Zyon McCollum “Knew What He Was Doing”
December 10th, 2025
Todd Bowles weighs in.
Is Zyon McCollum on the comeback trail?
Joe sure hopes so.
Perhaps the biggest tell that McCollum, formerly the Bucs’ 1a cornerback, saw his play fall off is opponents were targeting him early in games. They include Arizona and New Orleans in the past two weeks.
McCollum had his first interception of the season against the slimy Saints on Sunday, and head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles says McCollum’s interception wasn’t the only indicator of his improved play.
“I thought it was one of his better games in the last three or four weeks,” Bowles told the Buccaneers Radio Network. “I thought he played a lot better. His confidence was back. His feet were quick. He was aware of some things. You can tell he knew what was going on and he looked like the guy to start the season.”
To describe McCollum as knowing what was going on feels odd to Joe. Isn’t that a given for anyone who is not a rookie? McCollum is a fourth-year cornerback in Bowles’ defense, and he’s got a fat new contract.
It’s almost as odd as Bowles describing McCollum as “bored.”
McCollum has elite talent but has yet to put it all together. Now would be a good time.
December 10th, 2025 at 9:59 am
He’s got his guaranteed money. Enough for a lifetime. No need to work hard anymore.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:09 am
I think the bored comment that came from Zyon is similar to how Dean described being “bored” in his recent press conference.
Corners get “bored” when they aren’t getting targeted. And that allows for complacency to creep in and they get caught off guard when all of sudden their guy is targeted. Zyon was good at the start of the season, maybe he was getting “bored” because of the lack of targets, then mid season – he was caught with his pants down. Hopefully he’s turned the page.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:09 am
His interception was on a badly overthrown ball that wasn’t near anybody, which makes perfect sense because he’s never near anyone either.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:11 am
1 pick a year isn’t going to do it man
Id only accepts that if you completion percentage was low
Either our scheme is jacked up, players aren’t playing well, or both
I’m soooooo tired of QBs, even no name random back ups, having field days
Talent is there, our team is uber talented, just gotta bring it all together
Losing to the Saints though, thats impossible to swallow
December 10th, 2025 at 10:16 am
i dont think he “looked” better at all…..he got lucky imo
#beatdabirds
GO BUCS!!!!
December 10th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Warren Sapp talks the year you get paid as a trap.
For him it was his worst year in the league. You celebrate during preseason instead of preparing and it ruins the entire season.
Zion fell into the trap.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:23 am
I don’t know if someone gets bored on his job will have the want to to be elite.
Mc Collum take the money and run.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Remember, the guy had thumb surgery this season and played through it.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Trap?!?!?
He is no victim!
He an adult man!!!!
Be a man and earn your money!!!!
Look at your paycheck every week and DOMINATE ON THE FIELD!!!!!
December 10th, 2025 at 10:28 am
My issue with the Bucs DBs are, they need to stay on the field. They start to play well and then they’re out 2 or 3 weeks injured. When they get back it seems that they have regressed. Maybe the Bucs need to overhaul their training staff
December 10th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Doesn’t sound like a “that man“ attitude to me.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:36 am
I’m convinced these guys don’t just forget how to play their respective positions, both Dean and McCollum did so at a level that earned them extensions. So what changes…1. They’re no longer chasing the carrot aka a big pay day. 2. It’s possible they mentally check out because they’re be put in positions of weakness trying to make a certain scheme work.
When you see the 2nd item occurring across the entire defense, it’s a pretty safe bet the players have lost faith in the play calling or scheme. The effort is lacking, they look to be thinking vs reacting, discipline wavers as guys start trying to make plays out of desperation, etc. That’s a scheme issue, now add in your HC routinely telling the media it’s poor execution, mental errors, etc. Can the players ever say McVay coaches circles around Bowles? Can they say they prefer a coach like Dan Campbell who coaches with passion and aggression? No….but it’s communicated on the field. The scheme doesn’t work, what works is a high octane offense that controls the clock and builds leads. Without that Bowles is lost and the players seem to be questioning his strategy.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:38 am
Joe, you , we can hope. However, really!!, he gets a pic that has nothing to actually do with him. The reciver stops on his route and the ball goes to McColumn!!. No , I don’t think so. How about early in the game when the receiver clearly had him beat deep, for a touchdown,only the pass was over thrown. Yes , everybody is picking on him now, due to his play. I expect ATL. will do the same.
Yes, one accidental play doesn”t show improvement. I think that is coach speak as Bowles doesn’t want to bench him. I don’t dislike Bowles and I respect he protects his players from the fans and media. However, I do think as I have said McColumn needs a wake up call and needs to be benched. THat is Bowles responability and he is hoping beyond hope McColumn has a 360 turn around. Really good corners don’t get paid to get complacent. They need thick skin, because the next big play can be on them at anytime.
Sorry, I can’t accept this. It sounds more like wishful thinking. The same wishful thinking that an edge rusher is magically going to happen with this group.
