It Wasn’t Lack Of Discipline, It Was Stupidity
December 14th, 2025
Cornerback Zyon McCollum.
Well, it seems as Bucs coach Todd Bowles has gone from suggesting Zyon McCollum is bored to suggesting he lacks discipline.
Joe thinks in reality, it is a whole lot worse.
Joe can understand if folks forgot this because the fourth quarter collapse was so awful, but early in the second quarter Atlanta’s Zane Gonzalez kicked a 31-yard field goal.
But hold up! Oft-bored Zyon McCollum was offside. The Dixie Chicks got a first down. On the next play, unstoppable Kyle Pitts caught one of his three touchdown passes.
So instead of the Bucs leading 7-3, the game was tied at 7-7. Those four points turned out to be huge, didn’t they?
Bowles had an interesting response.
“It was a big lapse of concentration,” Bowles said in his day-after presser. “He was antsy, from the tape, at the start.
“You’ve got to stay onside. That takes a lot of discipline. He’s got to be better than that.”
Discipline? So you’re telling Joe high school kids, hell, pee wee football kids have more discipline than a four-year professional? That is one of the most basic fundamentals in all of football, something you learn when you first snap on a chin strap.
No, McCollum’s discipline wasn’t the issue, that’s having your head up your arse.
Joe suspects at least one change coming for the Bucs this offseason is the secondary may look a whole lot different when OTAs begin. And it is partially because of stunts like that.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:07 am
So how has Bowles handled Zyon’s lack of focus/laziness? Where is the accountability? Just words???? It seems like he is not holding him accountable and to be honest it sounds like Zyon might be one of the guys who has created issues in the locker room since he got his bag of coin. Strange, last year I remember several media members who covered the Bucs as saying Zyon was affable, friendly, always a good interview and obviously his play was considered a positive, not the mediocre below average garbage we have seen this season.. What happened???? Is the guy an “Eddie Haskell” character type like OJ Howard was (allegedly), albeit Zyon did do well as a 5th round pick while OJ Howard was a first round bust.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:07 am
What do you think of the execution of the team? Im all for it!
December 14th, 2025 at 8:13 am
He probably got bored before the snap. Oh well, it doesn’t matter how any of these players perform cause the HC won’t discipline them, just make excuses and continue with the same losing plan.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:13 am
Whatever it is cut him. Bowles should resign. He did a good job in bringing Baker aboard but he has hit his ceiling and should retire. We need a positive ra ra offensive coordinator like we had already with Canales and Coen. It should be an active play caller. So Rams guy is out. Commanders guy is a running QB guy. How about b the Sea Hawks OC?
December 14th, 2025 at 8:13 am
Well there is blame to points to JL for promoting McFollowum as another one of his hidden gems. McFollowum’s play has NEVER matched his hype and PAY from Jason Licht !
Simple as that
December 14th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Bla, bla, bla…nothing is ever corrected with this coach! And to think they gave this guy (McCollum) a mammoth pay raise! Which I’m sure is part of why he plays like he doesn’t care. But seams like half the team plays that way!
December 14th, 2025 at 8:16 am
ZM isn’t going anywhere thanks to that new fat contract our “loyal” GM gave him.
Way too much guaranteed money left – the Bucs are stuck for at least another season.
Same situation with Winfield – too much guaranteed money left.
So – NO! I disagree.
This defensive backfield will pretty much look the same next season.
Sorry.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:18 am
How do you get bored playing in an NFL game?
December 14th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Sounds about right. McCollum has been shell shocked since the Bills game. Overcompensating for lapses in his past games which is hampering his performance here and now. What’s good for us is, this years CB class is looking pretty good and even with BMo & Parrish being drafted last year we could 100% bring in another young CB in next spring.
Gonna have to replace Vildor too, that guy is just not good.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Great article!
December 14th, 2025 at 8:18 am
The big pay raise guys have no incentive. Generation wealth. Go thru the motions,and retire rich and healthy.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:25 am
McCollum has always been an average CB3 guy. Couldn’t believe Jason dumped $48m on him. Why we haven’t benched him already boggles the mind.
