“Interception, Interception, Interception.”
October 18th, 2024
So Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum is tied for the NFL lead in passes defensed with 10.
That’s a big number through six games. The last Buccaneer to lead the NFL in passes defensed was Brent Grimes — with 24 in 2016. Somehow, Grimes didn’t make the Pro Bowl that season, and he even had four interceptions, a touchdown and a forced fumble.
McCollum is locked in this season and has been since he was named a starter at outside corner for traded Carlton Davis in March.
That was a football blessing, McCollum told the Buccaneers Radio Network this week. Why? Because it narrowed his obsessive film study to just that position, he said, versus studying all the defensive back positions.
That got McCollum more focused on specific receivers, quarterbacks and techniques, he said.
McCollum has been special this season, and it’s clear he has a great mindset. The Bucs published a mic’d up segment on McCollum from Sunday’s game and he was caught talking to himself on the field. “Dominate, dominate, dominate. Interception, interception, interception.”
The Bucs have a gem in McCollum. And a mystery. What is his ceiling? Joe’s not sure.
However, Joe’s been watching McCollum and consistently thinking he looks like a young Aqib Talib in 2009: aggressive, super athletic and crazy-hungry for the ball.
October 18th, 2024 at 10:17 am
Shoutout to both AWJ and Whitehead, too: How about a couple of pick 6s?? McCollum will eat you two’s lunch if you don’t watch out!
October 18th, 2024 at 10:19 am
5th round gem!!
October 18th, 2024 at 10:28 am
Aqib without the baggage…Zion is another high-character draft pick from Licht…..
October 18th, 2024 at 10:41 am
I swear, if I were a middling GM, I’d try something in the 2025 draft. I’d wait until the end of the 5th round and then I’d offer Licht the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th round picks in 2026 plus the 6th & 7th round picks from 2025, for the 3rd, 4th and 5th round picks the Bucs make in 2025.
There’s gonna be one immediate starter there at a minimum. The work Licht’s brigade has done from the 3rd to 5th rounds is extraordinary.
October 18th, 2024 at 10:48 am
This kid’s going to get rich when his rookie contract ends
October 18th, 2024 at 10:53 am
Love the Bucs secondary! McCollum is excellent and Winfield is the best. Whitehead has been the rock, like before. Smith and Izien are great pieces, too. Dean is fine.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:00 am
Gotta love these late round guys balling out.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:05 am
Having McColum is a blessing. Hopefully his mindset can spur the secondary to perform at a higher level.
The Ravens will be the Bucs biggest challenge. The Bucs played at a high level when they beat the Lions. The Bucs will have to play mentally and physical at that same level to beat the Ravens
October 18th, 2024 at 11:06 am
Red elsewhere that Zyon is the highest rated pff cornerback in the NFL?
October 18th, 2024 at 11:14 am
I think Sirvocea had a chance to be a very successful late rd pick as well but he’s literally had one injury after another the entire time since he walked in the door.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:26 am
If he keeps this up he could be the ZMC of corners. He also brings the wood
when he has the opportunity.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:26 am
In Licht we trust!!!
October 18th, 2024 at 11:30 am
The way he laid out for the one that he missed at 1:15, that collision with the ground would have killed me.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:36 am
Before naming him to the pro bowl this season. Slow down Joe, Bowles defense still lacks enough pass rush coming from the edge. And K.J Britt in coverage is a liability that teams will eat us up at. This will affect the secondary going forward. Bowles defense lacks consistency. You don’t know which is going to show up to play week an week out.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Bobby, I’m worried about Britt against possibly Mark Andrews. Or let’s be honest, any other tight end much less receiver.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:40 am
But Zyon has been a revelation this year. Pretty much everything we’d hoped. Truly bright future ahead of him.
October 18th, 2024 at 11:44 am
He just needs to stop leading with his helmet (to avoid concussions for himself and the other guys), and he will be great.
October 18th, 2024 at 12:07 pm
Stevven007 I agree with your comments.
October 18th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
How is it that Bowels can develop DBs like Winfield, Zyon, CD, Davis yet the pass D still gets torched?
October 18th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
STUD!!!
October 18th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Zyon’s off-season dedication to his craft is paying off. He’s a great example to future draft picks. Already rubbed off on Tucker and look what’s happening with him.
October 18th, 2024 at 1:19 pm
When I saw Zyons perfect RAS score before he was drafted I was begging Licht to draft him. I was thinking he was a much higher round pick. Happy to see the Bucs finally drafted him.
October 18th, 2024 at 1:33 pm
Be great to see Zyon get another pick off of Lamar this week 🤘🏼
October 18th, 2024 at 2:26 pm
That interception in the Saints game was spectacular. I’ve said it many times on this site, the kid is becoming a dominant CB. Not quite truly a shut-down CB yet, but he’s on his way.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:22 pm
With his size and athletic ability this kid has no ceiling, he will be the ceiling if he keeps progressing the way he has since becoming a Buccaneer. It’s obvious that his mentality has changed since being a rookie and a backup. He’s strong between the ears and he’s showcasing that top corner in the league ability this season.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Wow, another player that some bucs fan was calling for his head just a year ago. I guess the tide is coming in with fresh seaweed.
October 18th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
Erik you gotta get off the leading with the head thing bro. These players are playing at full speed not at slow mo instant replay. Hard to focus on your craft at an NFL level if you are trying (at full speed) to tackle some of the lost elusive men in the world all while worrying about not banging your helmet into theirs. This ain’t tiddlywinks bro, this is a dangerous sport and people get injured every game. There is no mitigating the dangers of this sport! I say don’t mention anything to McCollum about leading with his helmet and pat him on the ass and say go get ‘em Zyon!
October 18th, 2024 at 3:39 pm
BobinValrico
“He also brings the wood
when he has the opportunity.”
Amen! That’s the first thing that made me a fan of Zyon’s last year. He was still figuring out the position but he was a VERY willing hitter and forced some fumbles.
He put the Saints best receiver Olave out of the game Sunday although in honesty he probably got away with a helmet to helmet hit. I never mind penalties of effort though even if he had drawn a flag.
Brent Grimes…big fan of that guy and he got ripped off that season when he wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl. And am I remember correctly that Grimes had a VERY INVOLVED wife who loved the game of football and being a team “mascot”. She was like CG14’s wife last season all the time. Loved her too.
October 19th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
Puuuuleeeeezeee. No more talk of Brett Grimes, one of the greatest Buccaneer quitters in history. He can go on the wall of shame with Devin White and that FA WR who played with Winston and Fitzpatrick.
October 20th, 2024 at 5:57 am
Just me thinking but Ronde just might have told him a few secrets to sucess as well.
Go Bucs!