Bucs CB Zyon McCollum Was Unsung Hero Of Falcons Game

There is a chance Britt has never run that fast in his life. It helped keep the Falcons out of the end zone and after Desmond Ridder failed to connect on a pass on the next play the Falcons would settle for a game-tying field goal. But make no mistake this play was set up by McCollum.

How many corners in the NFL press the line like he did? How many have the wherewithal to keep the edge? How many take on the block?

I’ll tell you, it’s not that many. Most yield give up the edge and the run altogether rather than lower their shoulder like McCollum did. That’s also become a signature tackling move for him this year, and it’s effective.

McCollum saves this touchdown and then some.

Zyon McCollum Helped Limit Atlanta’s Explosives On Multiple Occasions

The Falcons thought they could beat the Bucs downfield with explosive pass plays. And they weren’t wrong. Desmond Ridder hit receiver Drake London six times on plays of 20 yards or more.

For most of the game Ridder-to-London downfield was the Falcons’ offense. But London wasn’t the only receiver Ridder tried to connect with downfield. Twice the Falcons’ signal-caller attempted to hook up with former Bucs speedster Scotty Miller. And, well … it didn’t turn out the way they wanted.

And that was due to the impressive coverage McCollum maintained on Miller throughout the route and at the catch point.

Here is Exhibit A:

The Bucs run an exotic version of Tampa 2. Watch the rotation post snap. Carlton Davis III is responsible for the flat to the boundary while Antoine Winfield Jr. rotates down from his deep safety position to do the same thing to the field.

Zyon McCollum replaces Winfield Jr. while Dee Delaney is the top-down defender to Davis’ side. The Bucs have K.J. Britt running the pole. McCollum’s job here is to stay on top of the most vertical route to his side. That ends up being Miller who tries to bend McCollum to the outside before stemming to a post.

Ridder likes the look against a middle of the field open coverage and launches a ball to Miller. McCollum, to his credit, does not bite on the outside fake, maintains his vertical leverage and stays in phase through the end of the route.

And now Exhibit B:

Once again Miller tries to win on a deep post by faking a corner stem. Once again McCollum stays on top of and in phase with the route. This time McCollum adds a great play at the catch point working up and over Miller after tracking the ball in the air. He almost comes down with an interception. It’s an incredibly athletic and heady play.

McCollum’s Growth Has Been A Low-Key Great Development For The Bucs Both This Year And Go-Forward

I can’t understate how bad Zyon McCollum was last year. He was absolutely lost in coverage and a complete liability in run defense. Opposing offenses knew this and exploited him when he was forced into action. It was surprising when the Bucs did next-to-nothing in the offseason to solidify proven depth behind Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean, instead opting to hand the No. 3 corner job to McCollum.

But at this point in the season, it is looking like one of the best roster moves the team made. He has cleaned up his tackling, plays hard and physical in run support, and has grown comfortable with the defensive rules. The result is faster and more instinctual play that is allowing the young athletic corner to operate fast and make plays.

We profiled him earlier in the year when he had to play due to injuries from Week 2 through Week 4. And after a rough stretch against Houston and Tennessee, McCollum is showing more growth recently. Among qualifying cornerbacks, he currently has the fifth lowest completion percentage allowed at 50.8% per Pro Football Focus.

If McCollum can keep this progress up it gives the Bucs both a ton of security and flexibility as they start to think about how they want to attack their 2024 roster.