the word in football with injuries and luck playing so much a part.

    BUT…if the Bucs D gets truly healthy they have the potential for greatness!!!
    Vea and Kancey in the middle…Ya Ya and Braswell outside…two very good CB’s and one GREAT and one VERY good safety.

    LVD is obviously knocking on the HOF door…now just ONE more LB to complete a really fearsome D.

    Yeah I hear you. If only DW45 could grow up and send messages through the grapevine that he’ll return as a TEAM player..if he’s healthy and had desire..

    What freaking kind of D would that be? How about another SB!!!

  8. Lt. Dan Says:

    I’m curious to know how inflated Dean’s tackle numbers are. Is he getting double McCollum’s number because Dean allows twice receptions and then makes the tackle? My guess is “Yes.”

  9. Baker Bowl Says:

    Jamel has frustrated me pretty much since we drafted him, he’s never been a true #1, he’s ok as a 2 but if Zyon can step up and play the #1 role then maybe Dean will be useful. Similar problem when CDIII was here, they were both #2 guys trying to be the #1.

  10. garro Says:

    Wouldn’t it be nice to have two? Just saying…
    Lock em down boys!

    Go Bucs!

  11. JimBobBuc Says:

    Zyon is playing better than I expected, and getting better week by week. His tackling was weak early last year and he’s cleaned that up (every DB will miss a tackle now and then).

    I was at the Jags scrimmage and Lawrence lit up Zyon in goal line plays. Zyon allowed the Eagles pass TD. The goal line and red zone pass coverage can improve, but he’s still good now. I hope Bowles and Ross can work with Zyon in the red zone coverage so he can be elite.

  12. Leighroy Says:

    I didn’t think there was a #1 versus a #2… I thought one plays the weak side and the other plays the strong side unless the offense lines up in an unbalanced formation and we happen to be in man-coverage at the same time.

    Now who’s “ranked” #1 vs #2 is up for debate, but I’d lean to the guy that doesn’t allow himself to get truck-sticked.

  13. Beeej Says:

    Zyon McCollum PFF: 90.
    Carlton Davis III: 60

  14. Dave Pear Says:

    Dean falls down a lot.

  15. LakelandBuc Says:

    It’s depends on who they’re covering also

  16. BuckyBuc Says:

    he has come a long long way, good for him.

  17. zzbuc Says:

    Dean and CDIII is the opposite as wine….they get worst and worst

  18. BillyBucco Says:

    I speeka da gud englis lmao^^^^^^^^

  19. BucsFaninTN Says:

    Seems patently obvious McCollum is the #1.

  20. Daryl Green Says:

    As a former DB, I always felt that Dean is average, fall’s a lot , he has no hip swivel.
    I ways thought that Sean Murphy was a better cornerback. It’s athletic ability thing for me.
    he’s so stiff. When he walks he doesn’t even move his arms they are just stiff
    Watch.

  21. VOT Says:

    Zyon is head and shoulders better than Dean and two ahead of all other CB on the roster

  22. Jake been there since the beginning Says:

    Haven’t any of you seen what he does when he’s out there?? Zion has done really good when he gets on the field. Now he’s doing the thing, next man up, now he’s just the man!!! Love his commitment and the way he has made his way to being a starter starter. Great Job and thank you for showing the world up on their doubts.. Let’s Go!!!!

  23. Fernando Says:

    Joe was one of the ones questioning Bowles decision on this
    I guess clack knew what he was doing