“We Will Have That Guy”
March 30th, 2023
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
So Bucs coach Todd Bowles has made it clear: Antoine Winfield, barring injuries, will be Bucs’ primary free safety.
Bowles noted he liked how Winfield played at slot corner but given that Winfield is a ballhawk, Bowles believes the Bucs need more turnovers and therefore Winfield will be more effective playing center field.
So, what about the slot position?
Bowles said, sure, they are looking to add a nickel corner. But if the team cannot find one, Bowles thinks they have one on the roster already.
“We have guys on the roster that can play it,” Bowles said in his breakfast sitdown with Joe and some #NFLMedia Tuesday in Arizona. “But we also want to address that spot as well if we get a chance to address it. If not, we have guys that can play it.”
Joe assumes that guy is Dee Delaney, who was retained by the Bucs this offseason.
So yeah, if you are looking to handicap who the Bucs are looking for in the draft next month, a versatile safety/corner perhaps on the second or third day of the draft could happen.
Again, if that doesn’t happen, no need to worry, Bowles said. He already has someone that can fill in at slot corner.
“We will have that guy,” Bowles said.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:10 am
Zyon McCollum?
March 30th, 2023 at 10:17 am
Lt. Dan … Zyon McCollum.
Zyon will make a leap this year. He’s got all the physical traits. He just needs to learn the system. Bowles and others have said CB is the toughest job to learn for a rookie.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:18 am
I’m with Ira I hated seeing Winfield in the slot, also nobody wants to say it but I will. He struggled in the slot
March 30th, 2023 at 10:28 am
Zion is the reason they let SMB go
March 30th, 2023 at 10:31 am
I was thinking/hoping Zyon as well.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:31 am
Salary cap is why SMB walked. They couldn’t afford to sign both Jamel Dean and SMB.
Have to see something defensively from Zion before Joe can say he’s in the mix for slot corner. He looked totally overwhelmed at corner last year (but he was excellent on special teams).
Right now, Zion is a carbon copy of Ryan Smith, and Joe types that with respect.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:37 am
I love Zyon but he was awful last season. His potential is unmatched in Buc history… his performance last season made Myron Lewis look like Rod Woodson. The coverage part and his non-aggressiveness at the LOS could be part of the learning and maturation process… but his complete unwillingness to tackle shocked me. He was awful at getting guys onto the ground.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:40 am
Funny thing is Delaney is listed as a safety now for some reason and how can you not include Zyon McCollum in this article? I totally expect us to draft at least 1 CB, this class in comparison to other position is actually deep throughout the 3 day process. The hang-up being is how early/late to get a player to handle being a nickel corner in the NFL with it being one of the hardest positions to play in the secondary.
Prospects that should be on our radar:
CB/S-Quan Martin-6’0 195lbs-Illinois
CB-Darius Rush-6’2 198lbs-S.Carolina
CB-Rezjohn Wright-6’2 193lbs-Oregon St(Last Chance U alum)
CB-Kyu Blu-Kelly-6’0 191lbs-Stanford(that Brian Kelly’s kid)
CB-Jakorian Bennett-5’11 188lbs-Maryland
March 30th, 2023 at 10:43 am
Zyon looked so lost out there last season, worse than MJ Stewart and Vernon Hargreaves.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:45 am
BRIAN BRANCH IN THE DRAFT.
March 30th, 2023 at 10:52 am
Zyon needs to learn how tackle first, and then we should see if he plays, and where he plays….Last year hi played relly awful as CB, average on special teams, but I was really surprised by his poor tackling technique…….
March 30th, 2023 at 10:58 am
S Andre Cisco…65th pick in the 2021 draft. ( Leave Trask Alone…on the sideline…pick # 64 ).
March 30th, 2023 at 10:59 am
That guy could also be Logan Ryan, maybe.
March 30th, 2023 at 11:05 am
I’m pretty sure if Branch is there in the first we are taking him. Otherwise we are likely going to be Bijan or a tackle at that position.
If we wait on safety or corner then we are going to get the guy out if FSU likely in the 3rd. Meaning tackle goes round 1 or 2 .
As much as I’m not a big believer in high draft capital on running back, when you look at Robinson’s highlights in college and you look at his skill set it would completely revolutionize and open up this offense. He is a very good pass blocker which would help in the past game. He is an excellent receiver out of the backfield which means that he could play on any down and keep the defenses honest. He also is very Shifty strong and breaks a lot of tackles and thus could be our Walker but even better.
If we can draft him and then get a solid tackle even if it’s a right tackle in the second round and pair that with a safety in the third such as the guy from FSU Jammie Robinson who can play slot and safety.
March 30th, 2023 at 11:26 am
Why would Joe? McCollum has yet to impress Joe as a player who belongs on an NFL field playing defense (he’s fantastic on special teams). At best, it would be dishonest to suggest he’s a nickel corner, or any kind of corner.
March 30th, 2023 at 11:36 am
Todd can conjure up a guy to put there. Expecting whoever it is to play well is a far stretch. Todd will make sure he’s as confused as everyone else especially on 3rd and 4th downs.
