Jadaveon Clowney has disappointed in 2 seasons with the Texans, but a case could be made he’s playing out of position.
Houston Texans fans are angry that a key member of their defense was seen gambling in a Lake Charles casino this weekend, while teammates were in San Francisco playing a preseason football game.
Jadaveon Clowney, the Texans linebacker who was picked No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in 2014, was seen playing table games in the casino.
The Houston Texans won their preseason game 24-13. Jadaveon Clowney, meanwhile, stayed home to rest his sore knee. Despite the need to rest the knee, the 6’6″ Clowney drove two hours to the Lake Charles casino to gamble.
Texans Fans Unhappy with Clowney
Some Texans fans were not happy about the decision. They believe it shows Jadaveon Clowney is not taking his rehab assignment seriously. Others are less concerned, saying Clowney had broken no team rules and was free to do as he chose over the weekend. The Texans gave Clowney permission to stay home, instead of subject his ailing knee to the discomfort of a long round-trip flight.
Other injured players did not accompany the team to the Bay Area. That list of players include J.J. Watt, Nick Martin, and Derek Moore. None of those players were seen in a casino in another state, though.
Players Agreed “It’s a Bad Look”
Hoston SportsRadio 610 (KILT AM) host Sean Pendergast tweeted his response to the situation, posting, “Former players I’ve texted so far unanimously agree it’s a bad look.”
Jadaveon Clowney’s Lackluster NFL Career
The fan reaction is likely a result of the somewhat disappointing tenure Jadaveon Clowney has had with the Houston Texans so far. Clowney was an all-world star at the college level, starring for the South Carolina Gamecocks as a defensive end. His destruction of opposing quarterbacks and running backs led him to be a consensus No. 1 pick, even though his spate of injuries his junior season caused some NFL scouts to question his long-term durability.
When the Texans made Clowney the top overall pick, most assumed he would be a bookend pass rusher opposite the All-Pro J.J. Watt, who anchors the Texans’ defense.
Bad Fit with the Defensive Scheme
Instead, the Texans brought in Wade Phillips to install the 3-4 Defense. Clowney was converted into an outside linebacker. As the “Will” (weakside) linebacker, Clowney was expected to spend a lot of time rushing the passer. But he also was expected to cover running backs, h-backs, and tight ends out of the backfield — a role difficult for a man who stands between 6’5″ and 6’7″, depending on the source.
Sure enough, Jadaveon Clowney struggled to adjust to his new position. He got a concussion in a preseason game, then had a meniscus tear in Week 1 of the regular season. Clowney had meniscus surgery, then later had microfracture surgery. Both are serious operations.
In his second season in the 3-4 Defense, Jadaveon Clowney played in 13 games and started in 9 games. He collected his first NFL sack in Week 9, and eventually finished the season with 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Clowney’s Poor Showing Not All His Fault
With a disappointing 2-year stint with the Texans, the club’s fans are likely to express their displeasure at any sign Clowney is not 100% dedicated to football. Fans might be better served asking why Clowney was drafted onto a team which decided to play him out-of-position.
Other Reasons to Dislike the 3-4 Defense
In fact, the 3-4 Defense seems an ill-fitting scheme for both Clowney and J.J. Watt. Don’t get me wrong; many games have been won by the 3-4 Defense, but it’s a matter of personnel. If the Texans adopted a 4-3 scheme, both would play at their natural positions as right side and left side defensive end. Instead, Clowney plays as a linebacker and Watt must play as a 3-4 defensive end, who has a much different role than a 4-3 end.
In the 3-4 Defense, the defensive end moves inside, in the gap between the right tackle and right guard. In the 4-3 Defense, the end moves outside the right tackle. While JJ Watt would be covered up by the tight end often in the 4-3 scheme, he is always covered up in the 3-4 scheme. In fact, the move means he is likely to face a double-team by two 300-pound lineman on each play.
Defensive ends in the 3-4 Defense tend to eat up blockers, in hopes of freeing linebackers to make tackles and make plays. Thus, J.J. Watt is placed in a position where he takes more punishment, makes fewer plays, and is not able to flash his natural talent as much. Jadaveon Clowney is equally forced to play stretches of the game where his best talents are not used. No wonder both players have gotten injured these past couple of years.
The NFL Is a Public Relations Game
All that being said, Jadaveon Clowney would be better off avoiding Louisiana casinos. While he did nothing wrong, it is certain the 23-year old star player is going to be seen, noticed, and filmed in the casino. The criticism is something he could have avoided. Whether he deserves the criticism or not is one question, but it is certain he was going to be noticed and criticized.