Then we hype Morrison as Dean’s replacement and he looks lost most of the time. We were all frustrated with Dean, but he was head and shoulders better than Morrison as our CB2 as a rookie. And he’s already lined up a decent payday with his new team for next season.
Parrish is playing his a$$ off and makes mistakes, but he’s hitting guys behind the line and has a bunch of TFL’s so he’s earning his keep as a rookie. Izien came in and played a hell of a game in relief of Smith vs the Saints. I still like both these guys.
What happened to Bryce Hall. I have no idea what Vildor can do, just haven’t seen enough.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:27 am
If they could get rid of Carlton Davis no reason they can’t get rid of ZM. Davis got his big contract.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:34 am
@ DBS
Davis was traded and didn’t have any guaranteed money left…
ZM is not tradable and has a ton of guaranteed money left on his current deal.
We are stuck with ZM for at least another season or so.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:39 am
Bowles is flailing. His team is bored, lacks discipline and can’t execute. He has literally bored this team to death.
Why in the world is he a HC? Or a DC for that matter?
Two words: Bruce Arians.
Bud Lichts GM impersonation has to end as well.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:43 am
How much is our cap hit on him next year?
December 14th, 2025 at 8:44 am
Todd Bowles is toast.
His defensive schemes don’t work anymore and now he’s throwing his team under the bus. I have yet to hear him take responsibly.
Major collapse. 6–2 at the break.
This team had all the potential in the world when healthy to be a 12 or 13 win team. Injuries did them in early, coaching put the nails In the coffin.
All new ILBs and an edge rusher, as usual, are desperately needed for next year
See you all at the draft
December 14th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Another swing and a miss by Licht. Bench him, get Morrison, and move Bryce up from the PS. Arians would’ve done it. But hey he was the most athletic dude on the draft. There’s a reason he didn’t go until rd 5
December 14th, 2025 at 8:48 am
McFollowum is a JTS clone.
Who keeps drafting these “superior athletes” ? You know who.
Maybe he should stop trying to be a genius and drafting players from Sam Houston State
December 14th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Bored, lack of concentration and not doing their jobs.
These are all results of poor coaching, the coaches jobs are to motions teach.
Todd says the coaches did all they could, so he admits his team of coaches and himself don’t know how to coach!
December 14th, 2025 at 8:49 am
At least we can’t blame him for the 3rd and 28 blunder.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Dime to a donut that B Morrison’s constant injuries aren’t hamstrings either. Another Bud Licht blunder.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:51 am
i’ve been pointing out zyon for some time now. it was a shock to me when he got his 48m this year. it made no sense as i knew he was at best an athletic talent but there was something missing.
just another jason licht dumpster dive gone wrong. he needs to go.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:53 am
I still swear McCollum got all the way back before the snap. I want to understand why the Bucs weren’t keying on Robinson and Pitts. They seemed to constantly be open! With London out, they were the only major weapons left. Everybody else could be single covered. And I don’t understand why Reddick couldn’t outwrestle Cousins on a fumble recovery and 5 Bucs couldn’t recover a fumble with no Falcons even around! Also Pitts was out of bounds on a TD.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Zyon can still be cut or traded. It depends on where the guaranteed money is and the amount. It could be a signing bonus. But I am sure there isn’t a no trade clause in the contract.
December 14th, 2025 at 8:59 am
Zyon was one of the better CB’s in the league last year, no reason to assume he wouldn’t get better THIS year. As for Morrison, he missed camp and preseason, and we can’t afford to let him learn on the fly at this point
December 14th, 2025 at 9:00 am
Cousins in a falcons jersey has just had our #. He’s like a reincarnation of the eagles of the early 2000’s. Just can’t beat em.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:02 am
@ NCbucfan
“How much is our cap hit on him next year?”
According to OTC – ZM will make @ $15.67M in 2026 – most of it guaranteed…
After 2026 most (not all) of the guaranteed money will be done.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Just think how bad it would’ve been had they had Drake London.
A great quote I ran across from former Memphis HC, & new Arkansas HC Ryan Silverfield, just a couple days ago… “Any head coach that’s not willing to change their scheme based off personnel is… shame on them. It’s about their ego.”
