Da’Quan Bowers Has Arrived
December 4th, 2011
If there was any positive from this curb-stomping the stinking Panthers laid on the spinning-out-of-control Bucs, it was the play of defensive end Da’Quan Bowers.
The Bucs rookie was said to have been a steal in the second round, due to a bum knee that scared off the rest of the NFL, but not Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
In training camp and early in the season, Bowers didn’t appear to be anything special. But about midseason, Bowers began to show flashes in part-time play. In his second consecutive start Sunday, Bowers dominated and now will be hard to take off the field.
Following the game, Bowers was humble and only began to speak of his game when pressed by several members of the Bucs press corps.
In short, he couldn’t get over the fact the Bucs lost.
“I don’t really brag about personal stats, but I think I had a decent game,” Bowers said. “I’d rather have a win than a tackle for a loss.”
Bowers and the Bucs didn’t get a win of course, but Bowers racked up tackles in the backfield. He finished the game with seven tackles, a sack and a half, one he shared with fellow rookie defensive end Adrian Clayborn as they sandwiched Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
Of the seven tackles Bowers racked up, five were tackles for a loss.
“It’s not important if you don’t win,” Bowers said. “Our job as players and coaches are to work hard and do everything we can to correct mishaps.
“It’s all about a building process. I am getting opportunities and I have to capitalize on them.”
Bowers said his vast improvement over the past couple of months is no secret.
“It’s just hard practices, hard work, film study and just having my teammates and coaches believe in me and giving me the opportunity.”
Bowers denied his rise has anything to do with his knee.
“It’s not much of a physical aspect, it’s more of a mental thing, watching film, understanding the game plan. I’ve always been comfortable. I just had to wait my turn and be patient.”
December 4th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Bowers and Clayborn are the two brightest spots on this defense by far right now, and the Bucs look to be set for years to come. Excitement in the midst of overall abject failure.
December 4th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Bowers did have a NICE game today.
December 4th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
THink about how great he could be if rah wasnt his coach!
December 4th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
He would be all over NBC highlights tonight if he played on another team.
December 4th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Bowers, Clayborn, Price, and McCoy (if he can stay healthy)….very nice. I’m going to disagree with most in that I think Raheem should stay one more season. The first season doesn’t really count IMO. It was a complete gutting and rebuild so it wouldn’t have mattered who was coaching that team.
Draft defense in April, get rid of the LB and OC and we’ll be ok. (OC – or mandate he implement a vertical attack and oust dink and dunk)
On a side note, I like Madu’s brief appearance, I want to see more of him.
December 4th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
WOW….Raheem dropped the “F” bomb on the radio talking about sending Price to the locker room?
December 4th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
WHAT”S THE NUMBER TO BOBBY FENTON’S SHOW JOE? Sorry, I know you told me last week, but i didn’t write it down.
December 4th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Raheem was so stupid that he waited till the 2nd round to get him instead of wisely getting him in the 1st round.
December 4th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Patrick: 990-4620
December 4th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
813 area code?
December 4th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Yeah give him a call
December 4th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
JOE,
What would happen to a team that had more than the allowed padded practices in a season? Fine?
December 4th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Pete:
Fine and likely draft picks taken away.
it would be a really dumb move because NFL refs are at practices and the team films each and every practice extensively.
December 4th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
I think you can stop referring to Dominick as a “rock star”.
December 4th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Bowers was a bright spot. Btw, for anyone wondering, Raheem lost his last supporter here. No more.
December 4th, 2011 at 9:34 pm
@ Anthony
If the bucs drafted da’quan bowers in the first round they would have never been able to get clayborn.it was a smart move to wait till second round so they could get both.
December 4th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I agree, Bowers played very very well, and so has Clayborn.
you can see the difference a dominant Tackle like Haynesworth is making.
December 4th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@ Apple, Haynesworth isn’t dominating at all. That’s just not true at all.
December 5th, 2011 at 12:05 am
Come one Ed, you couldn’t tell I was being sarcastic? I’m making fun of all the people who want Raheem to be fired.
December 5th, 2011 at 1:06 am
@K2
neither is McCoy or Price so why should Haynesworth be criticized. At the very least, he’s a good backup to keep around who has experience.
December 5th, 2011 at 1:25 am
DaQuan is a beast and always has been. There’s a reason why he was projected as the #1 overall pick at 1 point. This thread/article should’ve been Joe asking why Bowers hasn’t been starting all season. Bennett is OK but Bowers is better at anchoring against the run, has a better motor and pursues to the ball better.
Our DL will be top 5 in the league once Clayborn stops getting demolished by TEs, but we need a DC and 2 OLBs.
December 5th, 2011 at 3:49 am
“Raheem was so stupid that he waited till the 2nd round to get him instead of wisely getting him in the 1st round.”
——–
Top 5 dumbest comment in the history of Joe Bucs Fan. Anthony, I want you to slowly read what you wrote, think about it, and put down the alcohol.
So it would have been wise to get him in the first round (paying him first round money) and lose out on Clayborn? In what way would that have been wiser? I really want to hear this explanation.
December 5th, 2011 at 4:04 am
Bowers could have got another sack if it wasn’t for the Panthers drafting a ref this past draft. Looks like we need to draft a few refs this off-season also.