Da’Quan Bowers Starts On The Bench

August 17th, 2013

Greg Schiano has been vocal recently about getting Da’Quan Bowers transitioned to a full-time, every-down player.

Schiano has cracked a whip on Bowers in the media, and he played Bowers a full half against the Ravens. And part of the time in that game he even had Bowers playing defensive tackle in the 3-technique, a move seemingly made to force Bowers to grind and grind.

Fast-forward to tonight against the Patriots, and Bowers was not in the starting lineup. He appeared with the first team as a situational pass rusher. That’s hardly a way to get Bowers ready to become a versatile manbeast with double-digit sacks.

At this point, Joe is wondering whether Bowers is on his way out of Tampa, just 10 months after Schiano raved about Bowers’ work ethic and the body-transformation he accomplished while rehabilitating his blown Achilles.

24 Responses to “Da’Quan Bowers Starts On The Bench”

  1. jvato24 Says:

    Yep sure we will just release him

  2. Andrew 1 Says:

    I think Schiano putting Bowers in with the rest of the scrubs is a ploy to further motivate him. showing him that his play belongs with the 3rd strings might just give him that extra motivation to be the best football player that he can be. hes got to earn his playing time.

  3. grif4foozball Says:

    HEY,SHOW OUT OR SIT OUT!

  4. john Says:

    bennent anyone???? if you are charger in life u dont have to get prodded. strong work Dom getting rid of MB.

  5. AC DB Says:

    Freeney or Abraham.. Anyone?

  6. nate Says:

    I thought mark d said free agency was to correct a bad draft pick.. what the hell are you doing bowers looks like garbage out there… there was a lot of free agent talent out there wecould of had.. he defintly dropped the ball on this 1…we better trade for sum1 or pray sum1 gets cut we can pickup.. not even revis will be able to help us….

  7. 76buc76 Says:

    Relax everyone. Freeman is bulking up to take some reps at DE and TE.

  8. 76buc76 Says:

    Bower’s is half a$$in it out there. To show up the coach for riding him. Week 1 he’ll be in beast mode.

  9. Pewter Bullion Says:

    I really had high hopes for Bowers, but maybe he’s just not cut out for what the bucs need from him. If he doesn’t pan out in a year or two, HE’LL BE BACK ON THE STAGE (Bowers is on the left):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq4ju4XsecM

    CHORUS:

    “Sail on Superstar, Superstar sail on….

    Sail on Superstar, YOU’VE EARNED YOUR NEW HOME…”

  10. JonB Says:

    Bowers had good push when he did get in tonight. He is saying the right things to the media. I don’t see the lack of effort generally but he’s trying to become a pro and not take downs off like he did at Clemson. I think this is to get him in better shape(which he admittedly is not) and increase his productivity on downs 1 and 2 against the run. Is he ever gonna be Michael Strahan? Maybe not but he is better than Greg Spires who was plenty good enough. Go Bucs!

  11. Hawaiian Buc Says:

    Bowers looks bad, no doubt. However, our entire DL looks downright awful with the exception of McCoy. Brady was more likely to get hurt walking to the bench than he was in the pocket. I really haven’t been that worried about it, but after these last two preseason games, I am VERY worried. I keep trying to tell myself it’s just preseason, but this is ridiculous. Hopefully we get all this crap football out of our system now before the games start to count.

  12. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    If the Bucs are ready to run Bowers out of town then there has to be more to this story than what is obvious so far. The fact that he is struggling this preseason to get ready for an every down role shouldn’t be the lone reason to be traded or even worse, released. There had to be a little attitude and maybe some lip service for things to escalate to this point. What a shame.

  13. paul Says:

    He looked fat, stiff and slow. Got pushed around in the run, making for huge lanes. They need to pay McCoy even more money if he’s going to be the only one on the DL that is going to do anything.

  14. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    ” At this point, Joe is wondering whether Bowers is on his way out of Tampa”

    It’s also possible that in preparation for next week, Schiano wanted to go easier on him in this game.

    Or that Schiano wanted to get more work for another player and he is rotating starts.

    At this point, I think its a mistake to read too much into anything.

  15. Bill Says:

    Someone started it:
    https://www.facebook.com/firemarkdom

  16. lightningbuc Says:

    ROCK STAR!

  17. teacherman777 Says:

    I miss Bennett.

    He was such a hardworker.

    From UFA, to absolute man-beast of a DE. Best run stuffing DE in the league last year. Because he was banged up. We let him walk. We should have rehabbed him and brought him back. Now?

    Were stuck with a diva.

    I am so disappointed in Daqwan. I thought. He was cool until now.

    Cut his spoiled ass.

  18. Dustin K Says:

    I watched bowers every play he played last night. And I have to say he is very disappointing. No effort or speed at all. He will just engage with the tackle and that’s it. And the worst part is he played against backups most of the night. Not looking good for the bucs pass rush.

  19. tj Says:

    Dekota watson was on bench too

  20. Neil Says:

    I’m sure opposing QB’s love seeing the Bucs on the schedule, don’t even need to wash their uniforms after the game. There comes a time when POTENTIAL needs to PRODUCE. Bucs fans have been hearing about potential for quite some time. Freeman looked lost and Bowers had the impact of a sack of potatoes lining up at defensive end. Had my girlfriend watch the game with me who knows nothing about football and she was like….wow your team really doesn’t look good at all…..tell me about itttttt.

  21. Bobby Says:

    Yes, Bowers looks out of shape to me too. He just looks like he’s not giving any effort. If this continues He will be riding the pine and they will trade him or get rid of him. He looked so good when he was in last year. Don’t know what happened to change him.

  22. Capt. Tim Says:

    It is just another example of how far Schiano is in over his head.

    It takes most DEs two- three years to develop into elite talent. Yes yes, there are always exceptions. But typically they are put in” just rush the QB, we got your back!” Like JJ Watts. That defense only needed one thing- pocket disruption.

    Bowers is being developed as a complete player. That takes lots of game time- which bowers has not had.

    The question isn’t what’s wrong with Bowers. The question is, what idiot though Bowers could dominate as a pass rusher- when he’s only played less than half a season??? Clayborn has played far more- and they state that he is “developing into a great RDE. Why doesn’t Biwers get to develop.

    Answer – because we still have no depth. We have Clayborn, Bowers, and a couple rookies at DE. And they MUST become pass rushers for this team to improve.

    They have never been dominate rushers. In a year or two, I think they will be. But poor drafting and ignoring weaknesses in free agency means they won’t get the chance.

    This team looked like crap last night. If we don’t let players develop, and get a vet or two to help teach and carry the weight- we will do what this team has done the vast majority of its existence.

    Suck!

  23. Capt. Tim Says:

    And Blount sure looked like more of a player than anything we have last night.
    We were embarrassed, because the Patriots are much more intelligent than our team- and not just the players!!!

    Smart guys! That’s how you build a lasting contender!

  24. Bobby Says:

    @Capt Tim…..sobered up enough to come on and spew awhile huh? Figured if there was anything negative to comment about you’d slither in. You don’t disappoint.