Jadeveon Clowney, DE, first Pro Bowl selection: Not only has Clowney been asked to fill big shoes after J.J. Watt was put on injured reserve in late September, but he has done it by playing multiple positions on defense. Clowney started the season as an outside linebacker, but the Texans have utilized his speed and ability to be disruptive by playing him at defensive end, as well. The former No. 1 pick dealt with many injuries in his first two NFL seasons. Clowney has managed to play all but one game this season while playing through wrist and elbow pain. Through 13 games, he has a career-high 5 sacks, a forced fumble and 11 tackles for a loss. Clowney leads a defense that ranks first in the NFL in total net yards (306.5). Since Week 8, Houston is also ranked first in net rushing yards per game, allowing an average of 70.6. Alternates: LT Duane Brown, WR DeAndre Hopkins, RB Lamar Miller and OLB Whitney Mercilus. SNUBS Lamar Miller, RB: With the way the Texans’ passing game has struggled, the offense has pretty much gone through Miller and the running game this season. Miller has been playing through injuries since he hurt his shoulder in Week 6 against the Denver Broncos, but is fourth in rushing yards in the AFC. Miller is just 25 yards short of his career high with 1,074 through 14 games. He has proven to be the workhorse running back the Texans desired, as well, carrying the ball a career-high 268 times already in his first year with the team.
Does OLB count as ILB in the Pro Bowl? There's few AFC ILB who did as good as BM (?) and Hightower/Mosely definitely aren't two of them.
His interviews are like the opposite of JJ and Whitney. Minimum PC team-first answers. Not sure if its a good or bad thing.
Clowney has really turned things around this season. He's starting to live up to the hype. I didn't want anything to do with him after all the headache, but damn, we need to keep this guy now.
Its a great thing, at least for fans, but he's not dumb when asked tougher questions. Like when he was asked yesterday about the Billy O rumor, he quickly averted it and said he didn't know anything about it, then talked about how good the team was doing on the field. He's funny as hell. Screw those pc, team-first answers.
They will keep him if he stays healthy next year. If Watt gets back to same level and Clowney improves......defense will be oh my god level.
Looking at the stats Mack still had a better game and a larger overall impact. Still the better player and anyone with any brains can see that. One decent season does not a great player make.... .....just joshing with you. Clowney is looking like much more of an impact player than Mack especially yesterday. The stats don't show how much he redirects runners and QBs into the arms of his opponents. I was pretty hard on JD and still thought Mack was the superior player but JD has closed the gap in production and has surpassed him in overall ability and impact. I for one don't believe in doubling down on when I have an incorrect take. Good job JD and glad he's having a breakout season.
The best part about Clowney's game is that the dude goes 100% no matter what....he doesn't stop hustling until the play is over. The narrative on him was that he takes plays off, so it's nice to see that he's doing a great job shutting everyone up. The guy is a monster.