Lovie May Have Found Bowers’ Elixir
August 8th, 2014
Bucs DT Da’Quan Bowers buries Jags RB Storm Johnson for a loss Friday. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Yes, Joe knows Bucs defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has been a major disappointment, now entering his fourth season (and maybe last) with Tampa Bay.
What few good plays Bowers has made — you could count them on one hand — have been largely forgotten amid allegations by coaches (of two different staffs) of him being out of shape, and by him being spotted kneeling on one knee in practice more than participating.
In likely a last-gasp attempt to save his career, Bucs coach Lovie Smith moved Bowers to the inside to back up Gerald McCoy. It may have been what Bowers needed.
Though he didn’t start, Bowers, on his first series, had two tackles for loss and a near interception. It was Bowers’ best game and easily his best series. While Joe has been critical of Bowers in the past, Joe is giddy. Maybe Lovie has found the magic potion and is in the process of turning around Bowers? Can Lovie turn him from stinging disappointment to an actual producer.
Mock Joe (and Bowers) if you wish, because Bowers was doing this against scrubs and future bellhops, but when has Bowers ever done anything like he did Friday night?
Ronde Barber even said on the postgame broadcast that Bowers can “dominate” because of the strength he’s showing as an interior pass rusher.
It’s a step, though a small step, in the right direction for the Clemson product.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:10 pm
Can he play guard?
August 8th, 2014 at 11:10 pm
Bowers is going to make this team. You can be down on him because of high expectations, but if he’s cut, the Bucs WILL regret it, but they won’t, he’s going to be a part of a suffocating defense, period.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:11 pm
Whatever
As I’ve said, Bowers has recovered from his Achilles injury, and will use his superior strength/Speed combo to disrupt offenses. Clayborn and Johnson played like bookend salt shakers. Bowers may be starting a RDE by season start
And he’s a hell of a guitarist, also
August 8th, 2014 at 11:12 pm
Did Johnson or Clayborn have a tackle?
August 8th, 2014 at 11:13 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWgvGjAhvIw
August 8th, 2014 at 11:13 pm
I am a much bigger fan of Bowers potential Thani am of our starting QB or oline potential. How are we supposed to win football games without an oline or, I don’t know, QB? At least Raheem tried.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:15 pm
I don’t think so Capt. Tim, but in all fairness to Johnson, he was only in on a couple plays, and Clayborn had a couple heated rushes, I think they’ll be fine too.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:15 pm
Bowers looked solid tonight, I was pleasantly surprised by that
August 8th, 2014 at 11:16 pm
Cousins was manhandled over and over, he simply can’t play at this level.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:19 pm
You’re not overacting Joe. Bowers looked good tonight. The whole defensive line did well really. Let’s hope Bowers can stay healthy and become that player he was supposed to be years ago!
August 8th, 2014 at 11:20 pm
I was very happy with Bowers tonight. Obviously, I wish we could have found out earlier that maybe he needed to move inside. The scary thing is that the OL was not and will not be ready for Opening day.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:48 pm
Bowers was on fire tonight. I wish Joe could have wrote an article on the pick six #91 was supposed to get. Disrupted all game and was jumping the snap. He played well and needs to continue the rise.
The other player I was impressed with was #65 Masifilio. He had plenty of explosion and made penetration on more than one occasion. It should show given the extra work I witnessed him putting in more than 30 minutes before practice with GMC.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:00 am
Bowers definatly had a good game tonight. It’s still to early to tell, but it looks like he could carve out a Niche at DT.
@ BucsDan
I was also impressed with Masifilio. Even noticed the big guy dropping back and making a tackle on a screen play. Hopefully he can keep it up for the rest of preseason.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:01 am
Bowers had a very productive game as did Clayborn for the little bit of time he was in there. The one who seemed to be a ghost was high priced FA Michael Johnson, that being said, there is no reason to hit the panic button in the first preseason game, unless it’s over the OL. Cousins has no business being on a pro roster, period……. Another bright spot was Banks, he played lights out and I don’t think there is any way Jenkins will be ahead of him on the DC come next weekend.
August 9th, 2014 at 1:38 am
Dallasbuc enough already. We get it. Oline=bad this thread is about bowers. Relax. You’re annoying as hell
August 9th, 2014 at 1:38 am
I’ve been hating on Bowers, but he played like a different guy today. The difference in the defense was remarkable.
August 9th, 2014 at 2:09 am
Gotta admit I all but wrote off Bowers as not even making the 53 man roster this year but he definetley played well tonight. I hope he keeps this up because he look like a totally different player today.
August 9th, 2014 at 3:35 am
He’s healthy, and not in Schianos jr. High schemes.
That’ll do it
August 9th, 2014 at 7:49 am
Move him to oline I here he has strength….
August 9th, 2014 at 7:57 am
DE Bowers is dead! Long live DT Bowers.
August 9th, 2014 at 8:12 am
This guy doesn’t deserve a chance to succeed. You don’t get second chances with this Buc fan base. Bowers is just so full of excuses, one after the other like he said about Schiano. HIs injuries are just another excuse. He’s a gun fool, too. We’ve seen enough, cut him already. He sucks. He sucks cheeseburgers. Don’t let him get an opportunity, no, opportunity is unreasonable. Cut him before it’s too late.
August 9th, 2014 at 8:52 am
how fat did he let himself get?
hé is playing DT as a demotion
but hé looked good last night
hopefully he is focused
August 9th, 2014 at 8:53 am
If the defense can not score 14 points EVERY game, the team will be lucky to win 5 games this season.
August 9th, 2014 at 6:08 pm
You’ve never been a fan of Bowers so it’s good to see a positive article on him when it’s due.
I’ve never stopped believing in this kid, Lovie will bring him back to a dominant athlete like he once was in college prior to injury.
August 9th, 2014 at 6:37 pm
I don’t think Lovie believes Bowers is a ‘bust’, all he’s seen of Bowers is that he works hard, doesn’t let a lot of criticism get to him, has been a star in college, and oh by the way…might be as good in the middle and he’s said to be coming off the edge – his ability, charcter and versatility kind of point to Bowers making this team. Good. If he performs and has Lovie’s backing, then that’s all Buc fans need to worry about!