King on Bowe

[the Talking Can]

http://www.kansascity.com/159/story/87882.html

It’s clear to see he’s a gamer
Lasik surgery last summer helped receiver make catches, but he’s also known for his crunching blocks.
By JASON KING
The Kansas City Star

Seems rather ironic that Dwayne Bowe will earn his living catching a football. A year ago he could barely even see it.

Dropped passes, “double-catches” that bounced off Bowe’s shoulder pads before ending up in his hands. Gaudy as his receiving stats were at LSU, Bowe’s coaches knew they could be even better.

“After a while, I went up to him and said, ‘Dwayne, what’s wrong?’ ” former Tigers offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. “He told me, ‘Coach, I can’t see.’ ”

Bowe underwent Lasik eye surgery last July, and, as he says: “I’ve been on a roll ever since.” The Chiefs on Saturday made Bowe the 23rd overall pick in the NFL draft, a decision Bowe said the organization wouldn’t regret.

“I’m an intimidator,” Bowe said. “When I’m on the field everyone knows I’m going to work, whether it’s catching, blocking, running … whatever it takes to win.”

“Receivers do more than receive the ball. Most guys get it confused with catching the ball and looking pretty. My coaching staff (at LSU) emphasized blocking and being the total player. I took pride in it, and it paid off for me.”

Indeed, Bowe hauled in a school-record 26 touchdown passes at tradition-rich LSU. But his attributes extend far beyond his soft hands and ability to run routes.

Perhaps more than anything, the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Bowe is known for his ability to shed tackles and his passion for delivering bone-rattling blocks.

“When we needed him to block for us to win, he’d do it instead of saying, ‘Coach, I need the ball in my hands,’ ” Fisher said. “He’ll light you up, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a big ol’ linebacker or a little corner.

“I’m telling you, this kid is an athlete. Sometimes I’d see him screwing around on the practice field doing standing front flips and back flips — in full pads.”

Bowe bench presses 550 pounds, squats 450 and power cleans 330. When LSU graduate assistant John Papuchis traveled to Mobile, Ala., to watch Bowe go through workouts for the Senior Bowl, Papuchis realized just how unique Bowe was.

“I remember him standing on the sideline next to all of the other receivers, and he made the rest of them seem little,” Papuchis said. “He looked like a man among boys. And it’s not like these were just any receivers. We’re talking about the best in the country here.”

Bowe didn’t begin playing competitive football until his junior year at Norland Senior High School in Miami. The first time he ever touched the ball, he returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.

After helping his team to its first state championship in school history, Bowe signed with LSU. It didn’t take long for him to flourish.

Bowe saw extensive action as true freshman at LSU under coach Nick Saban. And Bowe’s role only increased after Les Miles took over the team in 2005. His 154 receptions rank fourth in school history. And he’s one of just six Tigers to amass more than 2,000 career receiving yards.

Must’ve been that Lasik surgery.

“It was a great thing for me,” Bowe said. “I’m glad I got it done. Man, I can see the white lines, the grids … I can see everything.”

Including a bright future in Kansas City. The Chiefs are hoping Bowe’s presence will help open up Kansas City’s running game along with taking some of the pressure off Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez.

“We researched him as thoroughly as we possibly could,” Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson said. “He can help this team, and he can help it very, very quickly.”

Head coach Herm Edwards agreed.

“One guy is not going to tackle this guy,” Edwards said. “He brings energy. You can feel him as he plays.”

Bowe visited with a handful of teams this spring, the last one being Kansas City. As he was leaving Arrowhead Stadium, he said, he ran into Chiefs receiver and former LSU star Eddie Kennison.

“He told me, ‘I hope you’re around (next season),’ ” Bowe said. “I loved it up there. I’m ready to go to work right now.”

[Easy 6]

For a second there, i was afraid this was a PETER King piece...

This "Hustle &" Bowe is a workout warrior that actually has skills to go with it...benches 550???...if thats really true its simply AMAZING, we have Jr. Seau at WR, he's gonna put BIG HURTS on all kinds of guys.

[eazyb81]

What a freak of an athlete. He didn't start playing football until his junior year, and the year after he makes the Florida 6A All State team. That's absurd.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

What a freak of an athlete. He didn't start playing football until his junior year, and the year after he makes the Florida 6A All State team. That's absurd.

Also top 100 all-american coming out of high school I beleive as well.

[Thig Lyfe]

Damn. I like this pick.

[Ultra Peanut]

I once was robbed of a home run, but my vision was so shitty I had to judge the reactions of my teammates and coaches to know what the hell had happened.