Zyon McCollum: Not Distraught But Defense Needs Work
September 13th, 2026
Antione Winfield and the Bucs defense didn’t have an awful day today. But they needed to be perfect.
Whether it was a young player or a veteran, each was in agreement: The defense needed to play better.
Hey, let’s think about this: Joe thought, and believed many others did, too, that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were going to light up the thin Bucs secondary.
That did not happen.
Higgins had 59 yards receiving. Chase had 12 (!) yards receiving. Neither had a touchdown. So in that respect, the defense got the job done. What they forgot about were other receivers. Journeyman tight end Mike Gesicki, for example, had 78 yards and a touchdown.
The way cornerback Zyon McCollum virtually got the defense off the field on the Bengals first possession seemed to suggest the defense was going to have a day. It better than expected but they had to overcome 24 Bengals points after turnovers. Hard to do.
Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter didn’t hear it.
“If our offense has turnovers, we [as a defense] have to create our own to help out,” Trotter said.
Trotter is a man of his word. He housed a pick off Joe Burrow to keep the Bucs in the game.
“It’s the small details we have to clean up as a defense that we harped on in OTAs and this summer,” McCollum said. Joe asked him what those were, and he decided to keep that intel close to the vest.
“There are some things that are unacceptable.”
Well, Joe can think of one. That’s when Burrow took off running up the middle in Bucs real estate and Tykee Smith went headhunting and got flagged for a personal foul for hitting Burrow.
When McCollum was asked about how the Bucs defense held Chase and Higgins in check, McCollum said that was a pathway to how they have to prepare each week no matter the name of the receiver.
No, the Bucs didn’t play perfect defense. They needed to, in order for the team to get over four giveaways by the offense. But the defense certainly played well enough that if the offense had its act together, a win was on the table.
Players Joe spoke with were sort of peeved: They think they let a big fish off the hook by playing sloppy ball.
September 13th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
they like to think they give it away when in reality they got beat and it was taken from them. it eases their mental discomfort.
September 13th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Just did a recap on the last article (previous) and now I see this
Okay fine
My question is, what did Todd Bowles do differently this season as opposed to last
He has the same slop defense and the team overall did not look crisp… though the Bucs improved as the game wore on, but made too many mistakes!!!!!
Why is he still here????!!!???
September 13th, 2026 at 5:59 pm
The defense looked the same as it always has during the last few years. Allowing easy runs and zero pass rush. Its the Bowles way.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Amen.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Never thought I would be saying this, but perhaps SirVocea Dennis would be better choice than playing Alex Anzalone.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Where was gd pass rush
September 13th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
F anyone blaming defense or the head coach. Seriously, shelve your own personal agenda. This sh1teshow can be summed up in one word: fumbles.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:05 pm
Even with all the screw ups they still had time. In typical Bowles defensive style they couldn’t make a stop when you absolutely needed them to. The only part of this team that came prepared to play was Special Teams.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:05 pm
I rather have Voss Dennis starting instead of Alex Anzalone
Last year Dennis was out of position at MIKE LB
But, l think he will excel playing next to Trotter
Anzalone is really horrible, he sucked
He was good in Detroit, because of Hutch and the rest
September 13th, 2026 at 6:05 pm
I started reading Zyon’s quotes but then I got bored and quit giving any effort.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
Bowles should have been fired last year. He will be fired by the end of this season if things keep up like this. Once again over paid veteran players on this team loafing and looking below average. I would rather have more younger players that care and want to learn. This team doesn’t have an identity. It’s like they want to rebuild but don’t all at the same time.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:11 pm
Morrison, Parrish and McCollum all made some plays. That is the very good news. Bowles is still calling the defense. That is the bad news.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
I agree with alabamabucs
September 13th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Waste of another season and talent with Todd at the helm.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:13 pm
Can we get anzalone some longer cleats? I lost count of how many times he slipped, fell down, missed or over pursued ball carriers today.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Stoked to see BMo making sound tackles and coverage. Same with Zyon, big plus from last year if they keep it up.