December 14th, 2025 at 9:04 am
Zyon used to smack players when tackling. It could be heard on TV. That hasn’t happened in awhile. Bored or depressed?
December 14th, 2025 at 9:04 am
Bowles cant develop anyone.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:05 am
“Discipline? So you’re telling Joe high school kids, hell, pee wee football kids have more discipline than a four-year professional? That is one of the most basic fundamentals in all of football, something you learn when you first snap on a chin strap.” – Joe
Okay, sure, you are right that he made a really stupid mistake…but the comparison to kids is stretching it. Pros are always jumping off sides.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:09 am
Zyon McCollum is a decent DB who messed up. It happens. I’m sure he knows he messed up and will learn from it.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:10 am
@Marinebuc, yeah that def sucks. Licht just had to do the deal at the beginning of the season. Dean is getting older but I would rather have extended him.
Melvinjr,
It’s also called insanity! Kirk friggin Cousins. I think that’s what disgusts me the most. If it’s Josh Allen, Burrow, Lamar Jackson, or Stafford ripping us like that, so be it. But it’s an old washed Kirk Cousins.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Bonzai, have you seen how many times he’s been burned this year? It wasn’t just that play. it’s a culmination.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:13 am
@Ugotrobbed Says:
December 14th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Bla, bla, bla…nothing is ever corrected
BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 14th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Can’t even put your 2nd-ROUND PICK out on the field, when he’s been practicing for at least 2+WEEKS LoL. Bowles feels that he must PROTECT (hide) His “Godson.” So, he has been a “healthy-scratch” then, basically!? Yeah, that makes sense… When, Todd couldn’t WAIT to bench Dean, in favor of getting Morrison REPS Lmao. And, then he proceeded to make a complete fool out of himself, AND TODD. Yeah, that didn’t last for very long. So, now your 2ND-Round PICK is unplayable, EVEN WHEN completely healthy. LoL. What the hell did HE DO then, during all that downtime!? It’s embarrassing. PATHETIC.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:20 am
If a dude is a 5th rd pick with the kind of talent he has. Isn’t that a major red flag?? That tells me he is inconsistant, and he isn’t always 100% bought in. He gets bored, haha. Give me a friggin break. Some of it is coaching for sure, but damn you can’t have players you have to consistently try to stay passionate to his craft.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:23 am
I am another that has been rooting for Zyon. First he was bored and now he lacks discipline. Meanwhile, he got a lot of millions which should be an incentive to get out of the funk. Feel bad saying this, but Jason and Todd are both at fault.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:23 am
@Melvin, yeah I know. He’s had injuries, but he should’ve been out there. Now in desperation mode, he will be thrown out there in a must win.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:25 am
There’s a reason no one picked Zion until the 5th round. S
He is your typical “looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane” player. Unbelievable combine numbers but has no ball skills or instincts for the game. His tape was that of an undated free agent but his measurables were off the charts. He should quit football and become an American Ninja Warrior.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:26 am
Remember Tanard Jackson anybody? Had all the talent in the world, just didn’t have a passion for the game, and I believe he was a 5th rd pick. Freeman was another, he can be called a bust since he was first rd. Some dudes just aren’t 100% in it, and at the highest level that’s a major problem!
December 14th, 2025 at 9:30 am
I could seriously see Bowles doing something very similar to what the Vero Beach HC just did in THE STATE FINALS versus Lake Mary… They were UP 8. EIGHT-POINTS. The very WORST they could do is ‘tie’ (with a 2pt. conversion), IF they’d entirely ‘botched’ the punt. SERIOUSLY. With 20-SECONDS LEFT, they take a SAFETY!!!! Thennnnn, ‘squib-it’ to MIDFIELD Lmao. Unbelievable. Raines knocked-off Teddy’s old team in an “Instant Classic.” GREAT GAME against two powerhouses there.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:30 am
That idiotic play was incredibly costly. Atlanta punched it in the very next play.
The tulip on here explaining away the play is the same PolyAnna who declared the Bucs would win out a few weeks back. They call that loser’s lament.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:31 am
NCBucsfan
And yet.. One of Bud Lichts main tenets of “I am that man” is that they have a love for football.
