Corralling Wilson key for Clowney, defense
Seattle scrambler still a formidable escape artist
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is one of the supreme escape artists in the game, a master of the art form of scrambling.
It’s Pro Bowl pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney’s job to trap Wilson in the pocket, a critical task that looms large in the Texans’ road game Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
Wilson has been sacked just 14 times this season despite an offensive line that has drawn criticism after allowing him to be sacked 41 times last season and a career-high 45 times two years ago.
Wilson already has rushed for 164 yards and one touchdown this season.
For Clowney and the Texans’ front seven, chasing down Wilson involves maintaining disciplined paths and rush lanes to avoid him being able to scamper away for first downs or buy time to find his targets downfield.
“You don’t want to run by him because he’s going to escape outside,” Clowney said. “You really want to kind of press the pocket and just really try to keep him in there, let him come to you. Don’t try to force anything. It’s going to be hard, but I think we can get it done if everybody comes to play.”
Wilson is compact, quick and smart. He’s completed 64.6 percent of his throws for his career for 19,759 yards, 138 touchdowns and 48 interceptions for a career 99.3 passer rating.
He’s the fastest quarterback to reach 50 victories in NFL history. And he has rushed for 2,853 yards and 14 career touchdowns.
“This guy can run, make all the throws in the pocket, outside the pocket,” Clowney said. “It’s going to be a tough game. We have to bring it.”
That’s what Clowney does. The former top overall pick from South Carolina plays the game with a relentless nature, hustling to track down quarterbacks and running backs in the open field. Effort isn’t something the Texans have to coach with Clowney.
Moving up the charts
Clowney has 22 tackles for losses in his past 20 games, tying him for the sixth most in the NFL with Telvin Smith during that span to rank behind Chandler Jones, Aaron Donald, Cameron Jordan, Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.
“The thing he does a great job of is he plays very hard,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said of Clowney. “He’s hard to handle because of how hard he plays on Sundays, and that’s been the key for him and that’s what has to continue, and I know it will continue.”
Clowney has 19 tackles this season and is tied with middle linebacker Benardrick McKinney with a team-high six tackles for losses. He leads the team with two fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown. He has three sacks to lead the team.
The Texans line Clowney up all over the field, including outside linebacker and end. In the past, they have even lined him up inside as a tackle to allow him to shoot through gaps to penetrate the backfield.
“I think he’s got great instincts,” Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel said. “I think he understands. He’s coachable. He’s a smart player. I think he recognizes formations and kind of what teams are trying to do to him sometimes.”
Emerged last season
After battling injuries his first few seasons, Clowney emerged as a dangerous threat last season when he recorded a career-high six sacks, 16 tackles for losses, 17 quarterback hits and 52 tackles in 14 games.
“I play hard,” Clowney said. “Every snap go hard, run hard, run to the ball. Good things happens when you run to the ball. I think our defense prides ourselves on that, running to the ball, getting to the ball, 11 guys to the ball. That’s what we do. I think it’s going to continue. It’s not going to stop.”
What won’t stop either is offenses tilting their blocking schemes to try to contain Clowney.
Over the past two games, including a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs during which the Texans lost Watt and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus for the season due to a fractured leg and torn pectoral, respectively, Clowney has been held to a combined six tackles, one quarterback hit and one pass defensed.
Are offenses changing their schemes dramatically to concentrate on Clowney?
“No, not really,” O’Brien said. “It’s hard to do that against us I think because we’re a multiple defense. … It would be difficult to just try to locate him on every play because he’s not in the same spot all the time.”
Shadowing Wilson
The Texans know where Wilson will begin the play, though, either under center or lined up in the shotgun formation. Where the elusive quarterback will end the play is always difficult to predict.
Wilson once rushed for 122 yards in a 2014 game. This year, he has been selective about when he takes off and primarily has operated from the pocket to pass for 1,556 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions for a 96.1 passer rating.
“I think Russell creates a lot of plays running around in the pocket,” Clowney said. “He makes a lot of good throws on the run and this week we’re going to have to do a lot of containing him, trying to keep him in the pocket.”