Jadeveon Clowney will be the biggest bust in the history of the NFL. You heard it here first.
After a breakout sophomore season at South Carolina, Clowney has been less than impressive and almost a non-factor for the Gamecocks’ defensive unit. Yes, we all remember the famous hit against Michigan. The running back left his feet, the helmet flew off and Clowney palmed the loose ball with one hand. I have no doubt the Michigan running back still has nightmares after that play.
Clowney has an immense amount of talent at just about any of the front seven positions. He’s versatile, he’s elusive, and above all, he’s powerful. His unprecedented ability to elude blockers has NFL scouts raving about his potential to become one of the best pass rushers the league has ever seen.
There’s one thing holding Clowney back from becoming one of the most dominant defenders in all of football and it’s not his physical attributes, but his head. Football is not a game for the faint of heart.
If I’m an NFL coach or general manager, here are the reasons why I do not take Clowney with the first overall pick:
Reason #1: Not in shape.
If you’re going to draft a player in the first round, you inherently expect production from said player. In order to produce you must be on the field, regardless of the position. It’s a simple concept. A first round pick, especially early in the draft, is a huge investment. Clowney has been criticized multiple times this season for his inability to get into game shape. If I’m an NFL coach, I don’t want to see my starting defensive end gasping for air at the end of the first quarter.
Reason #2: Laziness.
As seen this season, when Clowney gets tired, he takes plays off. If you’re playing against Peyton Manning and the Broncos, do you want any of your players taking a play off? Take a play off and any NFL quarterback will pick apart the defense. His job is to get to the quarterback when he drops back. Give any quarterback a little bit of time and he will surely complete the pass.
Reason #3: Makes too many excuses.
After losing to Georgia in week 2 of the college football season, Clowney complained to the media and his coaches because he said they didn’t use him the right way. He has one job. Get to the quarterback. He claimed to be college football’s scariest player--he should realize he is going to draw more attention to opposing offenses that want to stop him from getting anywhere near the football. Opposing teams scheme around Clowney by running the ball away from him and utilizing two or even three blockers at a time just to slow him down. The best part about football is that this game is a team sport; hence the double team blocking will allow another player to make a tackle.
The NFL is developing into a league of character, or at least it’s trying to move in that direction. Ten years ago, a player’s character problems did not matter all that much when entering the draft, but NFL teams are looking for quality guys, both on and off the field, whom they will invest millions of dollars in over the course of a few seasons. General managers are starting to realize that there investment into a first round draft pick can significantly set back their franchise for many years. Teams want to win now.
I’m not dismissing his talent, but Jadeveon Clowney will be one of the biggest disappointments in recent memory.
