Daily Trainer #2: Lowe Looking for More Highs
8/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Mike Kramer calls Clive Lowe's 2004 season "invisible." Lowe calls it "frustrating." Both are glad it's in the past.
"I wanted to pack up and go home, that's how bad it was," Lowe says in retrospect of a season that began on a low note and never got better. "I lost 20 lbs that I gained over the summer, and I worked hard to put that weight on. That was so disappointing."
That weight melted off Lowe late in fall camp, when he suffered an abscessed wisdom tooth. The resulting oral surgery cost the Miami-area native more than just weight. He missed the first game of the season, and was severely limited during next two as he tried to regain strength. By the time he returned to near-full strength, the season was essentially lost. "To lose 20 lbs with a wisdom toot, it was real serious," Lowe says.
Kramer said the coaching staff was as frustrated as Lowe. "It frustrated all of us, for sure," he said. "He just didn't really improve after that (wisdom tooth). It was almost an invisible year for Clive."
The lost sophomore season came on the heels of a sensational freshman campaign. Lowe registered 40 tackles with 10 tackles-for-loss and five sacks. He also intercepted two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles. Last year he had just 26 tackles with a pair of sacks.
Lowe is undergoing more uncertainty during 2005 fall camp, as the Bobcats transition from a 4-3 defensive look to a 3-4 formation. Kramer is excited about how the new defensive scheme affects Lowe's role.
"Clive is the prototypical Sam linebacker in the 3-4," he said. "It's not a simple transition. As a defensive end he just put his hand on the ground and rushed the passer. Now, he's an upright, walking, talking, thinking guy. He needs to become mature as a player at the pace to learn a new position. But he is a good enough talent that he needs to be on the field all the time."
Fall camp has offered highs and lows, Lowe said. "I'm on and off, some good plays and some bad plays," he said. "I'm improving every day, trying to get better."
Lowe enjoys the transition. "It's fun," he smiled. "It lets me use my ability and get out and make plays. I'm better using my speed and ability than I am on the line banging heads."
Kramer and Lowe agree that much work remains. "First," Kramer says, "he has to be able to not get reach blocked. Then he has to control the tight end on the line of scrimmage, he has to be able to drop into coverage, and he has to rush the passer."
Part three of that equation remains a sticking point, Lowe says. "Making correct reads is the hardest part, getting my drops. As a whole learning the new defense hasn't been too tough because it's being taught to the whole team."
KRAMER PLEASED: With two practices in pads under his teams belt, Kramer is pleased with the Bobcats' progress. "(Saturday) was outstanding from an emotional standpoint, and not bac from an execution standpoint. We had some typical early-season foibles, but the majority of the work was outstanding."
NOT A SNAP: One troubling aspect to the first two days of practice has been the center-quarterback exchange. "We dropped seven snaps today," Kramer said, indicating that he is not overly concerned. "It's a familiarity thing. There's a huge difference in the center exchange in a static situation than in a scrimmage play. It will come in time."
SUNDAY IN PADS: The Bobcats participate in their first full-pad practice session on Sunday. "That's a highlight day, for sure," Kramer said. "But in honesty, being in shoulder pads and helmets is almost like being in full-pads for us because of the pace we practice at."
"I wanted to pack up and go home, that's how bad it was," Lowe says in retrospect of a season that began on a low note and never got better. "I lost 20 lbs that I gained over the summer, and I worked hard to put that weight on. That was so disappointing."
That weight melted off Lowe late in fall camp, when he suffered an abscessed wisdom tooth. The resulting oral surgery cost the Miami-area native more than just weight. He missed the first game of the season, and was severely limited during next two as he tried to regain strength. By the time he returned to near-full strength, the season was essentially lost. "To lose 20 lbs with a wisdom toot, it was real serious," Lowe says.
Kramer said the coaching staff was as frustrated as Lowe. "It frustrated all of us, for sure," he said. "He just didn't really improve after that (wisdom tooth). It was almost an invisible year for Clive."
The lost sophomore season came on the heels of a sensational freshman campaign. Lowe registered 40 tackles with 10 tackles-for-loss and five sacks. He also intercepted two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles. Last year he had just 26 tackles with a pair of sacks.
Lowe is undergoing more uncertainty during 2005 fall camp, as the Bobcats transition from a 4-3 defensive look to a 3-4 formation. Kramer is excited about how the new defensive scheme affects Lowe's role.
"Clive is the prototypical Sam linebacker in the 3-4," he said. "It's not a simple transition. As a defensive end he just put his hand on the ground and rushed the passer. Now, he's an upright, walking, talking, thinking guy. He needs to become mature as a player at the pace to learn a new position. But he is a good enough talent that he needs to be on the field all the time."
Fall camp has offered highs and lows, Lowe said. "I'm on and off, some good plays and some bad plays," he said. "I'm improving every day, trying to get better."
Lowe enjoys the transition. "It's fun," he smiled. "It lets me use my ability and get out and make plays. I'm better using my speed and ability than I am on the line banging heads."
Kramer and Lowe agree that much work remains. "First," Kramer says, "he has to be able to not get reach blocked. Then he has to control the tight end on the line of scrimmage, he has to be able to drop into coverage, and he has to rush the passer."
Part three of that equation remains a sticking point, Lowe says. "Making correct reads is the hardest part, getting my drops. As a whole learning the new defense hasn't been too tough because it's being taught to the whole team."
KRAMER PLEASED: With two practices in pads under his teams belt, Kramer is pleased with the Bobcats' progress. "(Saturday) was outstanding from an emotional standpoint, and not bac from an execution standpoint. We had some typical early-season foibles, but the majority of the work was outstanding."
NOT A SNAP: One troubling aspect to the first two days of practice has been the center-quarterback exchange. "We dropped seven snaps today," Kramer said, indicating that he is not overly concerned. "It's a familiarity thing. There's a huge difference in the center exchange in a static situation than in a scrimmage play. It will come in time."
SUNDAY IN PADS: The Bobcats participate in their first full-pad practice session on Sunday. "That's a highlight day, for sure," Kramer said. "But in honesty, being in shoulder pads and helmets is almost like being in full-pads for us because of the pace we practice at."
Wednesday, August 19
Wednesday, June 10
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
