Jaguars Power Play: Dwight Lowery Sack

by Alfie Crow on Oct 27, 2011 11:01 AM EDT in Jacksonville Jaguars News

Each week we're going to look at a single play that had a big impact on the game overall. On Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens, there were a few plays by the Jacksonville Jaguars you could mark as the "Power Play". The easy one would be Drew Coleman's interception to end the game, to which Coleman did a nice job of baiting Joe Flacco into throwing his way, then cut off the throw to seal the game. The play I'm going to go with however, was made by safety Dwight Lowery, AKA "The Closer".

Late in the third quarter after Jacksonville had made the score 9-0, the Baltimore Ravens began driving the football. The Ravens started on their own 20 yard line and had worked their way all the way to the Jaguars 27. On 3rd and long, safety Dwight Lowery had man coverage on the Ravens tight end who wound up in-line blocking on the play. Once Lowery recognized his man was blocking, he took off for the quarterback on a play that looked like a designed delayed blitz. Lowery shot through the gap and sacked Joe Flacco for a loss of 7 yards, pushing the Ravens on the cusp of field goal range.

After the sack, the Ravens tried the 52-yard field goal, but missed wide right. Had the Ravens made the field goal and the rest of the game played out, the Ravens would have taken a 10-9 lead with just 2:02 left on the clock. If that happens, Baltimore doesn't attempt an onside kick after the touchdown and the Jaguars would have been forced to drive down the field in the two-minute drill to get in field goal range for the win.

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Funny you mentioned this play

I mentioned the same play on the Ravens site.

My runner up play was JDR challenging Flacco’s foot out of bounds.

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by Joe Fisher on Oct 27, 2011 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

That's not a Power Play

that’s one more attempt by you to voice your opinion that you want a new HC.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I will respond in a civil fashion

here’s why I thought it was a power play.

I thought it was sort of unintentionally smart on Del Rio’s part. It gave our defense the opportunity to collect itself and shake off the pass interference and get back to playing solid defense. It was in effect an extended time out.

Believe me, if I were looking for reasons why we need a new HC, and hopefully you’re not so myopic to think it will take a division title and playoff win or 2 for him to keep his job through 2012, I could think of a lot more reasons than a failed challenge that allowed a play that was a lot closer to go unchallenged.

Bottom line from the Ravens game, Harbaugh got pencil whipped. Del Rio and his staff did a hell of a coaching job Monday night, and thankfully we have a kicker on a hot streak right now.

Now, is this where I say if Garrard was in we’d have won or lost the game? Help me out…

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by Joe Fisher on Oct 27, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok

Personally, I thought it was a mistake on the coaching staff. As someone else said in a previous topic, at worst, he should’ve waited a little longer before making the challenge. There was time while the teams moved 50 yards down field etc…

The difference is that I expect coaches to make mistakes every once in a while. I don’t remember all of them but Harbaugh had to call a time out in the first half because they only had 10 men on defense…. The Ravens certainly abandoned the run too soon, and even more so relying on Ray Rice. Now, on the Raven’s site, everyone is calling for Cam Cameron to be fired because they don’t like the play calling. Around here, everyone wants Del Rio to be fired because they don’t like the [Insert pretty much anything] here.

There’s one simple fact. Win and everyone’s happy, mistakes or not. Lose and make just 1 mistake and you should be fired.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

You think fans want him fired because of that one mistake? It has been nine years, bro. Please look objectively at the list of JDRs accomplishments in nine years:
1 playoff win.
End of list.
It isn’t this review. It isn’t this season. It’s the entirety of JDRs work.

Fidelis Ad Mortem

by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Right

I’m not saying that this one thing would cause anyone to change their mind about it, but many people have already made up their mind and even if the Jaguars win the rest of the games this year would still want him gone.

3 years ago Wayne Weaver came out and said he evaluated the situation and he made the changes in the GM’s office and that has essentially re-started the clock. How can you gut the roster and still blame the head coach ?

