Bowers Will Be Run-stuffer Before Sack Artist
May 11th, 2011
When the Bucs drafted (thieved?) Da’Quan Bowers in the second round, many Bucs fans believed — along with drafting Adrian Clayborn in the first round — the Bucs may have poured the cement of a foundation for a truly terrorizing defensive front along with Roy Miller, Gerald McCoy and Brian Price.
But the number crunchers at FootballOutsiders.com aren’t as sold on Bowers as a sack machine racing in from the left side. Not factoring in his strange knee condition (does it need surgery or not?), Doug Farrar believes Bowers will become much more of a force at stopping the run than throwing quarterbacks to the ground.
If he’s healthy, I see Bowers having more comprehensive value than pure sack terrorism — he’s more Justin Houston than Von Miller, and his stats could reflect that. While he can and will explode into the backfield, he’s not exceptionally quick off the block (though he is off the snap), and he tends to wrestle when other ends are looking to disengage.
However, Bowers is, to me, the best run-stopping end in this class, and it’s not even close. He’s a violent and precise form tackler who smothers running backs one-on-one and can go sideline to sideline to crash in on downfield blocks at an elite level. If he stays healthy, Bowers still may not exceed that sack projection by too much — and despite that, he could still wind up being the steal of the 2011 Draft.
Let’s be honest, yes the Bucs stunk at putting heat on the quarterback last year but the defensive front also had problems with running backs gashing them for big yards.
If Bowers does indeed turn out to be a veritable concrete wall for running backs, Joe believes he will be well worth the price of a late-second round pick.
May 11th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
And here’s what was said back in early april using the sackseer thing:
Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
Vertical: 34.5, Short Shuttle: 4.45, SRAM: 0.60, Missed Games: 2
Projection: 22.0 Sacks by Year 5
Just a month ago, Da’Quan Bowers was considered a genuine candidate to be the first overall pick. Bowers, however, has not fared well since being placed under the microscope. There are questions about his production, his athleticism, and his knee. Although SackSEER often breaks with conventional wisdom, SackSEER agrees that Bowers is a high-potential prospect with some serious question marks.
Bowers dominated the ACC with 15.5 sacks last year, but recorded only 4.0 sacks in his previous two. Unfortunately for Bowers, the best historical analogue for his sack pattern is Jamaal Anderson. Like Bowers, Anderson was a huge defensive end at 288 pounds, and like Bowers, Anderson had exactly four sacks his first two years before ripping off a 13.5-sack performance against quality competition.
Bowers’ inconsistent production would be a little easier to swallow if his workout numbers jumped off of the page, but they are mediocre at best. Although his recent knee injury could provide a credible excuse for his performance, his knee injury is a legitimate concern in and of itself. Knee injuries put a quick end to the career of Andre Wadsworth, and other highly drafted edge rushers with some history of knee injuries include players such as Alonzo Jackson, Dan Bazuin, and Anton Palepoi, who each had short NFL careers.
Bowers should be an incredible prospect: He is a 280-pound end who played through injuries and led college football in sacks as a junior. However, due to inconsistent production and so-so workouts, Bowers has only an average projection, and he probably belongs in the mid-to-late first round rather than the Top 10.
May 11th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
I would rather have the team stop getting repeatedly gashed in the running game than have a few extra sacks.
I believe the addition of competent Dline coaches will boost our sack totals anyway.
Stop the run first, the sacks will come.
May 11th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Also the beauty of picking Bowers. A monster Run Stopper, who can also generate A good pass Rush from the LDE spot!! That , my fellow Buc fans, is very rare. To get a pass rush from your RDE Is hard enough to accomplish. To have a guy bring heat on the offensive Strong side( the TE side) is extremely rare. I really hope we see Clayborn,McCoy,Price, and Bowers on the field together- it could be something really special!!
May 11th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
It always amazes me that most people do not understand the word and meaning of “TEAM”. In my opinion the best defense line ever in the NFL was the Fearsome Foursome of the LA Rams (sacks were not counted then), it was not the Fearsome One! You put four very good troopers together on the D-Line and see the meaning of the word synergy. Look at Carolina, they have a great DE but the rest is not his level so the play is not there because we and everybody else go the other way.
The beauty of our new line is that they all can attack so who is going to and who is going to cover the run, only the Shadow and Raheem does.
As for Bower’s times, he had just come off of knee surgery and should have not even been there but his desire said he wanted to so he did.
