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The Baltimore Ravens have a long maintained an air of swagger and personality defensively. Names like Lewis, Reed, McAlister, Suggs and Siragusa come to mind. Even more recently, Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Pernell McPhee and DeShon Elliott have brought intensity and personality to the Ravens defensive group. Particularly, the outside linebackers have been boisterous over the years. Terrell Suggs made headlines when he debated Skip Bayless on ESPN’s First Take. Za’Darius Smith had exuberant celebrations alongside Suggs and has turned into a bit of a superstar in Green Bay. Most recently, Matthew Judon jovially danced, laughed, argued and brought every bit of personality into the room.
Suggs, Smith, Judon have departed from Baltimore. Sure, the veteran Pernell McPhee remains, bringing energy and personality. However, the player that the Ravens may depend on the most to step up this season, is perhaps the quietest. Tyus Bowser has an infectious smile from ear to ear. His Instagram page shows a humble, hard working 20-something professional athlete who unapologetically grins whether surrounded by family, friends, fans or merely in his own company. Bowser, who is entering his fifth season in Baltimore, has flown under the radar. He’s never been a full time starter, nor has he had produced any drama off the field. The former Houston Cougar just works in silence.
The quiet days of being a contributing player are now over. Bowser signed a four year contract extension to stay in Baltimore through 2024, while Judon and Ngakoue signed deals in New England and Las Vegas respectively. That leaves Bowser to take over the starting SAM linebacker role, increasing his playing time and the spotlight on him to perform.
With Bowser in line to take over full time starter duties, I wanted to turn on the tape and take a look at the player who has quietly earned the trust of the Ravens coaching staff and front office, and has the opportunity become their next impact outside linebacker.
Just as silently as Bowser has flown under the radar, he’s discreetly become arguably the best on-ball cover linebacker in the NFL. Per Sports Info Solutions, Bowser dropped into coverage 155 times in 2020. He was targeted 10 times, allowing five catches for 50 yards with three interceptions and two passes defended. All five incompletions were a result of Bowser’s action. Two of Bowser’s three interceptions were the result of on-ball (lined up on the line of scrimmage) spot drops, where he displayed intelligence and athleticism.
Tyus Bowser might the best on-ball spot dropper in football.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
• Takes efficient angles
• Gains depth with clean feet and gets his eyes up
• Reads QBs eyes to the catch point
• Good hands
• Low key dangerous with the ball in his hands pic.twitter.com/a66t9mjOaj
Bowser has also shown chops in man coverage, as well as match coverage. His quick feet and fluid hips allow him to stay with different body types between tight ends and running backs, even the occasional receiver. Bowser is a rare mover for his size.
Absolutely erased Kareem Hunt one on one…
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Look at those feet and hips…
Gets right to the catch point undercutting Hunt.
This is… exceptional from someone of his size pic.twitter.com/fiGdLB9Im7
No big deal…
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Just picking up Corey Davis and running with him stride for stride, nearly picking the ball off… pic.twitter.com/gJCnZVjZEV
Sticky and throttles down with the curl from mugged B gap
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Haven’t seen him get lost in coverage yet pic.twitter.com/w3pBoccUS6
Late 4Q
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Nickel, five man front
TyBo makes sure to occupy the RT long enough that he can’t double inside, then drops, ID’s the concept, jumps Henry and ends the play.
So smart in coverage. pic.twitter.com/8l67aSYghM
Sports Info Solutions has a metric called “points saved” that aims to determine how many points a defender saves their team in various aspects defensively. In coverage, Bowser saved 21.52 points in just 155 snaps, good for third on the Ravens. On a per snap basis, Bowser saved 0.148 points, tops on Baltimore’s defense. Bowser, alongside DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Watt, Malik Harrison and Von Miller, is one of five linebackers in NFL Combine history to check each of the following boxes:
- 6-foot-3 or taller.
- 245 pounds or heavier.
- Sub 6.85s 3-cone time.
- 36-inch vertical or higher.
His athletic prowess is evident in coverage, where his fluid transitions and closing speed allow him to make plays that most linebackers can’t.
While Bowser hasn’t filled up the sack column at this point in his career, there’s more than meets the eye. Bowser, who often is deployed as a field or weak-side edge defender, is tasked with coverage duties and maintaining contain responsibilities to the sideline. In those assignments, he comes off the snap in ‘low gear’ quite often. Low gear, as opposed to high gear, is staying balanced at the line of scrimmage after the snap to diagnose run or pass, maintain contain and stay ready to move laterally, as opposed to pinning the ears back and rushing upfield. Low gear is a way of maintaining gap responsibility, preventing cutback lanes then attacking in backside pursuit.
These low gear snaps have allowed Bowser to successfully diagnose screens, move laterally to thwart outside run concepts as well as clog throwing lanes. His closing speed provides the ability to generate quarterback hits and pressures despite not flying upfield initially after the snap.
