Jacksonville Jaguars vs Detroit Lions: 7 players to watch
By Luke Sims
Dec 18, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) gets ready to call a pay as center Luke Bowanko (70) hicks the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
4) Luke Bowanko, offensive line, Jacksonville Jaguars
Luke Bowanko lost the starting center job to Stefen Wisniewski this week.
But that doesn’t mean that you should discount the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman already. He’ll still be an exciting player to watch, especially since he’s being cross trained at offensive tackle now.
With collegiate experience at guard, a full season starting at center in the NFL, and now work at offensive tackle, Bowanko is turning into a bit of a renaissance man for the Jags and that may be just what they need.
The tackle position is thin for the Jaguars and Bowanko may find himself as the highest depth player at either tackle spot if he proves himself well. I think he’ll show he is an adaptable offensive lineman and he can put together strong performances with plenty of work.
The farther you move away from the football on the offensive line, generally the tougher it is to learn the position, but Bowanko seems to have the high football intelligence you expect from a player who can play all over the line.
While he’s just getting it started, keep an eye on the young lineman to see how he plays when given opportunities in the game against the Detroit Lions. The center battle was worth keeping an eye on, but now that the Jags continue to find a role for Bowanko, he’s become someone to watch closely.
Next: Can a depth corner step up?