The hot topic out of Joe Paterno’s presser today is linebacker Navorro Bowman. And there appears to be two schools of thought.
There are those of you who have e-mailed me or tweeted me saying “we need him every week, etc etc,”….there are others, who are like me and say “give him a week or two to rest.”
Here’s the issue. These groin injuries aren’t anything to be taken lightly. Paterno said earlier today that Bowman has swelling around the muscle there. That’s not good. It means it can’t be evaluated properly and it’s not healing.
Paterno said there was an “outside chance” as to whether or not Bowman will suit up this weekend vs. Syracuse.
Here’s a couple of things to remember about the Orange.
They only ran for 90 yards against Minnesota last weekend, they are breaking in a still new quarterback, who averaged only 5.3 yards per pass play in an overtime loss.
That doesn’t mean that they won’t improve this week or even long term, but there’s reason to think that putting Nate Stupar in the lineup to give Bowman a break isn’t the right call here.
“It’s good to get (the backups) out there, but when it comes to a big game, a situation where our backs against the wall, we’re going to need Navorro in the game,” senior linebacker Sean Lee said after Saturday’s opening win over Akron.
“He’s going to work to get healthy and I have confidence in those two guys but Navorro, we do need him.”
One reader asked today via Twitter if Bowman still goes pro after this year if this injury nags him all season long. I think there’s a ton of the season left to really think about that yet. But my point there was this. Remember who the next two opponents are. Syracuse and Temple.
Bowman’s pro stock would be better judged against the likes of Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State, plus whatever bowl opponent Penn State has.
I say give him the week off, maybe next too and get him rested and healthy for the Iowa showdown in three weeks. That’s just my $0.02.