What a load of hooey.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Like an above commenter said, Zyon got back onsides before the snap. Why nobody seems to have noticed is beyond me.
This piece reads like an angry fan, not a sports journalist.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:44 am
@ Joseph, the refs call it close sometimes. Why even put yourself in that position? Just don’t even take the chance when 5 yds gives them an auto 1st down.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:45 am
Travon Diggs is on the outs in Dallas. He might look good with us
December 14th, 2025 at 9:45 am
If I’m Todd Bowles I’m teaching this guy a lesson the past 2 games. If we lose versus the Panthers we are done for so we might as well have Zyon blitz the QB every play going forward for the dolphins and last panthers game. Just tell him he has to blitz every play or play LB till he goes on IR to get rid of him.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:51 am
Ant Says:
December 14th, 2025 at 9:04 am
Bowles cant develop anyone.
——
Correct. That’s it. 100%.
Can’t evaluate anyone because it’s a top down issue.
The fix has to start at the top and then work its way down.
December 14th, 2025 at 9:52 am
The secondary could look a whole lot different next season? Joe, with a new G.M., and H.C. I would think so.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:03 am
What has been built or developed here the last 3 years? It’s a long list of nobody’s. Zyon, Otton, Trask, JTS, Braswell, Heck, Ben, Shepard, Palmer, Hall, Dennis, Reddick, Gregory, ect. Half the roster is full of these players who is supposed to be apart of the future but there not. I understand you got to get younger, but the younger group isn’t progressing into top 10 talent. So Jason plugs the holes with backup players. Sure depth is needed but you need 22 quality starters to begin with.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Glazers: ======> Fire Todd Bowles. Mediocre coach with a mediocre record.
Jason Licht: ========> Trade up to a top QB in the draft for the Buc’s future.
Whomever: ========> General house cleaning of staff at end of season.
Good luck, God bless and goodnight. Go Bucs. Happy Holidays.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:13 am
Yeah lets keep switching out CBs and Safeties every year..smart. Maybe, just maybe it’s been the ONE constant, Todd Bowles and his system.
Id love to see what players like Dean, AW jr, Parrish, Morrison, Zyon, Tykee would look like with a DC who knows who to schemw against others teams and a DC who knows how to build a front 4 that can rush the passer.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:16 am
JMarkBic
I was torn on McCollum coming out & I can see why & I would’ve passed on Morrison for this exact reason. His injuries. Sometimes I think the fans know more or just as much.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:17 am
@FanOfDaBucs
Yeah I think the rest of the D would look much better with someone else.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:18 am
Zyon has had a down year but he never jumped.offsides.he.never crossed.tbe LOS an he was back on his stance before the ball was snapped even if he did cross the los.which.it didn’t look like a.horrible.call.by the refs but they let.Pitts false start.on 3rd an 28
December 14th, 2025 at 10:23 am
And who decided to pay Zyon top dollar before a prove it 4th yr? Could it have been the same guy who earlier resigned a HC who can’t even instill discipline? JL it your target. Cut off that hydra head and you might slay this dysfunctional beast
December 14th, 2025 at 10:24 am
Can’t believe we paid him. Admittedly I was happy at the time, now hindsight? Terrible choice.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:29 am
I bet McCollum doesn’t get bored checking his bank account.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:29 am
You guys are criticizing Zyons play as if he made the decisions for what schemes to play in. Did any of you play sports? A player is bound by the plays the coaches call. If they don’t follow the play, they are known as freelancers. Have any of you ever heard Bowles say that any defensive player was freelancing or not following the scheme?
Also, players’ efforts are being questioned. That they are not playing with their hair on fire. Put yourself in their shoes. What if your boss gave you a pencil and told you to use that instead your computer to write reports. Week in and week out. How long would you be motivated to work there?
That’s what these players are facing with Bowles scheme. They don’t believe in it.
When Baker was playing good ball, the offense could overcome the deficiencies of the defense. But now that Baker is playing bad, the defensive players know that they cannot win..
December 14th, 2025 at 10:31 am
^^^^ Bucs AI generated media take.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:31 am
Bowles could have Deion in his prime and it wouldnt matter. The real issue is the HC and his horrible, trash scheme.
