How Will Todd Bowles Use Zyon McCollum? Tune In Sunday.
January 17th, 2024
Where will he be Sunday?
It seems the Bucs have a new secret weapon for the playoffs. And his name is Zyon McCollum.
The speedster cornerback from Sam Houston State was used against the Eagles as a safety. In fact, Bowles had McCollum line up all over the place — safety, corner, some nickel.
It seemed to baffle Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. The Eagles never did adjust.
Might Bowles use McCollum like a joker again this Sunday at Detroit? Possibly, but Bowles isn’t tipping his hand.
“It’s too early to tell at this point,” Bowles said. “I love him at [cornerback] and I like him at safety.”
So what does this mean? Joe has a hunch.
Bowles likely won’t use McCollum at just one spot. But how much Bowles gives McCollum assignments at a specific position? Bowles isn’t showing his cards.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:01 pm
I wouldn’t use him on special teams since he jumped twice offsides… in a closer game those are killers
January 17th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
I just want to see the Bucs stay aggressive on both sides of the ball. You’re playing with house money, no one expected them to get this far, so just go out there, have a good time, and keep the pressure on. If you go down, so be it, but go down swinging, not sitting back in a soft zone as the Lions run 9-minutes off the clock each time they have the ball.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:09 pm
Need all the cover guys ready
January 17th, 2024 at 5:16 pm
Guarantee Lt. Dan will be tuned in! But in all honesty..the Eagles didn’t adjust to anything. Not the blitz, not the man or zone coverage, not nothing. Unfortunately, the Lions are a different animal.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:19 pm
They could have him cover Sam LaPorta. I know he’s a tight end, but he’s a consistent target, and the only linebacker we’ve got that can really cover is LVD, and he’ll be likely needed covering the run. I was gonna say maybe have JTS mirror LaPorta since he’s got the speed, but I don’t trust him with any important responsibility. JTS isn’t a finisher.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:35 pm
It worked because of crazy pressure. I suspect the Lions will study a LOT of film.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
Same game plan as the eagles. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Goff will crumble too. If they hit a couple so be it. Bowles stayed with it even after the Smith bomb. He didn’t wimp out like usual. Goff can be rattled. Shock the world, baby. GO BUCS!
January 17th, 2024 at 5:47 pm
Todd’s gonna be in his bag again Sunday and I can’t wait! Man the last 6 weeks have been fun!!
January 17th, 2024 at 5:50 pm
It’s all about disguising the defense. Playing mind games with the QB.
Is it a blitz? Is it man? Zone? Man/zone hybrid? Who will be open and when?
Having a player like McCollum that can play FS/NCB/CB2 helps Bowles to disguise his scheme even more.
Making it even better is the fact that both McCollum and Winfield can play multiple positions…
January 17th, 2024 at 5:56 pm
As an aside, I hear Playoff Lenny is available.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:57 pm
We healthy as can be. Take their hits and then drop em with an upper cut.
January 17th, 2024 at 6:14 pm
Use ZM to commit a penalty that will cost other team points and work out in our favor. Never seen that before 2x in a game. Seriously, seems like a eager, young player who when gets more seasoned be an darn good defender!
January 17th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
JTS soft, sorry, weak, useless as needs to be CUT IMMEDIATELY!
January 17th, 2024 at 6:26 pm
This dude has really developed this year which is exciting cause speed kills and he has plenty of it!
January 17th, 2024 at 6:28 pm
cover La Porta. He’s Goffs bread and butter. Create more pressure schemes. Goff is accurate when given time. No pressure and he completes every pass.
January 17th, 2024 at 6:39 pm
Toilet Bowl has been efficient in utilizing his players on the defensive side but he has no idea what the offense is about.
January 17th, 2024 at 6:42 pm
Look fellas, the gameplan and execution in the Chiefs Super Bowl was borderline genius by Bowles. I give him mad props for that. Since then, until last week, his defensive gameplan has been, well, HO HUM.
Last week was his 2nd best defensive plan. It was awesome. It changed my opinion of Bowles from little confidence to some confidence.
If Bowles can craft a plan on D to stymie and thwart the Lions, I will give him Belichick/Parcells-level credit.
Question is, can he do it this week to advance to NFCCG? We’ll see.
I’m hoping he can! GO BUCS ! ! !
January 17th, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Zyon McCollum is only a fifth rounder and he’s playing waaay above that draft spot!
I’m not ready yet to crown him as replacement for Whitehead the last big boomer we had in the D Backfield but man did McCollum unleash a couple of very violent and very clean form tackles. The shoulder to the chest of Julio at full speed was a thing of beauty…unless you were poor Julio.