I think Joe ought to start a contest for the name of the D-Line if it proves out like a lot of people think it will, since this is a water team, maybe the SEAL’ers?
May 11th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Red Tide.
May 11th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Great one Joe
May 11th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Stopping the run = 3rd down and long = an increase in sacks and interceptions.
“he’s not exceptionally quick off the block (though he is off the snap)”
Whomever wrote this line, is getting caught up in football-speak. Maybe I’m wrong, but this statement seems completely nonsensical. Maybe FormerBuc could elaborate??
May 11th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
@HGO;
I think the writer was trying to say that while Bowers is quick off the snap, if he is engaged by a blocker, he tends to hand wrestle the guy and not dis-engage as quickly as he should.
Anyway, I would much rather see us hold teams to under 100 yards rushing per game, than say 5 sacks a game. Sacks are an inconsistant thing, the more a team has to throw, the more we should get, and by holding teams to limited rushing yards they will be forced to throw.
May 11th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Who cares about allowing 100 yard rushers or having multiple sacks? Stats are for losers, remember?
May 11th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Red Tide? Sorry Joe, but this isn’t Alabama!
May 11th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Since ‘six pounders’ are what pirates called thier cannons, I say the Pewter Six Pounders.
May 11th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
The Cannon Ball Wall
May 11th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Plz training camp..Plz nfl get a CBA done…
May 11th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Just what I’ve been saying for months…. shut down the run, create 2nd and 3rd and long, and you automatically get more opportunities for sacks and interceptions. Control the clock, get a lead, and you automatically force more passing downs which lead to more sacks and interceptions. If our offense can score, if our run game can eat the clock, and our defense stops the run, they will automatically get more sacks and interceptions simply due to opportunity. I’d say that’s not the case if the secondary or LBs were worse than they are, but they’re adequate (depends on whether Talib plays or not) at the least. If they had a horrible secondary, then maybe teams wouldn’t care to run against us and just throw up and down the field every play. But, as it stands, teams prefer to run against us and not test the secondary. Stop that and you’ll find success in other aspects more often.
May 11th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
Red Tide is kind of what the D-Line has been … Stinks and keeps everyone (Fans) away lol
May 11th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
“I think Joe ought to start a contest for the name of the D-Line if it proves out like a lot of people think it will,”
Buccaneer Broadside.
May 11th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
@ Joe… I started following Bowers on Twitter after he was drafted and have noticed you have been trying hard to get an interview with him. Has he responded to you yet? I would love to get some answers from the “horse’s mouth” instead of all these rumors.
May 11th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I like the “pewter plank”! Opposing QBs cannot avoid the plank!
May 11th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
How about the BUC BRIGADE
May 11th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
The Keel haul krewe!
I kinda like that one- what do ya think?
May 11th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
The Gallows gang?
May 11th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
The Boarding Party?
May 11th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Let’s just hope the other teams and media call them dominant.
May 11th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Nicknames should be organic….not forced. That being said, Joe is right. Red Tide is fitting on so many levels. It’s localized, color coordinated, and for those of us on the coast we know how stifeling, smothering, and crippling it can be. Kills everything in it’s path!
May 11th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
“I think Joe ought to start a contest for the name of the D-Line if it proves out like a lot of people think it will,”
Assuming Bowers take #91 if Styles get released + Price #92 + McCoy #93 + Clayborn #94 = “The Early 90’s” That could also symbolize the Bucs’ defense in their heyday.
May 11th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Wow can you guys come up with names for players who are in a fantasy league doing well but in reality…..
Come on guys 3 of the 4 D-Line are rookies!!!! Yes I consider Price a rookie because he hasn’t played in a legit NFL game.
Price – 2010 had surgery
McCoy – 2010 had surgery
Bowers – 2010 drafted (needs knee surgery; does anyone remember Antonio Bryant?)
Right now forget the names – get this kids on the field, HEALTHY and working together.
Last year the D-Line should have been called the Submarine Screen Doors.
May 11th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
I really want to see somebody put on the 99′ jersey pretty soon. Maybe Bowers, Price or Miller. Even GMC, but I want to see it back in play. It has magical powers, kind of like the #3 on the side of a race car. Let’s do it.
May 11th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
@flmike
Ok, I see now. When he said “block”, I was thinking “starting block”. Been a long day.
Joe,
nickname suggestion: The Bone Brigade, The Bounty Hunters…
Idk, haven’t read any I like so far, not even mine…lol
May 11th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
If the D-Line wanted to prove themselves how about:
The doubting Thomas’s?
