Zyon McCollum Bailed Out Secondary
January 6th, 2025
Strong defense Sunday.
With Antoine Winfield still dinged up, with Jamel Dean still nursing a bum knee and with Jordan Whitehead out of commission due to his car accident driving to One Buc Palace on Saturday morning, the Bucs were down to one starter in the secondary.
And Zyon McCollum may have had the best game of his first year starting.
McCollum damn near had two picks, one of which would have been a pick-six, several strong tackles and four passes defended yesterday.
You read that right: McCollum had four passes defended.
For a defense that too often sleepwalked through yesterday’s first half, McCollum came to play. Perhaps his strong play helped keep the slimy Saints out of the end zone a time or two.
That’s the kind of play the Bucs will need from their defensive backs if they hope to make a dent in the postseason.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:28 am
We need Dean and Winfield back for this playoff run. I hope Edwards is ok as well. The healthier this team gets, the hope is that we at least have a puncher’s chance in the NFC.
This offense has to ball-out to make it happen. Let’s go on an epic run and run up the scoreboard on whoever we play, LFG!
January 6th, 2025 at 7:35 am
Zyon was all over the field , he was everywhere!
He got his hands on some balls with some tipped passes and his tight coverage absolutely affected the receivers. Zyon made his mark For the BUCS defense in his first year being a full-time starter and he is trending up for sure! One of the Bright spots in our secondary. We are lucky to have him. GO BUCS!!
January 6th, 2025 at 7:52 am
Second half was a clinic and because the defense stiffened up, Joe gets to kill the down by 3 at the start of the game curse.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:54 am
Given the emergence of McCollum as the #1 DB that leaves Dean expendable!
Dean has obvious cover skills but in addition to his fragility and lack of availability which has been horrid throughout his career, he’s now also seems to prefer playing touch football rather than tackle! Tykee Smith may not cover as well but at least he hustles and is improving with experience. He’s not afraid to tackle.
On team where one of the issues has been poor tackling Dean is just too big a liablility. There are some others but the Bucs have dipped so far into their depth chart that it’s getting hard to keep up.
Agree completely Zoocomics about Winfield. He is the biggest loss right now!!!
He is one of those players who can literally be a game changer! He hits with authority and has an incredible feel for what the offense is trying to do.
Miss Winfield bigtime but with the emergence of McCollum, Smith and others Dean has become a very expensive luxury. Does he have any trade value at all?
January 6th, 2025 at 7:55 am
Man, I typically love to hate on Jamel Dean, but Josh Hayes makes me miss him hard core. Hayes had 11 tackles without a single pass defended which validates what my eyes saw – lots of catches that he then has to go tackle his guy down field. That TD he allowed was egregious too. He shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Terry McLaurin Sunday night.
January 6th, 2025 at 7:57 am
Bucs need a few starting Secondary to return next Sunday in order to have a chance in the playoffs. Go Bucs
January 6th, 2025 at 8:01 am
Zyon McCullom is only one man and obviously he’s a lot better with a guy named Antoine Winfield out there, but without Winfield it’s like being alone on an island. Have to be more cautious and careful. The defense has to be stronger faster and smarter. We can’t just play lazy and give up.
Jayden is a fast QB on his feet and has a good arm too. This secondary if healthy is still a huge risk for their offense. I say we put speed out there and not worry so much about anything else. Come out with force and blitz early and wreck havoc from the start.
January 6th, 2025 at 8:09 am
Leighroy is right Josh Hayes isn’t the answer. We really are gonna need Jamel Dean back if we’re gonna stand a chance. We’re also gonna have to play faster more skilled players. Deion Jones should be starting and we all know it. Now it’s too late for him to really go out there and prove he belongs next to LVD.
I’d really like his speed and tackling ability to be there next to LaVonte Davids leadership. Kj Britt is good tackling machine and run defender, but that’s where his skills dissipates. Deion is a pro bowler Lb with skills in both areas of the game. We already wasted time waiting to sign him. Now we’re wasting time on starting him. Dallis Flowers also very fast DB. I would have no problem letting him get a few reps on 3rd and long just to be a security blanket. He’s lengthy and fast. Even if all he does is scare the Qb into not throwing it then it would be a success.
January 6th, 2025 at 8:19 am
stpetebucsfan
Jamel Dean has no trade value. He has bricks for hands and is a liability in zone coverage. He’s best at running downfield and getting his hands and length on the WR in man coverage. Most teams and QBs don’t want that matchup so yeah he’s likely to be gone soon as a FA. Until then though he’s our 1-2 CB, and there’s really no luxury of that position we have to have two CBs on the outside at minimum. His contract is starting to look more so like a headache, but he’s needed until we can replace him. He’s really lost a step since SB Jamel Dean.
Hope we can find his replacement sooner or later. Zyon is likely going straight to the Jamel Dean role also imo when Dean leaves. That means they need a new outside CB that matches up with Zyon’s skill set. I prefer a ball hawk that would be great.
January 6th, 2025 at 8:23 am
I’d like to see the breakdown of zone plays to man plays, it seems to me every time we get in zone teams go right down the field and score easily.
