Houston Texans Jadeveon Clowney: How he’s gone from bust to superstar
By T.A. Mock
Jadeveon Clowney’s development has continued this season, already surpassing his 2016 totals.
Through 12 games, Clowney has nine sacks, which is just 1.5 sacks away from DOUBLING his career total. Odds are he gets those 1.5 sacks and more for the season. He already surpassed his TFL total from last year with 18. In fact, only one player has more TFLs over the past two seasons than Clowney’s 35, and that is Chandler Jones with 36.
Clowney’s ability to continually arise to the challenge has been one of his biggest assets to the Texans. The team lost Watt to a broken leg and Mercilus to a torn pectoral muscle in the same game. This left the previously star studded defense to only one big name, Jadeveon Clowney. With other star pass rushers out, I admit that I had my doubts about Clowney being able to step up with increased attention from the offense.
But boy has he!
Clowney amassed six of his sacks after that dreaded October game. Defensive coordinator, Mike Vrabel, has done some incredible work helping alleviate potential double teams. Clowney’s versatility has been a huge boost to this injury depleted team by him logging meaningful snaps at DE, OLB, and MLB (for the first time in his career).
Clowney is getting scarier each week. Played a lot of 3 technique and ILB vs. Baltimore and is too quick for IOL to handle. Chess piece. #Texans pic.twitter.com/UNAvKtYDkB
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 29, 2017
The Baltimore Ravens offensive line stood no chance at stopping Clowney from this inside
position. Creative play calling paired with that versatility makes him a one man wrecking ball.