Dwayne Bowe's inactivity with Browns puts Chiefs decision in perspective

[kcchief4lif 910]

For years, Dwayne Bowe was the top wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs. For theCleveland Browns, he can't even make the active roster.

Just a year removed from sitting atop the Chiefs depth chart, Bowe has been inactive for two-thirds of the Browns games so far in 2015. Head coach Mike Pettine was asked about Bowe's position this week, and it certainly doesn't sound like he's going to play any time soon.

"We make that decision each week," Pettine said. "We build a plan and see where we are from a depth standpoint. We talk about the minimum position requirements. The top four guys are entrenched."

 

THAT BOWE COULDN'T EVEN MAKE THE BROWNS GAME DAY ROSTER THIS SEASON LIKELY SHOWS JUST HOW BAD THE CHIEFS WERE AT WIDE RECEIVER IN 2014.

It's an interesting fall for Bowe, who holds several top franchise marks for Kansas City. Bowe is second in career catches behind Tony Gonzalez with 532. He has the most receptions in a game (13) and season (86) for any wideout in Chiefs history. He's third in all-time receiving yards behind Gonzalez and Otis Taylor with 7,155, and he accomplished all of this with one of the worst QB carousels in the NFL during his tenure from 2007-14.

Still entering 2015, it was quite clear that Bowe-as-the-top-target was an issue to address this offseason. When the Chiefs let Bowe walk and signed Jeremy Maclin, it was clearly a solid upgrade. Every NFL analyst praised the move, even if some questioned Maclin's price tag. That said, it's unlikely that very many saw such a fall from grace for Bowe. It makes Dorsey's replacement of Bowe look that much better (and Ray Farmer's gift of $9m guaranteed to Bowe that much worse).

It's good for the Browns that they like the players they have at wideout -- the four above Bowe being Taylor Gabriel, Andrew Hawkins, Travis Benjamin and Brian Hartline. But the Browns were also expected to seriously address the position given Josh Gordon's ongoing concerns in each of the last two drafts -- being linked to both Sammy Watkinslast year and DeVante Parker this year. That Bowe couldn't even make the Browns game day roster this season likely shows just how bad the Chiefs were at wide receiver in 2014.

Beyond this year, it will be interesting to see how well Bowe is remembered by Chiefs fans who watched him as the team's best receiver for some time. One thing is clear: Browns fans will be glad to forget this signing ever happened.

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2015/10/23/9593840/dwayne-bowe-browns-chiefs-jeremy-maclin

[Mugsy 225]

I never liked Bowe. I am just glad he's gone. 

[PhataLerror 370]

I almost authored a similar post here two days ago, but I couldn't find the quotes from some of the users here who insisted that Alex Smith was the reason that Dwayne Bowe was so unproductive in 2013 and 2014, and that Bowe's likely success in Cleveland was going to be further evidence of Smith's inadequacy at quarterback.

 

People are wrong quite often, but it's quite difficult to be that wrong. Oddly enough, being that wrong is something that often comes easily to the Blame Smith First, Blame Smith Only Club.

 

I'm just happy that Bowe's off the Chiefs' books as of this year, and that none of his dead money will count against the Chiefs' 2016 cap number.

[eraser 722]

Kansas City has not had good wide receivers for a long, long time. The reason Bowe had a career in KC was because he was their option.

 

The Chiefs were 4 -12 his rookie season in 2007. Here are the other receivers on that team: Bobby Sippio, Eddie Drummond, Sammie Parker, and Jeff Webb. Bowe almost went for 1000 yards his rookie season.

 

The next guy on that list was Webb with 313 yards on 28 receptions with only 2 starts the entire season. Sammie Parker had 24 receptions on 41 targets for only 298 yards. Kennison did play in 8 games before getting hurt, and only had 101 yards.

