Another Bowers Red Flag
August 11th, 2013
It was Joe who first brought word to the masses 11 days ago that Da’Quan Bowers was wilting in the Florida sun at practice. Joe had been studying Bowers all over the field and saw him succumb. Bowers also was seen fighting the hot-training-camp demons again another day.
Now, after Bowers has been publicly pushed and challenged by the New Schiano Order, yesterday the defensive end admitted he’s not yet adjusted to the pace of practice.
Huh?
Bowers was asked to assess what he likes and doesn’t like about his 2013 training camp performance.
“I think I’m still a little winded at times,” Bowers said. “I’m not in the best shape, still getting used to the speed of practice. But other than that, (training camp) has been decent. I wasn’t real happy with my game performance [against the Ravens.] A little banged up, no major injuries. But you know, I’m ready to go. Just got to get better and grind.”
Joe knows players are in a tough spot with the media. Raw honesty like Bowers delivered here isn’t such a good thing to feed the media sharks. However, in Joe’s mind, Bowers still getting used “to the speed of practice” this late in training camp is a true red flag. The guy’s 23 years old. He’s healthy. And Schiano has raved about Bowers’ work ethic and how he re-made his body — in a good way — when he was out part of last season rehabilitating a torn Achilles. Bowers shouldn’t still be adjusting.
You can listen to Bowers below. His quote above is in the final minute of the audio, courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.
August 11th, 2013 at 11:54 am
I get what you saying. But, I can’t really remember Bowers participating in any training camps his whole career. Most if not all was spent on PUP or IR during his career.
August 11th, 2013 at 11:59 am
If the team is concerned about the depth at DE, luckily there will be over 1,000 players released in the coming weeks for the team to sift through.
August 11th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Oh I don’t know. Sometimes it takes a while to get back into the flow of things especially after an injury that kept him from much of training camp last year. The playing time, especially working at 3 technique is was also about conditioning. Sometimes it takes your body a little longer than usual to get back to feeling fluid.
August 11th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
again, big difference between playing as a part time player and playing as a full time starter. hes got to push himself every day until eventually he gets used to it. hes got close to a month to get acclimated and I think he will.
August 11th, 2013 at 12:16 pm
and if he hasent adjusted by our season opener, then find someone to split playing time with him until he feels like he can go on every down. Like Pete 422 said, it takes time.
August 11th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Another Clemson bust. If he can’t take it now, then he surely won’t be able to do it come reg season.
August 11th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
I love @Joe but what a bunch of pessimistic commenters here. The Realist is by far the worst
August 11th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Sounds like an excuse for a poor performance. Bowers just needs more gmetime f practice
August 11th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Maybe the Bucs should give him a complete physical. An MRI and a stress test. It could be he suffers from renal failure and heart disease. Just like Gaines Adams when he died from Myocardial infarction. Just a thought, I mean the guy is physically struggling, and it could be because of another reason other than lack of talent.
August 11th, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Pretty sure this is what training camp is for …
August 11th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
If his conditioning is his worst problem then I dont think we have much to worry about. Schiano will get him in shape.
August 11th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
It’s looking like he just sat on his ass during the offseason. Which is unfortunate, because so much of this season is riding on him.
If he flunks out this year, he’s done. We can’t afford to keep a player who isn’t in shape to play football.
August 11th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Give me a break here Joe he gave a honest evaluation when asked about her performance.
If he would have said that he played ok and thinks he’s doing good and having a great camp you would have bashed him for not being honest and being complacent.
August 11th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
You know we’re going to have to start reading our own posts. Almost to a man, everybody agreed with Keyshawn that this was the first time Freeman has had a real coach. Well this is the first time Bowers has had one too.
Bowers was hurt last year, he was on PUP. When you’re on PUP the rules are you can‘t practice with the team in camp. When he did come back after the 6 game allowable timeframe, effectively the 9th game given the Bye and practice time before activation, he didn’t play bad, but it was in rotation.
