The 2015 NFL season hasn’t even started, and 49ers’ LB NaVorro Bowman already has his first interception – sort of. I mean kind of; well not really but close enough. During last Friday’s OTAs, Bowman intercepted a Colin Kaepernick pass that was meant for TE Vance McDonald. Though I hate to celebrate a Kaepernick interception, it was practice and it is Bowman, and he needed it.
“It got me back into playmaking mode,” said Bowman. “It felt good.”
Well amen to that! After suffering a heinous knee injury in the 2013 NFC Championship game, Bowman missed the entire 2014 season. The fact that he’s practicing, looking good, and feeling good is a major bright spot for a 49ers’ defense that lost a big chunk of its members this offseason. It’s obviously going to take some time for Bowman to get back to his All-Pro form, but progress is being made, and that’s a good thing.
“It hasn’t been consistent, you know.” Bowman said. “I got out there some days, you know, I feel great. And then some days, I have to fight through it…That’s part of the process. I understand that…mentally, it messes with me sometimes, but you know just to get out there, you know, and do something is always good for the knee.”
Aside from getting healthy, Bowman is getting used to playing under new defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, new head coach Jim Tomsula, and next to some new teammates, as well as old teammates in new roles. There’s a lot going on out there. But sometimes change is good and mixing things up could prove useful for a team that went 8-8 last season.
“It definitely has its challenges. But, um, that’s why we’re here. That’s why we get paid, you know – to learn fast and think fast, and um, that’s my job, you know, to lead these guys…No excuses man. I’m looking forward to it.”
Now that’s the spirit! No excuses. It sounds like Bowman is not only making his way back onto the field as a leader, but it also seems that he’s stepping in as the leader off the field that this team needs him to be.
Considering it was just a few months back that I thought about sleeping through the 2015 season, I’m actually starting to get excited for September. As they said in Damn Yankees, we gotta get better, cause we can’t get worse (I hope that’s true).
Go Niners!