May 11th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
The Wet Bandits
May 11th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
NO ONE should EVER wear #99 unless they surpass Warren Sapp’s play on the field…..
-2nd all time in sacks at the DT position in NFL history
-Super Bowl champ
-All pro
-multiple pro bowls
-16.5 sacks in a single season PLAYING INSIDE
-NFL defensive player of the year
-not just a pass rusher (i.e. John Randle) but an every down DT that plays
the run as well
May 11th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
are we still naming the D-line? I vote for the
“I hope someone will play all 16 games gang”
May 11th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Already a nickname campaign?? You guys crack me up.
THe two celebrated draft picks combined to play in about 16 games, and 14 of those were horrible. THe other two havent even put on a practice jersey and you want to nickname them. Nicknames have to be earned.
The only nickname GMC has earned is overrated, overpaid, weak and did I say overrated. The other three: who knows? Calm down gentleman – these four players could all turn out to be GMCs.
May 11th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
scurvy
May 11th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
i think someone may have mentioned it but the main thing that leads to more sacks as a team is an offense that can put up points. josh freeman will have just as much to do with the sack total as the whole defense combined.
May 11th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
You must have thought Sapp was a bust after his rookie year huh Thomas? It’s called being excited about the future of your favorite team. There are 4 top picks invested in this new D-line and the majority of fans are excited about the potential they have.
May 11th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
By shutting down the run, Tampa sets up sack situations, as teams become one dimensional.
May 11th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
Mobucs:
#1 – Sapp wasnt the third overall pick – he was 12th.
#2 – Sam Wyche didn’t bill Sapp the defensive face of the franchise before he saw him play in the NFL.
#3 – the Bucs didnt draft a virtually identical player from the same position twenty-something picks later (who is probably a better player but for injuries).
#4 – Wyche didnt pass up Eric Berry, Markice Pouncey, Devin Mccourty (pro Bowlers, and Karlos Dunlap (9.5 sacks in 12 starts).
Sapp did have 9 sacks in year 2 and by the second half of the season it was clear that he was a star.
May 11th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I don’t know about the D-line, but if we get Caddy back, I say we call our running backs BlountMan and Chronic…. Snoochie Boochies!!!
May 11th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
MOBucs:
Bowers has not responded to Joe, and Joe has spoken with a few others in the fourth estate and they have equally been turned a cold shoulder by both Bowers and his agent.
May 11th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Don’t worry about Thomas, he’s got a bug up his arse about McCoy. Probably because McCoy wouldn’t sign his football card. He is the same one preaching that you can’t judge a player by his first couple years, but that rule apparently doesn’t apply to anyone the great talent evaluator Thomas doesn’t like. Thomas is a complete joke, and he is hoping for McCoy to fail. No matter what, he will never give him any credit. I wish I could find all those comments he made prior to last year’s draft about who we should have drafted. Oh wait, they don’t exist. He just likes to complain like a little b!tch after the fact.
May 11th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Release “The Kraken”. Argh.
May 12th, 2011 at 12:11 am
@bambambuc
Great idea for the running backs!
And I think a fitting nickname for this new bucs dline is : “Too Big To Fail.”.
In light of the bucs obviously investing a lot in these four players. If it doesn’t work out we’re screwed. But if it lives up to the hype it would be a monster dline. I’m excited to see what these guys can do
May 12th, 2011 at 9:00 am
Thomas
I’m going against my ideals, by even commenting to you, but…….. “Nicknames have to be earned.” You know, you might be right?
I guess, that’s why I’m up to 85 nicknames for you!
May 12th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Bouncing off Hire Greg Olsen: We name the Field “THE BONEYARD” – where opposing teams and their dreams come to die… or perhaps we call one endzone that. (ala the Black Hole)
We name the D-Line: The En4cers
Although it’s hard to come up with something that doesn’t sound cheesy like those damn sections in the stadium. Caddy’s Krewe, Brooks Bunch, etc…
May 13th, 2011 at 6:52 am
Guys, calm down a bit…..!
Clayborn is a rookie, Price hasn’t taken an NFL snap whilst healthy
And while Bowers looks like great value on paper (ability to draft pick number), there is a reason why he dropped to the bottom of the 2nd round – it’s because he is a BIG risk, and by no means sure to perform anywhere near his potential.
On paper, we could have a great D-line, but we have to be realistic and give them time