Clowney Possesses The Type of Talent To Make Teams Who Pass On Him Look Inept

michael89156 · 2014-02-09T08:19:33Z

A once-in-a-lifetime prospect? Scouts break down Jadeveon Clowney Jadeveon Clowney (left) saw his stats plummet in 2013, but scouts aren't concerned about the decline.Scott Cunningham for Sports Illustrated Peter Bukowski SI.comFeb 8th, 2014By now, you've seen the play. Late in the fourth quarter of the 2013 Outback Bowl, Michigan's Devin Gardner goes to hand off to the diminutive Vincent Smith. Then it happens. A flash of crimson enters the screen and the 6-foot-6, 274-pound semi-truck known as Jadeveon Clowney hits Smith like the play was designed to be a handoff to the Gamecocks' outstanding defensive end. The legend wasn't born there -- Clowney was the No. 1 overall player as a preps star at South Pointe (S.C.) High -- but it was solidified. The best defensive player since Ndamukong Suh? Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson? Some have said Lawrence Taylor. Suffice to say, if Clowney hits his ceiling, he could be one of the best prospects to come out of college in a decade -- perhaps a generation. He converts speed to power like few edge rushers can, runs down plays from the backside like a linebacker, and plans to burn down the combine with unheard of numbers for a player of his size. One former NFL talent evaluator described Clowney like this: "He has the speed and first step to get by blockers before they can even get their hands on him. When [linemen] overcompensated for his speed, he'd bury his body in their chest and bull-rush his blocker into the QB's lap." If you thought the Smith hit was the highlight of Clowney's career, wait until he runs a 4.45 40-yard dash -- it's been rumored for at least a year that Clowney would run sub-4.6, maybe even sub-4.5 -- at the NFL combine later this month. Critics have pointed to Clowney's lack of production this season for South Carolina, insisting he was out of shape or didn't give maximum effort. And to be sure, the statistical dropoff is stark. As a sophomore in 2012, Clowney posted a nation-leading 23.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in America's best college football conference, the SEC. As a junior, he had just 11.5 TFLs and only three sacks. But if you ask personnel evaluators about Clowney's statistical decline, they basically just shrug. "The interesting aspect of Clowney is the dynamic change from 2012 to '13," explained former Tampa Bay Buccaneers team operations coordinator Joe Bussell. "When watching Clowney on film last season, teams weren't prepared for the raw brutality that he brought to the game. He destroyed left tackles and left guards when matched up one-on-one. He couldn't be blocked in the run game or the pass game." But then, Bussell said, Clowney became a victim of his own success. Teams accounted for him with two, and sometimes three blockers. Missouri intentionally ran the ball to the opposite side of the formation from Clowney. But for an NFL defense, this attention is an asset. When teams have to devote multiple blockers to one defender, it frees up other players to make plays. Rotoworld's NFL Draft guru Josh Norris made the case for disruption over statistical production early this year. "I consider Clowney a 'rare' prospect," Norris told SI.com. "I almost never use that word in terms of a full evaluation. Prospects can have rare traits, but very, very seldom is the total package 'rare'. He will be the fourth I have evaluated. The others are Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh and Andrew Luck." But one NFC scout found flaws he considered more than just nits to pick: Clowney isn't as refined a prospect as other, similarly elite pass rushers of the past few years. "Just as a player, you really like what he brings to the table and what he could become: a perennial Pro Bowler and those type of things," the scout said. "But is he going to become a Day 1 starter? I really don't know that. "Aldon Smith, watching him in college, he was pretty raw, but he was further along, in my opinion, than Clowney is. But obviously, Clowney is more athletic than him, so I don't know." As far as the hyperbole surrounding Clowney as a once-in-a-generation talent? The scout who said Suh was the highest-graded player he'd ever scouted was somewhat dubious. "He could be [Julius] Peppers in time. But to say he's going to walk in the league Day 1 and rip it up, tear it up, like Ndamukong Suh or Aldon Smith or Von Miller? It's hard for me to say that ... He's not a better rusher than Von Miller. "If you're talking about a guy who's going to get home and get to the passer, maybe he's a top-five prospect in the past decade. You could say that, but just the best? I don't know if you can say that about Clowney." It speaks to Clowney's ceiling as a player that even those who question his ability to be a Day 1 impact player also believe his talent is among the best of the last decade. Former Philadelphia Eagles scout John Middlekauff told SI.com he was more concerned about Clowney's mental makeup in terms of potential red flags (he also believes Clowney is a superio...

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Cabin Boy Guest

Lol. So glad we didn't trade the world to move up and take this turd.

That is true. I think his injuries out of college were significant. I think the Texans will get more out of him next season.

Posted : Jan. 15, 2015 8:57 pm

Joeht (@joeht) Posts: 1 Cabin Boy So what he was hurt from college, needed a year to heal. Please go Posted : Jan. 15, 2015 9:02 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest I expect him to tear it up next year. If the Texans get a QB... wow. Posted : Jan. 15, 2015 9:27 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Clowney is going to be a beast. I kind of expected this. Watchibg his film last year he was clearly playing on a bad foot his last year in college.He has the kind of potential to be a top edge rusher......dont put the book down after the 1st chapter. He hasnt even gotten started yet. Posted : Jan. 16, 2015 1:21 am billym (@billym) Posts: 4 Cabin Boy I expect him to tear it up next year. If the Texans get a QB... wow. Ya, they have a nice team. Need a QB. Wonder if they might be interested in Glennon for a 3rd? Posted : Jan. 16, 2015 2:05 am Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest I expect him to tear it up next year. If the Texans get a QB... wow. Ya, they have a nice team. Need a QB. Wonder if they might be interested in Glennon for a 3rd? They already have Mallet. Those two are basically the same QB. Posted : Jan. 16, 2015 8:18 am

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Clowney Possesses The Type of Talent To Make Teams Who Pass On Him Look Inept

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