Da’Quan Bowers And A Playoff Run

October 6th, 2012

A lot of people point to the season-ending injury suffered by Davin Joseph to be a crippling setback to the Bucs’ running game and it sure looks like that’s the case. The right side of the Bucs’ offensive line is a mess without him.

But another, sort of under-the-radar injury (under the radar meaning it happened in the offseason) was defensive end Da’Quan Bowers’ Achilles tear. And with the loss of fellow defensive end Adrian Clayborn to a nasty knee injury, it just may have ripple effects.

What Joe is getting at is, Joe has a hunch the Bucs may try to rush back Bowers, who is eligible to come off the injured list in a matter of weeks, to try to help patch the hole left in Clayborn’s absence.

Pat Yasinskas of ESPN briefly touched upon this issue in a recent NFC South chat.

Nathan (Orange County)

What’s the latest on Bowers. Dominik expressed some optimism about his return this season but that was weeks ago.

Pat Yasinskas

Think there’s still optimism. We’ll find out soon.

If all things are equal, Joe would just wish Bowers would wait until next year. An Achilles injury is nasty and there’s no reason to perhaps endanger a career for the sake of a handful of games.

Whether Bowers will be able to return is still very much up in the air, and Joe believes the next few weeks will determine Bowers’ status.

Sure, the Bucs are 1-3 and a wild card berth appears a long shot, but crazier things have happened. If the Bucs go on a winning streak to enter the playoff race, Joe believes the chances of Bowers returning this season will increase.

If the Bucs continue to struggle and a playoff hope dims, the less likely Bowers will suit up this season.

24 Responses to “Da’Quan Bowers And A Playoff Run”

  1. Jbrooks8604 Says:

    Yeah I would rather him sit out this season. Get everyone back healthy next year and hopefully we aren’t plagued by injuries again. This team is having serious growing pains. More than usual due to. The coaching staff coming in with a philosophy that wasn’t going to work. At all with the personnel we have. Add multiple injuries and bad play calling and you get a slow start.

    It’s plain to see the coaches are already changing their philosophy slowly but surely. No need to rush Bowers back unless our other issues are fixed.

  2. Macabee Says:

    I would rather see Bowers come back next year. There are some hard to understand moves going on that looks like grabbing at short straws. According to the roster at Buc.com, undrafted rookie, Kendrick Adams, DE, LSU has been moved to the active roster.

    There has been no announcement of the transaction. Not suggesting anything devious, but assumes an oversight due to the haste to get away during bye week.

  3. Miguel El Magnifico Says:

    Does anyone think the Little General will relent and allow Da’Quan play without first running the dreaded and unnecessary 110X16 gauntlets.

    Anyone?

    We’ll see Da’Quan Bowers next year when the gauntlets are rescinded, changed or a new head coach takes over.

  4. guns4roses Says:

    Isn’t there some value to a young player getting some experience this yearto build on for next season. Assuming oref course that all the doctors say there’s no increased risk of re-injury

  5. Bucnjim Says:

    Can’t you come up with something origional? You’re like a broken record and it’s getting annoying miguel.

  6. Jbrooks8604 Says:

    Guns4roses,
    You make a valid point. I would say whenever Bowers is cleared to play, wait a few more weeks and thee let him go. Let him knock some rust off before the offseason.

  7. Jbrooks8604 Says:

    @Miguel

    You don’t actually believe Schiano should/will be fired after 1 season do you? If anyone goes it will be one or both of the coordinators. Not Schiano.

  8. 1976Buc Says:

    We’ll be able to tell by the way he practices. This type of injury takes some time and I know the Docs will not let him return too soon.

  9. Miguel El Magnifico Says:

    @BucnJim

    “Can’t you come up with something origional? You’re like a broken record and it’s getting annoying miguel.”

    It’s a valid point, do you think common sense and humanity should prevail or will stubbornness and uncaring stupidity? We all know the answer, that’s why you avoided the simple question.

    If Da’Quan ran 4 sprints and his Achilles popped and he went down like he was shot, the Little General would shrug his shoulders and walk away never giving it a 2nd thought. Just like Brian Price.

    How butch is that?

    @Jbrooks

    No, I don’t really think he will be fired. I can only dream. His OC is a dead man walking.

  10. The Dutcher Journal (Pete Dutcher) Says:

    I want Bowers back when he’s 95% ready or better…whether that’s this season or not.

    It makes no sense to sit him if he is healed up this season. And let’s face it…we don’t know IF Bowers is going to help at all.

    He really isn’t very tested because he has so little practice. He needs experience…and if he’s going to be useful next year? Get him some playing time this year.

    Otherwise he’ll be another mystery going into next season.

  11. The Dutcher Journal (Pete Dutcher) Says:

    Miguel El Magnifico,

    You really are a waste of words. Let me ask you something…why do you hate on Schiano so much?

    You never gave him a chance. Not at all. So I have to wonder…why do you even pretend to be a Bucs fan? Is it that you are really a division rival fan? You certainly act like it.