Keep thinking all the DBs that have come through here are terrible..Bowles gets out coached every week by good OCs and any QB looks like Joe Montana against Bowles. It literally looks like 7 on 7 practice.
Before you go cutting guys on defense, bring in a real DC who can coach them and scheme up a game plan to put them in position to succeed, not fail.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Zyon cant play corner in the nfl. This guy is fundamentally bad in every single way that’s measurable. Never runs and turns with the receiver cant stay with anyone on the line or off. Has no ball skills. Has no sense of where the first down is or isnt. Plays timid. Looks bored. Lacks focus. Does that sound like a player you start? No. Thus team from top to bottom fundamentally is bad. Whether its preparation or the scheme. Or all of it. Go watch any other teams and we look exponentially worse. Offense has no sense of timing or down distance and what we need to do . Baker is holding the fing ball again. This was a problem last year before Coen figured out go hurry up and dont let him think. Baker is getting pressured but hes not stepping up or checking down. If he made defenses pay they’d stop coming after him. His balls are too high again. He almost got evans killed. Hes not hitting guys in stride. Haven’t see. A slant all fing year. Our screens are poorly designed. No blocking. Too many deep routes with no check down i can go on and on. This team sadly. Sucks. Theyre too cocky and this has beeb our problem for over five years now. This isnt a one year deal its just finally collapsing qhen they git lucky in the past.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:33 am
Bad signing. Serviceable player. That’s it.
December 14th, 2025 at 10:56 am
It was still a horrible call by the officials. He shouldn’t have flinched, but it was still a bad call.
December 14th, 2025 at 11:41 am
Waste of money and overpaid this guy has been burnt toast every week and he can’t catch either we need to see more ints #butterfingers 🗑️🗑️
December 14th, 2025 at 11:49 am
This guy has been routinely praised by Joe’s patrons. He has been considered an upgrade over Dean who took pay cut so Bucs could overpay Zyon. Neither are shutdown corners.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
No, McCollum’s discipline wasn’t the issue, that’s having your head up your arse.
^^^^^
Maybe he was trying to be clever and was acting antsy to make his (deliberate?) offsides look accidental. Plausible deniability
December 14th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
In that situation, blocking the field goal is not paramount. Avoiding an offsides penalty is! Obviously because 3 could become 7, which is what happened. That comes under situational understanding.
December 14th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Zyon seemed to improve steadily up until this season. Maybe the money put pressure on him or maybe he just relaxed a little. Human nature. I bet he comes back better next season.
For this season, I would put him at Winfield’s spot, put Winfield at nickel, and put Parrish at Zyon’s spot, just to shake things up.
Slot receivers are bigger than they used to be, a la Godwin or even Kyle Pitts. I don’t know if small corners like Parrish work as well there nowadays. And if Winfield is having attitude issues it might be because they put Tykee up near all the action, with Winfield playing center field.
December 14th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Sit Zyon
Sit Winfield
Neither guy is dialed in so make them both healthy scratches than march their butts into the Friday presser to explain themselves. And journalists need to ask them hard questions – hold them accountable.
I don’t care who their replacements are because they can’t play much worse.
December 14th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Whether the Bucs play Winfield, McCollum, Mayfield or Larry Czonka won’t matter the next three game. The coaching reeks, the discipline none existent, the season is over, time to clean house of Jason and company. It will take several years but at least there’s a chance the Bucs will be playoff good eventually.
December 14th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
I thought it was a bad call
December 14th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
McCollum wasn’t offsides. He jumped, and clearly got back before the snap. It was one of the multiple calls by the refs that ended up giving the Falcons multiple BS touchdowns, not to mention a phantom fumble recovery where the Falcons recovered a ball when there literally isn’t a single photo or video of them with the ball, only the Bucs players with the ball – not to mention the strip sack of Cousins where he turned it over only for the refs to give him the ball back.
As I said the other night, give me 2 TDs and 2 TOs and I’ll take that and the 19 5–yard penalties any day of the week.
December 14th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Stupid, huh? Seriously. Sounds like this blog. One of the Joes started showing a little too much fondness for the sauce last season. It’s worse now.