March 30th, 2023 at 11:43 am
Joe Says:
March 30th, 2023 at 11:26 am
Regardless, Joe is aware that the Bucs hold Zyon is high regard and his upside is definitely starting CB. His athletic testing put him an the elite category of all CBs drafted since they started compiling such data. He was also a highly productive player in college, not just an athlete. The only reason he was not effective at CB in 2022 was because he was rookie going from an extremely lower level of competition, probably a whole lot simpler schematic concepts, to the NFL.. He has to figure out how to play the position at this level. Given his athletic profile, and success at his college program, there’s no reason to think he can’t be in the mix going into his second year.
One thing I notice with JBF and a lot of commenters is the absolute stubborn impatience you guys have with draftees who struggle as rookies. It’s like you guys are ready to write off Logan Hall, and Zyon. By the way, Ronde Barber sucked as a rookie and couldn’t get on the field.
March 30th, 2023 at 11:58 am
“Why would Joe? McCollum has yet to impress Joe as a player who belongs on an NFL field playing defense (he’s fantastic on special teams).”
Ummm, because he’s a defensive back on this team and a candidate for this:
“So, what about the slot position?” -Joe
lol c’mon now with the athlete McCollum is, and this being his first FULL offseason as an NFL player. Is improving off the table based ofs what you saw of him last year? Or is it because you made that weak Ryan Smith comp and got to stick by it?
March 30th, 2023 at 12:05 pm
Sorry, Joe actually has to see something first before he can annoint someone a starter or a candidate who should be given serious consideration to being on the field 70 percent of the time.
Again, McCollum is an excellent special teams guy. Joe has not seen any evidence (yet) he belongs on an NFL field playing defense. *Hope* he can at some point. But Joe’s not a hope guy.
Could McCollum have improved? Sure. Let’s see it.
March 30th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Bowles was bragging about SMB last year and they let him walk for 3.5 mil. You can’t believe a word this coach says. He will stab you in the back in a NY second.
March 30th, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Sorry, but Joe doesn’t do a lot of player evaluation to be considered an authority on player evaluation. You’re talking about filling a position, but omitting candidates who are already on the team from filling said position cause you haven’t seen enough. Nobody is saying anoint McCollum, it’s just weird the only DB you mentioned filling the NB slot is Delany even though McCollum got more snaps at CB than Delaney last season did, and Delaney got more snaps on special teams than McCollum did lol
March 30th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Eyeball test. McCollum was damn good on special teams. Delaney has proven he is a quality backup if not a part-time guy.
For Joe, it would be “weird” to consider a guy who looked fully lost on defense to be a legitimate candidate to be a part-time starter on defense.
When has it become “weird” to earn playing time as opposed to being gifted playing time?
March 30th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Joe, it’s equally weird to write a rookie off with the physical traits McCollum has after his first year of professional football. If they’re on the roster, and there’s an opening at their position they should be at least considered. Nobody is saying anything about gifting any player anything idk why you keep mentioning that in response to picking candidates from the player we have on hand. We have an opening at nickel corner, there’s no good reason to say in March McCollum cannot earn the job.
March 30th, 2023 at 12:58 pm
Joe Swanson Says:
March 30th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
It’s one thing to criticize Bowles on coaching decisions. It’s another thing entirely to make up stup!d sh!t about the man’s character.
Bowles was sincere about SMB. And the organization had to set priorities this offseason with the cap in mind. That’s not backstabbing, that’s the business of football. Sorry. The calculation also included an expectation that Zyon can and will step up to contribute at CB this year. There are always tradeoffs.
March 30th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Antonio Johnson
March 30th, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Dee Delaney is too slow to be playing much. He’s always a step behind on everything because he just doesn’t have the speed/quickness to keep up with guys, and I highly doubt he’s going to get faster. To his credit, Delaney does seem to be in the right position, he’s not Ryan Smith out there running around completely clueless, but he’s always a step behind guys.
If he makes this team and plays big minutes, the team is in big time trouble.
As for Zyon, he’s very very much a project player. Remarkable physical abilities, he scored a 10 on the RAS scale, but if you score that high, and yet you’re still a 6th rounder, that means you’re a project. Who knows about him, he’s very much a lottery ticket. Last year, in particular in that Ravens game, he was incredibly bad, but he was also a 6th round rookie that had no business being in a game already. Hopefully those early snaps have made him better.
March 30th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Mekhi Garner, late 3rd
March 30th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Great coaches rise up to the challenge! They rise up and overcome adversity! As Head coach, so far, Todd Bowles has not done either. Quit making excuses for this guy!! He needs to produce wins or disappear!!
March 30th, 2023 at 3:41 pm
In Bowles, defense as defensive coordinator he has done both. He may need to stick with that side of the ball only.
March 30th, 2023 at 5:56 pm
“Aside from everybody, I would like to see Zyon take the next step in the defensive backfield,” Bowles said. “I think he got hurt at the beginning of last year, kind of set him back a little bit. But I look forward to [seeing] him.”
Todd Bowles on what new addition in 2022 he’d like to see take a step forward in 2023
March 30th, 2023 at 8:07 pm
Bowels has developed CD111,SMB, and JD. Not to forget AW n JW. who bounced to the jets. All turned out to above average or better. Have all the confidence that ZM will get developed too. Bowles is a top defensive coach n has a ring to prove it. Head coach on the other hand is still up in the air.
March 31st, 2023 at 1:28 pm
Corner is probably the hardest position to play in the NFL this decade, with all the rule changes favoring WR there already at a disadvantage