Gang Green Keeps Eye On Trio Grand

WhiteShoeWillis · Aug 13, 2008

By MARK CANNIZZARO
August 13, 2008

Lost in the avalanche of euphoria and excitement surrounding Brett Favre's trade to the Jets was the performance of three young players who made impressive debuts in their preseason opener Thursday in Cleveland.

Now, as Saturday's preseason home opener against the Redskins approaches, the question for receiver David Clowney, cornerback Dwight Lowery and quarterback Brett Ratliff is this: What can you do for an encore?

Clowney, who was signed last season off the Packers' practice squad, delivered an eye-opening performance, catching TD passes of 71 and 70 yards and finishing with four catches for 163 yards.

Lowery, a fourth-round draft pick in April, essentially won the game for the Jets. His 62-yard punt return for a TD with 10:02 remaining gave them the 24-20 lead they would win by. And, his INT of Browns QB Ken Dorsey in the Jet end zone with 4:02 left in the game helped seal the victory.

As for Ratliff, he's performed so well that speculation has arisen that he's pushing Kellen Clemens for the No. 2 QB spot. He finished 14-of-20 for 252 yards and the two TDs to Clowney, and has been impressive in practices as well.

All three players will again get significant playing time against the Redskins.

Clowney, because of his speed, has a real chance to make a big role for himself on the team, which needs a big-play, down-the-field receiver for Favre.

Clowney is a player coach Eric Mangini and the assistants have talked about as someone who has "jumped off the screen" on practice films. The Jets hope his performance in the game was merely a progression from the practice field.

"He just wants to make sure he's not a one-hit wonder and there's some other singles coming out here in the near future," Mangini joked.

Clowney said he feels much more comfortable now that he's been with the team since last season and knows the playbook.

"When you actually know what you're doing, you're able to react a lot faster," he said. "Now that I've got the playbook in my head I'm able to react and play faster."

That, of course, leads to more speed on the field.

"We've got some speed in our receiving corps, but [Clowney] definitely stands out; one of his strengths is the deep ball. He stretches the defense with his speed," Ratliff said.

"Any time you have speed, that's a good thing offensively because you can get the ball down the field [with Favre] and you have someone [Clowney] that can get to where the ball can go," Mangini said. "You enjoy speed."

Interestingly, lack of speed is a reason Lowery slipped to the fourth round, timed at about a 4.6 in the 40 before the draft. The Jets, though, overlooked the speed issue and focused more on his ball skills.

"I feel like I have speed," Lowery said. "It's one thing to line up in a stance and there's no one chasing you. I'm not a track guy. I play football. When you put the pads on and it's competition and you're going against people, that's when you really find out what guys can do."

Lowery is making such progress, don't be surprised to see him starting opposite Darrelle Revis at some point this season. He appears to be that much of a find for the Jets.

Mangini said he thought Lowery's INT in the Cleveland game "was a really good look at what we saw in college" from him.

Ratliff, whose wife gave birth to their first child the day after the Cleveland game, had quite a week.

*

Mangini gave the players the day off from practices yesterday as a surprise respite.
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http://www.nypost.com/seven/08132008/sports/jets/gang_green_keeps_eye_on_trio_grand_124189.htm

The Dark Knight · Aug 13, 2008

I am really excited about Lowery. When he was drafted I was not sure about the pick (Did not know much about him), but he has impressed in camp and looked great on Thursday. Hopefully he will continue to progress.

Lemmiwinks · Aug 13, 2008

Good article-

I was excited about Clowney when we first signed him off Green Bay's practice squad. I think he was a 5th round pick for them and he's got real speed. Truth is, I've only been to training camp twice this year and I've seen the preseason game, so I haven't really seen him enough but I love what I've read about him and what I've seen from him so far. I really think he can push for the number 3 WR spot.

Ratliff has ideal size for a QB and he's been impressive this summer. I'm just saying, you never know with these undrafted QBS. Matt Hasselbeck was an undrafted QB that was Favre's understudy, so who knows? I would still rather have KC backing up Favre and being his understudy, for now at least.

I loved the Lowery pick when we drafted him and I think he'll be the starting oppositte Revis by the end of the season. He has great ball skills (that's what she said) and we usually do well with these 4th round picks as of late...

The Dark Knight · Aug 13, 2008

Hasselbeck was undrafted? I never knew.

johnny_blood · Aug 13, 2008

Hasselbeck was drafted by Ron Wolf in the 6th round.

alleycat9 · Aug 13, 2008

this is the type of stuff i would like to hear about rather than what brett favre did today every day 10 times a day.

i really like all 3 of these guys and think they will all not only stick but clowney and lowery will be guys that contribute this year. ratliff i am going to say it now will be the #2 before this season starts, its ok you can tell me im wrong if it doesnt happen it wont hurt my feelings.

Gloom N Doom · Aug 14, 2008

alleycat9 said: ↑

this is the type of stuff i would like to hear about rather than what brett favre did today every day 10 times a day.

i really like all 3 of these guys and think they will all not only stick but clowney and lowery will be guys that contribute this year. ratliff i am going to say it now will be the #2 before this season starts, its ok you can tell me im wrong if it doesnt happen it wont hurt my feelings.
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I think I might have to agree with you. If he has a couple of more outings like last week, KC may be on the block. That would make the last 3 months of QB competition threads moot !

Bosko · Aug 14, 2008

Yeah, I saw that in the newspaper today. Made me glad... Especially because I watched "Jets Nation" the other night and both Buttle AND Lucas (The Giggle Brothers) insisted that Ratliff is just being showcased and has no chance to make the team!!! WTF?

southwestjet · Aug 14, 2008

Clowney and Ratliff are really starting to impress. Granted, it's just the pre-season, but still I think Ratliff can compete and win that backup QB slot.

Send Clemens somewhere else, just was never sold on the guy. This Clowney character though, he's got some speed. I'm pushing for Clowney at the number #3 WR spot.

Lemmiwinks · Aug 14, 2008

johnny_blood said: ↑

Hasselbeck was drafted by Ron Wolf in the 6th round.
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Yeah, I should've checked my facts, but my point was that you never know with quarterbacks. Some good QBS in the NFL today were 2nd day picks(Hasselbeck, Brady, Garrard) and other good qbs were undrafted(Romo, Bulger, Delhomme, etc. ) That's what I was trying to say. Thanks for correcting me.

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