Ballhawks Dropped Three Interceptions, Says Todd Bowles
September 8th, 2025
Hall of Fame cornerback Rondé Barber says you simply cannot be considered a special cornerback unless you snag a good share of interceptions and force turnovers in general.
Bucs head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles seems to agree. Remember when Joe asked Bowles in February how he wants to transform his defense this season? Bowles went on an epic “I want ballhawks” rant.
Does Bowles have the ballhawks he wants/needs? Probably not, but that’s unclear after one regular-season game.
The Bucs beat the Falcons yesterday without forcing a turnover. That’s not an easy task in the NFL.
Asked about dropped interceptions against Atlanta, Bowles didn’t hold back this afternoon.
“We dropped three,” Bowles said. “[McCollum] dropped two; [Jamel] Dean dropped one. We had our chances. We had our chances that could have opened the game up. But they covered well. They played very good press coverage and for the most part, they were tight on their guys.”
Joe’s going to stay happy and pretend that the old cliché will show up for the Bucs soon. “Turnovers come in bunches.”
September 8th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
And I know the exact three he talking about those were game killers and they would have held on
September 8th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Unrelated to this post, but I watched the game again and Reddick was getting tackled/held the entire game. He should have had 3 sacks he came to play
September 8th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
As Brian said, Reddick got scammed by the Refs
September 8th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
Yeah, not surprised Reddick would be getting held. Felt like there was a slight lean for the refs to favor the birds. Almost like the league is begging for Atlanta to be relevant. Running into the McCoughlin, Baker hit in the head, numerous holds are just some of the missed flags I saw.
But yes – bout to throw my remote into the TV if I see Dean or Zyon drop another pick, so infuriating
September 8th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
I think there was a penalty on us with one of Zion’s drops …so wouldn’t have counted….but still a drop nonetheless…
September 8th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
KC Buc,
You may be onto something about ATL.
Dean dropped an INT?
No freaking way!
September 8th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
OK, Mr Doublecoach – what are you going to do in practice, after practice and before practice to make sure these dudes catch a can of corn instead of looking all spastic about it? You had them in better positoins more than usual, kidos for that. Maybe if they have less to think about than factoring Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity into the play?
September 8th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
The RTP call on Vita was criminal!
September 8th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
One of zyon’s drops was a pretty difficult diving catch, but would definitely have been nice if he got the other
September 8th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Pretty remarkable that your top 2 corners go 0-3 (even though one would not have counted). Dean, not surprising, I vividly recall him dropping what was danged near a handoff in the Lions game last season. There was a past story that Zyon purchased his own jugs machine. Is it no out of service, haha. . . So many missed opportunities on both sides of the ball. Loved the beautiful ugly win though.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Hi Zyon and Jamel- get an eye patch and cover one eye. Catch 500 balls that way. Then switch eyes and do the same. Finally, do it with both eyes (no you are not Jedi so don’t block both).. this will greatly enhance your ability to track the ball in space and improve your hand-eye coordination. Get those INT’s! This is a great WR workout too.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Parrish didn’t drop any because he can actually cover guys and was not targetted one time.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
We dropped three, so did they. Three times Baker could’ve been picked. So it turned out even.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Dyeing to hear the reason Baker missed Otton for a likely Touchdown. Otton cut right and Baker through straight. Who read the wrong route?
September 8th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
SlyPirate, this is a result of starters not playing in preseason. It was a cross up for sure but will never know who was wrong. My guess is Otton b/c he wasn’t looking back just running his route.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Hodad you’re right. That 2nd drop by Zion wouldn’t have counted because of the roughing call against Vita. Even the ref looked sheepish making that call, this crap has to end with the roughing calls. But his first drop would have stopped an Atlanta FG. Deans would have stopped another drive. I’ve said it over and over again that one has to make plays when they present themselves.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
2 butter fingers in one picture
September 8th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Get the jugz machine out for the DBs. 100 catches each after practice
September 8th, 2025 at 2:30 pm
Time is up on Dean. He simply cannot catch. QBs don’t target ur so called top cb unless he’s playing injured or just sucks. Dean has sucked for years n nothing’s changed. He plays too stiff n just seems confused of where the ball is when in the air.
