Todd Bowles Believes Boredom Is Preventing Zyon McCollum From Being A Star
February 25th, 2025
Bucs coach Todd Bowles speaks from the podium at the combine Tuesday.
Could it be that Zyon McCollum is so good that he got bored playing cornerback? It sure seemed that way based on today’s words coming from Todd Bowles.
Last year McCollum, in his first year as a full-time starter, racked up 17 passes defensed. That was good enough to tie him for third-most in the NFL.
Good but not good enough, Bowles said today at the combine from the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Bowles thinks McCollum is a very good corner but with one issue that sometimes drags him down: he gets bored at times and his play suffers.
“I think Zyon played very well most of the time,” Bowles told a gaggle of the Tampa Bay pen and mic club. “I think when he got bored he took chances and he did not play with as much technique.
“If he can just play with the technique he played with all the way through and not get bored, with his concentration he will be fine. But Zyon is definitely on the rise.”
The only times Joe has ever heard of an athlete in any sport being bored was in reference to a star player. The guy was so good that playing was boring.
It could be that teams were not throwing on McCollum due to his passes defensed, and maybe McCollum got bored covering dudes who weren’t being targeted. Bowles did not elaborate.
If being bored is McCollum’s only hiccup, that tells Joe the Bucs have a legit player in their midst.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Diva White used to say the same thing about being bored.
Todd’s prevent D is so slow his own players are sleepy with it.
How about an attacking D?
February 25th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
I didn’t see that but I didn’t watch as much film as Bowles did. Even though he was “bored” he was the best payer in the defensive backfield last year.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
I think he’s a good enough player where teams don’t throw his way so maybe that’s where the boredom comes from. Either that or Dean just sucks and other teams throw his way
February 25th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
If he got bored and played poor technique then yes they were throwing to his side. He got absolutely burned a few times last year and is that something you talk about in the off season or in season. That does not sound like someone you give a big contract to. Soft zone is going to get Bowles fired that and dropping Vea in to pass coverage are his only weaknesses. Clock management crap well he can’t be perfect I can live with that but his defense is trash not his players
February 25th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
He missed an INT in the playoffs that would have won the game. He gambled and missed the INT by inches. Meh, I loved the mindset. It was a good gamble IMO.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Here’s a DB drill for Zyon and the other DBs in camp. On every play, play tight coverage and jump the route. Dont worry about a second move, just jump the route.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Our secondary was so bored we came in last in interceptions. That falls on everyone not one single player. Get your head out of your butt young dude!
February 25th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
He probably did become bored while playing opposite to Josh Hayes. Teams went at Hayes all game
February 25th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
I wonder how Zyon’s agent feels about that assessment. Sounds pretty stupid to me. A corner could get abused at any time and he was one of the higher rated corner in the league and definitely his best corner. How about instead of saying he played well most of the time go ahead and give him the praise. I guess he has to be a linebacker named Devin white for that.
February 25th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Ku Ku how ya get b ored with a few million in the bank…..Pftttt!
February 25th, 2025 at 5:08 pm
I am getting bored with prima donna multi millionair players and coaches. BORING.
February 25th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
If coach actually said that, meant it, and it is true……I can’t believe coach still has a job. That is heinous coaching malpractice.
Try coaching him, Todd. Jenius Cripes.
February 25th, 2025 at 11:13 pm
Zyon McCollum plus Antoine Winfield Jr. plus Nick Emmanwori plus Darien Porter minus Jamel Dean equals the new legion of boom. I truly believe if Bowles is given the pieces in this draft this team can be the class act of the NFC.
February 26th, 2025 at 3:25 am
What in the world?
Todd sometimes says things that force me think he just doesn’t think straight. Bored?!? We had one of those guys before if remember correctly. Wow!
I believe that McCollum has lots of talent and I also believe it is the responsibility of his coaches to bring that talent to it’s best results. BTW I am not part of the fire Bowles brigade but he makes it hard at times like this.
That is right up there with some of the dumbest things Bowles has ever said.
Go Bucs!
February 26th, 2025 at 4:40 am
Zyon has the abilities. We have all seen it. He comes out of nowhere and makes a play. He’s got it in him. One of things about being a Buc fan, we are never bored with our team in a good way.