“It was great man,” Kowalewski said in his usual animated tone when asked about the touchdown reception that gave the Jets a 17-3 lead two weeks ago against the Redskins. “It seemed like all of that work finally paid off to get into that end zone. It was just good, ya know, to get in there and help the team out. It was awesome.”
The one-yard touchdown reception was the first of Kowalewski’s career, and one that was downplayed a bit as they lost the game in overtime, 23-20.
The Jets, who currently have five tight ends on the roster, have opted to utilize each man in different roles. Given the specific game plan for each week, they designate one or two as inactive every Sunday.
Kowalewski hasn’t seen many opportunities this season to show off his pass-catching skills, but given his strong rapport with Kellen Clemens, we may see his chances increase in the upcoming weeks.
“Oh ya, definitely,” Kowalewski said when asked if he believed Clemens was comfortable with him as a receiver. “I understand how Kellen works, we worked a lot in the off-season throwing the ball and catching the ball [together], and ya, I feel real comfortable around him.”
Syracuse ran an option offense for much of Kowalewski career, so he didn’t get much work as a receiver until the team shifted to the West Coast system his senior year. Hampered by injuries in college, his biggest game as an Orangeman came in 2005, when he hauled in seven passes for 96-yards and a touchdown against Virginia.
Since joining the Jets, he has improved a great deal as a receiver, and the coaching staff has begun to believe in his abilities. Kowalewski is hoping his first touchdown serves as a stepping stone for more, but realizes that given the stockpile of tight-ends the team has on the roster, it won’t be easy.
“I hope I can go out there and contribute more, but it’s tough. You just have to prove yourself everyday in practice and you never know what’s going to happen with the activations and which they want to go for different game plans. But I’m definitely trying to.”