Kansas City Chiefs Dwayne Bowe reaches his potential
The rejuvenated Kansas City Chiefs have a lot going for them. They are undefeated at home, and currently (23 November, 2010) sit atop the AFC west division, above perennial divisional winners the San Diego Chargers. Their rushing attack is number one in
the league, averaging 164.7 yards per game. Yet this year’s unsung hero has to be wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
A change in character
Now in his fourth year in the NFL, the former first round draft pick has had a difficult time adjusting to the rigours and expectations of being a number one wide receiver. Plagued by dropped passes, an inability, or better yet, unwillingness to practice
hard and stay in shape, Bowe was quickly asserting himself as a bust. He found himself in the coach’s doghouse on numerous occasions. But throughout the first 11 games this season, Bowe has managed to turn his doubters and Chiefs fans into believers. He has
amassed 715 receiving yards, and leads all wide receivers with 11 touchdown receptions. He has broken a Chiefs franchise record, having scored touchdowns in six consecutive games. Furthermore, Bowe’s egotistical showboating antics that were apparent in his
first three years have since been replaced with maturity and leadership. He now counsels some of the younger Chiefs players, and is willing to respond to the media and critics. This, coming from a player who referred to himself as “The Show” upon being drafted.
Coach’s Confidence
Chiefs head coach Todd Hanley noticed an immediate difference in Bowe’s attitude during this year’s mini-camp.
"You're searching through the crowd to see what each guy looks like, how they're acting, but he was one I was looking for, and I knew immediately that he meant business," Haley told the Associated Press. "I don't know whether (it was) the tipping point or
whatever, I just know there's a difference between talking about it and doing it. He just started doing, and that's continued."
Hanley, who used to be the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator, knows how to utilize a standout player when he sees one. After all, he was the man who helped Cardinals All-pro wideout Larry Fitzgerald break into the league with enormous success.
In Bowe’s first interview with reporters this season, he spoke of Hanley and the confidence the coach has shown in him. “He (Hanley) says, ‘Just be you. Just keep making plays and we're going to keep coming to you.'"
Hanley explained that this season, Bowe’s, “shown that he's willing to do the things you have to do to be a good player in this league."
The trust factor has had a trickle-down effect, reaching Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. He currently sports an 18/4 touchdown to interception ratio. This is a significant improvement from last year, when Cassel had an unimpressive 16/16 ratio.
"He got himself ready to play. It's showing up on the field. I've said it time and time again – it's so important to have rapport and a relationship with these receivers,” Cassel explains to the Associated Press. “If he knows what I'm thinking and he's at
the right depth and I'm throwing the ball on time and accurately, we're going to have a successful passing game."
What it means moving forward
Both Bowe and the Kansas City Chiefs are reaping the benefits of hard work, and a playoff berth for the first time since 2006 is in sight. Although their passing attack ranks 26th in the league, the Chiefs do have a viable deep threat in Bowe.
This opens up the running game, where the team has excelled all season. The rapport between Cassel and Bowe is at an all-time high, and with other weapons such as rookie tight end Tony Moeaki and utility speedster Dexter McCluster, the Chiefs seem to have
the right pieces in place for a success playoff run.
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