Door Opening For Bowers?
August 3rd, 2015
Can Da’Quan Bowers take advantage of a roster opening in his last gasp as an NFL player?
Joe and the rest of Bucs fandom learned the awful news that good guy and defensive tackle Akeem Spence is out for “months” due to back surgery following an offseason weightlifting mishap.
In Joe’s mind, all sorts of red flags are flying. Guys who make a living in the NFL in the trenches who have bad backs, well, that’s bad. Joe wouldn’t be surprised if Spence is out much longer than the current timetable he gave of two months.
With Spence gone for who knows how long, Joe wonders if that is the hole in the fence near the chemistry lab that will allow Da’Quan Bowers to crawl back onto the 53-man roster?
It seems like Bucs coach Lovie Smith is hopeful that is the case.
“Again, it’s early,” Lovie said. “Once we get the pads on we’ll be really watching then. I know once you have something and it’s taken away from you and you get another opportunity, normally you see the best of someone, and I like Da’Quan … He had a couple games where he really showed up.
“We are giving him an opportunity. We are kind of locking him in position wise a little bit [to defensive tackle], playing him more inside, which we think will suit his talents a little more. Again, anxious to see him take the steps, too.”
The sad part about Spence is he was developing into a nice player. Not a Pro Bowl player, but certainly a guy you could trust and a guy who was dependable in a rotation with Clinton McDonald. There was no dropoff.
The thing Bowers has going for him is that he is familiar with the defense. It is clearly his last chance of being an NFL player, if Bowers isn’t motivated now, well, that’s not on the Bucs.
Oh, and forget the notion of Bowers playing defensive end. Asked yesterday if Lovie planned on using any of his defensive tackles as edge rushers in certain passing situations, he said, “No.”
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:07 am
I don’t see it Joe, I don’t care IF he “knows the Defense”. I hope he proves me wrong. If it comes down to him and a guy like Buckley or Lyons who shows more/upside, Bowers is gone. We joked on twitter, but I am tired of seeing this dude not ” want it”
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:16 am
What’s Bowers weight now?
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:27 am
This is the first I’ve heard of the Spence injury. That’s too bad. He was the player who showed he could contribute when needed. Bowers gets another chance, Lovie sees worth in him, we will have to wait and see how it works out.
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:27 am
The door has always been open for Bowers but he walked through that door out of shape and uninspired. Will this time be different? We’ll see…
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:37 am
The answer is no. Has always been no. Will alway be no.
Bowers is trash.
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:43 am
I love how “knows the defense” trumps “can actually play football.”
From what I’ve heard, being a one-gap DT isn’t the most complicated thing in the world.
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:48 am
Any news on Bowers current conditioning? That right there should be telling enough, given past history.
August 3rd, 2015 at 9:54 am
Never a word about the undrafted FA DT from Idaho. He had a great college career. A chance for him even though we have a lot of good DTs?
August 3rd, 2015 at 10:22 am
Hey Joes,
Love the sight. That’s my reason for reaching out to you. It’s been my favorite landing spot for several years now. I’m “that guy” who checks in a couple dozen times every day. Recently, it’s become so slow to load on my PC, and gets hijacked constantly on my iPhone, that every time I think about checking in, I stop beforehand and ask myself if I can afford to wait the five minutes it takes to load up, or have to reboot my system to get free of JBF. Please don’t sell out to the advertisers to the point that reading your site becomes too problematic, and outweighs the enjoyment. Long live Joe Bucs Fan!
August 3rd, 2015 at 10:45 am
So true Buc Trooper.
I agree with you about Spence, Joe. ONE of the very few Dominick picks who was improving and showing promise. Even though he wasn’t a starter he was a very solid player and provided needed depth. Hope he’s back in two months.
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:24 am
I’m more interested in the guy seattle released. good complement to the pass rushing types we have in mccoy, melton, and mcdonald
August 3rd, 2015 at 11:27 am
No mention of Tony McDaniels?
Good idea Bucs… Let’s give Bowers another chance to play below average instead of signing a solid rotational player for a Super Bowl winning team and one of the best defenses in the league…
LOSERS!!!!!
August 3rd, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Can we toss him in the mix for RG?
August 3rd, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Akeem Spence injury might open doors for the Bucs undrafted Free Agent rookie DT, Caushaud Lyons and Quayshawne Buckley. Bowers has the talent but he don’t have the drive to succeed. Buckley is an outstanding Nose Tackle, he had 15.5 tackles for losses last year at Idaho. Lyons can play DE and DT he has great speed for a big man.
August 3rd, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Yes! Grab McDaniels now, since he has been cut by Seattle only due to salary cap troubles! If we don’t his old defensive coach, now Head of the Dixie Chicks will!!
August 3rd, 2015 at 7:11 pm
Give the young guys a chance. We know what Bowers can’t do already.