Either Da’Quan Bowers Or Adrian Clayborn
June 2nd, 2014
Former Bucs TE Anthony Becht believes either Da’Quan Bowers or Adrian Clayborn will be on the 53-man roster this fall, but not both.
An initial goal for Lovie Smith when he took over was to find a way to build what had been an anemic pass rush. It was downright criminal how the Bucs simply couldn’t breath on opposing quarterbacks. Shameful in fact.
Poor Gerald McCoy. The dude got double- and triple-teamed week after week and rarely got any help.
Part of the reason for the pathetic pass rush was the poor play by highly drafted players, defensive ends Da’Quan Bowers and Adrian Clayborn. Bowers was handed the starting left defensive end job when then-Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik let sack-leader Michael Bennett walk away for no good reason. So moved by being handed a starting job, Bowers responded by reporting to training camp out of shape and, at times, was only rumored to be on the active roster, not to mention his gun-hassle in New York.
Clayborn, Joe will cut some slack. He was coming off a nasty knee surgery and he played on a defense that was so psychotic in nature and twisted in practice that once Clayborn’s responsibility was to cover speedster Darren Sproles in pass coverage, if you can imagine such a thing.
Former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht believes the clock is ticking for one of the two defensive ends. In a recent spot on the always educational “Movin’ the Chains,” with co-hosts Pat Kirwan and Jim Miller, heard exclusively on SirusXM NFL Radio, Becht said there is only room for one of the aforementioned two defensive ends on the Bucs 53-man roster come September.
Pat Kirwan: Clayborn and our other friend, Bowers, both of those deals are going to expire [after this season]. Where are they, in your mind? We all know [Gerald] McCoy is an elite player at this point. Where are the other two?
Anthony Becht: Well, you know, I like Clayborn’s game, I like his physicality. When he plays, he plays with physical-ness and toughness. I think that is something that Lovie is going to see and admire on a gameday basis. I think with Da’Quan Bowers, they have been kind of waiting for him. I think there has been built-in excuses, really, for both of these guys. I think both of those guys are going to be competing for one spot. The first guy to live up to expectations… that guy will stick around. It is all about production. I don’t think Lovie cares who the guy is going to be. It is all about getting it done with his style and his way of doing things on defense. I would give the edge to Clayborn and I think one of those guys will rise up and get that left defensive end position. It is there for the grabbing. That guy can have a big year when you talk about the other pieces [being] on the defense.
Joe would have to guess Clayborn has the inside track, as well. Often, it takes a big guy nearly two years to fully recover from the knee injury Clayborn went through. Now in a defense that won’t have Clayborn running all sorts of silly stunts, as if he is auditioning for “Dancing With the Stars,” this could be a golden opportunity for Clayborn.
As for Bowers, if he hasn’t realized it is time to fish or cut bait, then he never will. Bowers is now on his third coaching staff and Lovie is unlikely to be patient with a guy who has never come close to playing up to his expectations.
Right now, Joe doesn’t know how anyone could have Bowers higher up the depth chart than Will Gholston, who displayed more ability as a rookie than Bowers has in three seasons.
There is still time for youngsters to sign up for the Anthony Becht Football Camp held later this month. Click here for details.
June 2nd, 2014 at 5:45 am
Think that’s a little tough, and off base about Bowers.
He was projected to be the number one pick in the draft, but the “deteriorating knee” injury dropped him to top of second round. The guy was a hustler in College.
He came here with the knee injury, and missed his first training camp/OTAs/etc.
He rehabbed the knee, and ended up playing, only to tear his Achilles( far worse than Clayborns ACL) doing one of Schianos stupid line schemes- that had him parrallel to the line.
He missed his second Training camp/OTAs/etc.
You ever tried to stay in shape- when you can’t run/bike/Row?
With a Achilles- no ankle movement. You can do elliptical and non impact machines like cross country ski simulators with an ACL.
So last year was his first camp- with worst excuse for an NFL Coach in recent memory. Worst D-Line schemes I’ve ever seen attempted at the Pro level.
I wouldn’t count Bowers out. He should have some of his explosiveness back this year.
Let’s see what an NFL coach can do with him
June 2nd, 2014 at 6:40 am
Cya Daquan
June 2nd, 2014 at 7:14 am
Why settle for 1 when you should dump both of them, Keep your eye out for cuts and practice squads. L&L can easily replace the production of these 2 players.
