Dwayne Bowe wants to make big-time plays in big-time games

[FloridaMan88]

Dwayne Bowe wants to make big-time plays in big-time game

http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/01...-make-big.html

BY RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star

Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe knows there’s a difference between making catches and making plays.

Bowe has caught 57 passes this season but has produced few of the signature or game-altering plays that have distinguished his seven seasons as the second-leading receiver in franchise history.

He knows it. His coaches know it. And they all realize Bowe is going to have to make an impact Saturday for the Chiefs to defeat Indianapolis in an opening-round AFC playoff game.

“Your game-changer type players have to show up and make those plays,” offensive coordinator Doug Pederson said.

Bowe, who signed a five-year-contract extension worth up to $56 million last spring and predicted he’d lead the league in receiving, failed to lead the Chiefs in receiving for the first time in five years.

That honor went to running back Jamaal Charles, who caught 70 passes for a team-leading 693 yards and seven touchdowns.

But Charles, called “Public Enemy No. 1” by Colts coach Chuck Pagano, will be a marked man in Indianapolis. So someone else may need to make the big plays on offense.

“I’m ready to go,” Bowe said Wednesday. “Games like this … big-time players make big-time plays, and these are games I mostly show up in … everything on the line, and great preparation all week. It’s win or go home …”

Actually, Bowe was held without a catch in his only postseason appearance, the Chiefs’ 30-7 loss to Baltimore in 2010. The Chiefs had the ball for only 18 minutes, 16 seconds and attempted just 18 passes.

Bowe figures to be targeted early and often against the Colts, as he was two weeks ago when he was targeted 10 times in the Chiefs’ 23-7 loss at Arrowhead Stadium. Bowe caught a pass for nine yards on the first play and drew a pass interference call on the second.

In all, Bowe caught five passes for 46 yards against the Colts and suffered what turned out to be a mild concussion in the fourth quarter when he was struck in the head/neck area by Indianapolis safety LaRon Landry.

Landry, a former college teammate of Bowe’s at LSU, where they were both first-round draft picks in 2007, was called for a personal foul. Bowe left the game, returned for another play, and even practiced last Tuesday before complaining of concussion-like symptoms.

He was held out of last Sunday’s game at San Diego, like most of the other starters, and returned to practice this week.

“I’m fine,” Bowe said. “I had a little minor headache. It was nothing big. Coach was going to rest me anyway. I had time to rest and recover and be fresh for this game.”

The injury didn’t frighten Bowe, even in this day of concussion awareness.

“I didn’t look at like that because I didn’t feel as bad as others felt who had concussions,” Bowe said. “I felt a little tired. There wasn’t any dizziness or problems with vomit … or none of that stuff. It was mainly just fatigue.”

Nor did Bowe harbor any resentment to Landry.

“He was just playing football,” Bowe said. “I talked to him after the game. It wasn’t a dirty hit or anything like that. I was going down, and he was going down. … it’s football. Things like that happen. It wasn’t a vicious or bad hit.”

Bowe, 6 feet 2 and 221 pounds, should enjoy matchup advantages over the Colts’ smaller corners, Vontae Davis, who is 5-11, 204; Greg Toler, 6-0, 190; and Josh Gordy, 5-11, 196.

“The one thing Dwayne is really doing really well right now is utilizing his size and strength, and it’s creating some space for him,” Pederson said. “We want to, get him going, get his hands on the ball as early as we can, because you know somewhere in the second half, he is going to make that clutch play and you have confidence going back to him.”

Bowe, a Pro Bowler in 2010, has accepted his role of doing a lot of the dirty work of running routes that clear space for Charles and blocking downfield on the screens that have worked so well for the Chiefs.

“Everybody has their year … and I’m just proud to be part of a team,” Bowe said. “We have a lot of guys playing the role I had previously in my career. Being an all-around receiver both blocking and receiving … to see those guys prosper … I feel good and happy to be their teammate.”

Some might interpret that as Bowe, 29, admitting he has lost a step and his ability to create separation from defensive backs. Don’t believe it.

“I still got it,” Bowe said. “I’m showing it each and every day in practice. The coaches know I got it. I’m setting up a lot of great things for the offense you see we’re doing right now.”

[Simplicity]

OHMYGAWDDDDDD HE SAID IT SO BOWE IS OUR MOST VALUABLE OFFENSIVE PLAYER /Clay

[TomBarndtsTwin]

I wish Bowe would just shut his Big Time mouth and actually make some Big Time plays.

