Playing Time Helping Zyon McCollum
December 17th, 2023
Taking advantage of snaps.
Maybe practice doesn’t make perfect. At least, that’s the way it seems talking to Bucs corner Zyon McCollum.
Injuries to Bucs starting corners Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean this year have meant a lot of snaps (and seven starts) for Zyon McCollum. Joe spoke with McCollum last week and he told Joe there is no question he’s a better player because of all the snaps he has logged this season.
“I improve every single snap that I get,” McCollum said. “Game reps are invaluable. I try to take advantage of every opportunity I have.
“It sucks to see people go down. But in my world, in my life, I’m going to try to take advantage of all of those opportunities and try to get better.”
So Joe asked the second-year corner from Sam Houston State what improvements can be traced to game reps? He said there are three areas where he has both learned and improved.
“Just the pace of the game and understanding where my help is going to be,” McCollum said. “If I see it over and over again I will know where my guys are going to be and it makes me confident knowing where I am supposed to be.”
And the third element? Tackling. “You cannot rep tackling unless you are in the game.”
So, you add all those factors and McCollum is convinced he’s a better player this season. Perhaps good enough that Bucs shot-callers may consider tough decisions this winter.
December 17th, 2023 at 2:06 am
Kid is good, I hope he stays on the trajectory he’s on.
December 17th, 2023 at 2:56 am
Umm I think you still have some work to do on the tackles Zion.
Sorry dude throwing yourself shoulder first into a guy is not necessarily tackling.
Wrap them up please.
Go Bucs!
December 17th, 2023 at 3:19 am
He has become a much better tackler. I remember the time he went under a potential block and tackled the runner behind the LOS.
December 17th, 2023 at 5:28 am
Davis and Dean are too complacent, they got their superbowl and then they got paid their money so now they don’t have the fire anymore it seems. They have not played will this year. Next year Zion will probably be starting in place of one of them.
December 17th, 2023 at 5:40 am
I hope the Bucs brain trust looks (at the end of the season) at Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean and realizes these are two injury prone corners who won’t be there every game for them. Let’s cut our losses and get rid of one if not both these guys and pay the guys who can actually contribute a whole season.
December 17th, 2023 at 6:37 am
Who would’ve thought getting game reps would help improve a player? Certainly not Todd.
December 17th, 2023 at 6:52 am
What would it do for Trask ?
What did it do for Jamyth
What has all the HC coaching time done for Bowles
I’m just practicing for the live game thread 🙃
December 17th, 2023 at 7:06 am
Agree with Lakeland Steve. Cut both Davis and Dean and promote McCollum to full time starter next year. Any of you “amateur” capologist care to take a guess at how much cap space that will save the Bucs?
December 17th, 2023 at 7:33 am
Dean has $18 mil in dead cap for 24……..Davis $14 mil….
I don’t think cutting them helps us at all……maybe a trade.
Fans seem to ignore the finances sometimes when they want to get rid of players.
December 17th, 2023 at 8:22 am
Wish playing time could help Mayfield. I hope he goes over 150 passing yards today. We will need every yard.
December 17th, 2023 at 8:24 am
Tampabaybucsfan
They don’t just ignore finances. They ignore the fact that both Davis and Dean have been high quality CBs over their careers when healthy and high quality CBs are very hard to find… unless they like guys like Danny, EJ, ajd LaQuan. You ride with the best you’ve got until you have someone that can replace them.
December 17th, 2023 at 8:51 am
@tbbf, very true. But both Dean and Davis have trade value. I have no doubt Licht could find a suitor for each of them.
December 17th, 2023 at 10:20 am
I thought I was the only person that realized Baker can’t get 200 yards passing to save his life
December 17th, 2023 at 11:10 am
Goedeke is also getting better with every rep.
Goedeke was shook at LG.
He is a bully at RT.
He is getting on the nerves of defensive ends.
Goedeke doesn’t get tired. He is still hitting hard in the 2nd half.
Goedeke is a bully.
Mauch is a an athletic psycho.
Imagine if Jensen was in there?
We would be as good as the Eagles.
The Eagles have the best center in the NFL.
We have the worst.
Give our team Jensen?
We would intimidate opponents.
Draft the nastiest center in college football next year.
December 17th, 2023 at 10:59 pm
I love this kid! Better is all he’s gonna get.