McCollum is absolutely fearless when it comes to sticking his nose in there for a solid tackle. He’s improving a lot on his coverage skills as well IMO. Again he seems like a steal in the 5th round. Izien a UDFA…If Todd has another off season like the last this team will truly be viewed as legitimate next year.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:06 pm
Winfield’s presence, hustle, n aggressive style of play from the safety position has brushed off on him because Zyon laid the hammer on Julio n made a hit on the eagles play making tightend that took him off his feet. I saw a difference in his style of play against the eagles. Keep Zyon at safety.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:09 pm
Jack Clark Says:
January 17th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
JTS soft, sorry, weak, useless as needs to be CUT IMMEDIATELY!
Bad take (JTS has been playing better) but thats a pic of Zyon.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:09 pm
Hmm, kid kind of looks like Ryan Nece. I wonder if Ronnie Lott’s his papie (JK)
Remember, Ronnie was all-world at every defensive back position on the field.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:12 pm
The way McCollum was out there, laying the wood with clean legal hits, had me wondering.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
Pick six this Sunday.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:19 pm
#27 is another solid draft pick by Jason Lit
Good replacement after losing Sean Murphy Bunting to a starting role for the Titans
January 17th, 2024 at 7:22 pm
The rooks needed some game time, to grow. Bowles has been hiding his genius defensive game plans all season. No film. Smart. Now, he is unleashing them upon the world! To a lesser extent, Canales is doing the same with the offense.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:27 pm
DRok
In all fairness, the SB Chiefs had neither of their starting tackles. Chiefs WRs dropped some incredible Mahomes throws. Andy Reid’s son tragically injured a child while drinking and driving. Like on Wednesday or SB week. We were I our bed’s every night for two weeks. The point being that I don’t know if it was Bowles genius. He was smart enough to take advantage of the Oline situation, but any good coordinator would.
I hope he keeps Britt starting this week and uses Diva White to come in and just blitz. Seems to be something he can handle. No thinking. Just RUN.
But I’m no genius.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:37 pm
TB defense won the division against the Panthers. Great job at the time.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:47 pm
Dawg Fight Sunday
January 17th, 2024 at 8:44 pm
McCollum has come a long way since last season. He’s been our 2nd best secondary player this season. You have to get him on the field. Even when he messes up he takes points off the board.
His mistakes led to ONE point and later THREE points being taken off the board. Without McCollum’s mistakes, Eagles scored 13.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Licht has continued to build a great roster. Very few FA from other teams and lots of young talent that is contributing.
January 17th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Zyon McCollum is such a cute kid (I am 60+ y/o woman) hope he keeps getting better, he has come a long way.
January 17th, 2024 at 11:38 pm
I tell ya, the defensive masterpiece that was Monday night has got me back in the Bowles camp. The many is in Monte Kiffin territory
January 18th, 2024 at 1:40 am
The defense employed so many different looks and varied their pressure out of those looks a ton. You couldn’t tell if there was going to be just 4 rushing or as many as 6 or 7. It was a masterful plan and execution.
Be just as aggressive with Detroit, please. Except Todd will need to scheme some new looks and variations as there’s no doubt the Lions are studying that film. We also got lucky that their tight ends dropped a bunch of passes. Prob won’t be so lucky vs the Lions TEs. I suspect their run game will much tougher as well, unless we can get an early lead and build on it.
Just come out aggressive. Offense and defense. When this team starts strong, they’ve been pretty dominant.
January 18th, 2024 at 1:42 am
I am in constant amazement as to how healthy we are this year!
Where did all the hammys go? WTH are we doing differently? IDK but I love it and whatever it is I hope it continues for years. GO BUCS!!
January 18th, 2024 at 2:37 am
zyon………………aka the kitchen sink 🙂
January 18th, 2024 at 2:47 am
if i’m correct he has a twin brother playing in the nfl as well…on a practice squad or something…
let’s get his brother on the team as well…
hopefully big dog licht plays bodysnatcher, raids a practice squad, and unites the twins at one buc…
#FoodForThought
January 18th, 2024 at 7:43 am
I hope you get your ASS kicked period. Very inconsistent with culture issues.
January 18th, 2024 at 8:12 am
One thing I have never been on board with or understood is the Licht criticism
Licht has done a very good job from what I have seen especially at getting value at the lower picks
January 18th, 2024 at 8:33 am
All the active Bucs roster–rookies and vets–are cranked up. They’re playing Sunday or there will be a riot in the visitors locker room. Bowles is studying the Lions just like a chess player. This is shaping up to be one h3ll of a game. May the best team win. Refs, butt out! Go Bucs!!
January 18th, 2024 at 9:10 am
I was surprised at how decent he played at Safety, intrigued to see what else he can do there. Definitely laid the wood on Julio which was impressive.