That would be nice.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

OHMYGAWDDDDDD HE SAID IT SO BOWE IS OUR MOST VALUABLE OFFENSIVE PLAYER /Clay

Don't forget.

Check downs to Jamal Charles are a bad idea./ Alex Smith haters.

[Snapplez]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

Ahhh, I love this argument.

Crabtree was targeted 92, of 218 passes thrown by Kaepernick.

You get that? Just about 45 percent of his passes went to one guy, meaning that everyone else, was being ignored. He completely ignored Vernon Davis.

Alex Smith spread it around to everyone.

But, in fairness, I don't expect you to really understand. Its not logical to you. Of course, when I tell you that in Alex Smiths last 5 quarters as a 49ers starting qb, he threw 3 tds, in 27 passes to Crabtree.

Don't let those facts get in your way.

And exactly. Lets not hold Bowe accountable. Lets just make it all about the qb.

Just about every Chiefs fan, whether they like Alex Smith or not, can accept two truths.

Dwayne Bowe is not a dedicated route runner, and that Andy Reids system, requires timing, and precision.

That is the biggest problem that people have. Alex Smith is a letter of the law type of guy. He relies on timing, and Receivers to be where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be there.

Not, BOWES, strong suit.

All Alex Smiths fault though.

This year Bowe has been targeted 105 times, 20% of Alex Smith's 508 targets. In 2010, Bowe was targeted 132 times, for 27% of Cassel's 475 targets. A minor discrepancy in target percentage, but a massive discrepancy in output from those targets.

If my stats are correct, then Vernon Davis was targeted 36 times by Smith in his 8 games of 2012, which would be about 16% of his targets. He was targeted 25 times by Kaepernick which would be 11% of his targets. The difference is 11 targets overall, a difference of 1.3 per game.

You put focus on a specific 5 quarters from Alex Smith, and Crabtrees TDs in those quarters. Why do you ignore the other 6 games where Crabtree had none with Smith at QB?

All players should be held accountable on our team. Bowe is not exempt from that. But if Bowe can produce with QBs in the realm of Croyle, Cassel, Huard, Thigpen, why are his numbers at a career low with Alex Smith? Is it because Bowe is all of a sudden a terrible player? Or is it because Alex Smith doesn't like throwing to WRs?

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

This year Bowe has been targeted 105 times, 20% of Alex Smith's 508 targets. In 2010, Bowe was targeted 132 times, for 27% of Cassel's 475 targets. A minor discrepancy in target percentage, but a massive discrepancy in output from those targets.

If my stats are correct, then Vernon Davis was targeted 36 times by Smith in his 8 games of 2012, which would be about 16% of his targets. He was targeted 25 times by Kaepernick which would be 11% of his targets. The difference is 11 targets overall, a difference of 1.3 per game.

You put focus on a specific 5 quarters from Alex Smith, and Crabtrees TDs in those quarters. Why do you ignore the other 6 games where Crabtree had none with Smith at QB?

All players should be held accountable on our team. Bowe is not exempt from that. But if Bowe can produce with QBs in the realm of Croyle, Cassel, Huard, Thigpen, why are his numbers at a career low with Alex Smith? Is it because Bowe is all of a sudden a terrible player? Or is it because Alex Smith doesn't like throwing to WRs?

Well, I put a focus on that specific time period because it was showing that Alex Smith and Crabtree had finally started to click.

And, believe it or not, I gave that credit to Crabtree. I have always maintained that Crabtree exploded because Crabtree was growing up as an individual, and was taking the mentoring from Randy Moss seriously.

Randy Moss made Crabtree take his hood off in meetings, start sitting in the front row of meetings.

Crabtree for the first time in his career participated I OTA's, training camp and preseason. He came into camp in the best shape of his career.

Crabtree broke out, because Crabtree is a special player.

Bowe, succeeded with other qbs, because that system wasn't predicated on precision and timing. Bowe has to become a better route runner. That is my premise. Bowe is special enough, strong enough, and good enough that if he wants to beat his man on a slant route, there isn't a corner in the league that can stop him. Its all on him.

Sure, Alex Smith doesn't force feed him the ball. Okay. Well, its on Bowe to give Alex Smith no choice in the matter.

I have heard a lot of people say that Alex Smith wont throw to a covered receiver.


Havent really seen him having a problem throwing to an open one though.


And to your assertion that Alex Smith doesn't like throwing to Receivers.

In 2011, where alex smith took just about every single snap. He targeted crabtree like 40 more times than anyone else.

