Jadeveon Clowney primed to be face of Texans’ defense in 2017

Jadeveon Clowney is coming off of his best season yet and is set to take over as the face of the Houston Texans’ defense in 2017.

Jadeveon Clowney was expected to live up to being the first overall pick when he was drafted two years ago. He was supposed to destroy opposing running backs the way he did against the University of Michigan during the Outback Bowl. A moment that garnered the infatuation of the an entire nation.

Clowney was supposed to be unstoppable with his size, strength, and blazing 4.47 forty-yard dash time. The former Gamecock star was supposed to not be human.

Then Clowney showed his human side.

Clowney got hurt. Then he recovered. Then he was hurt again.

Clowney has had reconstructive knee surgery twice to repair a torn meniscus. He lost his entire rookie season.

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The following season was marred with lingering injuries that kept Clowney out of many games such as the Texans’ Wild Card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Clowney just could not catch a break.

Sure, Clowney showed promise with explosive plays and 50 yard sprints to catch up to a wide receiver loose on a screen. No matter the positives, they were always overshadowed by the same negative connotation: Clowney is hurt again.

In year three, everything changed.

For starters, the oft-injured Clowney had a clean bill of health for the majority of the season. With three-time defensive player of the year J.J. Watt trading places as he took the year off with a back injury, it was Clowney’s time to shine.

Boy oh boy he did not disappoint either.

The former first-overall pick finished the 2016 season with 52 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble, and the interception he recorded in the wild card match against the Oakland Raiders.

While those don’t  appear to be eye-popping numbers, Clowney was dominant. He finished 6th in tackles for loss with 16 on the season to go along with 38 quarterback hurries.

With each game, Clowney showed more and more of his freakish ability-and people took notice.

Clowney’s dominance was seen by the nation as a whole-reminiscent to his moment three years ago against Michigan. The former projected bust was named to his first pro bowl and was recognized as an Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro.

Pro Football Focus’s Sam Monson was also gushing about the athletic freak’s ability in the Wild Card game against the Raiders:

That is a play only Clowney can make. There is not another NFL defender who can do what he just did in that clip.

Last season was a passing of the torch from J.J. Watt to Clowney.

It is hard to quantify the growth of what the former Gamecock went through last season as he and Watt reversed their roles-Watt the injured and Clowney the defensive weapon.

With the former three-time defensive player of the year out for an entire season; it forced Clowney to be the face of the defense.

Related Story: Texans’ defense doesn’t need Watt to dominate to be dominant

That was a role that Clowney grew into nicely.

Each week it was obvious No. 90 was wreaking havoc left and right-even if it didn’t show up on the stat sheet.

The pinnacle of the season came in the playoffs.

Clowney’s dominance against the Raiders was highlighted by a game -hanging interception that placed the Texans within 20 yards from pay dirt.

Then against the vaunted New England Patriots and future hall of famers in head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, Clowney balled out.

In front of the whole nation, viewers recognized the violence that followed in Clowney’s wake each and every snap.

While the Patriots are most famous for neutralizing opposing stars out of a game, they failed to shut down CLowney.

Let’s take a peek at how that went for Brady and company:

Ouch.

For those having trouble grasping what just happened, that was Clowney-lined up over the center- bursting through the gap to hit Brady before the quarterback could take the third step in his drop back.

Brady-who was on his back for most of the game- was not happy with how consistent he was being planted into the ground.

Brady finally boiled over in the second half when-after a hit from Clowney- he came up throwing a temper tantrum at the nearest referee.

Now entering his fourth year, with a contract looming, Clowney has everything in place for a dominant year.

Greatness has to be earned, and the former South Carolina star has put the work in after his injuries to be great. From a year-to-year and a week-to-week basis; Clowney has improved. All of that has led to this upcoming year.

Oh, and Clowney has yet to hit his peak, according to his defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, per James Palmer of NFL Media.

With Watt’s back leaving some hindrance as to his future production, it could be Clowney’s time.

Putting the two on the same field against a would-be offensive line is bound to breed results of destruction and mayhem.

This is not a knock on Watt’s ability.

No disrespect to Watt, but Clowney still has more physical talent. He just needs to put it all together for a full season. With his added growth from last season, mixed with his full participation this offseason; he is primed for a big year.

Last season was Clowney’s coming out party.

This year is Clowney’s reign of terror on opposing offenses on his way to consideration for defensive player of the year as the new face of the Texans’ defense.