New key Bucs starter has a lofty individual goal for 2024 that would have a huge impact on the season

Zyon McCollum's time is now, and he knows what he needs to do in order for it to be a successful one - at least personally.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback spoke with the media following the team's training camp activities on Thursday, and he answered a question about his expectations for 2024 with a very specific answer.

"I'm trying to [be] a big-time playmaker. I want to make my name heard all across the league. I want to put my hands on balls. I've been telling my wife all offseason that I'm trying to get six interceptions, and I just keep repeating that over and over and over again. If I don't get it, I will be disappointed because that's what I've been working on over and over and over again.  I'm not going to sell myself short; I'm shooting for the stars."

That's a very specific goal for McCollum, but that's certainly a commendable approach to take.  While having Super Bowl aspirations is always the goal, having individual goals that are closer and more tangible on a week-to-week, game-to-game basis can help you stay focused, and as a result, can help the defense.

The Bucs will need him to be that type of impact player this fall.  The team traded oft-injured Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions in the offseason, paving the way for McCollum - who's started 12 regular season games over the last two seasons - to take over his starting role opposite Jamel Dean.

Speaking of Dean, the Bucs need more footballs held onto by the defense.  Dean's inability to hang onto interceptions has been noted by the coaching staff before, which has proven to be costly at times.  Turnovers can be contagious, so McCollum having a productive year statistically could be what the secondary needs to get back to its ball hawking, turnover-forcing ways.  The Bucs were tied for 17th last year in the NFL with 13 interceptions.

There's no doubt that McCollum reaching his stated goal would leave Bucs fans very satisfied on Sundays, and it will lead to a lot of team celebrations in the end zones this fall.

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