Chris Clemons not practicing again. Did the position battle settle itself?

Does not bode well for him starting this week I'd think. As for the rest of the season, I doubt that'll be settled for a long while.

As you stated, if you don't practice, you don't play. If Clemons isn't able to practice, it seems obvious that Jones should get the start this week. Since he will be defending against one of the top two QB's in the NFL, this game should certainly help determine if Jones has what it takes to be a starting safety in the NFL. If he has a good game and is able to hold up against Brady, this will probably elevate him to the starting position when Clemons returns from whatever injury he has now. I personally like the fact that Clemons doesn't make mental mistakes and he is faster than Jones. Jones on the other hand tends to make more plays on the ball.
If Jones starts, it is up to him to convince the coaches that he is the better long term answer at safety. If he suffers mental errors and Brady is able to exploit Jones for big plays. I suspect Clemons will be starting once again when he returns to full health. It appears that with Clemons injury, Jones has his big opportunity. It is up to him to make the most of this opportunity.

It's only Tuesday. If Clemons is the starter, then he can get back to practicing by tomorrow and be fine. Hell, I think there is precedent for him to be practicing full by Thursday and be fine to play the game.

If he is still hurt after the Pats game I wonder if they put him on the pup list and bring back Allen since that makes it where Allens game checks will be week to week

"jw3102 wrote:

As you stated, if you don't practice, you don't play. If Clemons isn't able to practice, it seems obvious that Jones should get the start this week. Since he will be defending against one of the top two QB's in the NFL, this game should certainly help determine if Jones has what it takes to be a starting safety in the NFL. If he has a good game and is able to hold up against Brady, this will probably elevate him to the starting position when Clemons returns from whatever injury he has now. I personally like the fact that Clemons doesn't make mental mistakes and he is faster than Jones. Jones on the other hand tends to make more plays on the ball.
If Jones starts, it is up to him to convince the coaches that he is the better long term answer at safety. If he suffers mental errors and Brady is able to exploit Jones for big plays. I suspect Clemons will be starting once again when he returns to full health. It appears that with Clemons injury, Jones has his big opportunity. It is up to him to make the most of this opportunity.

The most impressive thing I got from Jones and the preseason was a burst odf speed that I did not know was there, and a very nice and nasty disposition...I'am a clemons fan, but this kid intrigues me..

Does anyone know what clemons injury is.?

Jones doesn't present a favorable matchup with NE's talent and experience.

"Ozzy wrote:

If he is still hurt after the Pats game I wonder if they put him on the pup list and bring back Allen since that makes it where Allens game checks will be week to week

Not possible, the PUP doesn't work that way.

"NaboCane wrote:

Jones doesn't present a favorable matchup with NE's talent and experience.

imo, Chris Clemons has become a vastly underrated football player by his own fans..

"Stitches wrote:

Not possible, the PUP doesn't work that way.

Then they should consider putting him on the cut his (_)_) list if he cant play

"Ozzy wrote:

Then they should consider putting him on the cut his (_)_) list if he cant play

Wouldn't the IR just make more sense?

Only if you plan on having him available for next year. IR means you're season is over.

"Conuficus wrote:

Only if you plan on having him available for next year. IR means you're season is over.

Yea I know. But as opposed to Ozzy's impossible PUP scenario or just cutting him, I don't know why you don't just put him on the IR if he is going to miss extended time.

"djphinfan wrote:

imo, Chris Clemons has become a vastly underrated football player by his own fans..

There's nothing underrated about him. When was the last time he made a play on the ball? He's usually out of position, and his speed allows him to recover quickly enough to make it appear as if he's doing something right.

If he's so underrated, why is there a safety battle in the first place?

C'mon, Clemons has missed a couple of practices and you guys want to castrate him too ?? Naturally we will not find out the injury or extent of said because of the super secret, spy network that would run and tell BB if they found out. If this is more of an injury than they are letting on, we'll know soon enough. Clemons hasn't made anyone forget Ed Reed as neither has Jones, so this is all much ado about nothing...

Beings that S is our weakest link on the D though, this could hurt some if he's out for the game. Also remember we have a full week before we play...so there's still time...

"finsincebirth wrote:

Wouldn't the IR just make more sense?

Well for some it might but my plan would be look to replace him.

The one weakness of the defense? Safety and the 4th Cb might be right behind that...

"Larryfinfan wrote:

C'mon, Clemons has missed a couple of practices and you guys want to castrate him too ?? Naturally we will not find out the injury or extent of said because of the super secret, spy network that would run and tell BB if they found out. If this is more of an injury than they are letting on, we'll know soon enough. Clemons hasn't made anyone forget Ed Reed as neither has Jones, so this is all much ado about nothing...

Beings that S is our weakest link on the D though, this could hurt some if he's out for the game. Also remember we have a full week before we play...so there's still time...

