Tampa Bay has picked off six passes in two preseason games after managing only seven interceptions all of last season.
Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum returns an interception 11 yards during the first quarter of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. It set up Tampa Bay's first touchdown in a 17-14 win.
Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum returns an interception 11 yards during the first quarter of Saturday's preseason game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. It set up Tampa Bay's first touchdown in a 17-14 win.
TAMPA — If the Bucs defense was defined last season by the interceptions that never came, this one could be remembered because they seem to never stop.
Todd Bowles’ club had only seven interceptions in 2024, and it has almost equaled that total in just two preseason games.
It happened again in Saturday’s 17-14 win over the Steelers. The Bucs had three more interceptions, including one by Antonio Grier to set up the winning field by Chase McLaughlin, bringing their total to six.
Bowles said at times last year the Bucs lacked a killer instinct. In the offseason, he put a huge emphasis on getting turnovers.
Grier may have closed the game out, but Zyon McCollum and newcomer Kindle Vildor, who played 85% of the defensive snaps, also had picks. Grier added a fourth-down pass breakup.
“I see us closing out games in preseason and a lot of different people are playing, so that’s good to see,” Bowles said Sunday. “You want your main team, when you get to the 53 (-man roster) to have that same killer instinct.
“It’s hard right now, because they haven’t played the end of halves and end of games. But the younger guys have picked that up, finishing out games and closing them. Even if they make a mistake, they’re making it full speed, so that’s a start.”
![Bucs cornerback Kindle Vildor returns an interception 36 yards during the second quarter of Saturday's win over the Steelers. He played 85% of the defensive snaps in the game.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 413"/%3E)
Bucs cornerback Kindle Vildor returns an interception 36 yards during the second quarter of Saturday's win over the Steelers. He played 85% of the defensive snaps in the game.
McCollum, who will become a free agent in March, is seeking a contract extension, and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is expected to exchange proposals with the Bucs soon.
McColllum got things going Saturday on the Steelers’ first possession, lunging in front of receiver Roman Wilson and picking off a pass thrown by Mason Rudolph.
The Bucs improved their secondary in the draft, selecting cornerbacks Benjamin Morrison of Notre Dame in the second round and Jacob Parrish of Kansas State in the third.
While Parrish has been one of the best defensive backs in camp, Morrison has missed both preseason games with a hamstring injury. However, Bowles indicated that Morrison hasn’t fallen behind as a result.
“I don’t think it’s a huge setback,” Bowles said. ”He watches film all the time, comes in early and puts the tape on. He wants to learn. It’s just about physically going through the reps. Mentally, he goes through them.
“He’s not a guy to just sit in the training room and be hurt. He’s trying to get better at all the little things so when he comes back he’s ready to go. We think he’ll be ready, and we won’t have any problem putting him in when we need to put him in.”
Injuries are beginning to mount. Thursday, safety JJ Roberts suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice against the Steelers. Saturday, Christian Izien injured an oblique and could not finish the game.
“He’ll get more tests,” Bowles said, “and we’ll see how sore they are.”
![Bucs linebacker Antonio Grier (48) and cornerback Bryce Hall tackle Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike during the first preseason game. Grier's interception Saturday against the Steelers set up Chase McLaughlin's game-winning field goal.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 413"/%3E)
Bucs linebacker Antonio Grier (48) and cornerback Bryce Hall tackle Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike during the first preseason game. Grier's interception Saturday against the Steelers set up Chase McLaughlin's game-winning field goal.
The Bucs are pleased with what they’ve seen from defensive backs Bryce Hall and Roman Parodie who had one of the team’s three interceptions in the preseason-opening win over the Titans. Cornerback Tyrek Funderburk and linebacker Nick Jackson had the others.
With the secondary thinned by injuries, the Bucs last week signed defensive back JayVian Farr. Though he didn’t yet know much of the defense, he managed to record three tackles against the Steelers.
“He’s aggressive,” Bowles said. “He’s been aggressive since he’s come in. The first time we put him out there we didn’t really teach him much, and he had a heck of a practice Thursday against the Steelers. He’s very aggressive, very tough, makes his presence known, and it means a lot to him. You want those kind of guys around.”
Ironically, the defensive back who may have had the worst night Saturday — or at least the worst series — was starting cornerback Jamel Dean. Over a span of four plays in the first quarter, Dean allowed a 42-yard reception, a 19-yard pass interference penalty and a 2-yard touchdown catch.
“I think he had a very good preseason and a very good camp,” Bowles said. “Obviously, the touchdown he gave up was because his eyes wandered somewhere else, and then we busted a play before that. He’s been playing well; he’s been very aggressive, he’s worked on little things we talked about, and we’re pleased with where he’s at.”
Up next
PRESEASON
vs. Bills, 7:30 Saturday, Raymond James Stadium TV/radio: WFLA-Ch. 8; 97.9-FM
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