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OVERVIEW

The Chicago Tribune All-State pick decided to stay in-state to play for a Wildcats legend in head coach Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern. Like Fitzgerald was during his time as a two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award winner with the Wildcats, Lowry is a lunch pail player who brings effort on every snap. He’s also a better athlete than most people realize, showing the agility to spin off blocks and make plays in the backfield (15 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks in 2013-2014). His senior year capped an excellent career, with a highlight being his school-record six tackles for loss against Nebraska. He finished as a second-team All-Big Ten honoree with 46 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and three sacks. Lowry could play multiple spots along the line depending on his new team’s defensive scheme.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

Comes off the snap with burst and good pad level. Gives chase on the backside with great motor and good play speed. Willing to pursue the ball with consistency or effort. When pad level is good, can generate effective speed-­to-­power attack. Has play frame to fit classic 3-­4 DE spot. Coaches praise his work ethic and team­-first mentality. Does the dirty work that helps others succeed. Always active. Tackle finisher who rarely allows runners to escape. Had as many tackles and more tackles for loss than Joey Bosa.

WEAKNESSES

Short arms and small hands prevent him from posting higher win percentage at point of attack. Not as aware of the ball as he needs to be. Needs to unhinge from blockers earlier when runners are in his neighborhood. Gets stood straight up at contact as bull rusher. Pad level and narrow base rob him of bull-­rush power when rushing from inside. Dull, straight-ahead rusher with no pass rush plan. Doesn’t threaten the edges of blockers. Marginal play­making change of direction.

DRAFT PROJECTION

Round 7 or priority free agent

BOTTOM LINE

Try-hard player with good size who is always active. While he won’t be considered a pass rushing threat, Lowry’s production was a function of effort and flashes of power and the aforementioned traits and qualities give him a good shot at being drafted and becoming an NFL backup.
CBS:

PLAYER OVERVIEW

An impact player since arriving on campus, Lowry quietly improved every season, culminating with a consensus second team All-Big Ten senior year in which he ranked second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss.

 

While he did not have a truly standout seasons on the national stage, he did earn an invitation to the Shrine Game, where he was a standout during practices.

 

"I feel like I'm playing my best football right now," Lowry said in November. "I can't really say I've had excellent years in previous years that put me on the radar. I think I'm just getting better each season, and that's what I've done so far."

 

As a junior, Lowry recorded 4.0 sacks, eight tackles for loss and 41 total tackles. He also finished second on the team with eight pass break-ups, using his size and wingspan to obstruct passing lanes and knock down throws at the line of scrimmage.

 

He started nine games in 2013, finishing second on the team with 7.0 tackles for loss and third with 4.5 sacks. Lowry was one of four freshmen to crack the Wildcats' lineup in 2012, recording 14 tackles, 3.0 TFL and six QB hurries in 13 games as a reserve.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

STRENGTHS: Heavy-handed and uses his momentum and natural lean to put blockers on their heels at the point of attack. Able to use his natural lean and first step momentum to generate power and move blockers from their spot. He sets the edge in the run game and is quick to diagnose and put himself in position to be opportunistic.

He plays fast a never with anything less than full effort. Practiced at the Shrine Game with the same killer instinct and competitive drive that made him effective at Northwestern.

WEAKNESSES: For a player of his size, Lowry has short, disproportionate arms. Lacks ideal explosive traits for the next level and needs to develop his pass rush moves to not be so predictable off the snap. Unimaginative pass rush strategy and needs to better set up his moves instead of forcing his way through blockers each play.

Needs to develop his counters, allowing his rush to stall once initial momentum is slowed. Relies more on timing than burst. Can drop in space, but marginal change of direction skills limits his potential off the line of scrimmage.

IN OUR VIEW: He doesn't play with anything less than full effort and that hustle, along with his instincts, allows him to be effective containing the edge. Lowry lacks athletic twitch and move-to-move transition to be a consistent pass rush threat in the NFL, but his initial power and unrelenting play style wears down blockers.

