Expect Da’Quan Bowers To Get More Snaps
May 9th, 2012
If one takes out the microscope and really, really tries hard, there was a positive thing or two to come out of last season’s grotesque 4-12 record, replete with a heinous 10-game losing streak.
(And no, getting a fifth draft pick overall was not one of them.)
One positive was flashes that Da’Quan Bowers was as good as advertised.
Bowers, thought to be an early first round pick in 2011, plummeted to the second round because of his bum knee. But with his knee healed and becoming used to play in the NFL, Bowers, at times, was dominant.
One reason the Bucs had Bowers split time with fellow defensive end Michael Bennett was that it limited Bowers’ pitch count. The less wear and tear on that bum knee, the longer Bowers can be a productive player.
Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune is of the mind that Bowers could be seeing more playing time because of his development.
Q: Will Da’Quan Bowers ever be the same dominating force he was in college? Can you discuss your expectations of him for the 2012 season? Will he ever fully recover?
Joseph Sims, Howard, Kan.
A: Bowers was fully recovered late last season. And it showed. He was often a dominant force as a pass rusher and run stopper late in the season and was just beginning to develop a comfort level when the year ended. I think he will prove to be a pleasant surprise for the Bucs in 2012 and beyond. He’ll likely split time with Michael Bennett again, but he’s probably going to surpass Bennett within a year or two and become the leading left end on this team.
— Woody Cummings
Well, since the Bucs have a Tom Coughlin disciple as a defensive coordinator, that tells Joe the second priority is to put heat on the quarterback, which is one reason you see new Bucs coach Greg Schiano loading up on defensive linemen.
(The first priority of the Bucs defense, to hear Adrian Clayborn tell Joe’s good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, is to tackle.)
With an objective of getting a quarterback’s jersey dirty, it’s a good bet Bowers will see more playing time.
May 9th, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Bowers, Price, and GMC:
Our wild cards??
May 9th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Lets see what Bowers can do hopefully 10+ sacks this season
May 9th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
I think Price is the only wildcard… we pretty much know what we have with a healthy dose of Bowers and GMC. If Price comes back 100% and in great shape is the real wild card. If that happens it would take this line from adequate to very dangerous.
May 9th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I don’t know if Bowers has 10 in him this early in his career. Just due to lack of variation in moves but he will be much better against the run then Bennett is.
May 9th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Clayborn off the right, Bowers/Bennet off the left, a healthy (please god stay healthy) GMC up the middle.
Doesn’t matter who plays nose at that point, [i]somebody[/i] is getting to the quarterback. Teams will have to play us like the lions did in game 1 last year, quick 2-3 step passes all day. And if that happens, look to our improved LB corps to make some plays.
It all looks good on paper, can we start playing some games now please?
May 9th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
I almost forgot the Bucs had other players like Clayborne and Bowers (JK). I am looking forward to these book ends for years with a lot of meetings in the backfield with opposing quarterbacks and running backs. I also believe that the reason some prognosticators are saying the Bucs have a shot at playoffs next year is due to the talent on the team (even on the defensive side of the ball). If these guys like Bowers, Clayborne & Foster make strides, Aqib avoids the pen by the state of Texas and Godell, i expect some rookie mistakes from the new guys but hopefully their ahleticism will cover some of that up, the defense could be back on its way to dominance. (High Hopes)
May 9th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
We needs sacks! Bowers you can do it!
May 9th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Princespanky, actually Bennett is an animal against the run, but isn’t the pass rusher that Bowers is.
And I think that’s the real source of why Bowers might get more snaps this year, is because he might now be healthy enough to develop his skills as a consistent run-defender.
Either way, having those 3 guys as a rotation at DE might just be the best DE personnel since Rice was in the building.
May 9th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
My bad, I thought that because of Bowers sheer athleticism it gave him an edge but I didn’t really think too much about it given how bad we are against the run. I know that Bowers productivity in school was monstrous which bodes well if he can get into a consistent groove. It’s definitely a diverse and talented group that we have now at end and hopefully that turns into sacks and tfl’s… with the range we are going to get from with Barron and David running around back there I think we should be able to dial up more heat… fingers crossed.
May 9th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Bowers a dominant force late last year? Yeah he played better as the year went on, but dominant? Using words so flagrantly diminishes the effect of their meaning.
May 9th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
dominant????? not really! More like above average, but i hope he has a great year!!!
May 9th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Bowers has the *potential* to be dominant, just as GMC also has the *potential*.
Hope 2012 is the breakout year for the D-Line.
May 9th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Macabee, excellent point. I think that will get addressed more towards training camp though.
GMC gets all the press, bc every single member of the pen and mic club knows that Thomas is so worried about him.
May 9th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Price tried to play hurt last year and it showed. The New Order will not make that same mistake. If he isn’t 100% he gets cut or on IR (one last chance).
Bowers and Clayborn off the edges could be special!!Again it comes down to the defensive tackles staying healthy.
With healthy DT’s we win a few more games last year and probably get to 11 wins in 2010.
May 9th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Buccaneers D-Line is the foundation of the entire defense! With the new Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan coming from the N.Y. Giants the D-Line will HAVE to put pressure on the quarterback and get sacks. Each player will help each other out. With Clayborn playing GREAT and being the potential LEADER of the D-Line it takes pressure of the 3rd overall pick in GMC..and the TOP 10 TALENTED PLAYER IN THE 2011 DRAFT in Daquan Bowers!! Not to mention Omobi Akoye a former 1st round pick!!
May 9th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Its amazing how a couple months and spending somemoney can what looks like turn a club around. I havent been this excited about bucs football in years. Let’s see if this time offseason winners translates to regular season winners. Can we start playing please!!!
May 9th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Price and McCoy better be healthy this year or we can say bye bye to them. 2 years already and we’ve gotten nothing from them. Clayborn proved himself last year and I’m not too worried about Bowers.
May 9th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
New coach, new system, new attittude.
Price and McCoy are our million $ questions. I hope they can stay healthy, these guys could be special if they do.
Patrick,
You are right on! Strike 3, you’re out!
May 9th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
The D-Line has the potential of becoming the Cowboys Doomsday Defense.
May 9th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Joe the BEST thing to come out of the 4-12 season was this:
The Bucs jetisoned Raheem!
Nuh said
May 9th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
By seasons end our D Line will be decent and the 4 best players will be:
Clayborn, Bowers, Price and Okoye. Bennett will be a nice rotational player and insurance for Bowers.
Unfortunately, we do know what we have in Gerald and it ain’t pretty.
May 9th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
You just had to do it huh Thomas?
May 9th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
I think if our D-lineman Mccoy and Price dont do it this year… i could see both of them getting cut the following season.. There both making big money and next years draft will be all d-line!