This is effectively his first camp under Shiano and he reported at 288lbs – totally out of pass rush shape. Now he’s got the right guy to get him into playing shape. A few more weeks in the ring of fire at DT for a whole half, he will be in fighting shape. He will have also shown the grit to run the gauntlet and survive.
He admits as much in his last presser and holds no malice towards Schiano – a good sign. My opinion, he’ll be okay by the first game and in top form by the Bye.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
With Myron Lewis and Eric Wright gone, the “fans” need a new scape goat now. Its plan to see that he is going to get a ton of scrutiny.
Its just one pre-season game already….calm down.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
^^^ Let’s hope so Mac cause we sure need him to step up.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Myron Lewis signing with the Lions….LMAO!
August 11th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
what a pathetic bunch! maybe he should just DIE like Gaines Adams, yea, would that make you feel better? The majority of “fans” here are pathetic! is it Bowers’ fault Dom traded Bennet and did NOTTA to upgrade at DE. Focus you,re “hate” on the GM for not realizing the MAJOR weakness we have at DE.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
@buccanay
i have been for the last 4 years. But the sheep applaud the pop-star for just sneezing into a napkin.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Bowers can suck as much as he wants for training camp and preseason, as long as he brings it for 16 games (+ 3-4 more)
August 11th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Sounds like Bowers has already lost half the battle. A veteran end like Freeney might have helped get Bowers moving in the offseason. I mean it would make sense seeing how all offseason we’ve heard the young guys saying how much they’ve learned from the veterans. M. Will learn from Vincent Jackson, Clayborn learned from Joseph on how to handle IR, the DBs learned from Revis and Goldson. But it sounds like we would rather take the hard road once again.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
@jeff… another Clemson “bust”? WTF…are you like 12 years old? or just ignorant, or both.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Probably stating what almost everybody is experiencing at camp.
Lots of guys have commented on the dead feeling of “training camp legs”. no way to prepare for it.
Maybe he shoulda kept it to himself but some honesty is a bit refreshing IMO.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
Keith McCants…reach
August 11th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
It is OBVIUOS and has been that our DE position is a HUGE liability. Dom is counting on 2 kids who’ve yet to play a full season with ZERO depth. Don’t blame Bowers, he didn’t draft himself…and he didn’t decide he was the ANSWER. The GM and Coach did.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
The SEC had 63 players selected in the draft making them #1 The ACC had 30 players selected making them #2
August 11th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Look at all these chicken littles lol
August 11th, 2013 at 2:46 pm
A revamped secondary should give the DL a couple more seconds to get to the QB. Like Keyshawn, Joe and I have stated before. Let’s see how well the DL does when the starters take to the field ala Revis, Goldson, Barron and Banks.
August 11th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Some of the posts here are just laughable, but it’s fine because I like a good laugh every now and then.
Bowers is a good man and he will work as hard if not harder than anyone to become the player we need.
Macabee hit the nail on the head..
Oh the irony lol, How quick some Freeman supporters are to crucify other players yet when Freeman is critiqued by others they aren’t real fans?
August 11th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
And screw the SEC…
lol 😛
August 11th, 2013 at 2:59 pm
“Maybe he shoulda kept it to himself but some honesty is a bit refreshing IMO.”
@Eric I agree
That’s the problem, the world is so twisted, lying has become the norm and honesty is not appreciated or it’s criticized… smh
August 11th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
@buccanay
Clayborn played his entire rookie season and had 7.5 sacks.
August 11th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
@buccnay
Clayborn played a full 16 games his rookie season
August 11th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
@PRBucFan
Oh the irony lol, How quick some Freeman supporters are to crucify other players yet when Freeman is critiqued by others they aren’t real fans?
—————————————————————————————-
Who? Who? in here supports Freeman and is crucifying Bowers?
I think you say what you want to believe without actually reading it. That is twice now that you have done that, that I have noticed.
August 11th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Bitter much?
August 11th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Remember he did show he can play at an NFL last year. He’ll be fine.