June 2nd, 2014 at 7:35 am
I said this yesterday and I still believe it 24 hours later. Will Gholston is the heir apparent at LDE and the job is his to lose. A clear message was sent to Clayborn when they did not pick up his fifth year option. And Bowers, while talented, cannot stay healthy and seems to lack the drive and discipline to get better at DE.
I like the idea of starting Gholston at LDE with Clayborn in rotation to spell Gholston and when he moves inside on certain plays. The question has often been asked “who’s backing up McCoy”? Bowers has been at 288 for the last two years and is a couple of BBQ sammiches away from being able to hold down the middle. I’m bulking that guy up (which I think he will enjoy) and permanently moving him behind McCoy while Euclid Cummings develops on the PS. Last chance to prove himself!
June 2nd, 2014 at 7:45 am
I don’t see it. Unless one of the unknowns on our team can out perform them, we need depth, and they are relatively affordable until next year. Unless Solomon or Sutton clearly rock Lovies socks off, I don’t see them supplanting Bowers or Clayborn this year. Especially when Solomon and Sutton are both eligible for the practice squad. Even if teams waive quality DE’s from their rosters, we have to win them with a waiver claim, and unless we have the #1 priority claim, other teams will be prepared to snatch up these players first, so it’s impossible to think we’d get that lucky. I think they both stick this year but it is clear they have to prove themselves before expecting another contract next year.
June 2nd, 2014 at 8:08 am
This DE combo looks doomed. Realy hard to tell who to keep IMO.
With Bowers, the injury scares me, because i am no doctor and Bowers himself is the only one, to truly know if its good or not (just the feeling he´s got running). And because Football is his job, i dont think he would admit if he isn´t feeling too good (Nicks).
Clayborn i think could become a Bennett like player; if its my choice i would go with him; despite i think that Bowers got more potential.
Either way, at least we got great WR TwinTowers combo.
[There are other sites for your geopolitical screeds. — Joe]
June 2nd, 2014 at 8:20 am
[Joe’s tired of babysitting your comments. — Joe]
June 2nd, 2014 at 8:41 am
(Trade for LDE Derrick Morgan)
(Source):The Nashville Tennessean expects Derrick Morgan to play outside linebacker in DC Ray Horton’s 3-4 defense.
Despite the fact Ken Whisenhunt-singled out LDE Derrick Morgan (when he took over the Titans) as a player on defense-that impressed him. (DC) Ray Horton primarily runs a 3-4 defense. Switching LDE Derrick Morgan -to outside ‘backer -A position Morgan has never played, and may be ill-suited for.
Contract Details (2yrs remaining)
• (2014) $3,541,668
• (2015) $3,046,670
Remember: Seattle
• Traded DE Darryl Tapp to Philadelphia for DE Chris Clemons and a 2010 fourth-round draft pick. Clemons had been an NFL journeyman for 6 (yrs)-playing for 3 teams (Washington,Oakland, and Philadelphia)-with a combined 62 tackles, and 20 sacks-before he joined Seattle.
*Michael Johnson’s for Georgia Tech teammate (Derrick Morgan) has a combined 128 tackles, and 16.5 sacks over 4yrs.
June 2nd, 2014 at 8:43 am
**Michael Johnson’s former Georgia Tech teammate (Derrick Morgan)
June 2nd, 2014 at 8:56 am
First, don’t have the nerve to offer an empty apology for something you did intentionally. Joe doesn’t even let is own kids get away with that. Your changing topics here for the “greater good” still amounts to a malicious attack on Joe’s business and Joe’s relaxing Monday morning. Joe’s sure there are busy street corners and college campuses near you to deliver your message. You could have quite an audience outside Raymond James Stadium in August for the first preseason game.
June 2nd, 2014 at 9:04 am
LDE Derrick Morgan (2013) 34 tackles and six sacks in 14 starts. Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-six pass rusher among 4-3 ends.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/0ap2000000253335/Titans-defense-4th-down-failed
June 2nd, 2014 at 9:04 am
@Back, from Davie Jones Locker Says:
I am baffled other people keep forgeting that. When you see great free agent steals and people say how could they have let that guy go it is a situation just like the one we have here. If Bowers doesn’t get hurt again I think he will still be the beast he was in collage. Even Warren Sapp said it takes up to 3 years for the light to come on for most defesive linemen and longer if they are hurt.
Joe it seems the first time you said Bowers came in out of shape it was because of rehab from his injury now it is just he came in out of shape. I may be wrong but I thought you said that.
June 2nd, 2014 at 9:13 am
Nasty knee injuries do not excuse lack of effort. Again, watch Clayborne in the St. Louis game and get back with me.