[Snapplez]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

Well, I put a focus on that specific time period because it was showing that Alex Smith and Crabtree had finally started to click.

And, believe it or not, I gave that credit to Crabtree. I have always maintained that Crabtree exploded because Crabtree was growing up as an individual, and was taking the mentoring from Randy Moss seriously.

Randy Moss made Crabtree take his hood off in meetings, start sitting in the front row of meetings.

Crabtree for the first time in his career participated I OTA's, training camp and preseason. He came into camp in the best shape of his career.

Crabtree broke out, because Crabtree is a special player.

Bowe, succeeded with other qbs, because that system wasn't predicated on precision and timing. Bowe has to become a better route runner. That is my premise. Bowe is special enough, strong enough, and good enough that if he wants to beat his man on a slant route, there isn't a corner in the league that can stop him. Its all on him.

Sure, Alex Smith doesn't force feed him the ball. Okay. Well, its on Bowe to give Alex Smith no choice in the matter.

I have heard a lot of people say that Alex Smith wont throw to a covered receiver.


Havent really seen him having a problem throwing to an open one though.


And to your assertion that Alex Smith doesn't like throwing to Receivers.

In 2011, where alex smith took just about every single snap. He targeted crabtree like 40 more times than anyone else.

I don't buy for a second that any offensive system in the NFL is not based on timing and precision. Defenses, and especially players, are way too good to just wing it. The DBowe slant was a staple of Todd Haley's offense, and he frequently dominated on it. Bowe didn't suddenly lose that skill. The difference lies with how open the QBs need receivers to be. Cassel knew he could throw to Bowe on those type of plays and count on Bowe to win. Smith sees Bowe as covered and, for the most part, will avoid those tight throws that Bowe thrived on.

Therein lies the problem so many people have with Smith. It feels like his throwing windows need to be ridiculously wide open. He's supposed to be an accurate QB so he should feel comfortable making more contested throws to Bowe.I know he's a super conservative guy and won't throw into tight coverage, but in not doing so, he's leaving a ton of Bowe's ability under-utilised.

[Snapplez]

Originally Posted by scott free

Roasted my ass, **** him, this isn't the old, bullshit QB school of "chuck it out there bauce, i'll jump up and get it cuz all we got is this bullshit scheme".

No, this is now wide receiver finishing school, where route running and timing count more than anything... hit your spots on time and THEN make the catch.

If you or anyone else wanna play backyard ball, sign up for the bush leagues... its time Bowe refined his play... don't even TRY to go there on me with Bowe, I've passionately defended this guy year in and out, I love a player who sticks around and makes himself at home, I WANT this guy to be a Chief for life.

But the fact is, he HAS looked bad as a receiver overall this year... oh he only gets 5 targets a game? well he's been dropping 2-3 of them, i'm only going to homer it up so much for this guy right now.

CATCH WHAT YOU GET... blocking is awesome, we need a Heinz Ward... but you're being paid TOP 5 to HIT YOUR MARKS AND CATCH PASSES, don't gimme no bullshit about the QB, he can get it to you.

QB's will throw it up to their receivers all the time. Bowe isn't the only receiver who succeeds on those type of plays. Megatron, Dez, Andre Johnson, Marshall, hell you can go with just about any receiver in the league. The NFL isn't such a finesse league that they won't tell their guys, "It's you vs the defensive back. Go up, beat him 1 on 1, and make the grab."

Bowe's dropped 2-3 balls a game? So he has anywhere from 30-50 drops on the year? Your and idiot

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

I don't buy for a second that any offensive system in the NFL is not based on timing and precision. Defenses, and especially players, are way too good to just wing it. The DBowe slant was a staple of Todd Haley's offense, and he frequently dominated on it. Bowe didn't suddenly lose that skill. The difference lies with how open the QBs need receivers to be. Cassel knew he could throw to Bowe on those type of plays and count on Bowe to win. Smith sees Bowe as covered and, for the most part, will avoid those tight throws that Bowe thrived on.

Therein lies the problem so many people have with Smith. It feels like his throwing windows need to be ridiculously wide open. He's supposed to be an accurate QB so he should feel comfortable making more contested throws to Bowe.I know he's a super conservative guy and won't throw into tight coverage, but in not doing so, he's leaving a ton of Bowe's ability under-utilised.

That may be true. But, its just that one play against the Giants that just sticks out in my mind. Bowe was in the left slot, it was a version of the rub route where Fasano was basically setting a pick for him, he had one job, to beat his man inside, he didn't, and Alex Smith ended up throwing a pick.

