Da’Quan Bowers Had Monday Off
August 9th, 2011
Like most members of the media as well as fans, when a player with a nasty health history like Brian Price is not seen on the practice field, people, naturally, are wont to jump to conclusions.
So when Bucs rookie defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was not seen in pads Monday, the first thing that popped into Joe’s head was “knee.”
No worries, all good, Bowers told a gaggle of reporters after Monday’s afternoon practice. Bowers simply had time to relax, approved time.
“I feel good, Coach [Raheem Morris] gave me the day off,” Bowers said. “I need to get my legs back. My first day of running was the first day of camp. I’ve been going pretty hard since so coach gave me the day off.”
There has been speculation that Bowers had been on a program where his practice time is regulated to save the wear and tear on his less than perfect knee. That’s not quite accurate Bowers explained.
“It depends on how i feel,” Bowers said. “If I tell them I am tired, Coach might tell me to take the day off. This is the first day that I have taken off. I have been going hard. I haven’t been left out of any contact, I haven’t been left out of any drills. It was Coach’s idea to take the day off. Who am I to argue?”
Bowers tried to quell any hint that his knee has been barking since he arrived at One Buc Palace.
“Once I finish for the day I ice it down and go about my business,” Bowers said. “There’s no soreness, no swelling, no anything.”
Even if Bowers wasn’t suited up, it didn’t mean he truly had the day off. Instead, he hung around his fellow defensive linemen and tried to soak in whatever advice the coaches were offering to his teammates.
“Any time I am not on the field I have to take a mental rep,” Bowers said. “Even when I am out there practicing, if I am not [in a drill] I watch my fellow teammates and watch what they do and see if I can help them. That’s how we help each other.”
In what has been a recurring theme in this Bucs training camp, it’s how the veterans, almost like fathers, have reached out and proactively become tutors for the rookies, knowing that the first-year pros are enduring a sharp if not cruel learning curve, having to master an NFL offense/defense in five weeks thanks to the asinine lockout that wiped out all offseason OTAs and minicamps.
For Bowers, his tutor of sorts is a guy who Bowers is trying unseat as a starter, Michael Bennett, who is currently listed on the depth chart as the starting left defensive end.
“Michael has been a great asset,” Bowers said. “He’s teaching me all I need to learn. He’s helping me out with my coverages and my defenses. He knows a lot. He’s a great [attribute] to the team.”
While Bowers admits he’s had a lot thrown at him in a small window, it could have been worse.
“Learning the defense hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would be,” Bowers said. “Having these great coaches and these guys on the defensive line, they have been cooperating and walking me through this process.”
Bowers wasn’t sure if he would play this Friday in the preseason opener at Kansas City, but he does plan on suiting up for the remaining three preseason games.
August 9th, 2011 at 8:06 am
Glad to hear he is taking a safe approach at the start of training camp. It would be awful for the entire team if he overdoes it the first weeks of training camp and blows out his knee.
Slow and steady my man. We need you strong and healthy for the regular season.
August 9th, 2011 at 8:58 am
“Bowers wasn’t sure if he would play this Friday in the preseason opener at Kansas City”
That’s kind of odd, no? Why wouldn’t he play?
Beside that, I’m getting a great feeling from this team about the teaching atmosphere that’s going on. It seems like each and every player honestly just wants to make each other player a little better so they are better off as a team. Very refreshing.
August 9th, 2011 at 9:04 am
I like that the staff doesn’t push these guys to the breaking point like some old school coaches like Coughlin.
All you have to do is look at DET to see where that takes you. Maybe their injuries were freak accidents but they have already lost their first and second round picks.
August 9th, 2011 at 9:57 am
This kid potential is ridiculous. If they want to play it safe with him, do it. Look how well it’s worked with Kellen Winslow. He was NEVER healthy in Cleveland. He comes here, they handle him with kid gloves, and he ends up being a great team member and hell of a player.
From what I’ve been seeing, this coaching staff and front office know what they are doing. I’m looking forward to a solid year. Go Bucs!
August 9th, 2011 at 10:28 am
Great idea, let Bennett bust his hump and see what he’s got. Also, rest the big boy until the snaps matter.
August 9th, 2011 at 11:32 am
I find it srange that his first days of running was the first day of camp.. I mean he ran at his pro day I’m sure he ran to get ready for his pro day.. then after we drafted him I followed him ln Twitter and he always talked about his extream hard work outs .. I figured he was running then also
August 9th, 2011 at 11:39 am
Your knee can’t heal if you don’t take the weight off. His offseason training was more about lifting and doing non-weight-bearing cardio. His first time doing any serious running since surgery was camp. Makes total sense.
August 9th, 2011 at 11:46 am
Can NOT WAIT to see Clayborne, Bowers, and McCoy with their ears pinned back on 3rd and long!!!
August 9th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
My point was…everyone SAYS he’s 100%. Well, he sure as hell isn’t 100% if he isn’t playing in the first pre-season game.
August 9th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
“My point was…everyone SAYS he’s 100%. Well, he sure as hell isn’t 100% if he isn’t playing in the first pre-season game.”
The knee’s performance may be 100% as far as what he can do with it, but the duribility might not be there yet, plus it’s prolly hard to judge. So why would you push it for a meaningless pre-season game. I can see it now, we win the game cause bowers has a tremendous game, and we lose him to an overworked knee. An extreem example, I know, but I’d be doing it the same way. I enjoy watching the pre-season games, but would rather watch scrub, than see our starters injured, for nothing.
August 10th, 2011 at 1:29 am
Bowers isnt that good like you all may think… But Time will tell…