 

The following season Kennison was retired, Sammie Parker was in Carolina, Sippio was gone, and Drummond was sent packing. Darling was brought in from Baltimore (33  targets, 17 catches, 247 yards), Mark Bradley was their second best receiver, and he had been released by Chicago (62 targets, 30 receptions, 380 yards). Jeff Webb and Mark Bradley did next to nothing. Again, Bowe was the top receiver by default.

 

In 2009, the Chiefs drafted Quinten Lawrence from McNeese State and he flopped. Chris Chambers was the big free agent acquisition. Chambers caught 36 passes on 61 targets for 608 yards, and it was all down hill from then on. Bowe had one of his worst years as a Chief. He was suspended for taking a diuretic that is sometimes used to disguise PEDS.

 

2010, Bowe was back on top, but the closest WR, Chris Chambers, only tallied 213 yards. McCluster was drafted, but was mostly productive as a kick return guy that year. Dwayne Bowe was about the only option, and got his 1000 plus yards again.

 

2011, Jonathan Baldwin was the big draft pick. . McCluster caught passes for a little over 300 yards. Steve Breaston had a decent year with over 700 yards receiving, and Baldwin proved to be a wasted draft pick.

 

In 2012, Steve Breaston was in the dog house, and McCluster broke the 400 yard level in receptions. Bowe was held to 801 yards receiving, and had hands of stone. Despite being targeted 114 times, Bowe only caught 59 of those attempts. He was the best receiver on the team, but still was not very good.

 

Donnie Avery was the big addition in 2013, and Junior Hemmingway was a late round pick. Hr did next to nothing. Bowe got his big contract because the Chiefs were in a bind. He got arrested, and he was average.  

 

Last year, the Chiefs found undrafted  free agent Albert Wilson, and he showed great promise late in the season. Bowe, once again, was the show. Bowe played hard, despite the arguments otherwise. He just wasn't very good. Bowe made some very difficult pass completions, but whiffed on easy ones. He had a burst early in his career, but he was never quick. Later in his career, Bowe could not get open cleanly. He had good size, and was very strong. He was a great blocker. He never used his size to his advantage. Bowe wasn't good at creating space, and close passes thrown to him were contested. I wish him well. He is not a bad person. He did a lot better in KC than he would have anywhere else. This was because the Chiefs were not successful in finding his replacement.

 

The Chiefs have two good wide receivers on their team. Jeremy Maclin is a true #2 receiver, and is very good. Between Conley and Wilson, they have another. I don't know why Avant is on the team. He could not make it with Carolina after being cut in Philadelphia. Rotoworld called him, " A third-down specialist and possession receiver, 32-year-old Avant doesn't warrant week-to-week..."  http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3612/jason-avant

 

Kansas City has not done much to add receivers in the years Bowe was in Kansas City. However, he caught a few plants. He was not great, but Bowe was the answer. The Chiefs drafted or traded for very little if any talent at all. 

 

The reason Bowe was thought to be good was because  the Chiefs only good wide receiver was Bowe. He frankly had no competition. If Bowe were to play here in KC, he would be the third best receiver, maybe second. That is not to say Bowe is any good.

[DieHard 2,061]

Slowe Bowe gotta go.

[xen 1,010,220]

I never liked Bowe. I am just glad he's gone.

You never liked one of the best receivers in chiefs history? Bowe circa 2014 or 2015 I get. But never? Is that because of the drops or because you're an awful fan or just a complete motard?

[azchief21 5,278]

Kansas City has not had good wide receivers for a long, long time. The reason Bowe had a career in KC was because he was their option.

 

The Chiefs were 4 -12 his rookie season in 2007. Here are the other receivers on that team: Bobby Sippio, Eddie Drummond, Sammie Parker, and Jeff Webb. Bowe almost went for 1000 yards his rookie season.

 

The next guy on that list was Webb with 313 yards on 28 receptions with only 2 starts the entire season. Sammie Parker had 24 receptions on 41 targets for only 298 yards. Kennison did play in 8 games before getting hurt, and only had 101 yards.