January 6th, 2025 at 8:37 am
A lot of our stops in the 2nd half were pure luck–Rattler missed some open people
January 6th, 2025 at 8:47 am
Josh Hayes is playing Dean’s soft zone position. The assignment is to stay 7 to 8 yards back, keep the pass in front of you and tackle. The free safety pr nickel cheats towards that side. Zyon is the only one playing press or man. It’s not that Hayes was getting burned, that’s his job in the defense. On the surface it looks like he’s getting torched, but remember the whole identity of this defense is bend, don’t break.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:03 am
He was contesting for multiple touchdowns, he was there going after the ball, he was in place. He has the speed and all the other qualities to do this job really well. More of this needs to be drafted in the upcoming draft. He will be better than C.Davis. We need to go secondary in this draft all the way. Buy edge, draft secondary.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:04 am
“Leighroy is right Josh Hayes isn’t the answer.”
Agree with both Leighroy and Thataint right.
But Dean is not the answer and it’s a moot debate anyway since Dean is lacking in that critical ability, availability!
It’s probably a waste of time debating Dean at this point he may have literally taken his last snap as a Buc although given his history he’ll recover for the playoffs just in time to make a great play and then…get hurt again and become unavailable.
I think it’s clear the Bucs desperately need a major stud ILB, and a top notch cover corner to complement McCullum.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:15 am
Here’s one thing I think lost yesterday, yes the Bucs looked a bit flat yesterday, but Spencer Rattler was absolutely dealing in the first half, he throwing darts, and making some tight window throws, Brady noted it in the broadcast once too. I agree Zyon looked as good as he’s looked all season, and him and Tykee are the only two in the secondary that even looked competent most of the year.
Joe, one aspect I think that should’ve go unnoticed about this team, especially pending the results this post season, Jason Licht bolstered this ailing defense mid-season, he’s added Mike Edwards, Shaq Barrett, and Ryan Neal (I know), but if these moves pay off, that’s some pretty savvy roster building to bring back these dudes that already know Bowles complex defense, and make them contributors, after them essentially being cast to the NFL scrap heap.
January 6th, 2025 at 9:26 am
Fire Bowles. No matter the outcome
January 6th, 2025 at 9:38 am
Thanks to @Joe D for bringing up the guys that Licht brought in for Bowles. What do they have in common? They played for Bowles and were released. Licht can’t bring in defenders from other teams since Bowles’ defense is so complicated that he won’t let new players come in and play. So Bowles’ defense is difficult to run by existing players that communication fails in the secondary, Shaq says the defense is different than last year, and Licht is very restricted who he can bring in. In contrast, look what Aaron Glenn has done in Detroit.
Bowles is likely to be back next year. He needs to simplify his scheme and get some new coaches for edge and secondary players.
January 6th, 2025 at 10:14 am
@JReel Buc…its going to be a long offseason for you if all you plan to do is make these comments. He’s not going anywhere.
January 6th, 2025 at 10:17 am
McCollum did play well. Have been critical of him.
It’s now up to him as to how great he can be.
Rise up! Take the playoffs by storm and establish yourself as the next big thing. Get a fat contract.
Stealing from Cena: Your time is Now!
January 6th, 2025 at 10:23 am
“Fire Bowles. No matter the outcome”
Why because you don’t like him personally? IF winning is not enough then why even bother because it’s then freaking HOPELESS!
January 6th, 2025 at 10:23 am
Stay healthy, ZyMac!
January 6th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Random but Hayes played better in man than some except that td lol
January 6th, 2025 at 11:35 am
He single-handedly (literally) prevented an early TD catch by knocking the ball loose on what looked like a sure reception to Valdes-Scantling. Resulted in a FG instead. He is a stud.
January 6th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Beej says same old post they suck dude go hit another post site I hate negitive dirt bags
January 6th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
I was miffed at some of the twitter warriors like Ledyard and Queipo yesterday.They were being pretty hard on Zyon. I thought he was battling and doing well as Joe points out here.
Yeah he slightly mistimed or cheated and cost him but he was there to make the play and Rattler threw some absolute dimes otherwise Zyon was picking or breaking up multiple more. The crosser later in the game that Rattler threw behind his WR…. they were on Zyon for getting burned as if any CB in the league is stopping the slot from crossing the field like that and having a chance without LB help.
January 6th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Dean and Winfield ain’t done sh**!!!
January 6th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Zyon had a great day yesterday!
He definitely kept the Saints out of the end zone with a couple of his plays.
I noticed something else that one or two other people here have mentioned as well.
Josh Hayes struggled. I’m not a huge Jamel Dean fan, but it was easy to see the difference between the two.
Ideally, the coaches will work with Josh and Jamel will heal up soon.
January 6th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Zion is fantastic.
I fully expect Winfield back for the playoffs
Not sure about Dean or anyone else back there but whatever they’ve been doing in the second halves the last few weeks, how about they start the game like that!?
January 6th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Some have said that Lavonte David’s coverage performance has declined this year.
To me, when Lavonte has not looked as great, it has often been when he was doing alone something that a DB should have been there to do or to help do.
January 6th, 2025 at 5:10 pm
For once a bucs cb turned and looked for the ball, you learn this in jv.
January 7th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
Dean, Trask, and JTS are all solid players. The issue is he is way over paid. If we can come to terms with these 3 players, we may salvage picks and money for star VFAs.
Neither is a full time starter, but can contribute.