Did Jadeveon Clowney Have A Breakout Game?

Clowney can be great if he wants to be.

We can speculate on why Clowney’s technique is so limited. My theory is that in college he was so physically superior that he could excel without actually learning his craft. Then in the NFL he was first focused on injury rehab and then on making the transition to outside linebacker. Some of the required techniques are similar, but at  defensive end he is now learning a new position.

So what does the future hold? For the rest of this season Clowney will continue to improve but remain an unpolished gem, valuable but not approaching his real worth. This offseason he can focus in the weight room, in the classroom, and on the field, to become the best defensive end he can be.

Next: What We Learned From Week Five

I hate the expression “wait until next year”, but next year the Texans could field two of the best defensive ends in football. Jadeveon Clowney has the physical tools. We’ll see if he has the “want to” to blend technique with his physicality. That’s what the great ones do.