Lovie Is Done Evaluating
August 21st, 2014
After Saturday’s game in Buffalo, the Bucs will have to shave the roster to 75 by 4 p.m. Tuesday. So Joe can understand how bubble players may be having sleepless nights in the coming days.
Guys who may have flashed in practice might want to show up in the second half Saturday. Unless something unexpected happens, Bucs coach Lovie Smith’s already has a good idea of his top-75.
“The evaluation process for most of the players has been done,” Lovie said. “This week, the group that plays is telling you an awful lot. Telling our guys, telling our team what we think up until this point. But we haven’t had extended play. We’ll play into the third quarter with our starters this week. But … most of [the evaluating process] has been done, but every year, there are some positions in the latter part of our roster that will be decided by some of the play this week and of course next week also.”
Joe found it interesting that two names Lovie mentioned who are, by no fault of their own, in too close of a relationship with Bucs trainers and it would behoove them to get on the practice field.
One name is our old friend Da’Quan Bowers.
“I think every day you don’t practice you’re hurting your chances [on making the team] and we’ve seen enough to like Da’Quan a lot, but the old reps that he’s not getting, someone else is getting them,” Lovie said. “The best way to beat your competition sometimes it’s just to stay on the field. You can’t get Walley Pipped. Da’Quan is trying to get back and again I think he has a future in the league whether it be as a defensive end outside or a more of a third down rush-guy inside.”
Cornerback Rashaan Melvin is also a member of the club.
“He’s shown us enough to like him a lot, good size,” Lovie said of Melvin. “If you see a cornerback on our roster, when we come out with our final roster of cornerbacks, if a guy won’t tackle and he’s not a tough football player he’s not staying. ‘Cover corners,’ that’s an insult, that’s a bad name. I wouldn’t say that about him, I would say that he’s a tough guy, he will tackle, he’s got good size, but again there’s a lot of guys like that on the sideline. He has to figure out a way to stay on the field and right now he’s losing that battle.”
Is this just tough love by Lovie or a public kick in the rear, or just the harsh truth of what is about to happen? Or is it all of the aforementioned? Joe was starting to have hope for Bowers after he blew up in one series (hey, with Bowers, one series of domination is big) but then he pulls his groin and it’s the same ol’, same ol’ for Bowers.
Melvin might be in worse shape as far as job security. People who watch him practice love him but Melvin is always dinged. That’s not his fault. But Melvin has never stepped on an NFL field in the regular season. He missed all of last year with a hamstring injury and has been slowed by an ankle injury this summer. Yesterday in the locker room, he was wearing a boot.
Melvin was an undrafted rookie free agent. The Bucs have little cash invested in him. Therefore, the Bucs have little to lose if he doesn’t make the final-53.
To hear more from Lovie, click the red button below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
August 21st, 2014 at 8:18 am
I hope its the “harsh truth”.
Some are injury prone, thru no fault of their own. With others, injures can be prevented by being in top physical condition. I doubt Cheeseburger Bowers has ever killed himself to get ready for football season, here or at Clemson. And it is questionable he ever will.
August 21st, 2014 at 8:28 am
@Harry
I think you are speaking of something you know nothing about. While I do not think that Bowers will remain on the team, ( we need players that can practice and play.) We have no idea how many knee surgeries Bowers has had. I know of 4 knee surgeries. And very possible could be a lot more.
August 21st, 2014 at 8:30 am
Looking like Bowers is gonna get his shot this season. Really pulling for the guy, he is gonna need as much help as he can get to not become a fricking gospel singer.
August 21st, 2014 at 8:36 am
At least Melvin can occupy a spot on the practice squad if he clears waivers. I cant wait to say buh bye to the failed DQB experiment.
August 21st, 2014 at 8:44 am
I’m done with Bowers. He just doesn’t have it in him to be in the NFL. Whether it’s his bad luck with knees or his work ethic is irrelevant to me. He’s a great guy, and I wish him well in his gospel music career, but I for one am getting sick of reading the same story every August.
August 21st, 2014 at 9:11 am
Bowers is similar to Dungy – no killer instinct. Both you would love to have them as your neighbor but not part of the Bucs.
I love how Lovie deals with them. He doesn’t need to be all over their face with Drama. Lovie is straight to the point. Either you are in or you are out. Is all up to you as an adult. You make the choice. Adult to Adult. Perfect!
August 21st, 2014 at 9:15 am
I think Mike Williams is gonna have a field day this weekend on our secondary. a lil payback
August 21st, 2014 at 9:26 am
Jonathan will own Williams on Saturday. You can take that to the Banks!
Not even with a mattress in the end zone will you see Mike score. Jonathan will make him look so bad the team might show some brotherly love and “cut” him again… lol
August 21st, 2014 at 9:30 am
robert9,
Payback? One word- Preseason.
August 21st, 2014 at 9:32 am
Lovie emphasizes the point that preseason is a big gigantic waste of time, and a terrible risk for players.
One preseason game, that’s all you need. If you can’t evaluate talent after OTA’s, training camp and that, then you have no business coaching.
August 21st, 2014 at 9:47 am
i’m just saying anyone but banks covering him is gonna get smoked, and even banks will have his hands full. MW was a beast for a while! love my bucs, not trying to be negative, but still got love for MW as well
August 21st, 2014 at 9:56 am
We are just having fun here at JBF.
I wish MW the best. After last year I just want to be entertain by our Bucs.
Hope we see the o-line improve again this week. The defense and Patton Solomon has me intrigue about their up and coming performance.
Go Bucs!
August 21st, 2014 at 10:02 am
These guys are young, hard to fathom that it takes them so long to recover from these slight injuries….I don’t think any of them could have played on my ECU lacrosse team……
August 21st, 2014 at 10:34 am
DallasBuc can help the club from the tub by offering his sage advice to the coaching staff and posting it in the JBF comment section while taking a bath. Or so he believes, anyway.
August 21st, 2014 at 10:59 am
Blah blah blah cut them candy ass fools lovie.
August 21st, 2014 at 11:07 am
The_Buc_Realist Says
“@Harry
I think you are speaking of something you know nothing about. While I do not think that Bowers will remain on the team, ( we need players that can practice and play.) We have no idea how many knee surgeries Bowers has had. I know of 4 knee surgeries. And very possible could be a lot more.”
I think the thing about Bowers is whether he took advantage of his opportunities when he did get to play. That’s a fair way to partially evaluate him, I believe.
He hasn’t. Unlike Clayborn (same draft class, same position) he has not produced enough to warrant keeping him on the roster.
Bowers has played in 39 games during his 3 years in the league. In that time, he has racked up a total of 5.5 sacks (and 34 tackles) for an average of 0.14 sacks per game played.
Clayborn has played in 35 games during his 3 years in the league. In that time, he has racked up 13 sacks (and 73 tackles) for an average of 0.38 sacks per game played.
So Clayborn has played in fewer games and done almost 3 times better with his opportunities.
In my book, Bowers should be cut. He has not done enough to warrant a 4th year. Clayborn, on the other hand, has earned his 4th year. I think his future should be determined by his performance this season.
August 21st, 2014 at 11:39 am
All well and good, but we need more information. Looking at the depth chart it is fairly easy to identify 45 or so players likely to make the final 53 baring injury. After that it’s tough. You could help by identifying which players below the first string offense and defense played and played well on special teams in the preseason. Special teams play is one of the major decision factors for players on the bubble, yet almost nothing gets reported.