The Future For Zyon McCollum
May 20th, 2022
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum.
Tuesday at Bucs underwear football practice, Joe noticed that Zyon McCollum got a pick. Not a bad start, rook, first practice and you get a pick, even though it wasn’t against Tom Brady.
(If Bucs defensive backs are allowed to pick his passes.)
When McCollum was interviewed last week at Bucs rookie minicamp, Joe doesn’t think he has ever seen a happier player. Dude looked as if he spent the previous night at Kate Upton’s house.
Just by his demeanor, Joe gets the impression McCollum will be one of those guys be busting his tail to prove a guy from Sam Houston State belongs on the same field as a couple of guys from Auburn (Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean).
So Joe decided to check out McCollum’s bio from Sports Info Solutions, a very heavy stat-geeky site that goes deep on NFL players, teams and draft prospects. Here is what Max Nuscher had to type:
Against the pass, McCollum is most comfortable in zone coverage. He constantly has his eyes in the backfield, so he is able to break on the ball quickly. He has a good feel for his zone and knows when to pass off routes. In man coverage, he’s sufficient with his mirror-match movement skills. He shows good footwork at the line as well and plays with a good base. McCollum has a decent transition, but is a little stiff in the hips when transitioning forward out of his backpedal. When in press coverage, he doesn’t like to jam at the line, but rather try and just match movements with his athleticism. It does open him to being beat off the line, though he has the speed to turn and run to make up for mistakes. He also plays with a good amount of patience at the LOS as well. He doesn’t panic and plays under control to get back into position. He is aggressive in bump and run and isn’t afraid to use his big body against smaller receivers, but lacks the play strength to overpower them. He is slow to get his head around down the field, but when he does locate the ball, he has good hands to come away with interceptions or at the least knock the ball away. Even though he has good speed and decent athleticism, he lacks the twitchy movement skills at his size to consistently play in the slot.
McCollum is an elite athlete. You cannot coach what McCollum possesses. That’s speed. You either have it or you do not.
Joe thinks it is fair to say the Bucs have damn good assistants. Look at how they developed the Bucs’ young corners. No, they didn’t have a great year last year but they were all injured. But they sure as hell looked OK the way they closed out the 2020 season, no?
So good coaches get a player with elite skills. Well, it would not surprise Joe if McCollum becomes a damn solid cornerback.
May 20th, 2022 at 12:41 am
He is 6 ft 2 and runs a 4.33 40! He will have to get stronger to succeed in the NFL.
In College, his length and speed allowed him to overcome some mistakes in his game, but not so in the NFL.
His Vertical Leap was nearly 40 inches, which is very good, so he is an elite athlete, and was rated at 84 out of a possible 100 for his combine performance.
May 20th, 2022 at 1:31 am
I’m very optimistic about this guy. I think he’ll be starting for us next year if not sooner.
May 20th, 2022 at 2:23 am
I’m always concerned with reports of “stiff hips”, but we’ll see. I hope this kid turns into a superstar. Good attitude.
May 20th, 2022 at 2:36 am
I wouldn’t put too much stock in a draft bio.
Go back and look at he official NFL draft profile on Richard Sherman.
Couldn’t be more wrong
May 20th, 2022 at 6:00 am
You can never have enough competent corners. Coach him up. He WILL be called upon at some point this season.
May 20th, 2022 at 6:37 am
A smiling, happy, eager, athletic, fast, big CB. This guy has what it takes to become a superstar.
May 20th, 2022 at 7:24 am
I live in Houston–he made news over here a good bit, even though at SHSU.
SHSU has one of the stronger programs in the division (relative I know), so I am optimistic.
Suh.
May 20th, 2022 at 7:35 am
I’m optimistic about McCollum. I think he’s got the tools to eventually get into our CB rotation on defense, but also hoping we stay healthy at CB so we could pick & choose when to use him on that side of the ball. From the start I’d like to see how he fares covering kicks just to get him acclimated with pro speed and provide opportunities at gaining confidence while he adjusts transitioning from amateur to pro. Z-Mac has the tools to be an effective player, but I think once he gets a grip on the mental nuances of being a pro, this kid’ll be off to the races.
May 20th, 2022 at 7:37 am
Just want to see him on the field. I watched Davis and Dean when they were at Auburn and knew they could compete here. Would love to see this kid become a starter.
May 20th, 2022 at 7:48 am
Love the pick…..the athleticism & attitude…….could be a real steal.
May 20th, 2022 at 8:46 am
I’m excited about Zyon’s potential! Size, Speed, Attitude all great!
May 20th, 2022 at 9:01 am
It’s all about how much heart a player has. If your a great athlete and have heart you will succeed.
May 20th, 2022 at 9:55 am
Dooley, l like that Zmac nickname.
May 20th, 2022 at 9:56 am
I’m not gonna use the hyphen. Too lazy
May 20th, 2022 at 10:00 am
BillyBucco Says:
May 20th, 2022 at 2:36 am
I wouldn’t put too much stock in a draft bio.
Go back and look at he official NFL draft profile on Richard Sherman.
Couldn’t be more wrong
————
Actually, the ones I read were pretty spot on. Sherman only played CB for two seasons after switching from WR. He was raw… he always did lack elite speed… he was tall and rangy and intelligent… the played up to those and he learned great technique and was able to overcome not having great speed. The reason he went in the 5th round was he lacked experience, played for a PAC school not known for defense (Stanford) and wasn’t an elite athlete. The Seahawks liked his frame and potential and took him where he probably should have been taken.
May 20th, 2022 at 10:35 am
With all the injuries which will occur, this Kid will get his shot. He’s going to see reall fast, what went in college will not go in the pros. Altogether different. Needs a lot of work on his game. He will get it under Bowles.
May 20th, 2022 at 11:07 am
I think he is going to be really good, coming from a small program where they will ask some to cover more or make up for the lesser players around them, so his focus was always spread. He has outstanding physical traits and is coming to a place where he will only have to focus on his job and not cover other’s assignments so as long as he is able to pick up the playbook, he should have a chance to compete for a position.
May 20th, 2022 at 11:25 am
I’m rooting for this dude and I hope that he’s a fast learner since we may need him early in the season given our corner’s penchant for getting injured.
May 20th, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Just keep him away from his press clippings.
None of those guys have done squat…yet.
May 20th, 2022 at 1:35 pm
Eager to watch this kid develop and see what we got
Maybe we are deeper at corner than we know
Go Bucs
May 20th, 2022 at 1:43 pm
@Bucsfan4ever
its your world playa lol Im just not typing out his entire gov’t name everytime I’m trying to mention him, so you’ll see Zmac, Z-Mac, Zee-M-C, or McPick-6 whatever works
May 20th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
steele … “I’m always concerned with ‘stiff hips’”
That’s what she said.
May 23rd, 2022 at 3:41 pm
SlyPirate! LMAO!👍