Jadeveon Clowney: Didn't we already draft him?

[Caynine29]

Plus... if you look at their college stats, Clowney grades out slightly better... but "once in a lifetime" better? I just don't see it.

Chris Long (UVA '05-'07)
TACKLES: 90 (solo), 92 (assist), 36.5 (loss)
SACKS: 20
FF: 3
INT: 1
PASSES DEF: 18

Jadeveon Clowney (USC '11-'13)
TACKLES: 85 (solo), 45 (assist) 47 (loss)
SACKS: 24
FF: 9
INT: 0
PASSES DEF: 7

He's a great defender and all. But, the more I research Clowney, the less I'm impressed.

 

[BOSS429Mustang]

It's a good point you make Caynine. But I guess you have to evaluate players just as much from the "eyeball" test as you do the stats. Clowney just looks like he's going to be a monster. I share that opinion with many. Could he flame out when he gets into the league---sure. The draft is not an exact science, and that could happen to any player selected. But if we don't take him and somebody else in the NFC does, especially somebody in our division, we're going to get our QB killed.................Bradford that is..................OK, let me reassess............maybe he does belong on Seattle or SF......

 

[Vitamike]

I don't think he will be any sort of a bust. He my not impress going against Pros on every snap but I'm just not sure if our roster is ready to select the BPA even if he is. Especially picking the BPA with the No. 2 pick overall. It just seems to make sense to draft need that early in the draft. Nothing but studs in the top 10 so who's to really say one is clearly the BPA over another.

 

[jacobarch]

You also have remember that Chris played LDE in college. Less of a pass rushing specialist and more of an an every down player.

 

[zeke2829]

you don't have to worry. Houston is smart enough to take him #1 overall. we will never get a chance to draft him! He will instantly become their best d-lineman.

 

[RoboticDreams]

you don't have to worry. Houston is smart enough to take him #1 overall. we will never get a chance to draft him! He will instantly become their best d-lineman.

Lol, better than Watt, the best, most dominant defensive lineman in football?

 

[zeke2829]

Lol, better than Watt, the best, most dominant defensive lineman in football?

++

 

[BOSS429Mustang]

Lol, better than Watt, the best, most dominant defensive lineman in football?

Watt who?? Oh, I'm sorry. I must have forgotten his name after Robert Quinn just sacked your QB for the 11th time this game.......

 

[mutigers1fan]

Glad I'm not the only one thinking Clowney s overrated. Sure he's good but he's just more flashy than some other guys (Long included) and that's why he's rated so much higher than they were.

 

[mutigers1fan]

Then again Long was taken #2 by the Rams so I guess Clowney going #2 would not be a reach at all, I just feel like he's more hyped. That may be a result of the hype machines being bigger than they were 6 years ago.

 

[Caynine29]

I just don't get the hype surrounding Clowney. Calling him the best prospect in the draft this year is one thing. But how on Earth did he get this "once in a generation" label?? You mean to tell me we already know he's better than Michael Strahan, Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, Aldon Smith or Robert Quinn? All because of some gaudy combine numbers??

Aside from the fact that he is a bit overhyped (what draft prospect isn't these days), I wouldn't have a problem with drafting Clowney at all... if we needed him. It's the machine that confuses me. Not the player. There's no doubt he's a good player. But, the thought of drafting one guy that high based solely on potential (or,whatever Mel Kiper Jr or some other random "draft guru" says), to replace a guy who's already producing at a high level in the NFL, when there are other holes to be filled, just sounds like a dangerous game to play and smacks more of catering to the fans, than the best interest of the team.

 

[Caynine29]

Then again Long was taken #2 by the Rams so I guess Clowney going #2 would not be a reach at all, I just feel like he's more hyped. That may be a result of the hype machines being bigger than they were 6 years ago.

The Rams took Chris Long at #2 in 2008, because it actually made sense to do so. At the time, all we had for starting DEs, were an over-the-hill Leonard Little and free agent retread James Hall, who combined for a whopping 3.5 sacks the year prior. Chris Long had a great college career, a great combine and never had a single question mark regarding his work ethic. And as we can all see, it was absolutely the right pick at the time.

Drafting Clowney now, would be sort of like like drafting Darren McFadden back in '08, instead of Chris Long, to replace a 24 year old Steven Jackson, fresh off of his 3rd straight 1000+ yard season.

 

[jacobarch]

I just don't get the hype surrounding Clowney. Calling him the best prospect in the draft this year is one thing. But how on Earth did he get this "once in a generation" label?? You mean to tell me we already know he's better than Michael Strahan, Julius Peppers, Jared Allen, Aldon Smith or Robert Quinn? All because of some gaudy combine numbers??

Aside from the fact that he is a bit overhyped (what draft prospect isn't these days), I wouldn't have a problem with drafting Clowney at all... if we needed him. It's the machine that confuses me. Not the player. There's no doubt he's a good player. But, the thought of drafting one guy that high based solely on potential (or,whatever Mel Kiper Jr or some other random "draft guru" says), to replace a guy who's already producing at a high level in the NFL, when there are other holes to be filled, just sounds like a dangerous game to play and smacks more of catering to the fans, than the best interest of the team.