    Because Schiano has done NOTHING to deserve your spiteful attitude thus far. All you are doing if proving how petty you are.

  12. Miguel El Magnifico Says:

    @DoubleDutch

    I poised a simple question which you avoided and went directly to the ad hominem attack.

    Does anyone think the Little General will relent and allow Da’Quan play without first running the dreaded and unnecessary 110X16 gauntlets?

    Do you think common sense and humanity should prevail or will stubbornness and uncaring stupidity?

    I do resent the fact that the Bucs bungled the signing of a legendary college coach and then gave a 5 year contract to a notorious asshole. It reminds me of the Bo Jackson debacle only worse.

  13. Matt Says:

    And the second person to be barred by the mighty joe is the one and only……moronic Miguel!

    The sooner he’s gone the better,complete fool.

    Go bucs!

  14. The Dutcher Journal (Pete Dutcher) Says:

    Lol, Miguel El Magnifico,

    No one answered the question because it reflects your low level of intellectual prowess. By the way…it’s “pose” not “poise”.

    Those “dreaded” 110X16s are the reason our defense has stamina as long as they do already. It set an example that practice should always be 100%.

    But hey…the truth is your reason for hating Schiano is a stupid reason. I guess Stupid is as stupid does though.

  15. Jrock(mobile) Says:

    I see the bucs winning 5-6 more games this season, no playoffs this year. Give Schiano anoyher year to build his own program, draft his own players, and see more turnover of assistants.

  16. lightningbuc Says:

    Miguel w/ Small One’s hate of the Bucs goes back to that Super Bowl in San Diego almost 10 years ago. Joe no longer allows me to elaborate so i’ll leave it at that! I can assure you it has nothing to do with a coach making his players be in shape – oh, the horrors of being a professional athlete!

  17. Rich Says:

    I completely agree with Joe, but maybe for a little but different of a reason.
    I still feel we got a steal with Bowers in the late part of the 2nd round. The Bucs are an opportunistic D, they’ll give a lot, but they also take. Let some of these understudies get some experience that way we groom some depth. 3 losses in, but I think it’s by a combined 15 points. We haven’t hit that corner yet, but we’re heading there. Get our last 3 years of premiere draft picks healthy, then lets play ball

  18. FreemanBomb5 Says:

    I agree that Schiano’s ridiculous suicide sprints are a bit extreme. Chip Kelly has done nothing but absolutely dominate and turn an above average program into a national powerhouse. I was also bummed when we blundered the Kelly deal (thanks Rockstar) only to settle on Greg The Hammer Schiano who has never dominated even in the lowly Big East.

    Chip destroys Stanford, USC, and Cal annually while we get the guy that doesn’t win the Big East. Great job Rockstar!

    Bowers was a pick of Dom’s that I actually did like at the time. I do think he will turn into a star so long as Schiano doesn’t rush him back and cause unnecessary damage. Even though I want to see 91 on the field, I want to see him have a long and productive career even more. Good luck Da’Quan I’m certainly hoping you can end our hideous streak of second round busts, although if you can’t David looks to be the real deal!

  19. Ladyz Says:

    Miguel, here is a link you will enjoy more than this site. http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=233&SPSID=3383.

  20. Patrick Says:

    I think Miguel is Thomas 2.2 in disguise.

  21. patrickbucs Says:

    @Freemanbomb5: I agree that Schiano’s ridiculous suicide sprints are a bit extreme. Chip Kelly has done nothing but absolutely dominate and turn an above average program into a national powerhouse. I was also bummed when we blundered the Kelly deal (thanks Rockstar) only to settle on Greg The Hammer Schiano who has never dominated even in the lowly Big East.

    Chip destroys Stanford, USC, and Cal annually while we get the guy that doesn’t win the Big East. Great job Rockstar!

    I really hope you are joking, USC has been pretty bad since Pete left for Seattle and they went on probabtion. A lot of teams have beaten them. Oregon’s offense has struggled against good teams recently like loses to Stanford, USC, Boise ST, any good SEC team. The Pac 10 has maybe a good team or 2 a year so let’s take that down a notch. Have you watched his teams play? They rarely put out any pros (can you name some?) he has a great system for college and particuarly the PAC 12. Who knows how he would have done with this team so far.

  22. Miguel El Magnifico Says:

    Good point about Oregon not putting out pros, Kelly wins the PAC10 every year without great players. While at Rutgers, Schiano was blessed with many players who went to the NFL, yet Greg never ever won anything in that weak sister conference.

    Yesterday, while watching Rutgers play UConn, they quoted a UConn player who starred at Piscataway High School who basically said he despised Rutgers all his life and always would. I wonder why he would hate his hometown team?

    I believe John McKay went to Oregon?

  23. Eric Says:

    Playoff run?

    That’s a good one Joe.

  24. patrickbucs Says:

    @Miquel

    He wins because of it’s a system offense, I’m a Gator but Spurrier’s system didn’t work in the pro’s, he’s since altered his offense. Let’s not pretend that we know how Kelly would do here.