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Pugh: Bowen is Mr. Steady
Bowen is Mr. Steady
Cowboys DE Bowen could break into starting
lineup
By Jason Pugh • jpugh@gannett.com • August 17,
2010
ARLINGTON, Texas — Stephen Bowen is one
dedicated craftsman.
The fifth-year defensive end from Hofstra refuses to
let one strong season or a stellar preseason
performance affect his mind-set.
Even with the Cowboys short a defensive end
because of Marcus Spears' injury, Bowen refuses to
predict a "breakout" season for himself.
"Truthfully, every year I feel like that," Bowen said.
"I'm just steadily trying to get better at my craft. I
think I'm understanding the schemes better and I'm
trying to exploit people's weaknesses."
Through two preseason games, Bowen has done
fine exploiting opponents' weaknesses, especially
along the Cincinnati offensive line.
The former undrafted free agent gave the nation a
glimpse of his potential in the Hall of Fame Game on
Aug. 8 when he ransacked the Cincinnati Bengals'
offensive line for a sack and three quarterback
hurries.
Coach Wade Phillips called Bowen "a terror out
there" following the win over the Bengals. Bowen's
quick start has him challenging incumbent Igor
Olshansky for the starting right defensive end job.
"He's been our pass-rush specialist, and I think he's
stepped it up even better," Phillips told the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram. "He's rushing the passer, and
he's playing the run better. Both of those things I
think he took personal to try and get better. He
worked really hard in the offseason. He's played
really well, and I told him that."
Phillips' assessment lend credence to Bowen's focus
entering training camp.
In his fourth season, Bowen established himself as a
solid pash rusher, recording a career-best 33
hurries while adding three sacks.
Not content to rest on his solid season, Bowen, who
spent two months on the Cowboys practice squad in
2006, vowed to work on everything this camp.
So far, he has.
"I'm just trying to get better as a player overall,"
Bowen said. "I'm not getting on just one part of my
game, the run or the pass. I'm trying to be an all-
around player."
Part of Bowen's attitude comes from his lack of the
usual NFL pedigree.
Prior to signing with the Dallas after the 2006 NFL
Draft, Bowen played his college ball at Hofstra, a
school that recently dropped football.
Bowen followed players like Wayne Chrebet and
current New Orleans Saints receiver Marques
Colston from Long Island to the NFL.
"I guess I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder,
coming from a small school," Bowen said. "There's a
couple of us still in the league that know we've
always been good enough to play at this level and
we're just trying to prove it."
Bowen's five-year tenure with Dallas is proof he
belongs in the league. If he ever doubts it, all he
needs to do is look to his right where Cowboys
nose tackle Jay Ratliff resides.
Like Bowen, Ratliff came from less-than-ideal draft
stock (seventh round) and worked his way to Pro
Bowl stature.
"Jay's not a person that really is a talker," Bowen
said. "He just leads by his play and everybody feeds
off it. You see him doing good in a game and it
makes you want to do the same thing."
A few more impressive preseason performances and
Bowen, one of five former undrafted free agents on
the Cowboys roster, may find himself starting next
to Ratliff — not that Bowen is driven by earning a
starting spot.
"I don't ever think about that kind of stuff, like if I'm
ever going to start," Bowen said. "I'm just trying to
be the best player I can be."
Bowen by the numbers
Stephen Bowen's season-by-season statistics.
Year G Tackles Sacks
2006 1 1 1.0
2007 16 14 0.0
2008 16 17 0.0
2009 16 18 3.0
Totals 49 50 4.0
Bowen is Mr. Steady
Cowboys DE Bowen could break into starting
lineup
By Jason Pugh • jpugh@gannett.com • August 17,
2010
ARLINGTON, Texas — Stephen Bowen is one
dedicated craftsman.
The fifth-year defensive end from Hofstra refuses to
let one strong season or a stellar preseason
performance affect his mind-set.
Even with the Cowboys short a defensive end
because of Marcus Spears' injury, Bowen refuses to
predict a "breakout" season for himself.
"Truthfully, every year I feel like that," Bowen said.
"I'm just steadily trying to get better at my craft. I
think I'm understanding the schemes better and I'm
trying to exploit people's weaknesses."
Through two preseason games, Bowen has done
fine exploiting opponents' weaknesses, especially
along the Cincinnati offensive line.
The former undrafted free agent gave the nation a
glimpse of his potential in the Hall of Fame Game on
Aug. 8 when he ransacked the Cincinnati Bengals'
offensive line for a sack and three quarterback
hurries.
Coach Wade Phillips called Bowen "a terror out
there" following the win over the Bengals. Bowen's
quick start has him challenging incumbent Igor
Olshansky for the starting right defensive end job.
"He's been our pass-rush specialist, and I think he's
stepped it up even better," Phillips told the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram. "He's rushing the passer, and
he's playing the run better. Both of those things I
think he took personal to try and get better. He
worked really hard in the offseason. He's played
really well, and I told him that."
Phillips' assessment lend credence to Bowen's focus
entering training camp.
In his fourth season, Bowen established himself as a
solid pash rusher, recording a career-best 33
hurries while adding three sacks.
Not content to rest on his solid season, Bowen, who
spent two months on the Cowboys practice squad in
2006, vowed to work on everything this camp.
So far, he has.
"I'm just trying to get better as a player overall,"
Bowen said. "I'm not getting on just one part of my
game, the run or the pass. I'm trying to be an all-
around player."
Part of Bowen's attitude comes from his lack of the
usual NFL pedigree.
Prior to signing with the Dallas after the 2006 NFL
Draft, Bowen played his college ball at Hofstra, a
school that recently dropped football.
Bowen followed players like Wayne Chrebet and
current New Orleans Saints receiver Marques
Colston from Long Island to the NFL.
"I guess I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder,
coming from a small school," Bowen said. "There's a
couple of us still in the league that know we've
always been good enough to play at this level and
we're just trying to prove it."
Bowen's five-year tenure with Dallas is proof he
belongs in the league. If he ever doubts it, all he
needs to do is look to his right where Cowboys
nose tackle Jay Ratliff resides.
Like Bowen, Ratliff came from less-than-ideal draft
stock (seventh round) and worked his way to Pro
Bowl stature.
"Jay's not a person that really is a talker," Bowen
said. "He just leads by his play and everybody feeds
off it. You see him doing good in a game and it
makes you want to do the same thing."
A few more impressive preseason performances and
Bowen, one of five former undrafted free agents on
the Cowboys roster, may find himself starting next
to Ratliff — not that Bowen is driven by earning a
starting spot.
"I don't ever think about that kind of stuff, like if I'm
ever going to start," Bowen said. "I'm just trying to
be the best player I can be."
Bowen by the numbers
Stephen Bowen's season-by-season statistics.
Year G Tackles Sacks
2006 1 1 1.0
2007 16 14 0.0
2008 16 17 0.0
2009 16 18 3.0
Totals 49 50 4.0