 

The following season Kennison was retired, Sammie Parker was in Carolina, Sippio was gone, and Drummond was sent packing. Darling was brought in from Baltimore (33  targets, 17 catches, 247 yards), Mark Bradley was their second best receiver, and he had been released by Chicago (62 targets, 30 receptions, 380 yards). Jeff Webb and Mark Bradley did next to nothing. Again, Bowe was the top receiver by default.

 

In 2009, the Chiefs drafted Quinten Lawrence from McNeese State and he flopped. Chris Chambers was the big free agent acquisition. Chambers caught 36 passes on 61 targets for 608 yards, and it was all down hill from then on. Bowe had one of his worst years as a Chief. He was suspended for taking a diuretic that is sometimes used to disguise PEDS.

 

2010, Bowe was back on top, but the closest WR, Chris Chambers, only tallied 213 yards. McCluster was drafted, but was mostly productive as a kick return guy that year. Dwayne Bowe was about the only option, and got his 1000 plus yards again.

 

2011, Jonathan Baldwin was the big draft pick. . McCluster caught passes for a little over 300 yards. Steve Breaston had a decent year with over 700 yards receiving, and Baldwin proved to be a wasted draft pick.

 

In 2012, Steve Breaston was in the dog house, and McCluster broke the 400 yard level in receptions. Bowe was held to 801 yards receiving, and had hands of stone. Despite being targeted 114 times, Bowe only caught 59 of those attempts. He was the best receiver on the team, but still was not very good.

 

Donnie Avery was the big addition in 2013, and Junior Hemmingway was a late round pick. Hr did next to nothing. Bowe got his big contract because the Chiefs were in a bind. He got arrested, and he was average.  

 

Last year, the Chiefs found undrafted  free agent Albert Wilson, and he showed great promise late in the season. Bowe, once again, was the show. Bowe played hard, despite the arguments otherwise. He just wasn't very good. Bowe made some very difficult pass completions, but whiffed on easy ones. He had a burst early in his career, but he was never quick. Later in his career, Bowe could not get open cleanly. He had good size, and was very strong. He was a great blocker. He never used his size to his advantage. Bowe wasn't good at creating space, and close passes thrown to him were contested. I wish him well. He is not a bad person. He did a lot better in KC than he would have anywhere else. This was because the Chiefs were not successful in finding his replacement.

 

The Chiefs have two good wide receivers on their team. Jeremy Maclin is a true #2 receiver, and is very good. Between Conley and Wilson, they have another. I don't know why Avant is on the team. He could not make it with Carolina after being cut in Philadelphia. Rotoworld called him, " A third-down specialist and possession receiver, 32-year-old Avant doesn't warrant week-to-week..."  http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/3612/jason-avant

 

Kansas City has not done much to add receivers in the years Bowe was in Kansas City. However, he caught a few plants. He was not great, but Bowe was the answer. The Chiefs drafted or traded for very little if any talent at all. 

 

The reason Bowe was thought to be good was because  the Chiefs only good wide receiver was Bowe. He frankly had no competition. If Bowe were to play here in KC, he would be the third best receiver, maybe second. That is not to say Bowe is any good.

This year:

 

Maclin- 39 Rec for 531 yds

 

Next closet

 

Thomas- 8 Rec for 69 yds

Conley- 7 Rec for 91 yds

 

Does this mean Maclin is only good because the other receivers aren't?

[liquidfriend 1,151]

It means Alex can't make progressions.

 

Everyone knew Bowe was done. I do think the Chiefs kinda miss his blocking...just not at that price lol

[DieHard 2,061]

So Bowe was productive here because Smith sucks? Did Smith have anything to do with Elliot missing that field goal against Miami?

[eraser 722]

This year:

 

Maclin- 39 Rec for 531 yds

 

Next closet

 

Thomas- 8 Rec for 69 yds

Conley- 7 Rec for 91 yds

 

Does this mean Maclin is only good because the other receivers aren't?

