Houston Texans Tuesday Roundup: Jadeveon Clowney is fast
Feb 24, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks Jadeveon Clowney runs the 40 yard dash during the 2014 NFL Combines at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL Scouting Combine is in full stride and so was former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney as the 6-6, 249 pound lineman ran a faster time than that ran by quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Clowney or Manziel could be the No. 1 overall selection by the Houston Texans in May during the 2014 NFL Draft, but Clowney displayed his speed on Monday with a 40-yard dash time of 4.53, 0.15 seconds faster than Manziel.
Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle wrote:
"“After saying Saturday he wants to be one of the greatest NFL players of all time and planned to hit at least 4.5 in the 40, Clowney backed up his promise for speed and nearly recorded the official 4.4 he had teased.”"
I know Clowney’s bench press results left us all wanting more, but his speed is very dangerous and it still makes me wonder what a Clowney and J.J. Watt defensive line would look like.
How tough would it be for opposing offensive lines to stop both of them at the exact same time? If Brian Cusing could stay healthy at linebacker, one of those three players would have to break free and make life tough on the opposing offense, right?
That scenario is just a thought and one that could possibly play out on the field in September of 2014.
• Our friends at House of Houston also have an article about Clowney.
• ESPN’s Tania Ganguli wrote about the Texans and a long term deal with Watt. The ESPN Texans writer wrote:
"“Here’s how Watt’s situation will work. By May 3, the Texans have to decide whether or not to pick up an optional fifth year (2015) for Watt’s rookie contract. The value of that contract is based on a variation on a transition tag. Because Watt was the 11th selection, his fifth-year salary would be an average of the top 25 players’ salaries at his position, excluding the top three.”"
She is correct there is still plenty of time for a new deal with Watt, and to be honest it would be really bad for the Texans on-and-off the field if they were not to eventually re-sign Watt to a long term deal.
Watt is the heart of the Texans and the defense will only go as far as Watt goes. Being one of the best defensive players in the NFL is tough to accomplish and for a franchise it is even tougher for them to find a player like Watt on their roster. There is no way I can see the Texans letting Watt get away from them in the near future.
With all of that said … I see Watt being on the Texans for a very long period of time.
• Here is an article from CSN Houston comparing the scouting combines of Manziel and Russell Wilson, the current QB of the Seattle Seahawks.
• Here is an NFL.com article about Matt Schaub and his future with the Texans.
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