Sep 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jadeveon Clowney had his career best stat-line against the Vikings…8 tackles including 7 solo and 4 for loss while playing 70% of the defensive snaps. Does this represent the long awaited breakout game for Clowney or is it just another step with much more work to do?
Actually, I think it is both. It is a breakout in the sense that against the Vikings he established a new level of play. He played well in the first 4 games, but against the Vikings he was clearly the best Texans lineman on the field.
In the first 4 games Clowney’s stat line was pretty ordinary, but his “game” exceeded his stats. He was solid against the run, set the edge, held his position at the point of attack and chased down plays. Inconsistently, but not infrequently, he pressured the quarterback. Jadeveon did his job by executing the fundamentals that often create stats for others.
However, he reached a new level against the Vikings. He didn’t just do his job with an occasional splash play mixed in. He consistently finished plays. Jadeveon Clowney is no longer a linebacker temporarily playing with his hand in the dirt. He is the Texans best defensive lineman until J. J. Watt returns and a bookend defensive end thereafter.
Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) in action during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
A new signature play –
Let me give you an example of the level at which Clowney is now playing. Most fans remember his signature collegiate play, the play where he obliterated a Michigan running back sending his helmet flying. We hadn’t seen that Jadeveon Clowney at the professional level…until Sunday against the Vikings.
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One play Sunday eclipsed Clowney’s crushing hit against Michigan (known as “that team up north” in my circles). In the Michigan game he was essentially unblocked before blowing-up the hapless running back, but against the Vikings Jadeveon was the primary target of a classic trap play.
The Viking’s 300+ pound off-guard pulled and got a running start at Clowney who had penetrated the line of scrimmage looking for the ball. The guard’s job was to ambush Clowney, knocking him outside with the running back cutting inside the block. But the best laid plans of mice and men…
Instead of being blindsided by the pulling guard Clowney stoned the much larger man. He then closed down and crushed the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage. There was no flying helmet on this play, but there was a very large guard who didn’t get up and a running back who gained new respect.
If that was the only play Clowney made then it would be just that, a play, a sign of seldom tapped potential. But it wasn’t isolated. He made impressive plays throughout the game. If the Texans had won and his name was J. J. Watt the national announcers would have been raving about his performance. Unfortunately, Clowney’s new standard was upstaged by the Viking’s dominance in just about every other phase of the game.
Sep 11, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) in action during the game against the Chicago Bears at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Clowney’s technique is limited.
While Clowney’s performance was a breakout of sorts it also demonstrated how much work he has yet to do. He is a physical freak who relies on superior physicality to make plays. His technique is very limited which, in turn, places limitations on his performance.
Clowney has violent hands that he uses to blunt an opponent’s thrust. Against the pass, after the initial blow he bull rushes, often backing much bigger linemen into the quarterback’s lap. If Clowney senses the opposing lineman has lost balance he sheds him and rushes unimpeded.
Against the run, whether at the point of attack or setting the edge, Clowney again has limited technique. He lives by his powerful hands and exceptional strength. Once he obtains leverage he is nearly impossible to move.
The problem is that despite his immense talent, at this stage of his development Clowney is pretty much a one trick pony. If the bull rush works he wins. If it doesn’t he is stalemated and then sometimes takes the rest of the play off. He does well with the tools he has, but how much better and more consistent could he be with a fulltime motor and the three basic moves of most defensive linemen?
By adding “rip” and “swim” moves to his bull rush Clowney would be a nightmare for opposing linemen. How would anyone block him if he then achieved the sophistication and diversification of moves already mastered by J. J. Watt?
Sep 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel shakes hands with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Clowney can be great if he wants to be.
We can speculate on why Clowney’s technique is so limited. My theory is that in college he was so physically superior that he could excel without actually learning his craft. Then in the NFL he was first focused on injury rehab and then on making the transition to outside linebacker. Some of the required techniques are similar, but at defensive end he is now learning a new position.
So what does the future hold? For the rest of this season Clowney will continue to improve but remain an unpolished gem, valuable but not approaching his real worth. This offseason he can focus in the weight room, in the classroom, and on the field, to become the best defensive end he can be.
I hate the expression “wait until next year”, but next year the Texans could field two of the best defensive ends in football. Jadeveon Clowney has the physical tools. We’ll see if he has the “want to” to blend technique with his physicality. That’s what the great ones do.
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