DWAYNE BOWE isn’t too familiar with losing. Over the course of his career at LSU, the Tigers went 44-7 and won a national championship during his freshman season under coach Nick Saban. He played in five games and tallied nine receptions in 2003, but his numbers after that were huge. It all culminated in 2006 when, as a senior, Bowe caught 65 passes for 990 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He came a long way during that senior season. Prior to it, despite good numbers, he was plagued by dropped passes. Luckily for Bowe, it turns out the problems could be easily corrected.
“I had eye surgery,” he explains, “and now I can see the ball much better. I can see the seams now, and it seems to come slower.”
The corrective surgery was no doubt a help, but most dropped passes are a result of poor concentration. While it isn’t fair to say that was the case with Bowe, he admits it played a part and he had to hunker down. He dedicated himself to catching balls out of the JUGS machine after practices to make sure he cut down on his drops.
For high school receivers with slippery fingers, Bowe says follow his lead.
“Work on concentration drills and watch the ball all the way into your hands,” said Bowe, the 23rd pick in the 2007 draft. “Stay focused on making the catch and don’t worry about running until you get the ball under control.”
At 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds, Bowe is a fairly big receiver. He says sometimes bigger receivers tend to put on weight when they don’t watch their diet, and that has an adverse effect on 40-yard-dash times.
“Eat healthy,” he advises prep players. “It’ll help you lose a few pounds if that’s what you need to do to be faster and better at your position.”
Being a complete wideout entails more than just catching balls, he adds. If you want to be well-rounded and help your team win, you’re going to have to be willing to open up lanes for the running backs.
“I love blocking,” Bowe claims. “Get out there and go hard on every play. It’s not just about catching the ball and running, it’s also about blocking. You’ve got to get down the field and block well.”
Finally, Bowe says high school football players should understand that every position is up for grabs and that only those who dedicate themselves to continual improvement will find their way onto the field.
“Go out and show that you can be consistent,” he says. “When you’re competing for a spot you need to work as hard as you can to earn it. And you need to be committed to earning playing time by being consistent. Consistency is what coaches are looking for.”
Bowe, the third wide receiver selected in the 2007 draft, gained that consistency as a rookie in the NFL this season. He was 24th in the league with 995 receiving yards. He also scored five touchdowns on 70 receptions. He started every game except the first one, and caught at least one ball in every game except one.
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Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.