JETS 101

Dwight Lowery and Drew Coleman will take the field at MetLife Stadium as members of the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday for the first time since leaving the New York Jets. Coleman signed with the Jaguars as a free agent and Lowery was traded to Jacksonville for a conditional draft pick after the final preseason game this season. Both players had previously spent their entire careers with the Jets, Coleman for five seasons and Lowery for three.

Coleman and Lowery had contributed to the Jets during their time in green and white in certain substitution packages on defense, as well as special teams. Coleman had become adept at blitzing off the edge in nickel and dime packages. Lowery sealed the win over the Minnesota Vikings by intercepting Brett Favre and returning it for a touchdown. The emergence of other players signaled the end of their time in New York, along with other circumstances.

Coleman was a casualty of the free agency frenzy that ensued after the lockout was lifted. The Jets were focused on resigning Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie, pursuing Nnamdi Asomugha, and signing Plaxico Burress. Coleman was lost in the shuffle, and the Jets replaced him with Donald Strickland. Lowery was traded because the Jets already have three capable safeties in Jim Leonhard, Eric Smith, and Brodney Pool, making him expendable. Rex Ryan said he wanted to send Lowery to a place he would be able to play, and that has worked out for Lowery so far.  

Coleman and Lowery were part of a busy offseason for the Jaguars defense, as the team made several other moves to bolster their stop unit. Matt Roth and Paul Posluszny were also signed as free agents, as the Jaguars hope to improve upon their defensive performance from last season. Posluszny and Roth, just like Lowery and Coleman, made an impact in week one in their new digs. Posluszny had four tackles, and Roth added a sack.

Both players made an impact in the Jaguars 16-14 win over the Tennessee Titans last week. Lowery intercepted Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck late in the fourth quarter, sealing the win for the Jaguars. Coleman recorded a sack and forced a fumble on the play, to go along with five tackles.

It will be interesting to see them on the other sideline. While neither player was a star, they are good football players that helped the Jets win games, and were part of the the two most successful Jets teams in recent history. The Jets won't necessarily miss these guys since they were pushed out by the personnel already in place, but they can still make plays. Expect Coleman to come flying off the edge on a blitz, probably on Wayne Hunter's side. We'll see if the Jets can pick it up after years of seeing it in practice.

Tags: Antonio Cromartie, Brett Favre, Brodney Pool, Drew Coleman, Dwight Lowery, Football, Free Agency, Jacksonville Jaguars, MetLife Stadium, New York, New York Jets, NFL, Nnamdi Asomugha, Plaxico Burress, Titans

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