Veteran Bowman hopes to spark Eskimos’ offence
EDMONTON Sitting at home in Edmonton watching the Eskimos play against the Montreal Alouettes last week wasn’t a fun experience for slotback Adarius Bowman.
“It was the worst,” Bowman said on Wednesday, his third day back at work after injuring his hip against the B. C. Lions two weeks ago.
The 30- year- old, eight- year Canadian Football League veteran pulled the words back quickly after he said them.
“No, the hardest thing is being hurt and you can’t come back. I’ll say this was the second- worst thing.”
Bowman missed 16 games in 2012 and half of the 2013 season with a knee injury, so he knows how hard it is to sit idle while his team struggles.
Unlike those two seasons, when the Eskimos were a combined 1125, Bowman is part of a winning team now. Edmonton has been hit hard with injuries, but has overcome them to post a league- best 5- 2 record.
“I don’t smile about it ( missing a game), but it’s definitely a plus having these type of character guys,” Bowman said. “We’ve had changes all year ... and I think guys have responded to each challenge we’ve had. Adversity is part of being a professional and I think guys are stepping up.”
Edmonton’s offence hasn’t been perfect with Bowman in the lineup, but he’s a big draw for defences and helps free up other players. The leading receiver in the CFL in 2014, Bowman has 28 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns in six games. In the six quarters he missed ( he didn’t play the second half of the game at B. C.), the offence scored just one TD.
“The biggest thing was chemistry,” Bowman said about what he noticed was lacking while he was out of the lineup. “There were a lot of faces out there at a lot of positions.
“The biggest thing is having the leaders there to build everyone up and keep their momentum up and keep their confidence up. But we stepped up and got that win and made it happen.”
Bowman is looking forward to getting on the field with rookie wide receiver Derel Walker, who had 10 catches for 125 yards in his CFL debut.
“Walker’s been busting his butt since he got here,” said Bowman. “Sometimes, in this league, the numbers game can hold a guy’s place, but he does it week in, week out ... not necessarily in yards, but he shows up ( in practice) and makes plays every day.
“That was good to see and it was better to see it translate over to the game. I’m glad to be back and I want to be out there with ( Walker) the next time he does it.”