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Jadeveon Clowney has called Seattle home for less than two months. Yet, he is already making an impact in the Pacific Northwest after his trade from the Houston Texans. Though the newest Seahawks pass-rusher has just one sack on the season, he has looked the part in Seattle.
On the year, Clowney has 12 combined tackles, three quarterback hits, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pick-six to go alongside his one sack. Throw out those numbers.
Clowney should not be judged by his numbers box-score numbers alone. Why? According to ESPN, he is the most double-teamed edge rusher in the NFL. Despite that, he has created 14 total pressures over the last three weeks, per Pro Football Focus. Those numbers tell a more accurate story: offenses are scared of him, but that hasn't stopped him from making a difference.
Clowney's real impact lies outside the basic numbers. Like during his Texans days, the now-defensive end (and former outside linebacker) is impactful without the stats to tell it. As a freakishly athletic rusher with a growing game, Clowney is a menace, even if his stats, quarterback hits, or whichever statistic doesn't show it. He's an enforcer, a bully and somebody offenses have to give respect to. That shows how often they double-team him, and how that hasn't stopped him.
Analytics tell that Clowney is growing into his own in the Seahawks defense. However, he is far from done. Remember, he is still very new the Seahawks defense, as coach Pete Carroll says, he is still learning it.
“I think he would’ve just had the benefit of all of the work offseason-wise with his hands and feet and the things that we do technically. I think he would’ve been further along,” Carroll said on Oct. 10th, per 710 ESPN Seattle. “He’s a natural athlete. This comes to him. He’s active. He’s real active. The thing I really like is he’s really active in looking like he’s going to come alive and have a big game here in the next couple.”
As Carroll says, Clowney is active. He has never been a guy with numbers that pop off the box score. That's not him. It's not his game. However, that's not a bad thing. The newest Seahawk is making his presence felt. Imagine how good he will be in their defense once he learns the nuances of it? Perhaps, unstoppable.