September 8th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Boggles my mind you can reach this level as a cornerback and NOT be able to catch a ball! I’ve seen it repeatedly
September 8th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Butter fingers with buttered butts.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
That’s why these guys play DB instead of WR — they can’t catch. In fairness, Zyon’s second drop was on a play where we roughed the passer.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
One of Zyons wouldn’t have mattered because there was a defensive penalty anyways
September 8th, 2025 at 3:16 pm
And the Falcons dropped three as well………..so?
September 8th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
They’re athletic, fast, and have a long reach. If they could catch, they’d be on offense, starting with high school football.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:34 pm
Todd can’t catch them too.
I’m surprised we didn’t get a pic but definitely saw improvement from corner and safeties. Our D (and offense hopefully) should gel and improve as the season goes on esp if we can stay semi-healthy.
Atlanta has some talent. Penix made some great plays. We got the dub! Let’s go Bucs 🏈
September 8th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
@Ham
These guys don’t want to hear your logic/reasoning, nor that age old football adage of “if DBs could catch, they’d be on offense” no matter how true it’s always been. It’s why guys like Deion Sanders was tolerated, his athleticism translated to all 2 phases and at least 1 other professional sport.
We dropped would be INTs and as stated by others so did ATL.
September 8th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
I’m super excited we got this one on the road in Atlanta. And it definitely felt as though we could’ve closed this one out earlier. I’m not going to go too hard on Zyon, seeing as we won, but these are the things that could cost us in major games. Also, Baker could’ve closed out the game earlier with the misses on the blown coverage on Otton, as well as the overthrow on Sterling underneath. I’m not going to get too critical, seeing as it was just the first week. Just happy to be a Bucs fan and excited by what the future holds with the addition of Emeka, as well as Wirfs and Godwin returning in the near future.
GO BUCS!!!
September 8th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
Don’t recall any of the three chances at interception being all that simple. The first one was a diving catch, Zion gets that and he makes a spectacular grab. Good receivers don’t catch those frequently. I didn’t see any hit in the hands/number type of drops. I know one was tipped and wobbling like a dead duck. Coming via of a left-handed QBs throw, it probably was spinning weirdly.
Can’t say I’m pissed about any of them. To change my story if we would lost that game.
The passes that hit our players dead in the hands and get dropped to the ground drive me crazy.
September 8th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
Gotta cash in on those opportunities
Gotta see more outta the pass rush….kancey plays better on the outside at DE IMO
GO BUCS
September 8th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Zyon was a ballhawk in college and I bet he’ll have at least 4 or 5 interceptions this season. He’ll be able to take more risks now that Winfield is back healthy.
September 8th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
We had a few real opportunities for interceptions. There was 2 you might say Atlanta could have picked. But if you might say that then you’ve never played a down of football. Baker missed Otten on an out and the linebacker was totally laid out and got half a hand on it. The other was a safety flying across the middle and the pass certainly wasn’t catchable for that safety. It would have been a spectacular play. Did I miss any?
September 8th, 2025 at 4:42 pm
Ballhawks my ….. $48m man Zyon NEEDS TO HOLD ON TO THE Ball!! That’s costly against better competition.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Doing the same things leads to the same results, its not rocket science.
Perhaps call the Balldrops until they actually catch a few INTs.
Have not seen any Hawk yet.
