How Do You Feel About Jadeveon Clowney?

By Yoni Pollak | Jan 12, 2016

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina) poses for a photo with commissioner Roger Goodell selected as the number one overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Houston Texans at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Year two of the Jadeveon Clowney experience is over.

The Texans’ last game was played without Clowney on the active roster, an all too familiar look for Texans fans.

The 2014 first overall pick has only played in 17 games through two seasons, recording just 4.5 sacks in that timespan.

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Clowney, 22, has been bothered by several different injuries since his college career and they have derailed the beginning part of his NFL career. His inability to stay on the field and produce in the box score has led many to give up on him.

Couple those two points with the fact that Khalil Mack and other quarterbacks taken in place of Clowney have been producing at a much higher level, and Texans fans are ready to move on.

If you ask me, however, it’s a huge mistake to give up now.

Yes, it’s been frustrating to see Clowney on the inactive list in just under 50 percent of his first two seasons, but when he was on the field this year, he was dominant. The 4.5 sacks appear underwhelming, but Clowney was an animal in the run game and had many pressures on opposing quarterbacks. Those numbers don’t show up on the stat sheet, but his positive play was evident in key games this season.

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Yes, it’s also true that Whitney Mercilus played much better when Clowney was not on the field, but that’s more of a Romeo Crennel issue than a Clowney issue. It’s the defensive coordinator’s responsibility to find a way for all three great passrushers to be successful.

You can continue to study box scores and assume Clowney underwhelmed this year. That’s your prerogative. But if you ask any NFL or Texans expert about Clowney, they would all heap praise on his on-field play.

Still, you’re only as good as your availability and Clowney hasn’t been available much, including last week’s playoff loss to the Chiefs.

If you ask me, it’s way too early to call Clowney a bust. His injuries are frustrating, but I’m willing to give him one more year to prove his worth.

Texans fans should do the same as he told reporters he has big plans for next year.

"“I’m going to come back and dominate the league. I know what I can do. I think I’m going to come back and dominate the league next year.”"

But if he doesn’t, fans across the country will start calling him a bust and not in the Hall of Fame way.

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