No, I am not addressing Alex Smith at this time. It does not absolve him by illustrating negligence by those in charge of the Chiefs for the past nine seasons. The fact Alex Smith cannot find an open receiver only makes matters worse. 

 

Conley was not a first round selection because he did not demonstrate that ability in college. He may become the next Jerry Rice, but that does not counter the argument the Chiefs have been woefully incompetent in addressing the wide receiver problem for the past nine or ten years. I think he can become a steady player, and has the physical attributes to be very good, but he has not put it together thus far. Perhaps he will. 

 

Thomas is not being utilized correctly. He was a borderline selection anyway because he lacks NFL size. When the Chiefs put him in the offense teams know what the Chiefs are going to try to do. It catches no one by surprise. He has become nothing more than a novelty. 

[kccrow 529]

When you routinely pass on skill position players you end up with no skill. Miniature gadget players have proven that they are usually useless, unless they can legitimately take carries at running back like Sproles. The Chiefs had their chances the past few years to get some quality receivers and a quality QB. They passed. Now they had to pay handsomely to get some type of skill on this team (Maclin).

[PhataLerror 370]

Are we seriously going to start dinging Smith for his lack of connections with Conley? Didn't Conley, due to injury, miss almost all of Training Camp to start off his rookie season in the notoriously difficult to learn West Coast Offense? And should De'Anthony Thomas, who by no means at this point in his career ought to be the WR2 in a West Coast Offense, be providing any basis for criticizing Alex Smith? And what happened to the other two most productive receivers in this formula? Do Charles' and Kelce's receptions suddenly account for nothing because they aren't designated as wide receivers?

 

Irrelevance reigns here as of late.

[liquidfriend 1,151]

Yes a frail midget that just fully converted from RB to WR should fully have the reigns of the #2 WR position.

 

Makes sense

[eraser 722]

Are we seriously going to start dinging Smith for his lack of connections with Conley? Didn't Conley, due to injury, miss almost all of Training Camp to start off his rookie season in the notoriously difficult to learn West Coast Offense? And should De'Anthony Thomas, who by no means at this point in his career ought to be the WR2 in a West Coast Offense, be providing any basis for criticizing Alex Smith? And what happened to the other two most productive receivers in this formula? Do Charles' and Kelce's receptions suddenly account for nothing because they aren't designated as wide receivers?

 

Irrelevance reigns here as of late.

There are the statistics, and then there are the eyes. I prefer to go by what I see over what I can look up on a stat sheet. Alex Smith is being harassed by the opposing defenses. He is not as good at turning pressure into a big play, say like Rodgers. However, he is steady for the most part. He could be better if the Chiefs found a way to protect him. He is what he is, and that is not good enough unless everything else is just about perfect. He has plateaued, and is not going to get better. 

 

Conley - If Conley were with Denver or Green Bay, he would be more productive. Same for Albert Wilson. While other teams have three wide receivers, the Chiefs have to go with just two, and usually the routes are very limited. Teams know Alex Smith is not going to beat them deep, and due to issues with protection, the Chiefs can't send out too many pass catchers. As a result, the #1 corner can match up with Maclin, and shut him down. There aren't any other options, and if there are, Smith cannot locate them. Maclin might get 70 to 80 receptions for 1000 to 1200 yards this year. Still, Conley has been targeted 18 times, and has 7 receptions to show for it. That is in the Bowe range of incomplete receptions. Albert Wilson is only slightly better. He has been targeted 13 times, and has 6 receptions.  

 

DAT - DAT has 8 receptions, but a lot of those are one foot away from being a long lateral. He has 69 yards... that is it. DAT has been targeted at least one time in every single game played this year. He has 8 receptions. He has had a 19, 12, 11, and 9 yard reception and carry in four games. That is an average of 15 yards on half of his catches, which is good. The other half went for 2.6 yards. Not so good. It is feast or famine with DAT. There is not a lot of in between. The feasts have not been exceptional either. He is pedestrian to say the least. 