June 2nd, 2014 at 9:48 am
I think both of their contracts are guaranteed.
Dom let Bennet go because he wanted to protect his draft pick.
Dom played favorites. Thats why we sucked.
June 2nd, 2014 at 10:31 am
Clayborn will stay, unless Licht gets a decent trade offer.
Bowers will not, unless he switches positions, which I doubt.
I saw a lot of people give up on McCoy a few years ago. Bowers is NOT the same thing. Even when healthy, he did not even show glimpses of becoming the player he was in college.
According to reports, Clayborn has come in leaner, faster and working harder than ever.
Don’t count him out at all.
June 2nd, 2014 at 11:39 am
What are the chances that both end up not making the team? I’m thinking thats also entirely possible.
June 2nd, 2014 at 11:44 am
Wait until camp and preseason, everybody is working for a new boss, we might be surprised with these guys healthy and motivated.
June 2nd, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Wow, did anyone ever truly understand the thinking on letting a proven and improving Bennett go? I believe bad knee was the excuse and having to pay him about 4 Mil to keep, which is cheap based on quality starting DE’s in the NFL these days. So we kept unproven -potential players instead, one with reconstructed ACL and the other with a torn achilles and a bad knee, in order to justify the draft picks? Still scratching my bald head on that one. Guess the Glazers are too. One of Rockstar’s biggest blunders, as well as our team doctors and training staff!
June 2nd, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Bowers had number 1 overall potential when he came out so said the “experts” but has fallen to the point of a fringe player just fighting for a roster spot. Was he a one year wonder in college, did he lose motivation, probably a combination of both. If we never draft another DE out of Clemson it won’t be soon enough.
June 2nd, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Jim Walker Said:
“Nasty knee injuries do not excuse lack of effort. Again, watch Clayborne in the St. Louis game and get back with me.”
Can’t explode off a recovering knee. And I saw something different in the St. Louis game. Clayborn makes the team and will have a good year.
June 2nd, 2014 at 1:37 pm
TopDoggie.
That’s an intelligent outlook
The same people who hate bowers and Clayborn, and want to cut them,
Or the same idiots who I argued with about McCoy- and the exact same point and year in his career. Especially the”he’s injury prone, and can’t stay healthy” guys. They wanted to cut the player, who is now the undisputed best DT in football
It’s laughable, we would cut every draft pick, after their first year!
Thankfully, these guys are only coach GMs.
Like McCoy, I expect both to have their”breakout Season”. I doubt Lovie will cut either. Both have the talent to be first round picks. Both have suffered major injuries.both have missed traing camps/OTAs.
Both were stuck in that stupid D-Line carrousel of Schianos- which looked more like square dancing than Pass Rushing!
No wonder Schiano was a .500 coach at tiny Rutgers.
I expect great improvement from both. Especially Bowers- who once possessed a superior explosive move from the line.
Clayborn has tremendous motor. I know it’s just me- but I still think he is better suited for DT.
Either way. I suspect both will surprise the local yokels this fall.
June 2nd, 2014 at 2:36 pm
i think that’s over-simplifying it a bit and giving too much credit to the upside of guys like steven means and some of the flyers we took in this year’s draft and rookie FA. i have no worries with clayborn who is criminally underrated, and if bowers flashes enough i would take his upside as a backup over some of the more developmental fringe DEs the coaching staff is talking up this time of year. both guys have had very little continuous time healthy, nor have they had a level of scheme and coaching in the NFL that they will experience this year. they are among my predictions for “most improved” in 2014
June 2nd, 2014 at 7:04 pm
I hope Bowers heals up enough to realize his potential. It’s not like he was sackless in his past play for the Bucs. Perhaps the injuries are too much to recover from to be effective on a steady basis. I agree he might not make the final roster.
June 6th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
“Poor Gerald McCoy. The dude got double- and triple-teamed week after week and rarely got any help.” Does Gerald McCoy or his agents pay you to write this? McCoy was NOT double or triple teamed week after week. Why do writers keep repeating that? It is like a meme that once it gets out there it is simply repeated over and over until people believe it is true. Joe Buc, where are you getting the double and triple team stats from? I would really like to compare my stats with yours.
I have stats on how often and when McCoy was double teamed and it does not gel with what sports people are saying. McCoy has been in Tampa for 4 years and has not done much of anything but people act like he is a god. It is damn near a religious fervor that surrounds him. It is not healthy for a franchise to put so much faith into a player that has not produced much.