University of South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney didn’t have his best game against the University of North Carolina last Thursday. Apparently he had a stomach virus and ate only grapes and bananas prior to the sixth-ranked Gamecocks season opener – which accounted for several missed plays and what appeared to be less-than-100-percent effort on the snaps he did take.
Of course Clowney – who registered no sacks and only three tackles against the Tar Heels – still wreaked havoc. He was double-teamed on virtually every play, and UNC head coach Larry Fedora spent the entire game running his offense away from the 6-foot-6, 274-pound All-American.
As a result an explosive unit led by a veteran quarterback which averaged 40.6 points and 485.6 per game in 2012 (second only to Clemson in the ACC in both categories) was held to just 10 points and 293 yards.
But given the hype surrounding Clowney following his near-decapitation of Michigan running back Vincent Smith in the 2013 Outback Bowl (a.k.a. the most famous sports highlight ever), his performance out of the gate in 2013 underwhelmed. In fact Clowney plummeted from first to sixth on ESPN’s Heisman Watch following the first weekend of college football action.
That’s why this weekend’s game against No. 11/12 Georgia is so critical.
Sure it’s a huge game from the standpoint of each team’s postseason dreams (it always is) – but this year it’s even bigger for Clowney, who officially has something to prove for the first time in a long time.
We think he will answer the bell…
In fact assuming Clowney is at full-speed – and assuming Georgia’s offensive line is as porous as it was against Clemson – Saturday’s showdown in Athens, Georgia could be something truly special for Gamecock fans.
12 comments
He was called out as “phony” on ESPN yesterday, which likely made UGA’s coaching staff cringe.
The fact is, if the stomach virus was merely an excuse for being out of shape (which is a rumor going around). One week of extra effort isn’t going to put him back in the shape where he was last year. Clowney stated that he was in the best shape of his life prior to last week, but then we hear about how he’s sitting out of practice, not getting the reps in practice and practicing not at full speed. Saturday will answer a lot of questions about his health and conditioning.
True, one week does not a football player make.
It’s show and tell time. I hope he really did have a virus and was under the weather because he sure looked out of shape. For his sake I’d rather it be that, than him not having respect for the game, you know, a Silva moment.
He’s a big man with a lot of muscle mass. Even in shape, he’s going to gas when he plays as ferociously as he tried to do in the early part of the game. He just needs to relax and pace himself better.
Someone has been reading all those sport “stories” to him. He believed them.
hell, the first…FIRST thing they said on GameDay Saturday morning, Fowler asked the rest of the guys if they were well rested so they wouldn’t get gassed halfway through the show, like Clowney did Thursday night…ugh.
delete double post
Ok, having trouble with this disquis. Anyway, problem wasn’t his lack of effort but rather he tried too hard in the first quarter. Like a fighter going after a 1st round KO, he spent all his adrenaline and energy early in the game trying to make plays that would justify all the hype he received. He can’t sack the QB or decapitate a RB on every play. He just needs to relax and pace himself better like he did in 2011 and 2012.
The story out of the locker room this week is that Clowney’s locker had to be rebuilt after he destroyed it while promising to do the same to Murray regardless of the “zebras”. This should be epic, it will take all of Jawga’s left side O line to shut Clowney down and that means the rest of our defense will eat Murray’s lunch. When they shift to protect the right, Clowney will feast.
28-20 Cocks!
Care to elaborate now?
It was really special for the Gamecocks! ba ha ha ha!!!
How about Ron Morris at the State?
http://deadspin.com/reporter-who-was-critical-of-steve-spurrier-replaced-by-1296297209