 

Yards per target should give a good idea of how productive a player is on average. If a running back gets 5 yards per carry, you would hope the receiver would do better than that. There are typically more things that can go wrong passing the ball than running it. The risk/reward should be bigger for a pass catcher. 

 

Maclin - 9.48 yards per target - which is slightly higher than his career average

Wilson - 6.31 yards per target - which is much less than his career average

DAT - 5.31 yards per target - which is slightly better than his career average

Conley - 5.06 yards per target - rookie

Avant - 4.58 yards per target - which is much worse than his career average

 

The bottom line is the production is just not there outside of Maclin, and he is getting beat up pretty bad. 

[Calichief 3,016]

There are the statistics, and then there are the eyes. I prefer to go by what I see over what I can look up on a stat sheet. Alex Smith is being harassed by the opposing defenses. He is not as good at turning pressure into a big play, say like Rodgers. However, he is steady for the most part. He could be better if the Chiefs found a way to protect him. He is what he is, and that is not good enough unless everything else is just about perfect. He has plateaued, and is not going to get better.

 

Conley - If Conley were with Denver or Green Bay, he would be more productive. Same for Albert Wilson. While other teams have three wide receivers, the Chiefs have to go with just two, and usually the routes are very limited. Teams know Alex Smith is not going to beat them deep, and due to issues with protection, the Chiefs can't send out too many pass catchers. As a result, the #1 corner can match up with Maclin, and shut him down. There aren't any other options, and if there are, Smith cannot locate them. Maclin might get 70 to 80 receptions for 1000 to 1200 yards this year. Still, Conley has been targeted 18 times, and has 7 receptions to show for it. That is in the Bowe range of incomplete receptions. Albert Wilson is only slightly better. He has been targeted 13 times, and has 6 receptions.

 

DAT - DAT has 8 receptions, but a lot of those are one foot away from being a long lateral. He has 69 yards... that is it. DAT has been targeted at least one time in every single game played this year. He has 8 receptions. He has had a 19, 12, 11, and 9 yard reception and carry in four games. That is an average of 15 yards on half of his catches, which is good. The other half went for 2.6 yards. Not so good. It is feast or famine with DAT. There is not a lot of in between. The feasts have not been exceptional either. He is pedestrian to say the least.

 

Yards per target should give a good idea of how productive a player is on average. If a running back gets 5 yards per carry, you would hope the receiver would do better than that. There are typically more things that can go wrong passing the ball than running it. The risk/reward should be bigger for a pass catcher.

 

Maclin - 9.48 yards per target - which is slightly higher than his career average

Wilson - 6.31 yards per target - which is much less than his career average

DAT - 5.31 yards per target - which is slightly better than his career average

Conley - 5.06 yards per target - rookie

Avant - 4.58 yards per target - which is much worse than his career average

 

The bottom line is the production is just not there outside of Maclin, and he is getting beat up pretty bad.

Stop being the voice of reason in regards to Alex. There are a few who just won't ever see it. He needs perfecrion all around.

[PhataLerror 370]

There are the statistics, and then there are the eyes. I prefer to go by what I see over what I can look up on a stat sheet. 

The only problem is that the rest of what you wrote was basically stat-driven, and had nothing to do with the quality of the wide receivers as demonstrated by route running, the reliability of their hands (an issue with Conley), and ability to get separation consistently.

 

You also haven't placed your argument concerning the receivers within the context of the scheme that the Chiefs are actually running, as modified by necessity due to the inconsistent performances of the offensive line. Whether or not Thomas is catching a pass or a lateral in the backfield really is irrelevant seeing as screens are a matter of play calling and have no correlation to 'checking down'. If all of the negative things people say about Smith were actually true, don't you think some of the screen passes attempted by Smith over the years might have eventually been picked off and taken to the house as happens often with bad quarterbacks?

