Lowery, Coleman try to adjust to new team
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Dwight Lowery (25) celebrates his pass-interception late in the fourth quarter to stop a Tennessee Titans drive as teammates Paul Posluszny (51), Leger Douzable, second from left, and Drew Coleman (30) look on. (Sept. 11, 2011) Credit: AP
It has been only two weeks since Dwight Lowery's professional world was turned upside down, which might explain why he looked a little lost in the visitors' locker room after the Jets' 32-3 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday.
Until Sept. 3, Lowery had every reason to believe he had a shot at going to the Super Bowl this season. Instead, in a cutdown day trade, the Jets sent him to Jacksonville. And now, instead of being on a contender, he has to figure out how to bounce back from an ugly loss with a young, struggling team.
"It's a lot to deal with," Lowery said. "The first week was the hardest because mentally you think you're going to go into a situation with a team and you think you're going to be there for the season. And then, suddenly it changes.
"Before you know it, you're on a plane going to another team, meeting new coaches and trying to figure out where to live. It is a lot to deal with."
The biggest adjustment, of course, is getting used to the fact that he went from an elite NFL team to one in transition. About the only bright spot for the Jaguars Sunday came in the fourth quarter when first-round draft pick Blaine Gabbert replaced Josh McCown. Gabbert finished 5-for-6 for 52 yards.
Lowery isn't the only former Jets defensive back having to adjust to a new life in Jacksonville. Cornerback Drew Coleman left the Jets for the Jaguars this offseason after they offered him a three-year, $7.4-million contract.
Coleman was victimized by his former teammates at the end of the Jets' opening drive when he was one of the defensive backs who failed to stop Santonio Holmes on a 17-yard reception. Lowery also made a gaffe in the third quarter when he delivered a late hit on Mark Sanchez that extended the drive that ended with Dustin Keller's 11-yard touchdown.
Lowery said he thought Sanchez was inbounds on the play. "He was definitely inbounds. I wouldn't have hit Mark if he wasn't inbounds," he said. "I wasn't aware of where the first down was. I was just going."
Both Coleman and Lowery said they were able to talk to some of their former teammates after the game and both said they had fond memories of their time as Jets.
Said Coleman: "I know first- hand that they are definitely a great team. I knew coming in here we'd have to play a near perfect game to beat them . . . That didn't happen."
