Zyon McCollum: Let Baker Mayfield Be Baker Mayfield
December 1st, 2024
Invigorated by Baker Mayfield.
Joe knows some Bucs fans cringe when they see Baker Mayfield running 40-50 yards downfield to throw a block or trying to truck a linebacker.
And Joe guesses if some Bucs coaches were given truth serum, they may not like it either.
But Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum has a hunch if coaches don’t let Mayfield be himself, he may become a lesser quarterback.
Joe was talking to McCollum last week and asked him despite how Mayfield’s hustle stokes his teammates, was there a part of McCollum that whispers to himself, “Get down, Baker.”
That has never crossed his mind.
“Honestly, no,” McCollum said about thinking Mayfield needs to get down or be a little less aggressive. “That never went through my head.
“The type of player Baker is, he plays the game the way it is meant to be played and good things happen. And when I see a quarterback doing that, playing the game the way it is meant to be played, hard-nosed like that, I’m not worried about him being hurt or injured because he is in the flow of the game.”
This reminded Joe of the old football saying; if you play not to get hurt, that’s when a player gets hurt.
Besides, McCollum said, Mayfield’s hustle energizes teammates.
“It gets us all on our feet,” McCollum said. “He had me jumping around [blocking 40-50 yards downfield for Bucky Irving against the Giants]. It invigorates me. It fills me up with energy. That type of play is crazy, from a quarterback?”
McCollum recounted how he saw that play develop with Irving nearly breaking a 90-yard run and Mayfield waving Irving to follow him to freedom at midfield.
“All I saw was Bucky running and then out of nowhere, I see Mayfield,” McCollum recounted. “I’m like, ‘Dang.’
“When you see a guy who cares like that, it’s like, ‘OK, I’ve got no excuses.'”
Sometimes a team needs a spark like Mayfield to ignite them. Joe guesses it’s best to let a player be himself.
December 1st, 2024 at 2:42 am
Baker is a football player not just a qb. We’re lucky to have him.
December 1st, 2024 at 4:03 am
@Badbucs – Agree ! A lot of fans don’t realize that Baker is the franchise QB this team has been searching for. Outside of Doug Williams and Brady, Baker is the best QB we’ve ever had. Just the little things he does, like his ability to shed sacks and make a play after. Knowing exactly what is needed to be done and making sure to minimize mistakes. And that’s not including the accuracy and quality throws he makes on a consistent basis. That’s what makes him an easy top 5-10 QB at all times, and a top 3 QB in a lot of games. Bucs should extend him with an extra 3 years on top of this contract. I know a lot of fans don’t agree, but they are sadly mistaken, or they forget what the Bucs history of trying to find the QB that is Baker Mayfield for a very, very long time. Go Bucs and Baker. Bucs win today 35-13
December 1st, 2024 at 5:39 am
^^^^^
when zyon first arrived as a rookie, like in the pic, i was like “who is this smiley guy”…
he was the smiliest guy in the whole league…i kid you not…so smiley, he was bordering on downright giddy…
welp…now when someone says “who is this guy ?”…i say “yo that’s the best corner in the league”
that’s big Z…zyon mcollum
December 1st, 2024 at 6:38 am
I like the hustle. Mocking a third string quarterback? Not so much.
December 1st, 2024 at 6:59 am
The Bucs have Baker in the fold for the next couple of years. Message to the Glazers: “Do NOT let Liam Cohen get away.”
December 1st, 2024 at 7:15 am
Dtownva I guess what Baker was doing could be construed as mocking DeVito. I think that he is just having fun in a needling way. He’s competitive as all get out but more than that he loves the game. Coaches wouldn’t have allowed that in my day. “Act like you’ve been here before” was the norm. But not anymore. I for one enjoy the change.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:30 am
For all the plus energy Baker provides, it is sadly more than offset by The Coich.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:31 am
baker plays the game as it should be played , but playing him in garbage time is like playing russian roulette.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:34 am
I think the biggest hurdle some people have is getting over his last two years before he got here. He got hurt, the separation from Cleveland was messy and he just wasn’t good. Sure, there are reasons but he has to own his part as well.