Personally, with the way the offense is playing, I don’t see how the team makes the playoffs. But I still have seen enough improvement, and I like the way Gene is building the team, to keep Jack around his last year.

He still has the players believing and playing hard. If that changes down the line than of course it should come into consideration. But right now I see a team that believes in the Head Coach. It’s not about what happened 4, 5, 6 or 9 years ago. It’s about what’s happening now. And I see a team on the rise and I don’t want to set that back by firing everyone and starting over.

Think of how many teams have fired their coaches during the last 10 years. Many of those teams have fired more than one coach in that span and still haven’t made the playoffs. Houston is a good example. All kids of talent on that team and they still haven’t made the playoffs. Firing the staff every 3 years sets a team back more often than it moves them forward.

Two years ago everyone was talking about how great Mike Smith was doing in Atlanta. Now he’s made the playoffs 2 out of his 3 seasons here but has yet to win a playoff game here as well. Should they fire him if he doesn’t win a playoff game this year ? In that division it’ll be tough to even make the playoffs so they might as well fire him now.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

9 years.

1 playoff win.

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by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I get it

But if you think this team has had anywhere near playoff caliber talent the past 3 years your delusional.

The team is moving in the right direction. A coaching change would, without a doubt, move the team backward.

Seriously, how many coaches has OAK, SF, BUF, DET, STL, CLE, WAS, MIA…… had during the past 9 years ? Has that helped any of them win playoff games?

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

I just want the team to keep winning and reach a point, as a franchise, where we are making the playoffs annually.

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by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

We're getting there.

by Keenan J on Oct 27, 2011 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Totally agree

that’s why I worry that a coaching change might set us back. We’re getting there. Forget the past and keep moving forward.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is why...

I support the idea of letting Del Rio finish out his contract through next year.

by Keenan J on Oct 27, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I couldn't agree more

and if the team chooses to fire JDR, I’ll support the next guy. Just like I am for Blaine. (Even though the offense that wasn’t supposed to take a step back from last year clearly has.)

My point is more that getting a new HC does not mean getting a better head coach and since I see signs this team is improving and the players appear to believe in Jack as their Head Coach, I’d rather keep him around and see how he does when he has even more talent. Like a 2nd year QB and a true #1 WR maybe.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

That's valid.

I would be disappointed if we hired a coach that is a retread, or a failure elsewhere, like a Wade Phillips or something.

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by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

No point in nitpicking after a win

If we’re going to absolutely skewer him after losses, why can’t we lay off after a win? The problem with the team is not necessarily all coaching, though it will be interesting to see how a losing spell late in the season impacts a lame duck staff. Many of the issues of this team boil down to talent and execution.

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by Joe Fisher on Oct 27, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Are the WR's not being able to catch the ball

the coaches fault ?

How about MJD fumbling the ball 3-4 times last week ? Should he have been benched ?

Last year it was all Garrard’s fault. But now that he’s gone, and Blaine is proving to be a drop off from the production we had at the position last year , but we can’t blame the rookie, it must be the coach.

And we can’t possibly give him credit for the improved defense. That either goes to Mel Tucker since he’s the DC or to Gene Smith for bringing in more talent. If Talent was the problem, and it clearly was, than how can you blame the HC for the poor defense last year when it’s obvious he didn’t have the talent needed to play good defense ?

The logic just blows my mind. When things go bad, everyone blames Jack. When things go well, he’s the last person to get any of the credit.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

What about the fact that last year JDR was calling the plays on defense...

and this year it’s Tucker? Do you think that might have any impact, or are we going to ignore that?

Fidelis Ad Mortem

by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

People will see what they want to see

with that.

Dirk Koetter calls the plays on offense yet people choose to blame JDR for not allowing him to call his offense or other such nonsense.

It’s players not plays.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

It's players and plays.

I think. You need players who have the ability, and a coaching staff to implement the best system/play calling to utilize those players to the best of their abilities.

