Lowery made his first start at safety against the Steelers. The only time I can remember him getting beat was on the blatant defensive holding that wasn't called late in the game. I don't recall seeing him other then on that play which is probably a good thing. Anyone focus on how he played?
He looked a little lost on a few plays, I know he got beat for a completion at least once....but overall he looked solid.
Leonhard would have gotten beat on that play and Pittsburgh would have won the game. The fact Lowery was close enough to grab his jersey shows what he will bringing to the position...speed. That being said, Mendenhall (spelling?) ran for over 100 yards, so maybe his weakness is defending the run.
I think it's normal to look a little lost the first game you play as a FS... with time he should settle in and find the right rhythm. I remember a play in which he got beat pretty bad but also a play where he defended a pass by making a very very high jump and just tipping it away with the tips of his fingers. That was fantastic imo. I really hope he works out at FS and has a strong performance vs Cutler so the CS leaves him there.
PS He isn't the fastest guy in the world but he is smart so once he'll get used to play FS and know EXACTLY where he's supposed to be at EXACTLY what time he'll show how solid he can be. Right know he's thinking a second too much and can't even out the extra thinking time with speed... but once he get used to the position he won't need to do that anymore.
I saw miss a tackle on Mendenhall fairly early in the game. I dont think he looked that bad though overall.
This. He was beat a few times, but made some fantastic plays. It was an up and down first game as a saftey but the potential is there.
If he could be a good safety in the NFL it would fill a big hole that the Jets would not have to address early in the draft. Pool also seems to be playing better. Somehow they are going to have to find a pass rusher this off season.
I hope so, because even with Leonhard I think the safeties were the weakest link in the defense thus far. Getting deeper and bigger on the d-line would go a long way towards boosting the pass rush (which doesn't actually suck right now, it's just average). It would occupy blockers and make the path to the qb much easier for the linebackers and safeties.
Didn't Lowery make that big 3rd down play where he jumped and just barely tipped the ball that would have gone to an open receiver?
For his first start against a tricky QB at that I think he played great. I hope this ends up being a blessing in disguise because Lowery has the athletic ability to be a great safety. I was hoping they were going to try this earlier in the year.
It seems like Lowery was always supposed to be a safety. Good tackler, great ball skills, smart player but just a little bit to slow to play corner in the NFL.
Exactly. Good point on the fact that Roethlisberger + all the time in the world isn't the best match-up for the first game at FS.
TheJetsStream Manish Mehta #Jets D-coordinator says Dwight Lowery may end up being a full-time safety in the long run. #nfl #nyj
should've happened a long time ago. The guy is a ballhawk, but isn't fast enough to play CB. He's fits perfectly in the Safety position.
Lowery could have been called for a PI on the last drive of the game in the endzone. If that had happened, which would have been the right call, people would be calling for his head
