Schiano Takes Charge Of Grooming Bowers
March 22nd, 2013
Joe knows Bucs fans are still throwing things at their TVs in disgust for the Bucs letting defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Roy Miller walk away for the price of two pizzas at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.
As Joe wrote a week ago, he had heard the Bucs were spooked by nagging injuries Bennett had (and played through) and thought those injuries would only grow worse.
Joe doesn’t know about Miller, but Joe does know Miller was always dinged up and played through a nasty back injury. IF the Bucs let Bennett, their top sacker, walk for this reason, perhaps the same logic applied to Miller?
Joe thinks it is a gamble to put so much responsibility on the shoulders of Da’Quan Bowers, who has yet to play a full season in the NFL because he himself is often sidelined by some malady.
Don’t fear, Bucs coach Greg Schiano says. He is taking the bull by the horns and says he and his coaching staff will develop Bowers into a feared pass rusher, so he told eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune.
A better pass rush would help and Schiano said Bowers is poised for a breakthrough season.
A second-round pick in 2011, Bowers recovered from an Achilles injury and posted three sacks in limited action last year. He is awaiting the fallout from his arrest a month ago for carrying a gun at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
“He’s a tremendous athlete for a man his size,” Schiano said. “He’s explosive and he’s done it. It’s our job to make him do it consistently. When he hurt his Achilles, it changed his body. Rather than being negative, he got in with our strength staff and changed his body. I think he’s prepared to take the next step.”
Bowers showed flashes of being a dominant pass rusher, though Joe isn’t sure he can defend the run as well as Bennett.
The words from Schiano are reassuring, but in Joe’s eyes, the first goal is for Bowers is to play consistently and remain healthy for a full season.
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:16 am
So let me get this straight. Schiano was concerned about Bennett’s nagging injuries so he replaced him with bowers? There’s no doubt bowers upside is much higher than Bennett’s and that I can agree with. He was a top prospect for a reason. But the injury risk is a question mark. If he stays healthy no doubt this move will pay off.
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:29 am
The injuries are less of a concern than the possible prison term for stupidity.
Yeah, I said it.
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:33 am
Forget about defending the run so much now. We need pass rush to help the backfield. Its obvious we can train decent talent at defending the run when needed…hence worst to first in that dept. But unless Jets agree on our next year’s 1st for Revis, we’re going after a CB, and I hope its Rhodes. If he’s gone (and Milliner and Star), trade back, get Short and pick up Ryan next. We need that explosive NT and Short can deliver!
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:37 am
@name, funny you mention stupidity (pot calling the kettle black?) and YOU dont know the full details of his case.
#yeahIsaiditbacktoyou
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:39 am
Gun in bag. Pretty simple.
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:47 am
That he handed over as he walked in…and it was unloaded. And case law points to leniency…what else you got?
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:52 am
Speaking of stupidity
Schiano and Dom were worried about Miller and Bennett’s “nagging injuries”, even though they both played all season.
Sooo, they got rid of’em , and replaced them with 2 guys who missed the entire damn season.
Yeah- that makes sense! No wonder this team can’t get out of the cellar.
That entire argument is so stupid, that it makes my teeth grind!!
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:54 am
Bowers didnt miss the entire season, neither did Gibson….just saying.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:01 am
Confused Max
The clips were in the same bag.by New York law( not your opinion), that is a loaded gun.
He takes a loaded gun into an airport, in a state that has the some of the worst gun laws in the country. You can try to minimize that all you want- but it is a felony- and could easily end up putting Bowers in Prison!
I really like the guy, and hope not. But confessing you are breaking the law, may have minimal effect on the verdict. It depends if the Judge is a practical thinker, or a “letter of the law” guy.
Telling a cop you have a pound of cocaine in your car, doesn’t get you off with a hand slap. Especially when they are about to find it anyway
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:06 am
Lol, attaching possession of cocaine (illegal in every state) in comparison with what happened with Bowers legally registered firearm (in most states) isnt a good analogy.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:10 am
Never claimed to be a lawyer or a judge. The case is there, however.
This has been discussed many times before, and the looming issue of possible jail time is a factor. Until that case is closed, nothing is certain.
You want to get mad about it, fine by me. I just want to see the Bucs win.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:12 am
Im not mad Name, just making sure you know some things 🙂
We’re all fans in this right?
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:13 am
What Bowers did was stupid. Simple as that. However, the Bucs must know more about his case then we do as fans. Plain and simple: We would not be counting on Bowers if there was a HIGH risk of Jail time. His lawyers said it and he spoke with the judge and DA, from what I’ve read.