Go Bucs
September 8th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Apparently the team has gotten Dean to take a pay cut for 2025 and he’s now a free agent next season
September 8th, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Overall our defense played great! Alot of talent on that Falcons offense. It took our entire team to beat them. As it should be. Game changing plays? Winfield, Parrish, Reddick, our punt returner, Bucky and Egbuka and Mike. And yes, Baker. Perfect performance for a first game. This is a very good football team that we have here.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:18 pm
@Kenton
I’d add Tuckers’ return before that 2nd Egbuka TD drive set us up nicely
September 8th, 2025 at 5:22 pm
The refs tried to job the Bucs. O line holding, RT moving back before the ball was snapped on a lot of plays.
DLine . lots of hands to the face never called. You could see how blatant it was on replay.
Then there was poorly timed pass interference on our WRs. Never called and a few were just horrible non calls. They were constantly jumping over the backs of our WR, before ball arrived .
RTP against Vea and Gaines were BS.
Do the Bucs ever take the videos and complain to the league? Refs were horrible.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch, dang right that was a great return! We as a team needed every play we could make and that list could have been much deeper. Haven’t seen anyone giving Bredeson props either and man he deserves some kudos for that one.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
In fairness the Falcons dropped at least four INTs. There’s a reason they’re playing corner in stead of WR.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Funny, I seem to remember a column on this here website a few weeks ago about how HORRIBLE it was that the team had meetings specifically about trying to get turnovers.
September 8th, 2025 at 6:41 pm
We must have the most expensive butterfingers in the NFL (on defense).
September 8th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
@Rod – to that point, those dropped INTs by the Falcons were also much easier looking to catch vs the drops by the Bucs. (I only counted 2 or 3 though, not 4).
Hopefully the offense doesn’t look as rusty next Monday…
September 8th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
unbelievable Says:
September 8th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
@Rod – to that point, those dropped INTs by the Falcons were also much easier looking to catch vs the drops by the Bucs. (I only counted 2 or 3 though, not 4).
———-
I think it I had three, before the late one that the Falcons LB dropped – but I could be wrong as I wasn’t keeping track of it in any detail early on.
Not worried about Baker, hopefully now that he got some reps finally, he’ll shake off the rust and return to normal. But as for the Bucs defensive backs, part of the reason Morrison was drafted was because he got turnovers, so perhaps he’ll be a difference maker. Also Parrish maybe turns out to be a ball hawk. But the other corners aren’t good WRs, and aren’t going to suddenly develop good hands.
September 8th, 2025 at 7:16 pm
Rod Munch. You’re unbelievable. And so is unbelievable. 3 TDs and zero picks. Not once was an Atlanta player able to get 2 hands on a ball. Send us game times that they occurred. Instead of lying you can say “I don’t care for Baker Mayfield being the Bucs QB”. Nothing wrong with that. You deserve your opinion. But I’m not going to let fake facts infect our readers sensibilities without calling it out. Fair enough?
September 8th, 2025 at 9:23 pm
Kenton Smith – LOL! You Baker Boi(s) are all mentally deranged. Amazing how you just happened to miss all the almost INTs. In fact, today listening to the Falcons sports talk, to hear them whine and cry, one of the things they were crying about is all the dropped INTs. But it’s all lies, it’s never happened, no QB has ever played a better game than Baker played yesterday, but everyone is against him, out to make him look bad…
Idiot.
September 8th, 2025 at 10:11 pm
I believe the almost score was Penis 3 Baker 2. Therefore Baker won the battle of things v that never actually happened. Even in the land of make believe Baker wins. I think the almost FG battle was tied. Lets not forget the almost fumble that never happened because Penis gave up his body. I think Mikey won the give up the body battle. Baker always giving up his body and only gets awarded with shoulder separations not fumbles reversed..
September 8th, 2025 at 10:26 pm
Rod, great info for our readers to check your facts. Fake facts. You’re a liar Rod. A disgraceful liar. Oh yea, and an idiot. I’d reiterate that you send some proof of the interception drops you’re lying about. But you can’t because you’re lying. Idiot child.
September 9th, 2025 at 12:54 am
Zyon’s hands aren’t bad, but his ‘ball-skills’ SUCK.