 

Give me some more of the 'eye test' stuff. When you don't resort to the statistics to provide the basis for your argument, you come up with insightful stuff.

[DefensiveMan 758]

Weird as it sounds , something inside me misses the D Bowe Show. Chiefs have no identity without him and Charles.

[FANATIC 852]

So many here said nice things as this guy left. I said he was a lazy,selfish , peds filled stoner. So who did Cleveland get?

[eraser 722]

The only problem is that the rest of what you wrote was basically stat-driven, and had nothing to do with the quality of the wide receivers as demonstrated by route running, the reliability of their hands (an issue with Conley), and ability to get separation consistently.

 

You also haven't placed your argument concerning the receivers within the context of the scheme that the Chiefs are actually running, as modified by necessity due to the inconsistent performances of the offensive line. Whether or not Thomas is catching a pass or a lateral in the backfield really is irrelevant seeing as screens are a matter of play calling and have no correlation to 'checking down'. If all of the negative things people say about Smith were actually true, don't you think some of the screen passes attempted by Smith over the years might have eventually been picked off and taken to the house as happens often with bad quarterbacks?

 

Give me some more of the 'eye test' stuff. When you don't resort to the statistics to provide the basis for your argument, you come up with insightful stuff.

Solid points. 

 

Charcandrick West sure looks good. 

[PhataLerror 370]

Charcandrick West sure looks good. 

I'd rather have Jamaal Charles just for the pass protection and catching out of the backfield, but as a rule, if your quarterback was keeping defenders out of the box when the amazing runningback was in the game, the defenders will still be out of the box when his replacement comes onto the field.

 

There are Chiefs fans that considered the 2015 season over and done due to Charles' injury. I doubt his absence will make the difference of more than a game. (Arguably, that one game might have been the one where Charcandrick West fumbled on what could have been a fourth-quarter comeback for Alex Smith, but then again, Jamaal Charles committed the game-losing fumble in week two, so I don't really know how you decide what games were lost because Player X wasn't on the field.)

[BroncoStud 3,253]

Eddie Quitterson...  Scumbag.

[wilkie 1,518]

No, I am not addressing Alex Smith at this time. It does not absolve him by illustrating negligence by those in charge of the Chiefs for the past nine seasons. The fact Alex Smith cannot find an open receiver only makes matters worse. 

 

Conley was not a first round selection because he did not demonstrate that ability in college. He may become the next Jerry Rice, but that does not counter the argument the Chiefs have been woefully incompetent in addressing the wide receiver problem for the past nine or ten years. I think he can become a steady player, and has the physical attributes to be very good, but he has not put it together thus far. Perhaps he will. 

 

Thomas is not being utilized correctly. He was a borderline selection anyway because he lacks NFL size. When the Chiefs put him in the offense teams know what the Chiefs are going to try to do. It catches no one by surprise. He has become nothing more than a novelty.

 

Agree

[wilkie 1,518]

No, I am not addressing Alex Smith at this time. It does not absolve him by illustrating negligence by those in charge of the Chiefs for the past nine seasons. The fact Alex Smith cannot find an open receiver only makes matters worse. 

 

Conley was not a first round selection because he did not demonstrate that ability in college. He may become the next Jerry Rice, but that does not counter the argument the Chiefs have been woefully incompetent in addressing the wide receiver problem for the past nine or ten years. I think he can become a steady player, and has the physical attributes to be very good, but he has not put it together thus far. Perhaps he will. 

 

Thomas is not being utilized correctly. He was a borderline selection anyway because he lacks NFL size. When the Chiefs put him in the offense teams know what the Chiefs are going to try to do. It catches no one by surprise. He has become nothing more than a novelty.

 

Agree

[wilkie 1,518]

Eddie Quitterson...  Scumbag.

Former Bronco I think

[SEMO 6,811]

Eddie Quitterson...  Scumbag.

Kinda how we feel about Sanders.