HE’S GONE PLAID!
There’s light speed, ridiculous speed, ludicrous speed … and now “Jadeveon speed.”
Former University of South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing fast 4.53 seconds (officially) at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this week – but a weaker-than-expected performance on the bench press (and his decision to sit out several agility drills) left some scouts scratching their heads about the potential No. 1 pick’s work ethic.
Clowney declined to participate in several position-specific field drills that tested his lateral and change-of-direction movement. Initial reports referenced Clowney possibly having a hip flexor, but the 6-foot-6, 266-pound former All-American said he planned all along to perform those drills prior to the draft in April.
“I just told them I really didn’t feel like doing it here,” Clowney said. “I was practicing working on my (40-yard dash), I mean, on my combine work, and I just felt like I could do it on my pro day.”
He’ll get a chance to perform those field drills at his official workout in Columbia, S.C. on April 2.
While Clowney’s speed matched that of several top wide receivers attending the combine (unheard of for a guy his size), he was a bit of a disappointment in the strength department. Clowney bench pressed 225 pounds only 21 times. By comparison, 2006 No. 1 draft pick Mario Williams bench pressed 225 pounds 35 times.
Even a punter from Miami attending the combine outdid Clowney on the bench press … scoring 23 repetitions.
Still, that speed …
Unofficially, Clowney was clocked a 4.47 and 4.48 in the 40-yard-draft at the combine – including a ridiculously fast 10-yard split of 1.56 seconds (demonstrating his explosiveness off the line). Clowney also wowed scouts with a 37.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot-5-inch broad jump.
“Put him at wide receiver,” one NFL analyst quipped.
Clowney finished his three-year career at South Carolina with 47 tackles for losses and 24 sacks. Oh yeah, and “the hit.”
While some scouts question
35 comments
Does he sell it by the spoon?
I doubt it. But the USuCks on this forum can’t get their mouths around all of his
big cock.
Carolina has beaten Clemson five years in a row.
and the Clemsux on here can’t wait to blow everyone on their own team even though they cant win. High 5! #clemsoning
Gonna miss JD. Gonna miss Taj more.
You can look at his chest and know he’s weak on upper body strength.
I spoke with a friend of his also playing ball who was busted down from USC for taking cash. He spoke of his “easy going” work ethic, and he’s a friend!
Wide Receiver? Hell, he’s tight end material. Even with a mediocre work ethic his freak genes would make him deadly at tight end.
I don’t think he has the work ethic to add the weight(in muscle) he’d need to play DE and he’s too tall for LB.
He’d probably dominate as a NFL TE.
First, Clowney’s arms are ridiculously long. Of the 10 or so players with arms that long at the Combine, Clowney was within 3 reps of all but 2 of them. Robert Quinn did 22 at the combine with 34 in arms (Clowney’s are 34.5 in) and was far less impressive in the other drills. Certainly did not limit his play in the NFL.
Second, Clowney has great core strength, as noted by former NFL DL Stephen White in his scouting profile. He never gets knocked down.
You’ve made some good points, but “he never gets knocked down” is going to change at the NFL level if he doesn’t improve his upper body strength.
You really can’t rely on scouting at the college level at all times to know what translates at the NFL level when EVERYONE is big, strong, & fast.
Usually it’s the work ethic and other abstracts that start to separate athlete’s at that level. Sure, there’s the occasional freak gener that even surpasses his peers in the NFL…but it’s usually the hard work and development that makes the HOF’s.
I still don’t see Clowney having the strength currently for DE in the NFL…and I’m suspect of his work ethic in developing the necessary strength.
His bench was basically the same as Robert Quinn’s and was much higher than Warren Sapp’s was going into the NFL. Things worked out pretty well for them in the NFL.
And the reports at USC were always that his other strength measurements were off the charts. He did 350 lbs in the power clean at USC, which was the highest number on the team and is an impressive amount by any standard.Linked below is another measure of explosive power where Clowney is just in a league of his own.
If he fails, it will be because he does not play hard enough or lacks the work ethic necessary to learn a more varied set of pass rushing moves. It will have nothing to do with his bench press numbers.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/22278381/freaks-list-the-20-craziest-athletes-in-college-football
Has RT been invited back by FITS for a follow-up to tell us why D’Quan Bowers under-achieved, but JD met, and maybe exceeded expectations…when he predicted the opposite??????
Remember FITS thought RT was so cute, and on the money in his bashing of JD, before JD even got started. Yet the two gushed over D’Quan…
And that is SO typical if these “experts”….like so much local media, bass-ackward media…
He is still DAMN GOOD — and will be one to watch when the season starts.
Hey Squishy, I am writing on here first so your little punk ass cant say I am “following you around”. You also accused me of “wanting you to acknowledge my posts”, as I told you then , and will say it again I ask for nothing, and don’t care if you do or not so any reply by you would make you following me, and acknowledging it all on your own. I wonder what he will do? We all know he is too blind in jealousy and hatred of USC to ignore this, and too stupid to just go away. So will he, or will he just hide his BS opinion no one asked for, wanted, or reads, on another thread, even though that still would be like a reply. Sorry little pussy, seems you got beat like your team (that you claim you don’t pull for).
4.53 is good, real good
Will do a 4.21 from his wheels to the bank counter when he goes to deposit his signing bonus
Will do a 10.83 from the field to the bench where he will sit most of the season until he is released
Ha! Brilliant shit as usual.
Even if that were true, it would still be more money on that one deposit than you will ever make in your whole life. I guess we understand now why guys like you hate on him huh?
Money – don’t care for it too much
Have enough – life is comfortable
Hate is a big endeavor – don’t have time for it
POS’s – world is full of them – most of them named terry
So your position is that not only will he get benched his first season, he will then get released that offseason?
No, his position is down on his knees.
Still a POS
Still on down on your knees
Still a POS
Quit talking with that in your mouth.
Still a POS
Here’s a tissue, wipe that off your chin
Yes and No
No, he will bench himself and Yes whatever team drafts him will let him go before season 2 starts
He could be the biggest bust in NFL draft history and there is still zero chance that the team picking him would release him after one year for anything to do with his on the field performance. It would be too embarrassing. Jamarcus Russell hung on for 3 years.
You went full retard, man. Never go full retard.
If the weather is nice and we are both still able to type, get in touch prior to the beginning of the 2015 season and if you are right then all the wings and beer you can down are on me at BOB’s
As for the embarrassment angle I don’t believe anyone in the NFL can be embarrassed – they still let Dallas stay in the league
Point to a single top 10 pick that was released after his rookie year without some off the field incident. I doubt it has happened in the 30+ years I have been following the NFL.
Good Point
Always a first time for everything – Obama proved that
Clowney as part of the jumbo package as a tight end… it could happen.
Prediction: JD is selling cars at a Columbia Honda dealer within 3 years.
I will you bet that double-wide you call your house on that.
Yes, Carolina has had some pretty sorry players over the last five years.
JD working at JD Byrider? Seems appropriate on all levels.
I guess then he would still be Tajh Boyd’s boss