Jadeveon Clowney left little doubt as to why he was selected first overall in this year’s NFL draft with a dominant performance in the Texans’ 32-7 preseason victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Clowney electrified the crowd at NRG Stadium in Houston with back-to-back spectacular plays in the first quarter of the Texans’ home opener Saturday night.
“He lit up the sideline,” said Texans’ head coach Bill O’Brien. “He got everybody going with those plays.”
Without having to contend with J.J. Watt, whom the Texans sat to allow for some extra rest, the Falcons showed their concern for Clowney’s pass rushing prowess by double teaming him early in their first possession. After narrowly missing a tackle for loss earlier in the series, Clowney and the Texans’ forced a punt. When Houston’s offense responded with a lackluster three-and-out, Clowney took the field again and reminded everyone why he is widely considered the best pass rushing prospect to hit the NFL in years.
After three straight running plays (two of which led to a first down) to start the possession, the Falcons were facing a 2nd & 4 from their own 27. In a hit that was reminiscent of his bone-jarring blast on Michigan’s Vincent Smith last season, Clowney exploded into the Atlanta backfield and annihilated running back Antone Smith for a 2-yard loss. With the crowd already in a frenzy, Clowney responded by blowing by Falcons left tackle Sam Baker and sacking quarterback Matt Ryan for a 7-yard loss, forcing Atlanta to punt. It would be Clowney’s final play of the night, as O’Brien sat his prized rookie for the remainder of the game.
This was the second time in two games that Clowney has shown a knack for getting into the backfield and making big plays against NFL-caliber talent. Last week in Arizona, he easily shed Cardinals’ tight end Darren Fells and stuffed Stepfan Taylor for a 5-yard loss.
The early returns on Clowney are all the more impressive when you consider that he’s making these plays without opposing offenses having to deal with Watt, arguably the most dominant defensive player in the league over the past two seasons. Could it be that Clowney is already well on his way to becoming one of the best pass rushers in the NFL? Not so fast, says Coach O’Brien.
“We’re all looking to get better,” O’Brien reiterated in his post game press conference. “I don’t think any one of us is where we want to be or where we need to be.”
A scary thought, considering how explosive Jadeveon Clowney has looked thus far.
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