He lacks ideal traits to start at the next level, but shows the recognition skills and versatility to play various scheme techniques as a reserve.

--Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) (2/21/16)

Great ideas rooted in love.(R)

Last edited by Rusty
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Can't say I like it.  Reminds me of the Thornton and Bradford picks; not that they are similar players, but the more I read about him, I more I don't get what TT sees in him as a 4th round pick.  Limited athlete with little upside but tries hard.  That doesn't seem all that hard to find that you'd need to use a 4th round pick.  But, TT knows more than I do so guess we'll see how this one turns out.  

http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/04/...n-lowry-northwestern

So even if Lowry, as of right now, does not stand out like a Buckner or Bosa as a potentially dominant defender, there should be no shortage of interest in him. The Chicago native and Northwestern grad will hear his name called from the Auditorium Theatre, and that moment could come earlier than people expect.

CUPackFan posted:

Can't say I like it.  Reminds me of the Thornton and Bradford picks; not that they are similar players, but the more I read about him, I more I don't get what TT sees in him as a 4th round pick.  Limited athlete with little upside but tries hard.  That doesn't seem all that hard to find that you'd need to use a 4th round pick.  But, TT knows more than I do so guess we'll see how this one turns out.  

Thornton was supposed to be a good athlete. I don't see your point.

Goalline posted:
CUPackFan posted:

Can't say I like it.  Reminds me of the Thornton and Bradford picks; not that they are similar players, but the more I read about him, I more I don't get what TT sees in him as a 4th round pick.  Limited athlete with little upside but tries hard.  That doesn't seem all that hard to find that you'd need to use a 4th round pick.  But, TT knows more than I do so guess we'll see how this one turns out.  

Thornton was supposed to be a good athlete. I don't see your point.

 

Actually it's really a flip side of Thornton.  Potential but cupcake.  Lowry: Brings the wood but may be overachiever.  

This pick is growing on me.  I like it better than the Martinez pick.

mr21mr21 posted:

ROTTT "out cutes" everyone again taking a projected 7th rounder/FA in the 4th round

I've seen him projected in 3rd-4th round on some mocks.  Nobody knows nothing. 

Short arms don't help tho.

Goalline posted:
CUPackFan posted:

Can't say I like it.  Reminds me of the Thornton and Bradford picks; not that they are similar players, but the more I read about him, I more I don't get what TT sees in him as a 4th round pick.  Limited athlete with little upside but tries hard.  That doesn't seem all that hard to find that you'd need to use a 4th round pick.  But, TT knows more than I do so guess we'll see how this one turns out.  

Thornton was supposed to be a good athlete. I don't see your point.

Should have been more clear.  NOT that they are similar players, but my reaction to the pick was the same.  By the 4th round, I don't know many of these guys so i read about them after the pick.  Like my reaction to the Thornton and Bradford picks, I don't see what TT's sees in this guys to warrant a 4th rounder.  You'd hope a 4th rounder could start someday, but this guy doesn't seem to have that kind of potential.  High motor guy with limited athleticism and t-rex arms.  But I didn't scout the guy, i base this only on other people scouting, so who knows.  

Bakhtiari where was he projected? Not a household name. Linsley 5th round. TT picks football players. Doesn't give a crap who has been heard of. Football players, guys that can play football. They can be taught to do what is needed. Lowry said he learned a lot at the Senior Bowl. 

This kid is more athletic than many are giving him credit for. He ran only 1/100 of a second slower than Joey Bosa in the 40 despite being 30 pounds heavier. 10 yard split was also nearly identical. 

Unfortunately, it does make a difference.  DL are always trying to get separation on running plays so they can make a tackle; on passing plays, if the OL can push the DL outside easier because of longer arms, that is a tick of a second more that it takes to get to the QB.

Scouts and position coaches frequently refer to an OL "getting his hands on a guy, then it's over".  If the OL arms are longer than the DL, I would imagine it would be like boxing.  Longer wins.  Not a death sentence for Lowery if he can work on his hand combat like CM does.

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