Lowry Fits Mold that Packers Value Along D-Line

Second-year defensive lineman Dean Lowry looks an awful lot on paper like the the team's former first-round pick Datone Jones.

Dean Lowry’s arms will never be long, but what he lacks in that metric he more than makes up for in sheer size, strength, hustle and a knack for rushing the passer. 
 
The second-year defensive lineman is expected to see a big jump in his playing time in 2017. Considering his skill set has value in both the Packers’ sub packages and base 3-4—which they play line up in less than 30 percent of the time—it’s no surprise to anticipate Lowry being given more opportunities to influence the game. 
 
Green Bay appears to have found one of their guys in Lowry: He possesses both the borderline trite “love for the game” and a set of athletic traits the team covets for versatile players who can play 3- and 5-technique along the defensive line. Take one look at his Mockdraftable athletic profile: His closest pro comparison is Datone Jones. 
 
Tracking Jones’ career development and comparing to Lowry, it seems unlikely to envision Lowry slimming down and sliding outside to edge rusher. Jones’ move to two-thirds of his snaps at edge rusher in 2016 had to do with his ability to man the “elephant” position in Capers’ defense, giving the team some extra heft with smaller players like Joe Thomas and Morgan Burnett playing one level behind him. But Jones also lined up plenty as an interior rusher, much like Julius Peppers. 
 
Lowry, by comparison, projects as a versatile option along the defensive front, and most likely as an interior defender, not an edge guy. Is it impossible to see Lowry line up on the edge? At 295 pounds, it seems a stretch. Jones played at a lean 275 last season. But remember these are remarkably similar athletes coming out of college. If the thought is the Packers lost a pair of elephants in Jones and Peppers, the hope is that they may have found another in Lowry. 
 
The second-year player’s pass rush is awfully intriguing. The key to Lowry’s future in Green Bay is whether or not he can be a closer. Jones was an effective rusher, but struggled to seal the deal. 
 
Lowry actually led the defensive line in pressures per snap (with one every 25.1 snaps) in 2016. (This is not to diminish Mike Daniels’ excellence, but the chronically-Pro Bowl-snubbed lineman often has the tougher task occupying a pair of gaps.) Though Jones finished third in the team in pressures, he played 635 snaps, nearly 400 of which were in pass-rushing situations. Lowry played in just 213 snaps. Jones finished with a sack; Lowry earned a pair. 
 
In a Nickel 2-4-5 scheme, which the Packers employ more than any other, Lowry could his number of snaps vastly increase. Plus, he has momentum from his rookie season, where he saw a huge spike in playing time with two-thirds of his snaps coming in the final seven games (three of which were playoff contests). 
 
And he’s picked up where he left off with an impressive start to his spring and summer. If the thought is that Lowry will play second fiddle to rookie Montravius Adams and Ricky Jean-Francois, well, this writer just doesn’t see it. Lowry and Kenny Clark, who had an impressive finish to his first-round-status/rookie campaign, figure to be key cogs opposite of Daniels, and could very well see significant snaps on third down. 
 
Lowry may not become a star in his second year, but the guess here is he has the size, skills and motor to become a consistent contributor. 
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Comments (14)

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ejr450's picture

June 27, 2017 at 09:31 am

I hope he does put it together and becomes a key contributor. We bemoan the pass rush because the typical 3-4 (which we really don't play anymore) rush is from the OLB spot and we feel light there. But the quickest way to the QB is a straight line, and if Lowry, Clark, Daniels, & maybe even big ol' Adams can get a push in the middle, that mitigates our potential edge deficiency a lot. I'd love to see the pressures/sacks we lost from Jones & Peppers get split up between the guys on the D-Line. Would make that new athletic secondary look even better!

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CheesyTex's picture

June 27, 2017 at 10:13 am

Spot on! At the end of last season, Lowry showed a lot of the skills we used to see from Aaron Kampman.

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RCPackerFan's picture

June 27, 2017 at 10:43 am

I was just going to post, that Lowry reminds me of a bigger version of Kampman. I'm not saying he will have anything close to the same type of production, but his relentlessness reminds me of Kampman.

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Handsback's picture

June 28, 2017 at 07:21 am

I'm also leary of comparing players, but Lowry does have the build and effort of a Kampman verses Jones. I'm just glad to see that between Lewis and Clark/ Mt. Adams/Daniels/RJF that Green Bay has depth and talent on the Dline that dates back to their SB days.

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RCPackerFan's picture

June 28, 2017 at 07:59 am

I don't like to label players with players that had really good production because then the expectation is that the player should have similar production.

I more compare their style of play. And Lowry's does remind me of Kampman.

I really do like the DL depth. I'm looking forward to seeing Adams and what he can bring.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

June 27, 2017 at 10:11 am

Great article.

Daniels-Clark-Lowry is a terrific defensive front, allowing Adams to learn from quality vets and Francois to specialize on run downs.

My goodness, Lowry is so athletic and intense, we could even survive an injury to Daniels. I pray that never happens, but it's nice to see such quality on our D-Line.

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Pack88's picture

June 27, 2017 at 10:17 am

I worry when people compare players to other players. While the ht and wt may have been similar on draft day Jones and Lowry are worlds apart in physique wise. Jones weight 283 at the combine Lowry 296 and most importantly Jones arms while not overly long were 1 12/ inches longer so a much better fit outside than Lowry whose has T-rex like 31" arms. I think Dean will be much improved this year but in a vastly different way than Jones . With smaller hands and shorter arms he will have to an explosive punch and ripper to exert pressure whereas Jones could depend on his longer arms and better speed to steer himself around the defender!

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PatrickGB's picture

June 27, 2017 at 10:50 am

Lowery does not have the measurable's for his position. I just hope he has the heart. That can go a long way. However, I see him as just a rotational type player. Anything more is a plus. But its another poor TT selection for defense. He needs better scouts for defensive players or stop scouting them himself. Some hits (HHCD, Clark) but too many misses.

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JDK52's picture

June 27, 2017 at 02:16 pm

What a weird opinion.

He does have the measurables. He projects as a 5-tech better than anyone we've had in years. Sure, short arms, whatever. Good technique and a great motor will mitigate that. See: Mike Daniels.

Also, since when is a 4th round pick becoming a solid rotational guy a poor selection??

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RCPackerFan's picture

June 27, 2017 at 11:53 am

I think we will see a huge improvement from Lowry in year 2.

His motor is something that will keep him in the league for a long time. His height is something the Packers really haven't had before on the DL.

Like I said above, Lowry's motor reminds me of Kampman's. I'm not saying Lowry will have as big of a career as Kampman, just that he reminds me of him a bit.

While Lowry likely won't be a starter he should be a key contributor and be used in a good rotation. I am looking forward to seeing out DL this year.

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LayingTheLawe's picture

June 27, 2017 at 05:06 pm

According to Packers.com Lowry is the only Defensive End listed on the roster. All the rest are Defensive Tackles or Linebackers. So that means Lowry won't be lining up over the Center but otherwise how does that mean his role is different than the inside D tackles or outside rush linebackers?

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Packer_Fan's picture

June 27, 2017 at 05:16 pm

It would be great if Lowry takes the big step this year. He doesn't have to be a probowler, just a good player.

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TKWorldWide's picture

June 27, 2017 at 05:37 pm

Draft.
And.
Develop.

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GBPDAN1's picture

June 28, 2017 at 06:12 am

6'6" with 31" arms? Weird

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