 

[bluepigpen]

 

[Retroram52]

I'm joining that bandwagon.

 

[mutigers1fan]

I'm right there with ya caynine, I don't think he's a reach at 2 but seeing as the Rams don't need him trading makes perfect sense.

 

[zeke2829]

The Rams took Chris Long at #2 in 2008, because it actually made sense to do so. At the time, all we had for starting DEs, were an over-the-hill Leonard Little and free agent retread James Hall, who combined for a whopping 3.5 sacks the year prior. Chris Long had a great college career, a great combine and never had a single question mark regarding his work ethic. And as we can all see, it was absolutely the right pick at the time.

Drafting Clowney now, would be sort of like like drafting Darren McFadden back in '08, instead of Chris Long, to replace a 24 year old Steven Jackson, fresh off of his 3rd straight 1000+ yard season.

This is to all of you Clowney Nay Sayers.....

You tend to forget. There is a VERY GOOD CHANCE that Chris Long could be a CAP casualty next year. How long has he been on this team now?? What, only 8.5 sacks last year?? How many did Quinn have??

You got to take in consideration his contract. He is under contract through 2016. This year (in 2014) CL is scheduled to make a whopping $14,900,000(yes, that millions). Only 2nd highest behind SAMMY. Sure he took a pay cut last year (by restructuring) in order to help the team. So yes he will be rewarded in 2014 for doing so. In 2015 he is scheduled to make $11,500,000, in 2016- $13,250,000. So yes... this year he is the 2nd HIGHEST paid guy on the team.

You gotta ask yourself, do you think he is he really worth this in 2015(no way we cut him this year)?? Oh and don't forget the guy on the other side of the line(Quinn) is going to need a new contract next year as well. So IMO (which in case I don't believe any of you care to hear) Les Snead will strongly consider Chris Long a CAP casualty at the end of 2014. Yep that's right, there is a VERY GOOD CHANCE that CL could be CUT at this seasons end. Don't believe me? Look at his CAP numbers.

2014- CAP# hit = $14,900,000, dead money=$17,900,000 (no way we cut him this year)
2015- CAP# hit = $11,500,000, dead money=$3,000,000 (cap savings of $8,500,000) could be used to pay Quinn
2016- CAP# hit=$13,250,000, dead money=$1,500,000 (he will definitely be cut by this time)

So that my fellow RAM buddies if we draft CLowney, or any DE for that matter, could be CL's replacement.

 

[Clayton]

Clowney is partially a product of the ESPN highlight hype machine. He obviously isnt a once in a generation talent. He is, however, far and away the best 4-3 DE prospect in this draft. After him, its converting Mack for DE who isn't a perfect fit, Kony Ealy who is more of a balanced dline prospect and not an elite pass rusher and Dee Ford who is much older and not giving you much against the run. So Clowney is worthy of some of the hype.

The 2011 NFL draft will go down as one of the best, if not the best, defensive draft ever. Clowney is not better than Von Miller, Robert Quinn and Aldon Smith but he is somewhere in that ballpark.

But lets be honest about this comparison: Chris Long is 29. Clowney is 21. Clowney has better height and arm length and a better vertical. He'll be more explosive than Long even if the fundamentals aren't there yet

 

[BOSS429Mustang]

This is to all of you Clowney Nay Sayers.....

You tend to forget. There is a VERY GOOD CHANCE that Chris Long could be a CAP casualty next year. How long has he been on this team now?? What, only 8.5 sacks last year?? How many did Quinn have??

You got to take in consideration his contract. He is under contract through 2016. This year (in 2014) CL is scheduled to make a whopping $14,900,000(yes, that millions). Only 2nd highest behind SAMMY. Sure he took a pay cut last year (by restructuring) in order to help the team. So yes he will be rewarded in 2014 for doing so. In 2015 he is scheduled to make $11,500,000, in 2016- $13,250,000. So yes... this year he is the 2nd HIGHEST paid guy on the team.

You gotta ask yourself, do you think he is he really worth this in 2015(no way we cut him this year)?? Oh and don't forget the guy on the other side of the line(Quinn) is going to need a new contract next year as well. So IMO (which in case I don't believe any of you care to hear) Les Snead will strongly consider Chris Long a CAP casualty at the end of 2014. Yep that's right, there is a VERY GOOD CHANCE that CL could be CUT at this seasons end. Don't believe me? Look at his CAP numbers.

2014- CAP# hit = $14,900,000, dead money=$17,900,000 (no way we cut him this year)
2015- CAP# hit = $11,500,000, dead money=$3,000,000 (cap savings of $8,500,000) could be used to pay Quinn
2016- CAP# hit=$13,250,000, dead money=$1,500,000 (he will definitely be cut by this time)

So that my fellow RAM buddies if we draft CLowney, or any DE for that matter, could be CL's replacement.

This is a good point Zeke. And at this time I don't think there is anybody that would rather have Chris Long instead of Robert Quinn. Long is a good leader on defense....when he's not jumping off-sides, and a good locker room presence, but sooner or later the physical skills start to erode. It's a business. He'll probably have to renegotiate or be replaced.

 

[icefreeze57]

Clowney played for a better team, more attention