Zyon McCollum has come a great distance since being the Bucs’ fifth-round decide in 2022, however he nonetheless has a methods to go to develop right into a dependable, productive starter.
McCollum might be going into his third season wiser and extra skilled after filling a wide range of roles inside Todd Bowles’ protection final season. Whether or not it was as a cornerback, lining up at nickel, or having cameos again at security, he has discovered what it takes to be nice and is seeking to comply with that trajectory heading into 2024.
Going through Bucs WR Mike Evans Is One thing Zyon McCollum “Cherishes”
Zyon McCollum has an opportune probability at an enormous position alongside the Bucs’ protection subsequent season, nevertheless it received’t come simple.
Nothing does within the NFL.
Not solely will he should compete in opposition to his secondary teammates for taking part in time, however he additionally has to face one of many prime extensive receiver duos round in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin throughout each apply. The saying goes that iron sharpens iron, however in McCollum’s case, going in opposition to two of the very best will really harden and mould him when the wins and losses rely.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Having the ability to compete in opposition to the very best in apply is what makes all people nice on the sphere in the course of the recreation,” McCollum stated. “Having a man like Mike Evans, I imply I’m benefiting from each probability I get in opposition to him. Whether or not it’s one-on-ones or seven-on-sevens, I’ve to get these reps.
“I sit up for the matchup with not solely him, however Chris [Godwin], and lots of the opposite guys that we now have. Mike going into his [11th] yr, it’s unbelievable. I cherish each second I’ve been in a position to go in opposition to a man like that.”
Mike Evans has been that man for a very long time, and it took rather a lot for the Bucs to maintain the very best offensive participant in crew historical past within the fold. Evans is the form of man who reinforces that younger defensive backs have to return ready and be taught from the teachings he offers on the sphere as he isn’t one to present out pointers.
“Bodily on the level of assault,” McCollum stated of Evans. “You may’t await anyone or something on this league, it’s important to go and get all the things that’s on the market. No person goes to let something go into your lap and so Mike, seeing the younger man, he’s not ready to present them ideas or to inform them tips on how to do one thing, he’s simply going to beat them and then you definitely’ll be taught from the work. With him, you’ll line up in opposition to him, you don’t suppose, ‘Oh, it’s Mike Evans’, or ‘Oh, I’m within the NFL.’ You suppose, ‘What am I going to do to win the rep?’”
Zyon McCollum Emerged From The Fireplace Final Season As A Higher Participant
After the Bucs traded away longtime beginning cornerback Carlton Davis III, it has left an open spot reverse Jamel Dean on the surface. Because it stands earlier than the 2024 NFL Draft, and primarily based on the strikes the crew has made, it seems that Zyon McCollum has the within observe of filling it. Whereas the crew has added Bryce Corridor, Tavierre Thomas, and should still look so as to add one other nook to the room, McCollum has earned the possibility on the beginning gig primarily based on how he grew all through final season.
Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and DB Zyon McCollum – Picture by: USA At this time
After a rookie yr crammed with extra downs than ups as he was studying and taking steps to play in control, he spent final yr exhibiting that he gained extra of head coach Todd Bowles’ belief as a flexible defender.
He obtained 651 snaps as an out of doors nook in 2023, with an extra 65 snaps within the slot and eight at free security. This allowed him to not solely get on the sphere but additionally to be taught what is predicted throughout the defensive backfield in terms of assignments and realizing the place he must be.
“Oh, 100%,” McCollum stated Monday on if the number of expertise has helped him. “Since enjoying security and enjoying nickel I do know precisely the place I would like my security and my nickel to be as a result of I can put myself of their footwear. With that, once we exit and we’re training drills, you recognize, we are able to talk at simply such a excessive stage as a result of I can converse their language and so they can converse my language. Having the ability to know precisely the place anyone’s going to be when Bowles calls a name permits me to say, ‘I don’t should cowl that man, I simply have to fret about this.’ Simply worrying about doing all your job, that’s one thing that each one goes hand-in-hand.”
There may be room for McCollum — and each different latest draft decide — to proceed to enhance. In terms of the secondary, it means creating extra takeaways and being a risk to make an enormous play when the ball is of their neighborhood. Whereas he has but to document an interception in his profession, he’s motivated after being thrown into the combo to be nice.
“All the things I exploit as motivation, it doesn’t matter what it’s,” McCollum added. “Constructive and unfavorable, and that is actually no totally different. Each single yr I am going into the offseason working as onerous as I can. Having been thrown within the hearth as a lot as I used to be final yr and form of realizing what to anticipate and what I’ve to do to play at a brilliant nice type, it’s simply thrilling for me. Every day I carry a chip on my shoulder [for] what I acquired to go get.”
Todd Bowles’ Message To The Staff Rang Loud And Clear To Zyon McCollum
The offseason serves as a time for every participant to mirror and construct on what went proper and incorrect in the course of the earlier yr. Because the Bucs made their means into AdventHealth Coaching Heart on Monday for voluntary exercises, head coach Todd Bowles had a message for the crew that Zyon McCollum relayed in his press convention.
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and CB Zyon McCollum – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“Consistency and exhibiting up each day and doing one thing,” McCollum stated of the theme of Bowles’ message. “Not being good, however being nice. What he means by that’s if we’re doing all the things that we’re going to want to do in coaching camp proper now, by the point we get to coaching camp, we’re going to be that a lot additional forward.
“It’s not simply watching movie simply to look at movie, it’s watching movie and treating it such as you’re nonetheless in a season. It wasn’t that way back that we have been on this constructing in a season preventing for a playoff spot, preventing to get to the Tremendous Bowl. We will’t lose that fireplace, that depth. We will stack these years as an alternative of simply beginning over yearly.”
Because the time involves step on the gasoline and speed up into subsequent season, Zyon McCollum is able to make the shift into changing into a beginning NFL cornerback. Not simply any beginning cornerback, however one who could be a playmaker and dictate the result of video games.