However, what will be the excuse when Cousins torches the Bucs Thursday as well all are fearing currently. Yes history says he will absolutely light us up. At this point benching McColumn can’t hurt, but it may send a message, If You want to play you need to show it on the field. Over protecting players make then become complacent, because no change is occuring.
Sorry Joe just can’t accept this , neither should Bowles
December 10th, 2025 at 10:40 am
That’s the whole thing… Nothing EVER seems to add up or make any sense with this bunch. From the very top on down. It’s all just BS. That’s the reason why.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:42 am
That’s a joke, the statement McCollum has “elite talent.”
He’s a loafer. He’s a quitter. He’s unreliable.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:42 am
The fastest Zyon has ever moved was when Licht put that dumb contract extension in front of him. He couldn’t sign it fast enough. He knows what he’s doing alright.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:44 am
I guess Todd Bowles big epiphany he talked about this offseason was calling loafers “bored”.
Anyways, the defense is going to finally lock in that communication this week and guys just need to execute this time and be where they need to be. Is that right? It was just off memory because thats all any of these players and coaches say.
Joe, any insight into the Bowles epiphany?
December 10th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Show me a league average edge rush and then we can really judge the secondary.
Also, where’s Antoine Winfield Jr. haven’t heard or seen him make a play in a while!
December 10th, 2025 at 10:55 am
@ Bobby M. – That is something I have never thought of before LoL. Hilarious. I would LOVE to see it happen. It would be SO perfect if a player actually did that during a postgame interview, while standing up at the podium. Or even on their podcast or something, as they are breaking down film and critiquing their EVERY decision Lmao. Now, I want to SEE THAT. I think it would be SO AWESOME. Kinda sounds like a great SNL skit, honestly Lmao.
December 10th, 2025 at 10:55 am
I’d call that a catch over calling it a pick.
Rooting for Mc as I do all Buccos.
Weird season so far. “New York” hasn’t helped at all
In fact, it seems we have been on the sh1t end of most calls and momentum can matter a lot
December 10th, 2025 at 11:03 am
Zion McFollowum !
December 10th, 2025 at 11:17 am
Players slump, some get back on the horse and others go into a tail spin. What I think is unfortunate for McCollum, is most of you didn’t start paying attention to what he provides as a player until he got paid.
So you start the dumb narrative of “he got paid, now he’s coasting” when there’s so much more that goes into player performance than contention for being paid.
McCollum was getting tested alot, these last few weeks and his been getting picked on in comparison to Dean. Who, alot of you also started paying more attention to only after he got paid. Still has the chance to finish strong, but the money is spent, so stfu about it already.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:25 am
@ Love-spiral – It’s not intentional. It’s just been REAL BAD and incompetent. Even worse this season than normal. There were some really bad calls that went against the Saints this weekend. The one they ruled a “completed pass” with the Saints wide-receiver CLEARLY ‘IN-BOUNDS’ towards the end of the game, BUT the clock did not continue to run!? It remained STOPPED and the ‘officials’ never even noticed it!?:/ It looked very egregious to me. Even, the announcer was totally puzzled by that one. I even rewound-it to see what the hell happened, and I have NO answers. But, it really benefitted the Bucs in a huge way! I wonder if the league office has addressed it this week!? There are just so many, and everything is sooo inconsistent. It is really PATHETIC.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:43 am
Not impressed. He’s one of those deadbeats that got paid and shat the bed. Not motivated and required a babysitter (JPP) to come in to try to light a fire under him. He’s been burnt toast all season long.
December 10th, 2025 at 11:50 am
His int was more like shagging a fly ball, but at least he caught it
December 10th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
JmarkBuc, that’s funny. Well done sir!
December 10th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
That inception was a gimmie GTFO no one on that defense looks like they know what they are doing including the coach. There is no credence in anything Todd says just word salad and platitudes need to coach it better play it better get out of here already todd do everyone a favor and quit.
December 10th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
I don’t think Zyon is a loafer. I don’t think he’s a quitter. But he’s no Revis. He’s no Champ Bailey. It’s not easy covering wide receivers in the NFL unless:
1) the receiver is slow as dirt and/or injured
2) The offense you’re playing in incompetent
3) refs want your team to win
4) Vegas has an incentive to keep your opponent off the scoreboard
December 10th, 2025 at 5:35 pm
Dam bored zyon and Braswell radio thought best games of the year yet the radios defense gets smoked against another rookie QB👍
December 10th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
Zyon is the best we could do…he got the extension because of his three year progression. We’re seeing how he is and will be…
Maybe I’m not seeing what everyone sees, but he has issues in man as well as zone, so imho, it’s not scheme, he’s not that competent.
A perfect example was the rams game…davante first td, Zyon was supposed to have outside leverage and Jr. Taking the inside…Zyon didn’t have a clue and covered the inside..