Plight of Thurman Thomas & Da’Quan Bowers

[yuccaneers]

In 1988 Thurman Thomas was considered a legitimate first round prospect out of Oklahoma St. He ranked as the schools all time leading rusher with over 4,500 yards and 43 touchdowns. He was set to embark in the NFL as a first rounder until concerns over his knee began to surface. He ultimately tumbled out of the first round and was selected mid way through the second round by the Buffalo Bills. We all know how that turned out for Thomas and the Bills. Now it is 2011 and Da’Quan Bowers is considered a top 3 pick and can’t miss first rounder until concerns over his knee begin to surface. He as we all know falls like a rock out of the first round and ends up getting picked by the Bucs in the middle of the second round. Thomas used his slide and doubters as a motivation to go on to have a spectacular career in the NFL. Here’s hoping Bowers career takes the same path as Thomas’ did for the Bills.

[BucBalla85]

good one!

[JDog]

Thurman Thomas was never considered a top pick in the draft.    And nobody was worrying about his knee like they were worrying about Bowers knee.    Everyone thought Thomas was going to be fine.   He was supposed to go late first round or early 2nd.   The Bucs were supposed to pick him and he was thinking they would when their pick came in the 2nd round.   But then the Bucs traded down and missed out on him.  The Bucs ended up picking Lars Tate.   I was so pissed off.

A better comparison to Bowers is Keith McCants as far as the knee injury.   But Perkins still took McCants in the first round (idiot).    I can't ever think of a guy who was rated top 5 not too long before the draft and dropped to late 2nd round like Bowers did.   I think it's a first.   

[bizkitlimped]

Yuc, how you been man? Glad to see you're back posting things. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the draft, when you get time maybe you could post up your opinion on the later round selections, mainly Anthony Gaitor. Kid looks like he could be a studly slot corner.

And I agree, I hope Bowers takes the criticism and uses it as motivation. You have to admit though, there is some doubt, but only time will tell.

[yuccaneers]

blitz - Gaitor is a difference maker, very instinctive, explosive closing burst, good hands, has loose hips. Reminds me a very raw Ronde Barber. As far as Hardy the tight end. I think he was drafted to push Purvis and Overbay. Stocker is here to replace Gilmore as he is a good in-line blocker, but is a better route runner an has more reliable hands then Gilmore. Bradford is what he is, a short yardage specialist in the mold of Earnest Graham without the hands. He will battle Lumpkin for a roster spot. But needs to learn that he doesn't have the wiggle or speed to bounce it outside in the pros. He needs to plant, use his low center of gravity and burst through  the LOS while making himself even smaller. He is an interesting player that should immediately help the team in short yardage situations if he earns a roster spot.

I like Black alot, he is alot like Gaitor. He is very instinctual and has a nak for coming up with big plays. I know must see his slow forty time and have doubt. But football smarts and instincts go alot further then one might think. He has great football speed because of his football smarts and instincts. This allows him to make up for his slow forty time. His short shuttle is very impressive and helps set him apart from other safeties. He had the fifth best short shuttle of any safety at the combine, 9th best 10 yard dash 3rd best 3-cone. So while he is not a straight line player his is a football player that understands the game very well. I think alot of fans will be surprised as he could be part of Raheem's three safety package from the start.

I like Both Clayborn and Bowers they are bigger defensive ends that play with a little nastiness in their game. Have more power then what we are used too and have relentlessness pursuit abilities. Both have showed a nak for climbing back up the pocket once the get to the drop point of the QB, don't allow tackles to ride them past the drop point and both can plant there outside leg dip there shoulder and explode back to the inside of the offensive tackle which we have not had here in a long time. Most of the defensive ends on the Bucs roster of late have been all finesse type players who rarely used a bull rush, spin move and or had the length and or strength to explode back inside once they are being ridden past the drop point of the QB.

I have to applaud Dominik, Morris, Hickey and the entire scouting department over the last three drafts they have really reevaluated how they scout players and have made some tremendous progress in restocking the talent level on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. I really like the outside the box thinking and the way they have gone about reinventing the way they scout players.

[BucNY]

Thurman Thomas was never considered a top pick in the draft.    And nobody was worrying about his knee like they were worrying about Bowers knee.    Everyone thought Thomas was going to be fine.   He was supposed to go late first round or early 2nd.   The Bucs were supposed to pick him and he was thinking they would when their pick came in the 2nd round.   But then the Bucs traded down and missed out on him.  The Bucs ended up picking Lars Tate.   I was so pissed off.

A better comparison to Bowers is Keith McCants as far as the knee injury.   But Perkins still took McCants in the first round (idiot).    I can't ever think of a guy who was rated top 5 not too long before the draft and dropped to late 2nd round like Bowers did.   I think it's a first.