I will freely admit I rolled my eyes when we signed him. But I have done a 180 and believe we hit on a lottery ticket. He will never be THE best qb in the league, but he won’t be the reason we don’t win a Superbowl while he is here.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:48 am
Still hard to believe the Bucs got this guy off the NFL scrap heap. He’s better than Methusaleh12 who was past his prime when he came here. Love BM’s feistiness, but I’m glad I’m a radio fan cos I shudder at times over some of the stuff he does. Don’t want him carried off the field. Be rooting for LVD, Izien, AWJ and Zyon today.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:53 am
I see Baker clips all over social media as well as sports shows. Clips of interviews, stiff arming Bosa (better angle of view also). Blocking for Bucky. Head butting his teammates. Mic’d up etc. I think a lot of fans wish he was QB for their team but mostly he is getting respect as a player and person. It’s really cool. Glad he’s a Buc.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:57 am
@oralbucfan:
umm…are you aware the methusaleh12 threw about 100 td’s the first 2 seasons he was here…
and won a superbowl…
you can’t compare bake to the goat…
and by the way, i’m a big baker fan
December 1st, 2024 at 7:59 am
actually the exact number was 96 td’s
December 1st, 2024 at 8:01 am
plus over 11,500 yards in those 2 seasons…
never compare anyone to the goatly tommy b
December 1st, 2024 at 8:04 am
even in his final season he went for 27 td’s and 10 ints…all the while his wife was voodooing him and playing around judo johnny
December 1st, 2024 at 8:55 am
Baker turned The Browns around from 1-31 and made them a contender. Then they stabbed him in the back for a serial predator. Right back to where they started pre Baker. As for Bowles he can go big at big moments. Lets see if he can make a run to the playoffs and beyond.
December 1st, 2024 at 9:01 am
I know who Tom Brady is, and who you are. BTW, my UN begins with o-r-l, not o-r-a-l. Just use o-b-f cos it’s easier, adam from ny.
December 1st, 2024 at 11:55 am
I wasn’t too keen on signing Mayfield, but I am happy to be wrong. Mayfield has been great! He is the perfect quarterback for Tampa. I was looking at Mayfield’s career stats the other day, and it’s surprising he is so underappreciated. Dude has a career completion percentage of 63.1, but it’s much higher this season, and has thrown 154 touchdowns against 83 interceptions AND he is only 29! I know Ira has expressed dismay over Tampa’s inability to draft a franchise quarterback, but at least we have a franchise quarterback now who is young and could potentially give the Bucs another 8-9 years of qualify play. That would be a first for this franchise.
December 1st, 2024 at 1:47 pm
Yeah, best to let players be the players they are. Unless that player gets an injury, then it is all bad coaching decisions and why, why, why? Would our HC, OC, GM, Owners allow that to happen, fire them all, clean house, blow this thing up…. Yeah… It is all good until it ain’t. Then it is a Tragedy… That someone needs to lose their job over…
GO!!!! BUCS!!!!!
December 1st, 2024 at 2:09 pm
orlbucfan it’s statements like that are why some of us have taken a while to buy into Baker. Plus the hateful cheerleader brigade that carpet bagged their way onto this board. Never on his best year will Baker ever be better than Brady but there you have a Baker fan trying to make him out to be more than he is. You all talk about he was done wrong by Cleveland but I know he brought some things upon himself. He chose to play injured don’t blame the team for that. He will never win 7 Super Bowls with us or any team because there is a certain hole in his game that any defense can exploit so he is restricted on what he can do unless a play breaks die down. If you guys want us to accept him stop force feeding him to us and let us have our own opinions about what we see and stop being the rancid hateful name callers the carpet baggers are and his new fans have become
December 1st, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Baker, is the GOAT, in waiting. 12 years from now, best football announcer ever. Diff note, betting, they activated the 3rd quarterback, so trask and him can play, once game is away. lol
December 1st, 2024 at 3:02 pm
The Hateful Cheerleader Brigade? Go on DavidBigBucsFan99. Because there’s a certain hole in his game that any defense can exploit. Please give us more DavidBigBucsFan99. The rancid hateful name callers the carpet baggers are. Don’t go on anymore DavidBigBucsFan99. Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough already?