I dont want to castrate him. Replace him maybe but leave his webo's alone

"Desides wrote:

There's nothing underrated about him. When was the last time he made a play on the ball? He's usually out of position, and his speed allows him to recover quickly enough to make it appear as if he's doing something right.

If he's so underrated, why is there a safety battle in the first place?

That's not what I noticed. There's a reason we haven't given up many big plays last year. Clemons is usually in position and on top of that, is good in run support.

Reshad Jones's is talented too, thus the reason for the competition. He's more of a ball hawk than Clemons.

"Anonymous wrote:

That's not what I noticed. There's a reason we haven't given up many big plays last year.

Er… were we watching the same defense? The one that rolled over for tight ends in general and the Patriots offense in specific?

Clemons is usually in position and on top of that, is good in run support.

He's not usually in position, and whether or not he's good in run support isn't very important to me, especially since he plays free safety.

"Desides wrote:

Er… were we watching the same defense? The one that rolled over for tight ends in general and the Patriots offense in specific?

He's not usually in position, and whether or not he's good in run support isn't very important to me, especially since he plays free safety.

Yeremiah Bell and Sean Smith were usually the ones covering the Tight Ends. Not sure what your watching, honestly.

Your main issue with him is he doesn't grab 8 interceptions a year like Ed Reed. As of right now, we do not have a FS like that. We do have a solid FS that doesn't make mistakes, tackles well and is good in run support. That's fine in my book.

"Anonymous wrote:

Yeremiah Bell and Sean Smith were usually the ones covering the Tight Ends. Not sure what your watching, honestly.

Your main issue with him is he doesn't grab 8 interceptions a year like Ed Reed. As of right now, we do not have a FS like that. We do have a solid FS that doesn't make mistakes, tackles well and is good in run support. That's fine in my book.

Having a safety that makes plays is becoming an important part of the defense as offenses continue shifting heavily toward the pass. Not a coincidence that we are seeing guys like Sharper, Collins, Reed and Polamalu front and center in recent years during the playoffs and Super Bowl, and why a guy like Berry was a top pick last year. We can have one safety (Bell) be average and decently solid. We need the other to get his hands on the ball and make something happen.

Clemons has shown 0 ability to make a play, either so far in the pros or in his college years.

"texanphinatic wrote:

Having a safety that makes plays is becoming an important part of the defense as offenses continue shifting heavily toward the pass. Not a coincidence that we are seeing guys like Sharper, Collins, Reed and Polamalu front and center in recent years during the playoffs and Super Bowl, and why a guy like Berry was a top pick last year. We can have one safety (Bell) be average and decently solid. We need the other to get his hands on the ball and make something happen.

Clemons has shown 0 ability to make a play, either so far in the pros or in his college years.

I agree with that, but as of right now, we don't have that. We have to play with what we have. Chris Clemons is a solid safety. He won't be among the league leaders in turn overs, but he won't kill you on defense the way Gibril Wilson did, too.

For years having a play making S was not prioritized in the NFL. I remember Bill Walsh listed a play making S and a pass rusher as his most important defensive positions 20+ years ago, but few others did. Even now you often hear CB as the more important position, but I disagree. CBs are too easy to avoid or the offense. But a S can be anywhere. In fact, if you look at SB winning teams and see which positions they most often have pro bowlers at, you'll find QB, LT, WR and S at the top of the list. Pass rusher isn't listed as it's not a position and it's split between OLB and DE depending on the scheme.

"Anonymous wrote:

Yeremiah Bell and Sean Smith were usually the ones covering the Tight Ends. Not sure what your watching, honestly.

Right, that's sort of the point I'm making about our safeties in general, not just Clemons in specific: they're not very good.

Your main issue with him is he doesn't grab 8 interceptions a year like Ed Reed.

"Doesn't make plays on the ball" isn't code for "doesn't rack up INTs." My main issue with him is that he's usually nowhere near the ball like a free safety should be until it's already in the receiver's hands. I actually don't want an Ed Reed type, I want an Eric Berry or a Quintin Mikell type.

"Desides wrote:

Right, that's sort of the point I'm making about our safeties in general, not just Clemons in specific: they're not very good.

"Doesn't make plays on the ball" isn't code for "doesn't rack up INTs." My main issue with him is that he's usually nowhere near the ball like a free safety should be until it's already in the receiver's hands. I actually don't want an Ed Reed type, I want an Eric Berry or a Quintin Mikell type.

We added Burnett to help with the coverage of Tight ends this season. Clemons really has nothing to do with the Tight Ends. I believe Sean Smith and Yeremiah Bell are usually the ones handling them.

I would like if Clemons forced some turnovers, too. However, just because he doesn't, doesn't mean he's not a solid FS and isn't underrated.

Also, Mikell doesn't really rack up interceptions, either. His career high is 3. I think Clemons is capable of 3 interceptions.