Texans: Jadeveon Clowney Tops List Of Defensive Ends

I feel your pain Houston Texans’ fans. I’m right here with you. The fact that this season brought new expectations with all of the new guys that were brought in to help on offense, it hasn’t been able to bring the results that we thought it would.

I feel your pain Houston Texans‘ fans. I’m right here with you. The fact that this season brought new expectations with all of the new guys that were brought in to help on offense, it hasn’t been able to bring the results that we thought it would.

It’s as if we’ve taken a step backward…

With all things considered, the offense was just as stagnant last year but it still produced enough to get some quality wins over stout opponents to give this team their 2nd consecutive winning season and playoff berth in as many seasons.

I’m worried that this is going to be continuous pattern.

Brock Osweiler looks as if he’s never played the game of football before — he looks scared, inexperienced, whatever you want to call it.

He continues to show that having a solid offensive line and defense — the tools he had to work with the Denver Broncos — can make any quarterback look good.

He continues to struggle with being able to deliver the football to the rightful recipients under pressure.

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I’m certain this will continue but I do see a turnaround whether it be later in the season or beyond.

But enough about the doom and gloom.

Let’s talk about one of the brighter spots of this team.

That’s our ferocious — but flawed — defensive line.

They have particularly the mainstay for this roster the entire season.

Let’s not look at the points this team has given up — it’s hard for unit to continuously give their all when they’re consistently on the field longer.

They’re human, they get tired, it happens.

They still are 5th in the league in total defense — yielding just 300.4 yards per game — and 1st in pass defense, giving up a stingy 181 yards per game.

So yeah — they’re doing their job!

But let’s get individual here.

There’s one guy who has stepped up tremendously in J.J. Watt’s stead and is emerging into the player we all thought he’d be.

Who am I talking about?

Jadeveon Clowney!

Yes, JD has checked a majority of the boxes needed to excel at his position this season, become a fierce defender, pass-rusher and disrupting just about everything that comes in his path.

He has — let’s hold our breath — relatively healthy this season and that has certainly been complimentary to his ethic and for the coaches in ensuring that he’s prepared.

But try this on for size…

According to Pro Football Focus, Clowney earned a 89.2 defensive grade which topped the line this past Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Next: Benardrick McKinney: Golden Bull Of The Week

Why?

They mentioned that Clowney “repeatedly whipped” the offensive tackles in front him, earning himself a 97.9 run-defense grade.

Clowney also had six run stops, one quarterback hit and one hurry in 24 pass rushes as well.

He’s smoking like a locomotive train down the aisle and it’s apparent that he’s going to be hard to stop.

Who else received top grades by PFF?

Kevin Johnson (81.6), Benardrick McKinney (81.5), John Simon (80.9) and A.J. Bouye (79.2) all received honorable mentions for this week as well.

On the other hand, Clowney has 16 tackles — three assisted — 2.0 sacks and one pass defended through five games — all starts — for 2016.

Our defensive line is still competitive without Watt but our offense needs to get going for this team to be the complete package that we expected.

If not, the players, coaching and the rest of the Texans’ staff will be on the couch in early January wondering what the hell happened.

But I’m keeping my chin up — let’s do this.

Go Texans.

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