Then I would suggest watching his tape, unless you don't care that there is absolutely no evidence of a lack of work effort or lack of effort on the field and just want to write fan fiction. Mack is more of a pure OLB, but he's not anywhere near as disruptive as Clowney in the pass rush or against the run. Basically the only area where Mack is better than Clowney is when dropping into coverage. Either way, both of them are better than any QB in this class by a significant margin.
It's not just fans that have questioned his effort, it's been out there for a while. How do your numbers across the board go down, not just sack numbers? Hell, when they compared ends and OLB sacks for the season, they had to look at the previous years #'s to get any kind of data for Clowney.
Never thought I'd say this, but I'm starting to lean towards taking Clowney and getting the best QB available with the #2 pick. There seems to be a good number of QBs available, none of which really sets himself apart from the others. I can't see all of these guys getting taken in the 1st round which means we could still end up with one of them at #33.
Yup, pretty much everyone who hasn't actually watched his tape parrots that same "effort" line. They are basing that evaluation 100% on his sack count and the fact that others who haven't watched the film say the same. They didn't go down "across the board", his sack count went down and his tackle count went down because teams were extensively game planning against him. It's hard to get tackles or sacks when you are double and triple teamed most of the game and the offense always runs the ball to the other side of the field. Also, his responsibilities changed his final year, he was used to 2 gap pretty often. You don't get sacks when you have to stay on the line to guard 2 lanes. What gets missed by some is how many sacks and good plays were the direct result of how afraid of Clowney opposing offenses were...and despite all of that game planning, double teaming, and the fact that his role on the team changed to where he couldn't pin his ears back and rush the passer on every down, Clowney still led his team in QB pressures. Mack doesn't generate that kind of fear and was only double teamed a handful of times all year long.
Didn't he go down in TFL as well? Good thing no one else knew about other pass rushers last year or they could have schemed against them too. I just expeceted more from a guy that people touted as a once in every 10 year type talent. I'm not opposed to taking him if we stay at #1, actually might be my choice. Just have my doubts and would prefer a trade down if possible. I really want Manziel, but I don't think that's happening, just trying to adjust my expectations.
From WalterFootball: "Weaknesses: Inconsistent motor Took plays off, especially in 2012 season Lackadaisical work ethic in conditioning Can he handle the pressure? How will he respond to money? " That was straight off of his scouting report.
There was no need to go to the kind of extremes they went to with Clowney with any other defensive player in college. When you go to the extremes teams went to in order to slow down Clowney, it makes things really easy for other players on the defense to make plays. Clowney is so good that it was deemed worth it to opposing offenses. It really is hard to oversell just how worried opposing offenses were about Clowney. I don't think I've ever seen that level of gameplanning against one defensive player consistently over a course of a season. Obviously in the NFL things would be different, you can't allocate that many resources to stop one guy, especially on the same line as JJ Watt.
Sure, that was one of the first scouting reports out, then people started taking a closer look, trying to find those plays that he supposedly took off and they just aren't there. Also, it's pretty funny that his coach saying he didn't have the same work ethic as a guy with a legendary work ethic has been translated to him having a "lackadaisical work ethic". NO ONE has the work ethic of Marcus Lattimore, is that supposed to be a knock?
I just grabbed the fisrt scouting report that popped up. Just saying guys that actually do this for a living(I think) put that opinion out. Not just a random fan or two on clutch fans. Not all of us can watch all game film over and over to come up with opinions, we use what's out there. From scouts to stats to what we have seen, it's a compilation. And was he not out of shape at the begining of the season?
The story I heard was that he was sick at the beginning of the season. Also, Walter Football is a nice reference to occasionally use, but I wouldn't take anything on their site as gospel. For example, they have Teddy Bridgewater listed as the 3rd best QB in the draft behind Manziel....that's pretty funny. As to the "lack of effort" situation, I don't know of anyone that I know for a fact has watched extensive tape on Clowney (not just highlight reels or snippets) that buys into the "lack of effort" knock on him. Usually they come away with other knocks, but lack of effort is not one of them. Lack of conditioning could be a legit knock though because if you watch film, you'll see him get winded occasionally on the longer drives towards the end of the game, but who doesn't?
Well, Blake reminds me of Steve McNair, Big Ben, and Cam when they were coming out of college (and Steve and Ben had to sit after they got drafted and many thought Cam wasn't a day one starter). And if you watch Brady 6, Blake has a similar path in college that Brady had as far as being a no name guy out of high school, fighting for his position, and competing in and winning a lot of close games (against good competition). But the quarterback position is the hardest to judge so never know until these guys hit an NFL field.
True, I'll support whoever we draft, but most will probably ignore my opinion bc i'm a Manziel guy. Hell Bobby doesn't even think he is draftable. Part of the reason I doubt his opinion. I was a Fairley guy when we drafted Watt, I wanted that NT. It was moreso b/c I had never really seen Watt play at all.
Clowney`s the safe pick here, but considering the need at QB, could we trade #1 for another first round pick (2-10) + second for the 1st pick. Pick up Johnny Manziel and get some help up front with the other pick.
Bobby is a Alabama fan for one so he will never have a favorable opinion for Johnny. Bobby also wants the Texans to burn a #1 overall pick on a pass rusher who only had 3 sacks so you're within your right to doubt his opinion.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.Danieal Manning third <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans">@HoustonTexans</a> player to endorse Jadeveon Clowney as No. 1 pick. <a href="http://t.co/9LHTaScZMh">http://t.co/9LHTaScZMh</a></p>— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL_CFB/statuses/446345326236934144">March 19, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> {Granted, two of the three are friends/former South Carolina players themselves}
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/gregcosell">@gregcosell</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/Midday180">@Midday180</a>: That Bridgewater struggled in highly scripted controlled environment gives you pause. Why not good?</p>— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulKuharskyNFL/statuses/446352992464162816">March 19, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/gregcosell">@gregcosell</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/Midday180">@Midday180</a>: These QBs, separate of teams needs, don't compose a great QB class. Many people in league agree.</p>— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulKuharskyNFL/statuses/446353378184941568">March 19, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
"With the #1 Pick of the 2014 NFL draft, the Houston Texans select: Jadeveon Clowney, DE...South Carolina." Seemingly sure thing now, as more and more the NFL QB's on pro days have been underwhelming. Get excited guys, the Texans will make the right pick by default! 2002 will not be repeated.
I'm not sure how, but the talking heads are playing up Bortles' pro day to have been good to very good....I still don't see it, but I'm not a pro scout or talking head either. That said, I sure hope you are right.