Zyon McCollum: Strong Running Game Could Make Bucs “Special”
October 14th, 2024
Says strong run might make Bucs complete.
The Bucs have talked about building a run game since head coach Todd Bowles took over when Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians retired.
Yesterday, seemingly out of thin air, the Bucs didn’t just have a running game, they looked like Barry Switzer’s Sooners with Billy Sims and Kenny King gouging defenses.
After the Bucs alley-beat the slimy Saints 51-27 in Lincoln’s Tomb, Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum marveled at the running game. In fact, McCollum thinks if the Bucs can run anywhere close to as effectively as they did yesterday, the sky is the limit.
“It invigorates us,” McCollum said when Joe asked what’s it like for the defense to see the Bucs blast the slimy Saints on the ground. “It gives us energy.
“It makes me want to play even harder and go even harder. When we are playing complementary football like that, our defense is playing off the offense [and] our offense is playing off [the defense], then this team can be special.”
Well, aside from the second quarter, the Bucs sure did look special yesterday. How could you not when you rack up a half-a-hundred (like Switzer used to brag) and then pitch a shutout in the second half?
Joe sure hopes the Bucs’ dominant running attack wasn’t a one-time thing.
October 14th, 2024 at 9:07 am
If we keep Bucky and Sean in as 1 & 2, it shouldn’t be. ut we won’t 🙁
October 14th, 2024 at 9:09 am
Only one person will keep this from being a one time thing……Todd Bowles.
October 14th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Sean Tucker has already proved in preseason he deserved carries but Bowles is the head coach so Tucker will go right back to the bench and get like 8 carries a game and run game is mediocre again Bowles sticks with white anyway.
October 14th, 2024 at 9:44 am
Joe do the Ravens have a good run defense?
October 14th, 2024 at 9:50 am
That 2nd half yesterday both our OL and DL dominated the Saints.
Lots of games are easy if you can dominate.
October 14th, 2024 at 9:52 am
Buck & Tuck for life!!
October 14th, 2024 at 9:53 am
I’ll bet a mortgage payment that our HC will have Rachaad back at RB-1 next week getting the lions share of carries for his usual 2.1 yards per carry.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:01 am
@bucU
If he does, it’ll be even more obvious that White is the problem. And the solution will be simple.
Buck and Tuck show baby!
October 14th, 2024 at 10:09 am
TBBF always watches opposing coaches pressers..,,,Dennis Allen said….we didn’t tackle and lost on both lines…..,no $hit, Dennis…
October 14th, 2024 at 10:15 am
Bucs did run well against Saints yesterday , but Saints are a bottom half defense. Ravens and Chiefs are both top 5 rushing defenses , so it will be interesting to see if Bucs can run against a very good defense.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:17 am
Geez Dennis Allen, you sure do have your work cut out for you. You get a quarter of football handed to you by the refs, and you still get your butts whipped? My heart bleeds (snark). A 3-headed running threat by the Bucs??? Whoa, I’ll take it. Now, DO something with it, Coen!!
October 14th, 2024 at 10:17 am
No one should criticize the Bucs’ head coach / defensive genius. Don’t use Todd’s name in vain.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:18 am
I posted a comment in Joe’s 5 Things article about McCollum not getting more recognition. He’s become our No. 1 CB. He’s making great plays (that interception was sensational) and tackles really well. Continually improving his play.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:23 am
Dennis Allen gets plenty of zeb help and Bucs still smoked his team. Oh well, sh1t happens.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:32 am
So our service was out and the only part of the game I got to see was the 2nd quarter when we went out with our baby to grab lunch. What a weird experience to have seen that and then later the final score but I’ll take it lmao.
I just watched the highlights. Tucker just runs with more initial burst and it seems to fit the blocking scheme better. Similar to Bucky but Bucky has more wiggle while Tucker has better long speed.
It should be RB1 Bucky RB2 Tucker and bring RB3 White in for all passing downs and/or 2 RB formations.
White can still catch 4-5 balls and get a couple carries a game.
Guessing they will still go White 1A Irving 1B but give Tucker more chances and then gradually get to White as the RB3 vs doing it immediately for whatever reason.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:33 am
That shutdown defense is what makes the Bucs special.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:38 am
BucU Says:
I’ll bet a mortgage payment that our HC will have Rachaad back at RB-1 next week
^^^^^^^
Agreed. This is totally Bowles MO.
October 14th, 2024 at 10:51 am
If he does, it’ll be even more obvious that White is the problem. And the solution will be simple. …Rick
Not so, Rick. If White goes back to #1 RB, the solution is to overrule TB. That is on you, Licht.
October 14th, 2024 at 11:04 am
Yeah, Dave Pear. You said all preseason that Zyon wasn’t a starting CB. It turns out he is.