D line needs to gel a bit more, thinking this was their wake up call. Anzalone left something to be desired, hoping it’s just first game rust.
I line and baker lost is this game. They need to hit the lab this week and get smarter. Baker had horrible pocket awareness all game. He held the ball like 4.6 seconds in that fumble being hit from behind. Really want to put it on Wirfs, but 4.6 secs! Wirfs gave him ample time throw
September 13th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
These players get paid and than suck
September 13th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
The defense gave up 16 points when the Bengals didn’t get the ball on the Bucs side of the field.
Vs one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Additionally the defense scored 7 points.
They were not an issue.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Defense was fine. Too focused on Chase and Higgins, tough to blame them.
The problem other than the turnovers was we lost the trench battle, both sides of the ball. That’s concerning.
They got way more pressure on Baker than the Bucs did on Burrow. Honestly would have liked to see more heat sent by Bowles. Secondary looked ready to play today. 2nd half Bowles sent a blitz led to throwaway. Next play 3rd and 10, drops everyone, 4 man rush was useless all day and with time to throw Burrow converts.
Gonna have to keep sending heat if the 4 man rush is that impotent. Disappointed in Vea (has an excuse) and Kancey today.
Again… D was fine. Offense blew it obviously with the turnovers. Didn’t mind the playcalling either.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
But our edge Bain dropped back like a champ and did nothing. Total non factoer. Stubby is a bust.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
Saskbucs Says:
September 13th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Defense was fine. Too focused on Chase and Higgins, tough to blame them.
———-
Shutting down Chase and Higgins isn’t something that you blow past. That’s the key to winning – and if the offense doesn’t turn it over 4 times, the Bucs pretty easily win this game.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
Vea, CK, Yaya, Bain were non-factors.
September 13th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
WELL. We were all quite certain that the CB’s would be our downfall. They weren’t. So we got THAT goin for us, which is nice
September 13th, 2026 at 6:47 pm
Baker lost that game. Defense wasn’t perfect but better than last year. That’s a dam good offense. Can’t turn the ball over 4 times and expect to win. Bowels didn’t fumble that ball
September 13th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
Defense couldn’t get off the field on 3rd down. When they needed a stop they couldn’t get it. Yet they weren’t the problem, Bowles wasn’t the problem? This looked like 2-7 continuing into 2026. Bowles might not be the problem, but he certainly isn’t the solution. Same old same old if you ask me. Nothing changed, and nothing will under Todd.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Joe … ‘Players Joe spoke with were sort of peeved: They think they let a big fish off the hook by playing sloppy ball.’
And those players are exactly right. I don’t consider Cincy a ‘big fish’ at this point in the season, but they as a team put up 33 pts on our Bucs, enough to win by 6 pts.
Our defense got screwed, blued & tatooed by our own offense.
o 1st qtr: Mayfield sacked at the TB 25-yd-line, fumbles, and Bengals run it in for a TD. 7 pts.
o 1st qtr: Mayfield short pass to Irving, who catches it for 7 yds at the TB 32-yd-line, then fumbles. Cincy takes it in for another TD 8 plays later. 7 more pts.
o 2nd qtr: Mayfield scrambles from the Cin 12-yd-line but fumbles at the Cin 3-yd-line for a touchback by the Bengals. They drive it 80 yds down the field in 14 plays for another TD. 7 more pts.
o 4th qtr: Mayfield sacked at the TB 39-yd-line, fumbles & recovered by Cincy atthe TB 43-yd-line. Bengals drove 35 yds in 9 plays but ended up kicking a FG. 3 more pts.
So after the 4 fumbles by our offense, the Bengals scored 24 of their 33 points. The turnovers gave them great field position in Bucs’ territory on 3-of-the-4 turnovers. The defense could’ve certainly played better, but Bucs beat themselves with the 4 turnovers.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Sloppy hope football
September 13th, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Professional football teams don’t fumble near the end zone when the QB has a much needed sure 7.
September 13th, 2026 at 7:42 pm
Anzalone played like he is washed up missed countless tackles. He’s no LVD that is for sure