The performance of the Bucs secondary last season was the cause of quite a bit of aggravation by Tampa Bay fans. There were a couple of factors in play, such as player injuries and a lack of pass rush, that led to the Bucs pass defense being ranked near the bottom of the league in 2024. This also led to the defense having just seven interceptions on the year, with only six coming from the defensive backs.

That wasn’t the most frustrating thing of all, though. What bothered many was the Bucs’ approach to their coverage. There were several breakdowns because of miscommunication, and the defensive backs often played soft coverage about five to 10 yards off the line of scrimmage away from the receiver, allowing teams to complete passes over the middle and even on the perimeter. Several times, those short throws ended up going for big gains due to missed tackles.

What’s Up With The Bucs Pass Coverage?

Many wanted to know, what gives? Why was it like that so often? Why was Tampa Bay’s coverage so soft? How come there wasn’t as much press-man coverage, which is actually better suited for the skillset of their starters?

At times Todd Bowles has said that the cornerbacks needed to play tighter coverage. Other times, the cornerbacks have asked to play more press-man coverage. So which one is it?

Well, Pewter Report had cornerback Zyon McCollum on the Pewter Report Podcast this week where we got to the bottom of it.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and CB Zyon McCollum and Eagles RB Saquon Barkley – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It’s a little bit of both,” McCollum said. “There are certain calls and certain coverages in which we’re needing to play a little bit softer because the underneath coverage is playing very, very aggressive and we need to be able to stay on top of routes. And then there are certain situations where we go up and we play really really aggressive. They (the coaches) also give us leeway and to be able to do our own thing and depending on what we’re expecting. The offense that we’re running up against will determine how we play certain things and the way that we play certain things. It just has to do with a lot of moving parts.”

Bucs Will Have A More Aggressive Secondary This Season

Regardless of what happened last season the Bucs are planning a whole new approach this year when it comes to coverage. They’ve re-stocked the cornerback room by drafting Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish, while re-signing Bryce Hall and signing Kindle Vildor – two veterans. The depth is certainly better than last season behind Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean. Morrison, the team’s second-round pick, is expected to compete with Dean for the starting outside cornerback position, while Parrish will likely take over the nickelback duties.

But even more importantly, Todd Bowles has been hammering home a message to this unit during the offseason.

It’s time to be more aggressive.

“I know that going into this next season that that is a huge emphasis,” McCollum said. “Bowles has stopped me multiple times just in the hallways talking about the way that we’re going to play and how and it’s been discussed in meetings – how we’re going to ramp up this aggressiveness. It’s not just going to be being able to allow offenses to have easy access throws. It’s going to be competing on a whole new level.

“So what does that mean for us corners? Having to take our training to another level. Getting in better shape. Understanding and learning the defense even better so that we can be able to play aggressive for four quarters straight, 17 games a season.”

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum and Panthers WR Adam Thielen – Photo by: USA Today

That’s exactly what the fans want to hear.

It sounds like the Bucs are going to play more press-man coverage, which can lead to more interceptions due to tighter coverage.

“I think that’s a piece of it,” McCollum said. “Just being able to show the quarterbacks different looks in general is really what’s going to do it. And us working as a defense and us working with the help that we have and communicating in that aspect. I think that in particular, just me being a corner, I have a pretty large tell on what a defense is doing. I know quarterbacks normally read safeties and they’ll see fronts and everything. But I think corners can also show a lot and disguise a lot by moving around and I think that’s putting an emphasis on just getting better at that. Being at the line of scrimmage more is going to confuse quarterbacks a little bit better when it comes to disguising coverage.”

This didn’t take much convincing for McCollum to be on board with it.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

“Absolutely not,” McCollum said. “I mean, as an athlete and how I view myself as a player in this league, these are all things where I’m able to showcase my athleticism at the highest level. And anytime I’m in a position to where I can do that and really utilize the gifts that God has blessed me with is something that I’m going to want to take full advantage of.”

Watch The Pewter Report Podcast With Zyon McCollum

Check out the latest Pewter Report Podcast where Zyon McCollum joined the show for an hour long interview to discuss eveerything Bucs related. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel – PewterReportTV.