Tyus Bowser thread—
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Comes off in low gear anticipating the quick throw. Times it perfectly. Well done. pic.twitter.com/aYyUcoJoJq
Bowser plays boundary contain and forces Allen OOB for a two yard loss with patience then pursuit. pic.twitter.com/mANdYVKPz3
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Bowser is consistently patient in the quick passing game. He understands throwing windows, angles and timing.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Always flashes his closing/pursuit speed. Closes in an instant for the QBKD. pic.twitter.com/dX1RndT9Sn
You’re just not going to beat him to the perimeter. Too fast, pursuit angles too precise. pic.twitter.com/HtdInrJO6N
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Comes off the snap in contain/low gear… still works speed to power, gets hands inside, then hunts down Mayfield.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
He’s not the fanciest pass rusher, but the speed, power and hustle are all there. Gets his hands inside consistently to establish control. pic.twitter.com/i0uXe532LQ
On the screen like flies on stink
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Seeing a wealth of diversity in Bowser’s recognition and quick reactions to urgent play calls. pic.twitter.com/L8tCUFYHjP
Comes off the snap in contain/low gear… still works speed to power, gets hands inside, then hunts down Mayfield.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
He’s not the fanciest pass rusher, but the speed, power and hustle are all there. Gets his hands inside consistently to establish control. pic.twitter.com/i0uXe532LQ
Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has also deployed Bowser’s closing speed by utilizing him on stunts, as well as mugging Bowser over the A-gap as an inside linebacker, then blitzing him to create mismatches and flush the pocket.
Bowser mugged and delays behind Board who attacks the back so Bowser gets a clean shot.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Complicated pressure with 51 dropping to take away the shallow. Forces an incompletion and gets a knockdown.
Wink likes to mug Bowser quite a bit. pic.twitter.com/wQd0dUJVjO
McPhee crashes from the 0, Bowser stunts back inside and gets the QBKD. pic.twitter.com/qYSa1BEOek
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Here, he’s off ball playing iLB.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
So many instances of patience, anticipation/play recognition, then closing. Smart, smart coverage defender. pic.twitter.com/8c91YfsiD5
Whether in coverage or rushing the passer, Tyus Bowser covers ground QUICKLY and takes efficient paths to the football.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
This crushing stunt should’ve been DeShon Elliott’s first career INT! Gotta have those! pic.twitter.com/pRxliMXgnm
While the former two-sport athlete (Bowser played on both the Houston football and men’s basketball teams) only has 11 career sacks, he’s flashes speed, power, hustle and savvy hand usage in true pass rushes. Bowser’s career high in pass rushes is a modest 266 (t-70th in the NFL among edge rushers in 2020.) Despite five other Ravens having more pass rushes last season, Bowser produced the second most pressures (33) and hits (22) and knockdowns (12). He isn’t the fanciest pass rusher, but gets the job done when he pins his ears back.
Rushes here and gets neutral, slight euro and rips inside pretty quickly pic.twitter.com/vU5fdmaYLw
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Inside jab and wins a quick hand fight to turn Conklin around. Mayfield stepped up, so he wasn’t there. pic.twitter.com/XFm7PQDa4P
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Bowser uses a speed to power, then works the inside arm over and flashes his closing speed to SMACK Joe Burrow and nearly force a fumble.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Jonah Williams was NO slouch last year, either (20 pressures on 429 pass sets per PFF) pic.twitter.com/ClQ3r1k3Ud
Bowser flashing get off. Tackle sets and gives an inside track, he takes it. DeCastro wisely hooks him to prevent the safety. pic.twitter.com/xAoHVfAJEf
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
While Bowser isn’t an elite pass rusher by any means, he has the athleticism and fundamentals paired with hustle to make a 50 pressure/8+ sack season realistic considering an anticipated uptick in pass rush opportunities.
The final integral aspect of Bowser’s game, run fitting, has been a work in progress. Bowser struggled early in his career to win the edge when locking horns with tight ends and tackles. He’s consistently improved to turn that aspect of his game into a strength from a weakness. While he doesn’t have the size of a Terrell Suggs or Jadeveon Clowney, Bowser has utilized his film study and hand technique to win reps and thwart a bevy of blocking concepts.
Wildcat!
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Whoops the TE only giving half a man and locking out, eyes up, sheds, makes the tackle. Good stuff. pic.twitter.com/BTyCrDJELV
Shoots hands inside, uses long arm to establish himself back inside and make the tackle. Good stuff. pic.twitter.com/zaIxRzThro
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
Bowser consistently gets inside hands, uses the long arm to gain leverage, sheds, and makes tackles.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 16, 2021
He’s improved a TON in this aspect over the years. pic.twitter.com/KNLppKncUn
Slips the puller and makes the tackle EZ PZ pic.twitter.com/ni4rOOARDp
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Bowser appears to be keyed in on the concept as he points out where the ball is going.
— Spencer N. Schultz (@ravens4dummies) July 20, 2021
Comes off the line with tenacity and ends the play for a minimal gain. pic.twitter.com/sOszbXfC9a
Riddled throughout the outside linebacker’s reps are examples of confident and deliberate pre-snap communication. While he appears quiet off the field, he’s seemingly become confident in his film study and diagnosis of personnel, alignments and motions. Bowser, in short, has become an assured, well rounded outside linebacker. While not an elite as a pass rusher or run defender, he excels in coverage, provides versatility and makes plays within his assignments without recklessly abandon. The spotlight that comes with being the Ravens SAM backer will certainly turn to Bowser this season.
If he’s able to play consistently and continue making strides in the run game, he will turn many heads in 2021. On the other hand, if Bowser falters, the Ravens will find themselves in a hard spot following the departure of two experienced edge defenders that commanded more contract money than they felt the need to dish out.
With two rookies (Odafe Oweh and Daelin Hayes) an aging veteran who needs a pitch count (Pernell McPhee) and a player that hasn’t consistently flashed (Jaylon Ferguson) the Ravens will rely on Bowser to carry a heavy load in 2021. He has the athleticism, tools and has spent enough time in Wink Martindale’s system to make excelling with more snaps a much higher likelihood. If Bowser can replace Matt Judon effectively, Eric DeCosta will have hit a home run, paying less for a player who is better in coverage and has a similarly well rounded game. For the Ravens to make a deep playoff run and accomplish their goals, they will need Bowser to excel from the get-go.