Sticky Coverage From Zyon McCollum
August 14th, 2025
D.K. Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers have a talk.
As Joe referenced earlier, today’s Bucs-Steelers practice came with rules for reporters. No reporting of specific plays in detail with a few exceptions.
So in this case, Joe will describe a cool moment.
With the Steelers working in 7-on-7 againt the Bucs’ first-team defense, Zyon McCollum was all over his man multiple times and the officials calling practice weren’t throwing a flag.
After the Steelers’ first-team session, Steelers star free agents D.K Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers had words for the referee — in practice (photo above). Joe happened to be standing right there.
They were adamant that Metcalf cannot be shut down the way he just was on multiple plays. Each seemed to be spitting out Metcalf’s measurements like a lunatic draft guru in Indianapolis in late February.
Joe wonders if Rodgers and Metcalf know McCollum was one of the greatest pre-draft athletes in NFL history, per official NFL Next Gen Stats. McCollum ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, popped a 39 1/2-inch vertical leap, an 11-foot broad jump, and he was the fastest of all positions at the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle run.
Near the end of a spirited practice today, McCollum had a lot of juice left in his legs.
August 14th, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Now that’s funny. I need a pic of Rodgers saying “Inconceivable!!”
August 14th, 2025 at 5:23 pm
Steelers getting ready for the ref advantage knowing any coordinator is with a brain will double cover metcalf every play
August 14th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
Awesome, good to hear! Look forward to hopefully seeing this in the game.
August 14th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
MCCollum need to shadow Drake London
It doesn’t matter if London operates out of the slot
That’s why Bowles been training McCollum in the slot
So he can shadow the other team best WR
August 14th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
Rodgers has no more cred, he’s washed. Metcalf, not sure he’s going to get the calls either, having bounced around the league. Think this is going to go for the Steelers the same way it went for the Jets. Rodgers glory days are in the past. Cry me a river.
August 14th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
I enjoy their tears. Call me Cartman.
August 14th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
In the words of Penn from Fast Times at Ridgemont High – “GNARLY!”
Totally gnarly. Love to hear this.
BUCS SB
August 14th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
I’ve always respected the Steelers as a model of toughness. Rodgers? He should have gone to the Vikings. The old fart must be trippin’.
August 14th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
So far so good! LFG!!
August 14th, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Metcalf is big and straight line fast but I know he’s not a twitchy and overall athletic as McCollum. Also, Zyon’s no shrimp CB at 6’1″.
August 14th, 2025 at 6:03 pm
That is “nicey”! It sure made me smile.
August 14th, 2025 at 6:11 pm
lol in the story the Joe’s had written, the illusion was Parrish can take Zyon’s spot 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I laughed like a infant get he’s tiny feet tickled. I played DB in college, he’s just starting to come to his own.
August 14th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
DK’s RAS was 9.66. Zyon McCollum’s was a perfect 10. He’s number 1 out of 2001 corners measured at the combine since 1987. Crazy.
No wonder he can stick with Metcalf.
August 14th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
“Joe wonders if Rodgers and Metcalf know McCollum was one of the greatest pre-draft athletes in NFL history, per official NFL Next Gen Stats. McCollum ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, popped a 39 1/2-inch vertical leap, an 11-foot broad jump, and he was the fastest of all positions at the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle run.“
And we got him in the 5th F’n round! Our college scouts are elite
August 14th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Good for Zyon!
Metcalf may be losing a step or two, but you still have to game plan for him just a bit.
If Zyon was sticking to him like fly paper and the refs weren’t throwing any flags, that’s exactly what we want. That’s Zyon trending in the right direction.
August 14th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Zyon’s been going against ME13 in practice so he knows how get physical with a big WR like Evans and Metcalf. Metcalf got frustrated with the physical coverage and went crying to Rodgers and the ref.
August 14th, 2025 at 11:02 pm
Perfect. So armed with the news that Zyon can play sticky man coverage on a dude like Metcalf, Todd will immediately move Zyon into cover nobody loose 15 yard deep empty zone. No one earns a genius title playing simple man coverage. It’s because it’s simple, and if you have the dudes, hard to beat compared to quantum physics coverage bust normal.
August 14th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Koala…
That’s funny…