The higher the draft pick, the more highly scrutinized the injury will be. Too risky to take in the 1st round, plain and simple. In the late 2nd, he's ok.

[lazoran]

No matter really what Bowers does. I probably won't see him as a bust. His potential is crazy and we got great value even if he can only get on the field for 4 or 5 years.

[GameTime]

I have to applaud Dominik, Morris, Hickey and the entire scouting department over the last three drafts they have really reevaluated how they scout players and have made some tremendous progress in restocking the talent level on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. I really like the outside the box thinking and the way they have gone about reinventing the way they scout players.

agree, great take on the players as well.

[yuccaneers]

I have to applaud Dominik, Morris, Hickey and the entire scouting department over the last three drafts they have really reevaluated how they scout players and have made some tremendous progress in restocking the talent level on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. I really like the outside the box thinking and the way they have gone about reinventing the way they scout players.

agree, great take on the players as well.

Thanks Gametime! I think it is evident that the current regime understands what is as stake with every draft pick no matter where they are selected. It is refreshing to see that put so much time and effort into it. Dominik is quickly becoming a cerebral assassin when it comes to drafting players and allowing the draft to come to him rather then forcing it.

[Booker Reese]

Thurman Thomas may not have been a "top pick" but he would have been a first rounder but for the knee - teams took him off the board because of it.

[bizkitlimped]

blitz - Gaitor is a difference maker, very instinctive, explosive closing burst, good hands, has loose hips. Reminds me a very raw Ronde Barber. As far as Hardy the tight end. I think he was drafted to push Purvis and Overbay. Stocker is here to replace Gilmore as he is a good in-line blocker, but is a better route runner an has more reliable hands then Gilmore. Bradford is what he is, a short yardage specialist in the mold of Earnest Graham without the hands. He will battle Lumpkin for a roster spot. But needs to learn that he doesn't have the wiggle or speed to bounce it outside in the pros. He needs to plant, use his low center of gravity and burst through  the LOS while making himself even smaller. He is an interesting player that should immediately help the team in short yardage situations if he earns a roster spot.

I like Black alot, he is alot like Gaitor. He is very instinctual and has a nak for coming up with big plays. I know must see his slow forty time and have doubt. But football smarts and instincts go alot further then one might think. He has great football speed because of his football smarts and instincts. This allows him to make up for his slow forty time. His short shuttle is very impressive and helps set him apart from other safeties. He had the fifth best short shuttle of any safety at the combine, 9th best 10 yard dash 3rd best 3-cone. So while he is not a straight line player his is a football player that understands the game very well. I think alot of fans will be surprised as he could be part of Raheem's three safety package from the start.

I like Both Clayborn and Bowers they are bigger defensive ends that play with a little nastiness in their game. Have more power then what we are used too and have relentlessness pursuit abilities. Both have showed a nak for climbing back up the pocket once the get to the drop point of the QB, don't allow tackles to ride them past the drop point and both can plant there outside leg dip there shoulder and explode back to the inside of the offensive tackle which we have not had here in a long time. Most of the defensive ends on the Bucs roster of late have been all finesse type players who rarely used a bull rush, spin move and or had the length and or strength to explode back inside once they are being ridden past the drop point of the QB.

I have to applaud Dominik, Morris, Hickey and the entire scouting department over the last three drafts they have really reevaluated how they scout players and have made some tremendous progress in restocking the talent level on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. I really like the outside the box thinking and the way they have gone about reinventing the way they scout players.

Good stuff man, this board could really use more of your insight. There are several of us here who value your opinion and I'm sure there are a ton of new posters here that would as well.

With that said, I really like Black as well and feel that most people here will be pleasantly surprised with what he brings to the table.

[TB5219]

I have to applaud Dominik, Morris, Hickey and the entire scouting department over the last three drafts they have really reevaluated how they scout players and have made some tremendous progress in restocking the talent level on both the offensive and defensive side of the football. I really like the outside the box thinking and the way they have gone about reinventing the way they scout players.

I have faith in our GM as well. We also have some extremely talented orthopedic surgeons in Tampa, I'm sure they have looked at this with microscopes. One thing that has struck me about all of the "reports" on Bowers' knee... the reporters can't even report consistently WHICH knee was operated on, so how much stock should I put in the stories as a whole?

[John Galt?]

   I can't ever think of a guy who was rated top 5 not too long before the draft and dropped to late 2nd round like Bowers did.   I think it's a first.

Closest I can think of is Aaron Rogers, still not sure why he dropped. And Marino, who also dropped (to 2nd to last in R1) because of knee concerns. But I'm not sure if Marino was considered a top 5 pick in that class because that class was stacked.