David Clowney: If Not Now, When?
Everyone who follows the Jets closely wants to know when will David Clowney get his chance to see some playing time? Two weeks ago, it looked likely with both Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery being banged up, but it didn’t happen and the Jets were left with their usual activations: Coles, Cotchery, Smith, Stuckey and Wright.
Mangini said yesterday on the receivers that “it’s tough to bring six wideouts to a game and have roles for all of them. Usually the [fourth and fifth wide receiver] play certain roles on special teams because of their body type. When you add six in there, there’s only so many of those spots, those body-type spots. Then you have to make a decision of, is his anticipated contribution on offense great enough to offset the uncertainty with his performance on special teams?”
So, right now Clowney is just the unfortunate odd man out. Still learning the offense, down the depth chart, and not exactly the right fit for activation based on special teams needs. At 6′0″ 188lbs, Clowney is also doesn’t fit the normal NFL WR mold. If you run his Body Mass and Height numbers, he doesn’t fit into any of four typically successful (see this years Pro Football Prospectus for more) body groupings for WRs .
Clowney is a player who if he continues to learn and grow in this offense, could jump to a larger role. I do think that he’ll see some playing time this year, but it might not be for a few more weeks, barring an injury to another wideout.
The fact that through all their injuries and shuffling, the Jets have refused to budge and either put Clowney on the Injured Reserve or cut him loose to land on the practice squad says volumes. They don’t want to expose him to the waiver process, they don’t want to risk him getting lifted by another team, but with the many veterans that the team has, they’ve been able to keep him safe.
[Clowney around, just not suiting up for Jets ESPN]
[Clowney Waiting to Play Journal News]
[Clowney Wating for His Chance Newsday]
Well, assuming Franks and Mason are inactive again, that means that only two TE’s and RB’s will be dressed, so why not activate an extra WR?
Re. not putting him on IR – I don’t understand this obsession people have with roster space – have we cut or passed up on any star players because we don’t have enough space? As it is, we have eight players inactive every week, and most of them are marginal, other than Clowney and Nugent.
Clowney is the backups backup. That the Jets don’t mind that says volumns as well. He’ll put on mass and be ready if needed. Seems like a sound plan to me!
I’d love to see him get on the field, if the coaches feel that Favre has the arm strength to throw long and the OL can protect.
I would sit Stuckey for a week and see what Clowney has. Stuckey looks like a nice slot receiver but, Clowney might be a downfield threat. If he is, we could use him to open up the middle of the field. After his pre-season performance, I want to see him play.
i agree what the jets thinking, start clowney and see what he has.
Clowney not having fitting the normal WR mold? He’s 6′ 188 Coles is 5′11 4lbs heavier, Stuckey 3lbs lighter same height, It looks like your saying Brad Smith is the closest to fitting this mold, and personally don’t think he’s that good of a player. I think the main reason he isn’t seeing PT is the fact he broke his collar bone and that takes time to fully heal and kept him out of practice for a while.