Zyon McCollum, Blitz-Need Under The Microscope
July 1st, 2025
Yes, the man Todd Bowles labeled his “1A” cornerback has detractors.
Joe’s referring to Zyon McCollum, who made 9 starts in 2023 before taking over the outside cornerback job full-time when the Bucs traded Carlton Davis.
McCollum is a spectacular athlete and the Bucs have done a great job developing their 2022 fifth-round pick, but his game has flaws and scrutiny comes when you’re a top-dog corner on a playoff team.
On the New York Times pay-to-read site TheAthletic.com, the Bucs defense was identified today as one of five NFL defenses primed to “break out.” Film guru Ted Nguyen focused on McCollum, among other areas.
Corner Zyon McCollum took the next step in his development last season, batting down 17 passes, but he also allowed 839 yards. He has to take fewer chances, but there’s a lot of space to defend in a defense that blitzes as much as the Bucs do.
And that’s where the naysayers go when it comes to McCollum within the porous Bucs pass defense, and his tackling isn’t always sure.
Joe is a fan of McCollum. He’s darn good. He can cover, and he just turned 26 as he enters a contract year.
Nguyen is confident McCollum and all his defensive back brothers will improve if Bowles can restore decency to — all together now — the Bucs’ four-man pass rush.
Bowles will always have the urge to blitz, but if the Bucs’ young pass rushers develop and Reddick bounces back, he won’t have to blitz out of necessity. They can confuse defenses with some simulated pressures or show blitz and drop into coverage, which would help out their defensive backs. The Buccaneers have led the league in blitz rate (37.8 percent) by a wide margin since Bowles landed in Tampa Bay as defensive coordinator in 2019. The only major acquisition the Bucs have made is Reddick, but whether or not they break out will depend on how their young pass rushers develop.
The good news is every reason exists for the Bucs defense to improve. On paper, it looks better with more internal competition and depth.
On paper.
July 1st, 2025 at 7:21 pm
“He has to take fewer chances, but there’s a lot of space to defend in a defense that blitzes as much as the Bucs do” McCollum is just inconsistent – it’s not like he is taking chances. He’s not a great in goal line but he’s improving all the time. Like most of our secondary, they need a pass rush – from anyone. Can YaYa step up this year after going to Sack Summit? Can Kancey start the season healthy?
July 1st, 2025 at 7:45 pm
If Zyon McCollum has a breakout year, he’s going to be hard to pay, but somehow Licht has a knack to sign his top players.
July 1st, 2025 at 8:05 pm
I figure Dean’s money will be available
July 1st, 2025 at 8:19 pm
A decent pass rush cures a lot of problems in the secondary. Just wish the Bucs would bring in another veteran pass rusher.
July 1st, 2025 at 8:41 pm
Reddick is a MASSIVE upgrade from JTS. let’s not sit here and act like they didn’t get a ton better. The depth at both corner and ILB is loads better than last year as well. Oh, and AWJ is back. LFG.
July 1st, 2025 at 11:23 pm
Zyon is maybe TB’s best success story in the making. He was extremely raw and developed into a decent starting corner last year. But you could also see where he was still learning. Remembering the game in ATL, there were a few times he just missed making a big play, but in doing so missed making a good play.
If he keeps progressing, he will be even better this year.
For Todd’s sake, I sure hope so.
July 2nd, 2025 at 12:24 am
I don’t think it was intended to come across as naysayer. He mentioned the yards, but then acknowledged that there is more space to cover on a heavy blitz team. He seems to be understanding of the yardage and expects better things when we get a 4 man pass rush.
July 2nd, 2025 at 12:58 am
So in my mind the real question is do we extend Zyon now?
He was drafted as a raw physical freak flyer in the 5th and has taken a step forward in development every year with last year being what I would call a “solid” cornerback.
Last year our scheme had him play so far off ball it possibly made him look stat wise less capable than he actually was.
This year under the assumption we have a 4 man front that can consistently get pressure without the blitz, Zyon has a high chance to take a massive step forward and quite possibly double his annual average pay on a contract signed next offseason.
Right now if extended we know we have a floor of a solid albeit imperfect starting corner with the potential for a lot more based on his history of taking a step forward each year. I’d take the bet and do a deal based on current value now
July 2nd, 2025 at 5:48 am
Which stage of grief is this post, bargaining?
Denial = “Zyon is a stud freak” well maybe denial yea.
Bargaining = “Zyon would be great….if it wasnt for that faulty pass rush” <ding ding
Anger = "Zyon got beat again gambling on a play and we lost the game again." <nope, but coming this season. again.
Depression = "I had high hopes for Zyon. Why did every OC in the league pick on him, his hair smells good and he is a nice of a guy as they come gosh darn it." <nope. that will happen when he doesnt get resigned.
Acceptance = "Zyon who?" <not there yet. i wish.
sorry for your loss fan boys. he's not that good but i will be here for you while you work through your grief.
July 2nd, 2025 at 7:36 am
Where are all the negative on Zyon people out there? I questioned it when you wrote it a few days ago and still question it. He’s one of our best players with athletic abilities far above other players which should make his ceiling very high. Please stop with this gaslighting that Zyon is hated.
July 2nd, 2025 at 8:12 am
There’s not hate for Zyon as much as simply challenging the hype. He’s a great athlete developing NFL CB skills and solid guy. Everyone knocks Dean for the injuries and his time on the pine – and rightfully so. But he’s clearly the better CB. When Dean went down against Detroit in playoffs two years ago that was the game. Goff torched Zyon and the game clinching score had Zyon chasing the WR on his way to the end zone. Dean goes down vs Washington last year and floodgates open again – and yeah, lots of other issues. Point being Zyon isn’t a CB1, maybe not a CB2. All the ink is devoted to Parrish and Morrison pushing a healthy Dean to the bench. My take is that they could be pushing Zyon.
July 2nd, 2025 at 10:29 am
Coaching matters.
Let’s go Todd.
July 2nd, 2025 at 12:57 pm
one issue with the sack stats is that if we cant get off the field, we will have more sack opportunities, and that is not the time to be sacking even if we get a few cheap ones.
any pass rush (from the edge) improvement will pay off handsomely
July 2nd, 2025 at 2:06 pm
Goff torched Dean’s replacement, not Zyon. McCollum is at the very good level for corners now and if he stays on schedule he will reach excellence this year.
If you engineered a perfect CB specimen, you’d get Zyon exactly.
All our corners are very good and have 4.3-ish speed which is phenomenal. That includes Morrison and Parrish. If we get more pass rush we will see a ton of turnovers this year and the pass defense has the potential to be scary good. If people stay healthy, that is…
July 2nd, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Jimmy, don’t quit your day job…….you’re gonna need it!