Comparing Jacob Parrish and Zyon McCollum To The “Gravediggers”
November 5th, 2026
Zyon McCollum
Joe thinks a few folks were getting ahead of their skis yesterday. And one was KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Yesterday at One Buc Palace, Bowles was asked to compare this year’s starting corners (Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish) to “The Gravediggers,” the three top corners on the Super Bowl-winning Bucs, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Bowles had an interesting answer. He thought McCollum and Parrish could catch the football better than “The Gravediggers.”
He may not be wrong, but “The Gravediggers” had this year’s corners beat. Consider through the first eight games, McCollum and Parrish each have two picks.
In 2020, through eight games, Davis had four picks and both Dean and SMB had one each. So Davis had as many picks in his first eight games of the 2020 season as McCollum and Parrish have combined through eight games this season.
But yeah, Davis wasn’t known for his hands; Dean was worse. SMB actually had fair hands.
Bowles cautioned that one might have to wait a while to make a fair comparison.
“It’s still early,” Bowles said. “I think they catch better. I think they catch the ball better. But it’s still early, and they’re still gelling that way.
“That’ll be written as their careers go on, as to how far they’ll go. Right now they’re playing great football, [and I’m] very happy to see it.”
Also, the Bucs are 3-5. Yes, the defense is much improved but 3-5 is still 3-5. “The Gravediggers” led the Bucs to a wild card berth and a Super Bowl win.
Advantage: Gravediggers.
November 5th, 2026 at 9:13 am
The gravediggers was/is the dumbest name ever.
November 5th, 2026 at 9:14 am
That’s 3 vs 2 & you have to consider coverage… pass breakups etc
November 5th, 2026 at 9:16 am
Fancy nickname aside, I think that group was pretty overrated. Dean was solid when healthy, Davis battled injuries as well. Bunting was a decent nickel but nothing great.
Parrish is a better all around CB than Dean. Zyon is developing into a more athletic version of Davis. Scott is quickly turning into a much better nickel than Bunting and he’s still learning.
Let’s let these young kids write their own story. Very early still.
November 5th, 2026 at 9:20 am
“In 2020, through eight games, Davis had four picks and both Dean and SMB had one each. So Davis had as many picks in his first eight games of the 2020 season as McCollum and Parrish have combined through eight games this season.”
Through the first 8 games of ’26:
ZMC & JP have a combined 53% combined completion % allowed
-25 PBUs
-allowed 6 TDs
-54 combined tackles, 3 TFLs
Through the first 8 games of ’20:
Dean & Davis were at 59% combined completion % allowed
-22 PBUs
-allowed 15 TDs
-68 tackles, 0 TFLs
Didn’t factor in SMB/Keionte Scott, but in terms of solely on the perimeter it’s pretty damn close.
Big difference is JP & ZMC have, imo done a better job limiting pretty much anything, while CDIII & Dean were imo on a better overall and had more volume because of it.
The thing that sticks out to me, this CB play we’re getting out of JP & Zyon damn sure looks like championship D caliber play comparable to Davis & Dean. Especially in respects to what the rest of the defense has looked and played like.
November 5th, 2026 at 9:30 am
The 2020 team scored points so opposing offenses were airing it out much more.
November 5th, 2026 at 9:33 am
We got the message Joe!
Super Bowl baby!!!!!!
November 5th, 2026 at 9:48 am
“Gravediggers” nah Impressed this fan at times but… Never liked that nickname or the theatrics on the field. To me those terms should be used for real legends of the game. Whole defenses Steel curtain, Purple People Eaters, Noname, Tampa 2 for instance. RBs like Thunder and Lightning maybe.
I don’t think our DBs quite got to the legendary catagory. Good? Yes. Legendary Nah.
Go Bucs!
November 5th, 2026 at 9:53 am
I think it is to early to make comparisions. However, with that said, I really like the new trio, because , yes they are new and still learning. Parrish, maybe the best of them all and a rising star. I ws McColumn’s biggest critic coming into the season. However, due to coaching or realizing he might be on his way out of the NFL with his play from last year, he has made a signicant turnaround. It appears his problem was more between the ears. Scott, is in a rookie year and he appears likely to be a huge upgrade to Bunting. These guys as a unit are becoming something special , let’ hope it continues.
November 5th, 2026 at 10:01 am
The young DBs are doing it without a pass rush ijs
November 5th, 2026 at 10:05 am
I always thought that nickname was stupid. Didn’t they give themselves that nickname? I knew a guy that tried to get everybody to call him T- bone. What a doche.
November 5th, 2026 at 10:18 am
It’s not anything to over-complicate. A simple question:
For the remaining 9 games would you prefer to play with 2026 Parrish and McCollum or 2020 Dean and Davis?
I think I would chose who we have now.
Also, I can’t help but notice it’s been a while since I’ve read anything about the Bucs losing their “best corner” in free agency
November 5th, 2026 at 10:36 am
This secondary is better. Deeper.
November 5th, 2026 at 10:44 am
WBL where are you getting the TDs allowed by each tandem? Per the advanced game logs on Pro-Football-Reference.com in the first 8 games Parrish and McCollum are only credited yielding one TD a piece, while Davis (2) and Dean (1) gave up 3 total between the two. You add the nickels Scott (1) vs SMB (3)… that’s 3 total for the 2026 corners and 6 for the 2020 corners. there is no way that two corners are responsible for allow 15 TDs on their own for only half the season, as that implicates each of them is giving up 7 to 8 TDs individually, which would be historically horrible. The most Dean has been credited giving up was 4 TD in a season and Davis topped 6 TDs twice. Through the first 8 games, the 2026 version of the Bucs D has given up given up 10 passing TDs (Parrish 1, McCollum 1, Scott 1, Smith 1, Trotter 1, Anzalone 2, Dennis 1, Garnes 1, uncredited 1) and 2020 by the counts per each game summary gave up 13 (Davis 2, Dean 1, SMB 3, Winfield 2, Whitehead 1, Davis 2, White 1, Vea 1) during the first 8 games.