For over an hour Tuesday morning, Todd Bowles met with the media at the NFL Owners Meetings in Boca Raton, FL. While he was asked plenty about free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bowles also addressed the club’s new acquisitions, his lessons from Year 1 on the job and a young outside linebacker in Lorenzo Mauldin who he believes is ready to take the next step.
“He got better as the year went on. As he got comfortable, he started to show his personality and (was) letting his game speak a little bit more,” Bowles said. “In Year 2, we expect him to make a big jump as far as being a full-time player at outside ‘backer. If he comes in shape that way, we’ll sit down and have that talk. But I expect Mauldin to be a major player this year.”
Primarily used in sub packages as a rookie, Mauldin saw his playing time increase down the stretch and the Louisville product totaled four sacks.
“Well he’s got to make a jump from a pass rusher too,” Bowles said. “He has certain moves, but he has to develop some more and he has to develop the all-around game. But I think he can do that.”
