Houston Texans: Expectations for Jadeveon Clowney

Things haven’t been easy for Jadeveon Clowney since becoming the number one overall pick by the Houston Texans in 2014. Clowney played in just four games his rookie season, did not record a single sack, and collected a measly seven tackles. Injuries have certainly derailed Clowney’s development in the NFL as he has already underwent two knee surgeries as well a sports hernia surgery.

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After such a forgettable rookie year, what can Texans’ fans expect from Clowney in 2015? I went back and reviewed the coaches film of all four games that Clowney played in last year to find some clues. First of all, I thought Clowney was playing out of position. I think Houston may have overestimated Clowney’s ability to transition to a 3-4 defense because he did not seem like a natural outside linebacker to me.

The few times that Clowney was asked to drop back into coverage last year, he looked stiff, awkward, and very mechanical in my opinion. Perhaps Clowney’s injuries are to blame for his lack of fluidity, but it remains to be seen if Clowney possesses the versatility to do everything that is asked of most 3-4 outside linebackers in the NFL.

Most teams that run a 3-4 defense will disguise where an extra pass rusher is coming from. However, Houston rarely asked Clowney to drop back into coverage from his outside linebacker position. If an opposing offense knows Clowney will always rush the passer, it becomes much easier to game plan against him. Therefore, playing Clowney as a 3-4 outside linebacker made little sense to me, especially considering that Clowney was a base 4-3 defensive end in college.

Sep 7, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the game against the Washington Redskins at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

I thought the November 23rd contest against Cincinnati was Clowney’s best game of his brief rookie season. This game happened to be one of the few times that Houston consistently lined Clowney up at his natural defensive end position. I felt like Clowney looked more comfortable with his hand in the ground. The former All-American did a good job of disrupting lanes in the Bengals’ rushing attack even if his statistics don’t indicate much of an impact.

Position change aside, Clowney’s biggest knock coming out of South Carolina was his motor. Knowing that he was likely going to be a top 5 pick in the subsequent NFL draft, Clowney obviously coasted through his final college season. With that in mind, I kept a very close eye on whether or not Clowney has the desire to finish each and every play with NFL level fire and intensity.

If there was ever a blueprint for what NFL intensity looks like, it is fellow Houston Texans’ defender J.J. Watt. Experience, athleticism, and talent aside, Watt plays each down with unmatched ferocity and heart. Even when Watt cannot successfully make the big play for his defense, it is very apparent that he exhausts every single fiber of his body and soul for the cause.

Dec 23, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) is introduced before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

This quality that Watt possesses is not something that can be learned in a film room, taught by a coach, or improved upon in a weight room. This type of intensity is innate within the elites of every sport. Whether it is J.J. Watt, Michael Jordan, or Serena Williams, these athletes have a similar personality trait that allows them to excel far beyond ordinary limits.

Watching the 2014 sample size of Jadeveon Clowney, I came away with the impression that he is just not equipped with that innate mentality to become a dominant superstar. However, I do not feel as though Clowney will be a complete bust in the mold of a Courtney Brown or Andre Wadsworth either. If Clowney can avoid the trainer’s room from this point forward, I think he will develop into a Jason Pierre-Paul caliber player. While both Clowney and Pierre-Paul are supremely gifted from a physical standpoint, they seem to have trouble consistently displaying those physical gifts every Sunday.

Next: Mock Draft: Texans take a WR

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