Mentorship of Wilfork, Joseph helps DE mature into Pro Bowler
During his tour of NRG Stadium and the Texans’ facilities in March 2015, nose tackle Vince Wilfork visited with members of the organization.
Wilfork, a twotime Super Bowl champion with New England, was an 11-year veteran looking for a new home as a free agent. At one point, he met Jadeveon Clowney, who was recovering from microfracture surgery on his knee.
“Before I even signed,” Wilfork said Tuesday, “I walked into the training room, and he was in there doing rehab. I said, ‘I’m not coming here unless you’re committed to being the best.’ He said, ‘I am.’ I said, ‘OK,’ and then I signed here.”
From the moment he put pen to paper, Wilfork has taken a special interest in Clowney. Wilfork’s
influence made a positive impact on Clowney and helped the third-year defensive end earn his first trip to the Pro Bowl, excel in the wild-card victory over Oakland, and put him on the doorstep of a divisional playoff game at New England.
“When I came here, they were like, ‘Hey, make sure you’re leaning on him, talking to him, teaching him,’ ” Wilfork said. “I saw potential. He was just raw.
“He needed to understand how to be a professional and what it’s going to take to be at his best. I think he understands that.”
Clowney said Tuesday that two teammates have helped him the most — Wilfork on the field and cornerback Johnathan Joseph off the field.
Carolina connection
Joseph and Clowney grew up in Rock Hill, S.C., and played at the University of South Carolina. Clowney said Joseph — 9 years older — has been like a big brother to him.
Wilfork has been like a coach, nurturing and prodding Clowney. Wilfork provides advice to go with pats on the back and kicks in the butt — whatever he believes No. 90 needs at the time.
“Sometimes you have to figure out how you can get greatness out of people,” Wilfork said. “I held him accountable. The biggest thing with JD is he grew up and matured.
“Sometimes you need some time to grow up. Some people come in the game already matured. Some people take time. He’s grown a lot.”
Clowney has admitted it’s taken him time to mature on and off the field. Now he’s healthy and playing the way just about everyone predicted when he entered the NFL draft after his junior year.
Athleticism in action
Wilfork, who’s expected to retire after the season, gets a lot of satisfaction seeing Clowney make game-changing plays like his interception against the Raiders on Saturday.
“(That) was a huge play,” Wilfork said. “Just shows how athletic he is and how he read that play. You’re going to need plays like that from your top players at this level of the season to have a chance.
“I think he figured out how much he means to this team. He’s been making plays like we always knew he could.”
Wilfork watched Clowney struggle through last season as an outside linebacker and make a successful transition to right end this season. It was a switch Clowney didn’t want to make but did for the good of the team.
Wilfork helped the transition that has been more successful than even Clowney envisioned when he had to drop down into a three-point stance and line up over left tackles who are usually the opponent’s best and most athletic blockers.
“He’s a matchup disaster,” Wilfork said. “You have to account for him with different formations. As he grows and continues to play the game, he’ll have to understand how teams are going to attack, not just line up and try to block him one-on-one anymore.
“He can’t take a step back. We’ve seen it. He proved it to us. Next year, it won’t be that easy. Now you have to take your game to another level. You have to start (by) being more detailed.”
Back to Gillette
Wilfork and Clowney will play important roles against the Patriots. The Texans are 16-point underdogs, which should insult them and embarrass them. But it’s understandable considering the problems they’ve had with their passing game and their performances at New England.
Wilfork knows his career could end where it began — at Gillette Stadium.
“I’m very grateful for my career,” he said. “I don’t regret anything. I had a chance to play in some big games. I lost some big games. I’ve been on both sides, and losing sucks. I don’t care if it’s playoffs, preseason, regular season or Super Bowl.
“Being a competitor, you always want to win every game. I’ve done a lot of winning. Hopefully, we can continue to win. You play to have a chance. We’re in the position to have a chance.”