And, no, I am not insinuating that Andy Reids offense is the only offense that is predicated on Precision and timing. But no offenses are as OCD about it, as an offense off of the bill walsh tree.

Yes, Bowe was able to free lance a little more with past qbs.

Alex Smith is not comfortable if a play doesn't go strictly on script. Its a HUGE weakness for him.

But, all of that aside, can you honestly tell me that Dwayne Bowe is a route runner on the level of Welker, Anquan Boldin, or Reggie Wayne?

If you cant, then that is where I am coming from with Bowe.

Bowe is not Calvin Johnson, he is not Josh Gordon. He is not going to blow by you. So he has to use his size, and physicality, and route running to beat corners.

That's all im saying. Not saying he cant. just saying he needs to dedicate himself to it.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

QB's will throw it up to their receivers all the time. Bowe isn't the only receiver who succeeds on those type of plays. Megatron, Dez, Andre Johnson, Marshall, hell you can go with just about any receiver in the league. The NFL isn't such a finesse league that they won't tell their guys, "It's you vs the defensive back. Go up, beat him 1 on 1, and make the grab."

Bowe's dropped 2-3 balls a game? So he has anywhere from 30-50 drops on the year? Your and idiot

He had some hideous drops in that Colts game.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

Well, yeah, this is what it is. Ever since the Giants game where Bowe didn't beat his man inside on a route he had to win. Why should he trust Bowe?

I'm pretty sure Bowe's targets have actually gone up since that game.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

I'm pretty sure Bowe's targets have actually gone up since that game.

I would agree with that.

Which is kind of funny, that its being assumed that Alex doesn't like throwing to receivers.

Alex Smith has actually kind of tried to force feed Bowe a little bit. The colts game was in support of that.

They just need time to get on the same page. Both have things to work on.

[Snapplez]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

That may be true. But, its just that one play against the Giants that just sticks out in my mind. Bowe was in the left slot, it was a version of the rub route where Fasano was basically setting a pick for him, he had one job, to beat his man inside, he didn't, and Alex Smith ended up throwing a pick.

And, no, I am not insinuating that Andy Reids offense is the only offense that is predicated on Precision and timing. But no offenses are as OCD about it, as an offense off of the bill walsh tree.

Yes, Bowe was able to free lance a little more with past qbs.

Alex Smith is not comfortable if a play doesn't go strictly on script. Its a HUGE weakness for him.

But, all of that aside, can you honestly tell me that Dwayne Bowe is a route runner on the level of Welker, Anquan Boldin, or Reggie Wayne?

If you cant, then that is where I am coming from with Bowe.

Bowe is not Calvin Johnson, he is not Josh Gordon. He is not going to blow by you. So he has to use his size, and physicality, and route running to beat corners.

That's all im saying. Not saying he cant. just saying he needs to dedicate himself to it.

I can't say I've seen enough of Boldins or Waynes route running, but Welker is easily the best in the league. So, no Bowe isn't as good a route runner as Welker.

You say Bowe needs to dedicate himself to his route running, I'd love if he improved his game any way he could.

I say Alex Smith needs to dedicate himself to utilizing the talent of his receivers as best he can, off-script or not.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Snapplez

I can't say I've seen enough of Boldins or Waynes route running, but Welker is easily the best in the league. So, no Bowe isn't as good a route runner as Welker.

You say Bowe needs to dedicate himself to his route running, I'd love if he improved his game any way he could.

I say Alex Smith needs to dedicate himself to utilizing the talent of his receivers as best he can, off-script or not.

Reggie Wayne is one of the best route runners of all time. As is Boldin. Boldin in his younger days was a 4.7 guy. Hes slow, but his route running and understanding of how to use his body to create space is what makes him special.

I agree with you on Alex Smith. I think personally he was making huge strides on that before he suffered his concussion in 2012.

I believe that with a full offseason of understanding the playbook, and hopefully an upgrade at Tight end, and receiver, along with an offensive line that has had a full year to learn the new system, and learn how to work together, that you will see that growth.

It has been pretty common with Alex Smith that his second year in a system, is a much better year for him.

[Psyko Tek]

Originally Posted by Pam Oliver's Forehead

Alex will target him once.

and why should he?
thow it jamal or mc midget if you want yards, mcgrath if if you want a catch
other than that donny for a chance?

the Bowe No Show is always there for blocking?

[TimeForWasp]

Buck toothed Bowe turns my stomach with his attitude.