August 11th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Quit crying about the fact that I called you out for your childish antics and move on already.
I’m not going to waste time even acknowledging you anymore so don’t bother posting anything my way. Have a nice day.
August 11th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
There are no excuses for Bowers coming in out of shape. He was healthy at the start of off season.
August 11th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
@PuertoRicanBucFan
If your going to stick your finger in someones face it may come back as a nub.
August 11th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Here we go. Joe gives an educated opinion which I respect, and let the Bowers bashing begin, but I’m not cancelling my season tickets and jumping off the Skyway bridge. C’mon people, get a grip, to already say he’s a bust, or another Keith McCants or Gaines Adams is just (as Gruden would say)…HOGWASH!! Bowers is going to make believers out of every one of you Eeyore’s that can’t see talent if it was plastered on the inside of your eyelids!! Look, the guy is getting past an injury that wasn’t long ago considered a career ending injury, and he game back after tearing the dreaded Achilles to play in 10 games, that alone is amazing, and maybe he was brought back too soon, who knows? But either way, he’s got so much to overcome and for people to say he’s been sitting on his arse during the off season is just stupid! It’s a noted fact that he has worked extremely hard this off season, and it’s because he wants to be great, so lets let the man play in some real games, because if he can be one of those to cause the qb distress a second or two faster than last year, it’s going to show bigtime dividends and all those naysayers will have to then find someone else to blame the falling skies on!!
August 11th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
@BucFan40
Careful now, don’t make too much sense, it may rile some people up lol.
Well said 🙂
August 11th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Yeah BucFever40, well said. We aren’t 12 here guys, lets act like it.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
@Bucfever40
Well said. People are much to eager to begin the bash fest before the season even starts. Bowers was decent in his limited snaps in 2012. He has to molded into an every down player. (Something he hasn’t been since his college days.) It will take time. That doesn’t mean he is lazy.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:10 pm
@Bucfever40
I totally agree with you!
We need him. Joe said he’s sees him huffing and puffing on the sidelines more than normal, that is definitely a red flag. It could be conditioning, but we are several weeks into camp so far, so you would think his stamina would be better. I’m pulling for him. We need him to step up for the good of the team.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
This is a red flag. Bowers, regardless, needs to be in better shape. Last year when he entered the season, coming off the PUP, it was understandable that he wasn;t in that great of football shape but played into it.
Now, Adrian Clayborn showed up to Camp chiseled. He hasn’t suited up since September. He looked great and not out of shape.
Bowers in that preseason game looked very sluggish. And now this shows why. He needs to get it together. Dom is really placing a lot of faith in an injury proned DE.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
I would say i was winded too, If i got manhandled by the Ravens 2nd string and 3rd string.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Make Bowers run 3 miles every other day for 2 weeks. That will help to whip him into shape.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:42 pm
It’s no red flag, move along.
It’s just a man being honest and saying what other’s are thinking.
And even if he is a little more fatigued than some other players, training camp is there to condition and prepare the players for the season which may I remind you has not started yet. This is his first actual training camp that he can participate in 100% and I’m sure at this point last preseason those players that were in Schiano’s training camp for the first time felt the same way he does lol.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:50 pm
^^^^ you’re probably right! He just needs time.
August 11th, 2013 at 4:58 pm
@”realist”
Bowers started taking snaps at DT as early as the Ravens first drive. Playing out of position, yeah, it is wonder he didn’t dominate.
It’s okay though, I know you generally don’t think before you type. You just look for the first opportunity to criticize any part of this team and then attack. Or maybe he is a bust because he didn’t dominate in his first appearance as a DT? It wouldn’t surprise me at all if you thought that way.
August 11th, 2013 at 6:02 pm
So I guess the conditioning test wasn’t very hard this year?
August 11th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
Clemson turd. Not surprised.
August 11th, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Get busy Bowers. You grew up in hot and humid carolina weather…get your butt conditioned man, lol.
