Here's the blurb January 24, 2010 10:25 AM 1 Comment Sheppard out of the lineup? ? By Rich Cimini Here's the latest Sunday-morning buzz around the Jets: As I hinted yesterday, the Jets appear poised to make a change in the secondary, with starting CB Lito Sheppard being dropped from the base defense. There were rumblings all week around the team. As of Friday, Sheppard was telling people that he wasn't sure of his role for today's AFC Championship Game. Sheppard will be active for the game, sources tell me, but he could be relegated to the nickel and/or dime packages. Presumably, he'd be replaced in the base defense by Dwight Lowery. If Sheppard is in the nickel, he'll still see a lot of playing time because the Jets figure to be using five DBs most of the day against Peyton Manning. But I wouldn't be shocked if Sheppard is in the dime (or perhaps even a smaller role). Sheppard struggled in his last meeting against the Colts (he had trouble with rookie WR Austin Collie) and he was removed temporarily last week from the base when Chargers QB Philip Rivers started picking on him early in the game. Nevertheless, it still would be a risky decision to demote him. The former Eagle has championship-game experience, and that should count for something. This is Lowery's first rodeo. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/#ixzz0dXs8rAVP
He got torched against Collie last game. I would prefer someone more physical against him like Strickland
Lito has been a liability most of the season. as a 3rd or 4th corner he's not bad but he's not a superstar anymore and hopefully the Jets will realize that this offseason.
Against the Colts it doesn't matter if you are #2, nickel or dime... because you'll be on the field anyways. It's more of a "how to use him" than "will he play" thing...
It's all a ruse. Whatever they have planned it will probably be something you or they haven't seen all year.
I doubt it. He was getting burned badly by Collie for the whole first half. Never really jammed him at the line, kept getting his hips turned on him, and basically just chased him all over the field, barely getting his head around at the last minute. Lowery is an upgrade, believe it.
After seeing Gonzalez make a nuisance of himself against us, I'm sure that Clark will feature heavily against us tonight.
According to Francesa, Sheppard has been terrific, lol His football knowledge is so overrated. He thinks he's smart when he talks about these football terms Parcells taught him.
Revis is better when Sheppard is playing opposite him. The numbers are pretty clear on that: more int's, more PD's (yes, people throw at Revis more when Sheppard is on the field), and the Jets allow fewer points overall with Sheppard on the field. It's possible that this has changed some but the Jets allowed 102 points in the 5 games that Sheppard did not play in this season. That includes the shutout against Oakland.
WHY? Is Lito playing? I saw the injury report on ESPN's ticker, and Lito wasn't on it. What's going on???
Lowery is better this year. Rex obviously doesn't mind shaking things up if he think it will help us win.