October 14th, 2024 at 11:09 am
Go with Bucky & Tuck. Use White as a duel position threat like how Debo Samuel & Cordarrelle Patterson are used.
October 14th, 2024 at 11:16 am
So impressed with Zyon and Tykee especially letting their play do the talking !
October 14th, 2024 at 11:55 am
Plan 1 was not the answer.
October 14th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Joe in Mich – I also said Tucker wasn’t gonna cut it. Happy to be wrong about him.
Now, the Bucs head couch needs to give me a big third course of crow I will happily feast.
October 14th, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Evolution of the O-line play 👍🏼.
Good thing too cause if they hadn’t opened holes and dominated most of you minions would be calling for Todd’s head again.
October 14th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Bucs are 4-2. And I see we still got some Todd Bowles haters. Come on guys, get off the snide.
October 14th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
I don’t hate Todd. Said it lots of times, he’d be an awesome neighbor, great to have at a card game, cigars, scotch, beers. He’s a losing head coach and runs an obsolete pass defense. If/ever he adjusts and starts shutting down even average QBs while spontaneously learning how to use time outs effectively and being smart playing situational football, I’ll serve crow jambalaya all year.
Meanwhile, the offense needs to keep up its production to mask the gaping performance hole on the other side of the ball.
October 14th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
how tf did zyon become our number 1 corner….
he really is…he did it…he is an amazing late round draft pick story…
the z-man is getting busy out there for real !!
October 14th, 2024 at 3:06 pm
Dave Pear: I have my doubts about Todd Bowles, too. The Bucs need a time management/timeout usage Coach on their staff. What’s happening now isn’t cutting it, especially when they have a kicker that can hit long field goals.
October 14th, 2024 at 4:23 pm
There were some Rachaad White apologist are really quiet on this site
I remember you guys telling the Bucky and Tuck apologist they didn’t know football.
October 14th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Why would it be a onetime thing? Coen said the development of the run game would start around the time of the bye week.
October 14th, 2024 at 7:44 pm
We ran the ball well for 1/2 if one game with essentially last year’s line using Coen’s scheme. Goedeke was back. Saints DL somewhat depleted. Euphoria abounds.
So the questions are:
1. Is the line suddenly a middle to top third unit with Hainsey?
2. Did Tucker completely change the complexion of the running back group? Are we smart enough to continue using him at a high percentage?
3. Did Todd learn anything from the ATL disaster or did this rare offensive explosion mask reality?
4. Will we go back to sitting on every lead playing it safe or let Coen rock?
5. Will Todd have us ready for the Ravens or have his excuse list ready?
That was a wild, weird, wonderful victory. If the injuries subside and Todd has really turned the corner, this could be a playoff team. If Todd goes back into his shell, plan on biting your nails all year. It will be awfully hard to steal victories from the better teams giving up the middle of the field to high powered offenses. If the O-line play was a one game mirage and we are still a bottom running team, Coen will have to pass. Sure hope ME13 is not out long. He looked awful.
Regardless still get to savor the win over the nasty, slimy Saints. Go Bucs!
October 14th, 2024 at 10:43 pm
I’m with you Joe in Mich.
Zyon is killing. Tucker killing (one game but, yeah, all year he’s showed out when he’s had the chance). Wrong there. Glad to be wrong.
The team – is a team. When a member of the team needs help, he should get help. If he doesn’t know he needs help, his superior should mandate the help.
Todd needs help. Being HC and DC is not a modern day recipe for success, neither would HC/OC be. They are all different jobs.
Licht needs to help Todd.
October 14th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
Yesterday was awesome re: the running game. Absolutely epic.
But it didn’t just come out of nowhere. White had 7.2 ypc last week. Both Whute and Irving had 5 ypc against the Eagles. Bucky has some good games before that too.
To me it’s been a progression, and yesterday was the breakout party. Do I expect us to roll up 250 rushing yards every week? Of course not. But Tucker needs more touches and we need to keep running these 2 back sets with misdirection. It’s been super effective. Just don’t go to the well too many times with the jet sweep, especially if your tackle is gonna let a D-lineman run free on the play.
October 15th, 2024 at 9:40 am
It gets so old beat on Bowles for u r info Bowles does not play in the game Bowles also doesn’t call the offense plays as he stayed on Monday,just because u don’t like Bowles doesn’t mean anything when it comes to this team & how they perform thank goodness u people r NOT involved with this team & there weekly prep I leave that to the pros shut u r pie hole & enjoy the ride u r in good hands
October 15th, 2024 at 8:31 pm
Half a Hundo! What a game!
I think it not only invigorates the defense but gives them the proper rest they need to go all out. Also having Zyon McCollum as a shut down corner makes this team pretty special. What a spectacular interception by that young man.