Btw, I love all of my Buc Brothers here. We may fight sometimes, but in a way, we’re still a family of fans who want the same thing…..another Superbowl.
August 11th, 2013 at 7:59 pm
ROCK STAR!
August 11th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Did it ever occur to anyone who’s so concerned about Bowers sucking wind could be because he’s giving it 110% on every play, maybe he’s not pacing himself, which many lineman do as to not be “found out”. It sounds like some of you just want the man to fail (Clemson turd, really?), so if he’s not from a school you root for, then he’s fair game to bash or hope he crashes and burns? Like PR says, move on! That’s looking for excuses to hate this player AND team, not cheer them on. I’ve watched this guy closely in college and any player who had 97 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in JUST a 10 game season is beyond dominating (even in the ACC) and even in his short time in the pros, I’ve seen him swim move around guys, I’ve seen him bull rush bigger lineman (Tackles) into the QB, I’ve seen him use Rip moves, Outside Swats and even the “Club move” he’s used on a couple poor souls, a violent move that Reggie White made famous, so there’s many reasons to like DaQuan Bowers, the dude has mad skills and carries a big tool box…..now if he can only get some support from this team, he might just blossom at the perfect moment!
August 11th, 2013 at 10:08 pm
On my depth chart Bowers is behind Te’o but before Means and Gholston.
Hope Joe write something on Te’o when he’ll gets tired of writing about Bowers.
August 11th, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Maybe he’s holding back or being “restrained”. In this day and age, sniping is the way to go…..they dont see you getting ready to strike, or the mess you can make, and therefore dont prepare for you….element of surprise!! (always your best weapon)
August 11th, 2013 at 10:50 pm
Okay now I think I may of figured out why Schiano has been moving Bowers to the inside DT postition. I think I’m on to him now. It took me about a week or so but the damn light bulb just went off. Getting to the QB is very hard at the DT position. Sapp was truly special. So it might take Buc fans a minute or two to get my point. So here goes.
Schiano has been putting Bowers inside because it’s going to make him a better DE. If he has to constantly battle inside the trenches to get to the QB during preseason and practice. His natural position will become that much easier. I don’t think Schiano has any intention of playing him or Clayborn at DT during any regular season games at any time. He already knows what they can do at DE.
I mean it could be why Bowers is so winded and exhausted.
I could be wrong, but meh when have I ever admitted it on JBF?
Any thoughts on this? I might not reply back just wondering if anyone thinks I might be onto something. I mean it could be why he’s so winded and exhausted.
BTW Go Noles I’m an ACC guy.
August 11th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
@Bucfever40
Did it ever occur to anyone who’s so concerned about Bowers sucking wind could be because he’s giving it 110% on every play, maybe he’s not pacing himself, which many lineman do as to not be “found out”.
_____________________________________________________________
I agreed with your first comment and then you came back and said this.
Go back and read the article. We are basing our concerns according to what Joe has told us, and what Coach Schiano has said. None of us have been there personally to make our own observation, and neither were you. You say it could be because he’s working to hard and giving 110 % but according Joe’s keen eyes, that is not the case.
According to Coach Schiano, that is not the case. God forbid, If that is true what you said, about him giving 110 % doesn’t make sense when the Coach has not be happy with his effort to this point. He needs to step it up and start giving 111% I guess, or get left behind. So don’t chastise us concerned fans, and say we are over reacting when the information we have gotten to this point completely paints a different picture.
August 12th, 2013 at 12:41 am
still to early ………
August 12th, 2013 at 1:13 am
once again loung is right
August 12th, 2013 at 6:02 am
The point of the article is that both Coach Schiano and Bowers agree that the player needs to get in better condition. No one questioned his raw talent or work ethic. This is really his first NFL Training Camp and it appears that he wasn’t fully prepared for the rigors. To call him a bust, compare him to Keith McCants and point blame at Mark Dominik is a little premature from the immature. Funny, these same people made similar remarks about Gerald McCoy.