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Da’Quan Bowers interview
by Michael E Lawrence
October 19th 2011
The Diner caught up with Buccaneers DE Da’Quan Bowers for an exclusive chat on Wednesday. The rookie linemen told us about his growing role, his young buddies in the front seven, and why he plays with a big-time chip on his shoulder.
 FD. Hi Da’Quan how are you doing?
DB. What’s happening.
FD. Are you enjoying you’re first trip to the UK?
DB. It’s been a blast you know. We got to do a little trip with the kids at (South London school) Harris Academy yesterday, so I get to see the London towers a little bit, Big Ben… it’s been fun you know.
FD. What’s it like to be away from Tampa practicing as a team in this remote spot?
DB. It’s kind of like the start of the season, like going off to camp. We’re far away and it’s building camaraderie for this week. We’ve got a job to do and it’s good to be without distractions. Our guys are responding and we’ve had a good practice today – now we need to make it a great week.
 FD. Do you think your own role in the defense is expanding as the weeks go by?
DB. I think so, it’s all about getting adjusted to the defense and learning more as you go. It’s taking time to be prepared, and I’m preparing. I’m back at home at defensive end this week too so I’m looking forward to it.
FD. You had high expectations before April’s draft but dropped a little, do you feel like you play with a chip on your shoulder?
DB. Oh definitely. There’s definitely a chip on my shoulder. Every week I go out to prove the 31 teams that passed on me wrong. It’s just a way of life, I got to go out there and do my job every game.
FD. What’s the camaraderie like with the other young guys the Bucs have on the defensive line like Gerald McCoy, Brian Price and Michael Bennett?
DB. It’s a good relationship, it’s friendship you know. We hang out and talk or we go and grab lunch and dinner, just good old relationships.
 FD. Who picks up the check?
DB. Sometimes I do, sometimes Clayborn, we take turns!
FD. Was last week’s win against the Saints a statement win?
DB. It was an important win because we’re sitting on top of the division and in the driver’s seat. But we’re not gonna let up. We gotta keep the pedal to the metal and keep driving and keep trying to make people fear coming to Raymond James to face the Buccanneers.
FD. How come the Bucs so often come through in the fourth quarter?
DB. You know, we always start pretty slowly and come through to finish the game, but we’re trying to start fast and finish even faster. We just gotta learn how to do that better.
FD. And finally, what are your goals this Sunday?
DB. We need to have a great game and personally I need to do my job and help our team win each and every aspect of the game, that’s the goal.
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