Jump to content

"The Closer"


sh4dy15

Recommended Posts

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- He did it again this week.

Jets cornerback Dwight Lowery somehow found his way to the ball in the final minutes of a close game Sunday, killing a last-chance drive for another Jets opponent. Against the Vikings on Oct. 11, it was an interception returned for a touchdown. This time, his fumble recovery against Denver sealed the victory -- and earned him a new nickname.

The Closer.

"That's his nickname now, 'The Closer,'" said CB Darrelle Revis. "He closed out two games for us the past two weeks. He's stepping his game up, he's doing what he needs to do."

These weren't plays that came at the end of blowouts. The Jets needed to fight for their 5-1 record heading into the bye.

"Obviously, we all have the capability of making plays," Lowery said.

That should tell you something about Lowery, drafted by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. He's a West Coast kid who got zodiac tattoos with his mother before entering the NFL, and he can tell a story about the journey leading to each of the other images on his arms and back. He thinks a little differently, using words like visualization and meditation.

Lowery, 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds, has seen his Q rating skyrocket with the hits, and will go so far as to avoid his hometown of Santa Cruz on the bye because he wants a little peace and quiet, preferring to spend time in Oregon with his girlfriend.

"I kind of want to just relax," Lowery said.

Against the Vikings, Lowery's reception killed a surging drive led by Brett Favre; Minnesota could've won the game on a last-minute field goal. Lowery wasn't in a lot of plays against the Broncos, but defensive coordinator Mike Pettine put Lowery in on a corner blitz. There were so many defensive backs on the field you could've called the play a quarter.

"Yeah, like a quarter," Lowery said with a laugh. "On that play they were really confused; we showed a look we hadn't shown all day, and they were rattled a little bit."

He may not have been on the field much, and Drew Coleman was picked to start at corner when rookie Kyle Wilson didn't live up to expectations, but Lowery's teammates can get used to his big-play ability.

"He probably would've had a sack, as well, so that would probably close the game out, too," Revis said.

Lowery got close to quarterback Kyle Orton, but went for the ball instead after a bad snap.

"We get creative and that one obviously worked out for us," safety Jim Leonhard said. "We felt even with a good snap, looking at film, it was going to be a successful play for our defense."

So far this season, Lowery has played in six games and has seven combined tackles and a sack. Now that he has made a habit of finding the ball in key situations, the team could be looking for more from him.

"Dwight's been great," Leonhard said. "Any time you're getting limited reps on defense it's kind of hard. You've got to stay in the game plan, and he's come up huge."

LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/columns/story?columnist=mcmanus_jane&id=5702672

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lowery gets a lot of unwarranted hate around here. Kid can play.

I would really like to see him more at safety. Much rather see him on the field in that position than Eric Smith.

I agree. Never understood the Lowery hate. Doesn’t have any up field speed, but has a lot of ball awareness, and is a good roll player. Hey the guys was a 4th rounder, not the 4th pick in the draft

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree. Never understood the Lowery hate. Doesn’t have any up field speed, but has a lot of ball awareness, and is a good roll player. Hey the guys was a 4th rounder, not the 4th pick in the draft

Because of where we got him, how much I hated the Gholston pick and how little I knew about Keller, that was my favorite pick of that draft.

For all the reasons you mentioned, I'd like him to get time at safety over Eric Smith, who IMO outside of ST's is pretty useless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because of where we got him, how much I hated the Gholston pick and how little I knew about Keller, that was my favorite pick of that draft.

For all the reasons you mentioned, I'd like him to get time at safety over Eric Smith, who IMO outside of ST's is pretty useless.

GRITTYNESS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lowery gets a lot of unwarranted hate around here. Kid can play.

I would really like to see him more at safety. Much rather see him on the field in that position than Eric Smith.

Certainly agree with your opinion of Lowery but keep in mind a play or 2 before Lowery's fumble recovery, Smith defended a pass at the one yard line that would have given Denver 1st and goal if completed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lowery gets a lot of unwarranted hate around here. Kid can play.

I would really like to see him more at safety. Much rather see him on the field in that position than Eric Smith.

I agree. Never understood the Lowery hate. Doesn’t have any up field speed, but has a lot of ball awareness, and is a good roll player. Hey the guys was a 4th rounder, not the 4th pick in the draft

I was/am a so called 'Lowery Hater'.

It was never about Lowery as much as Lowery as a 2nd CB.

He's a good guy to have on the team, but he doesn't belong in the starting line-up or anywhere near it.

Happy to have him as a rotational DB.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess it beats scrub or toast

it's a crappy nickname tho

a DB might get 1 or 2 chances a year to close a game out, he happened to do it in back to back weeks

might be a year before he does it again

Toast? That was Elvis Patterson, but I believe that Elvis Patterson felt his actual nickname was "The Space Ghost"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...