Fidelis Ad Mortem

by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Dirk is doing that.

He’s using MJD as much as he can without wearing him down. I’m not sure what’s up with lining Brock Bolen out wide but other than that. I think he’s doing a decent job with what he has to work with.

by Keenan J on Oct 27, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Also...

I’m not sure what’s up with take MJD out on third downs, which is why I say he’s doing a decent job and not a good one because I don’t fully understand the playcalling and personnel grouping some of the times.

by Keenan J on Oct 27, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course it is

but the best play calling in the world won’t win with players that can’t play.

Seriously, this team has had a lot of turnover in the past 3 years. And how many of those players are even in the NFL, let alone making real contributions somewhere else.

We had players that weren’t good enough. We’re adding players that are. Let’s keep moving forward.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions

you obviously cannot read

Funny, you go from riding Garrard’s jock to Del Rio’s. Who next, Gene Smith?

Read this sentence once again. You’re being contrarian simply for the sake of being a contrarian.

Many of the issues of this team boil down to talent and execution.

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by Joe Fisher on Oct 27, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not riding anyone's Jock.

I’m supporting the people on the team. Simple as that. If they fire Del Rio tonight and sign Betty White to be the Head Coach, I’d support her too.

Garrard is gone and now I support Gabbert since he’s the guy. Unfortunately, he’s not nearly as ready as we all had hoped and replacing Garrard’s production from last year hasn’t proven to be as easy as you and many others thought it would be.

Change is not always for the better.

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

very true, but sometimes change is necessary

Look, 9 years. 1 playoff win. Numerous assistant coaches. No Division titles. No other coach has been given this sort of latitude in the modern era. None. Even Marvin Lewis won a division title. , you

The teflon has worn off JDR. If this team somehow wins the division and gets to the AFC Championship game or further, then I doubt he gets cut loose. I’ve said many times that JDR has probably done his best coaching jobs the past 2 years. Personally, I think he should have been fired after 2008, but he was not. Easier to give a guy $5M out the door than $20M I guess.

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by Joe Fisher on Oct 27, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

BETTY WHITE FOR HC!!!

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by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

I guess i never really thought about how big that sack really was. At the time i was just excited we got a sack lol.

by pix4six on Oct 27, 2011 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

He even punched Flacco a litlle while on the floor

It was cool hehe, but i was afraid of a flag…

by EdGui on Oct 27, 2011 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

I think he was punching at the ball.

Follow @AlfieBCC

by Alfie Crow on Oct 27, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah i know...

but he was surely hitting Flacco. Flags flyes so easily nowdays i got scared. Maybe i got to man up…

by EdGui on Oct 27, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

My favorite play...

of the game. I didn’t realize how important it was until now. I just remember thinking that it was going to be a big play because we weren’t gettting any pressure, then out of nowhere, we get a sack.

by Keenan J on Oct 27, 2011 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

Very smart read by Lowery...

Very cool that he saw the TE blocking and got in there on the sack. That’s the kind of play/football IQ we need the whole team to display.

Fidelis Ad Mortem

by JPQ! on Oct 27, 2011 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

the play showed tremendous football IQ on his part

Not so sure one of our younger guys would have the instincts to do it. Not a shot, just a fact. Remember I used to remark on Considine’s football IQ but his ability and speed was just not there. Always a second away.

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by Joe Fisher on Oct 27, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's where our safeties represent the

biggest improvement. Either they’re just plain faster than the guys we had last year, or their reaction time is better, or both.

There were a couple of plays where one of the new guys was able to break on the ball hard and hit the WR hard enough that even though the guy caught the ball, he was out of bounds. (Even though the last one they called him in)

by pksiv on Oct 27, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

“If I feel the way I feel today, I probably won’t play Sunday, but today is not Sunday. We still have some days ahead of us that we have to work through.”

Best Farm System EVER.....

by tiquanunderwear on Oct 27, 2011 12:37 PM EDT reply actions