Zyon McCollum Motivated By Disappointment
January 9th, 2025
Zyon McCollum proved to be sticky.
Is Zyon McCollum already one of the better corners in the league? Well, maybe.
McCollum, in his first year starting for the Bucs, finished with 17 passes defensed this season. Denzel Ward of the Browns finished first with 19. Derek Stingley of the Texans had 18.
McCollum came in third, tied with Mike Jackson of the Stinking Panthers.
Joe thinks that’s good. McCollum has a different view. In fact, McCollum believes despite so many passes defended, he failed to turn several into picks.
“I have to turn those into interceptions,” were the first words out of McCollum’s mouth when Joe mentioned that stat to him on Wednesday. “I will never be satisfied. It is a tremendous honor to start and play in this league and to make plays.”
In fact, if McCollum met his personal goals, he may have been a Pro Bowler.
“My goal starting this year was to make six interceptions,” McCollum said. “I fell short of that. I am disappointed in that but it’s going to motivate me to work harder.”
Had McCollum grabbed six picks, he would have ranked third in the league in interceptions. Still, McCollum didn’t want to hear any praise.
“I’m making plays on the ball,” McCollum noted. “Now I have to turn those plays into interceptions.”
McCollum has had sort of a quiet, really solid year. Joe was uneasy about the Bucs shipping Carlton Davis to Detroit in the offseason because, just based on McCollum’s play as a spot starter, Joe wasn’t sure he was ready.
McCollum showed he was ready and more than capable of being an NFL starter.
January 9th, 2025 at 7:07 am
In the game last week he missed a tackle, got up and was still there around the ball at the end of the play. Says a lot about him. He’s only going to get better.
January 9th, 2025 at 7:15 am
He’s got to shadow Mclaurin if Dean doesn’t play. Once he starts trusting his speed and break on them out routes, he’ll take off. Very few receiver are running past him.
January 9th, 2025 at 7:51 am
He’s had a very good year. One we get some decent safety play behind him, he’ll feel more comfortable taking chances jumping routes.
January 9th, 2025 at 7:56 am
He definitely has the skills to be a lockdown CB. He’s getting there. Always around the ball. He saved saved a TD last week. Hopefully, he’ll get a pick this Sunday night.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:05 am
Zyon is solid. Shut down Terry and AJ and St. Brown on the way to the super bowl and he’s elite. Js 🤷🏿♂️
January 9th, 2025 at 8:07 am
Another “gem” small school pick by Licht. No go find a punter please.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:18 am
He is pulling more than his fair share in a depleted back 4
January 9th, 2025 at 8:20 am
Great news Zyon, season isn’t over yet. There’s nothing keeping you from getting a couple of picks Sunday night. We’re playing a rookie QB and we will put a lot of pressure up the middle with Vea and Kancey. So don’t quit on your goal of six picks now!
January 9th, 2025 at 8:25 am
Disappointment is what keeps LVD and Mike so focused, they know what it is like to be on Disappointing teams and NEVER want to go back, Zyon is Him!
January 9th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Glad to hear Zyon is motivated. He has been doing well this season. He is a keeper.
The thing about our team is there are no divas. Zyon like all the others on the Bucs, is humble about his own accomplishments and strengths while stating there is more to improve on.
January 9th, 2025 at 8:33 am
I wonder if people will wait until Zyon gets paid until they start to complain like Dean and Winfield
January 9th, 2025 at 8:38 am
Been the least of our worries all year.
January 9th, 2025 at 9:15 am
The complaints about Dean is he’s always hurt for many games every single season. I don’t thing he’s played a full season yet. Always misses a third to half the season. Winfield was solid and fully healthy his first 4 years in the league, this is his first year the injury bug has affected him and it’s very random. I don’t think anyone complains about anything other than the bad luck of not having him on the field. The team misses him but nobody blames him. Has nothing to do with money, everything to do with their availability and the thin secondary which has a bit of bad luck in 2024. As always, the best ability is availability.
January 9th, 2025 at 9:50 am
ZM27 has had a very solid year. If he wants more interceptions than he needs to look for the ball a bit sooner. Maybe he could talk to Richard Sherman for some tips.
January 9th, 2025 at 10:08 am
He has been fantastic this year. The only consistent bright spot in the back. He just needs more INTs
January 9th, 2025 at 10:21 am
Joe, that is an excellent photo of a DB doing his job very well. I have a question. What if that receiver had not been a Carolina Panther? What if he had been one of the NFL darlings: A Buffalo Bill, KC Chief, or San Francisco 49er? I bet a zeb would have called a DPI on Zyon. McCollum is improving very rapidly. More power to him, and please stay healthy, young man. Our limping D needs your best game Sunday Night. Go Bucs!!
January 9th, 2025 at 10:52 am
He is the only guy in the secondary who seems to be close to a pass defense sometimes.
January 9th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
I said it in the off season that he was gonna take off this year actually a few games I predicted his interceptions I had a feeling from the year before when CD3 and Dean was constantly getting hurt that ZYON was playing just as good or even better than both of them
January 9th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
What drew me to Zyon last year is he’s a very willing hitter. He likes to land some messages for guys, unlike the remaining CB’s he was with last season.
Davis and Dean would rather play flag football. Doesn’t diminish their coverage skills or render them useless, you always have a couple safeties to set a “physical” tone but Zyon is happy sending his own messages.
January 9th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Definitely a successful year one as a starter. At least twice I’ve seen him just a hair off getting a pick 6, once last week and another in ATL. Also the walk-off TD the Falcons got was when he went for a pick.
Next year his timing will be better with a season under his belt and he will either break that split second sooner or know better and secure the tackle. Either way, the future is bright.
January 9th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Based off of the return we got for CDIII being Tykee Smith or Jalen McMillan I can’t recall, regardless that is a win for the Bucs. Ship out an overrated oft injured DB and get that in return? Great move by Licht
January 9th, 2025 at 4:49 pm
Wish I felt as good about Zyon. Stats and some games may be good overall but I’m pretty sure he’s been the cover guy for a number of explosives in recent games (of course that was Todd’s fault – lol).
He does seem to be pretty sticky…. Always in the vicinity of his assigned guy, but he needs to do a better job getting his head around a little quicker and he’d allow less catches and get those pics he’s wanting. CB 101
Easy for me to say though.
Hoping like hell he does play lights out – we need him.
January 9th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
One of the most ridiculous and misleading stats in the NFL is “passes defensed”. The very best corners in the NFL have very few because the people they are covering are well covered or the QB is fearful of throwing their way.
When you have a ton of passes defensed it means QBs weren’t scared of throwing your way and the receiver seemed to be the most open in their progression.
I’m not knocking McCollum, mind you, I’m just saying it is an utterly meaningless stat – at least if anyone is trying to use it as an ultra-positive one.