The Bucs pulled off an impressive win in the same building where their 2023 season ended. After allowing 51 points in their previous two matchups, Tampa Bay’s defense surrendered just 16 points on Sunday.

Without a doubt something, or several things, changed in just a season. A big part of that change was personnel.

Several young players on the defense stepped up and showed that the unit has potential to be special if each continues on their current trajectory.

Bucs Cornerback Zyon McCollum

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: USA Today

When Tampa Bay traded away Carlton Davis III and only signed Bryce Hall in the offseason many openly wondered if the Bucs weren’t setting themselves up for failure with a big question mark at cornerback. The team, for their part, maintained that it was high on third-year cornerback Zyon McCollum’s ability to step into a full-time starting roll and succeed.

After looking into McCollum’s 2023 tape, I saw the vision myself, predicting a big coming-out party for the former fifth-rounder. McCollum showed on Sunday that he was ready for the responsibility with the best game of his career.

According to NFL Pro, McCollum was in coverage for 57 snaps in week two. He was targeted five times during the game, allowing just one catch for four yards while snagging his first career interception. He added six tackles, and four passes defensed.

McCollum’s performance was incredible as he took away the intermediate dig and sail routes that the Lions like running most.

All Zyon McCollum targeted reps in coverage. Lots of zone wins pinching inside/outside breaks at the top of the route.

Smooth hips to transition to horizontal plane.
Trusts his speed/acceleration/athleticism to keep his eyes in the backfield and read the quarterback. pic.twitter.com/duiVhXZbQx

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 16, 2024

In my opinion, it is not hyperbole to think McCollum can ascend to one of the 5-10 best cornerbacks in the NFL. He has always had the physical gifts, but it is his zone awareness and quick decision making that can be the lynch pin that brings his game together.

Bucs Defensive Back Tykee Smith

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and DB Tykee Smith – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tykee Smith won the starting job in training camp in no small part due to his football I.Q. He came to the Bucs from the University of Georgia where he played the critical “Star” role in Kirby Smart’s NFL-like defense. That I.Q. was fully on display in the Lions game.

Best play of the day for Tykee IMO. Bucs running QQH (Quarters-Quarters-Half or C-4 to the concept and C-2 to the field).

Still in awe of how well Smith, as a rookie, can feel out the structure of the play and break to areas of the field he shouldn't be in to meet the ball. https://t.co/xljZc7uM9T pic.twitter.com/jj04XKyID8

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 16, 2024

NextGen Stats credited Smith with allowing six catches for 60 yards, but they also noted that his 54.5% catch rate allowed was 14% lower than expected and the Lions actually had a negative expected points added (EPA) when targeting Smith. Smith was also an integral cog in the Bucs run defense.

The team was without defensive end Calijah Kancey for the contest and suffered further loss when nose tackle Vita Vea was injured halfway through the game. It was incumbent on the rest of the defense to step up in their absence. Smith played a major role in that with eight tackles including one for a loss.

The Bucs have cycled through several players in the slot over the past three years in Sean Murphy-Bunting, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Christian Izien. But early returns from Smith suggest they may have a long-term option there for years to come.

Bucs Safety Christian Izien

Bucs S Christian Izien – Photo by: USA Today

Christian Izien, who was supplanted as the starting nickel by Tykee Smith, was pressed into action Sunday following a foot injury to All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. It was his first pro-start at safety for the second-year defensive back.

In true gamer-like fashion, the young Bucs defensive back rose to the challenge. He helped keep the top on a Lions passing attack and held quarterback Jared Goff to just two pass attempts of 20+ air yards despite Goff dropping back to pass 58 times! 

Izien totaled nine tackles and caught a key interception late in the game as Detroit was attempting a comeback in the fourth quarter. Izien, like much of the rest of the Bucs secondary was flying, playing fast and physical.

Just flying with reckless abandon.@chriscrafty_ pic.twitter.com/Ck3M5WD9q3

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 16, 2024

Bucs Inside Linebacker SirVocea Dennis

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs – Photo by: USA Today

SirVocea Dennis is the biggest wild card. He did not play in the preseason and had only 101 regular season snaps on defense last year. The Bucs selected him in the fifth round in 2023 and had high hopes for him based on his athleticism and speed.

In his second season Tampa Bay looks to be employing him in a targeted approach. Against Detroit, Dennis saw extended playtime as a pass-defense specialist. In something of a welcome change for Bucs fans he was able to play assignment-sound football, constantly dropping into his proper zones and not placing undue strain on his teammates by freelancing out of position.

Over 32 coverage reps he was credited with just 17 yards allowed and, like Smith, a negative coverage EPA. Dennis also had one of the biggest plays of the game when he sniffed out a perimeter screen in the red zone to stop the Lions from scoring a late touchdown to take the lead.

61 seconds left in the game in hostile territory with a 4-point lead. SirVocea Dennis has like 160 career snaps and triggers before the ball is released. Big play in a big moment from a young player. pic.twitter.com/CFU0FrrkQH

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 16, 2024

The Bucs are the second-youngest team in the NFL. As such, they are overly dependent on the play of their young stars to be successful. And through two weeks this season those stars are proving to be up to the challenge.