Was Bowers move stupid? Yes. Extremely idiotic. However he’s not an off the field problem. Never has been. If the gun was never registered and licensed in his name, then he’d be 150% screwed. However I do not think he goes to jail, not from what everything I’ve read.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:14 am
but that’s capt. tim…
also
capt.tim said:
“That entire argument is so stupid, that it makes my teeth grind!!”
don’t you mean dentures?
you are just spouting to spout. the bucs didn’t get a chance to match bennett because his wittle feelwings got hurt. they weren’t oferring what he thought he was worth.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:18 am
@joes
joe said:
“…but in Joe’s eyes, the first goal is for Bowers is to play consistently and remain healthy for a full season.”
why is your attitude towards bowers different than your constant defense of gmc the previous years?
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:19 am
The question I’m still trying to find out is how the heck did the gun get there in the first place?? He had to have brought it in the same bag when he flew to NY.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:21 am
Hey the Bucs knew Aquib wouldn’t serve any time. Maybe they know things we don’t.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:22 am
I am starting to think that Schiano doesn’t have a sense of urgency here.
He must still think that he is in college and has all the time in the world to groom these guys.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:26 am
@Sneedy, Right. But I did speculate before it was announced that maybe a girlfriend was involved….(a surprise trip) grabbing bags to pack…not checking them…and completely oblivious to the fact it was there….and maybe it got by TSA. They were too busy hassling little kids and senior citizens in wheel chairs. Further proving how imperfect they are.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:33 am
Bowers is certainly capable of becoming a good pass rusher. I think he has the talent. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dominik take a DE early in the draft to bolster the depth though. I’m looking forward to seeing what Bowers can do and hopefully Clayborn comes back healthy.
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:48 am
What Bowers did was no different than what happens ALOT in NY airports. Their enforcement at the airports is vastly different than MOST states and MANY people have run into the same scenarios and had to put up with the NY liberal controlling nanny state BS.
MOST get off with just handing over some cash (liberal states love that).
Bowers was not smart in this case but I would not trash him because NONE of you know the complete facts. From what we do know, however, he is more than likely going to get off completely.
As for them letting Bennett and Miller go… surprising.
I think they believe Teo can replace Bennett for cheaper and Miller is pretty interchangeable with MANY DTs to be had cheap.
Just a guess, and I do not want to see depth leave…. BUT………….
they do need a pass rush and DBs and keeping the entire defense together is not the way to go. they need to shake some things up
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:53 am
I think it’s funny that Bowers can be the absolute steal of the draft or the biggest “what-the” moment in Bucs a drafting history (as in “everyone else saw the problem…the Bucs didn’t.”)
Then again, he’s a Bucs 2nd round pick by Mark Dominik. That makes Him about as reliable as Lindsay Lohan following her 12 step program.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:01 am
HAS NOT PROVEN HIMSELF
ENOUGH SAID. They’re playing with fire, as usual. Always “what if” “I think” “potential” “this will be a players year” with this GM.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:08 am
Bowers is a beast… he has 1st round potential.
But what about those knees?
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:14 am
@Buc Fan #238
It was just his one knee. From what I have read it hasn’t bothered him since. The issue really is how long can it hold up.
March 22nd, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Joe I’m sorry but I am losing absolutely all faith in the direction this team is being taken. I know u have to save face and keep an even opinion with all of it, but what are your true thoughts. I have no idea why we let Bennett and miller go, I have no clue why we let biggers go and are sitting here solely looking at Revis (giving up all leverage and on other free agent corners), I have no clue why were not considering another DE with all of the talent available, especially with us dangling our first round pick for Revis….. And not to mention we’re down a RT and a strong side LB (the guy from the saints sounds like a special teams slappy). Honesly Joe, what the hell is going on, what is the game plan. Is it just me or does it seem like our GM is just not good.. I mean why are we always having to pay record money for free agents?!… And now this jets deal is going fubar… Again, your thoughts..
March 22nd, 2013 at 12:25 pm
the record money for free agents is for elite talent…wright didn’t get record money and we had an “out” clause.
March 22nd, 2013 at 1:24 pm
I love DaQuan. I think he will be our FIRST 10 sack guy in years!
He is a sick athlete. Splitting time with Bennet was hurting his potential.
He needs a full season to get better.
He was our second round choice. This year will be his 3rd on a 4 year contract. Our patience with his knee could really pan out this year.
I am a believer in Bowers.
Prediction: 13 sack season!
And about the gun?
He was on a surprise trip with his girlfriend. He wasnt aware of the law. He messed up. Get over it!
I guarantee his charges will be dropped. Just watch.
Also, about the rumor about Bennet’s injuries! Pff. Wtv. He played all year. That doesnt earn a man some respect?
I would feel bad for him, but his 5 million contract, even after taxes, is more money than I ever make as a teacher.
I just hope he knows how to be smart with his cash.
Brian Price? I hope he makes the Cowboys roster!
March 22nd, 2013 at 8:12 pm
@ teacher. …right on.. Bowers fixin to explode this year .