Am I the only one not that concerned about Clemons?

[amill87]

Let me start by saying it's never a good thing to lose a player to injury and especially a starter but...

I'm just not that worried about losing Clemons. I've never been that high on him, I feel a lot of what he does is based off the position he plays. He has become a good run defender but he only had 3.5 more sacks than Irvin and Clemons has played the most snaps among any d-line man and Irvin played a lot less.

Clemons plays the ultimate pass rush position. He almost always will get one on ones because he will always line up on the weakside. His primary job is just to rush the passer like a wild banshee about 90% of the time.

Maybe I'm crazy but it just seems things are falling our way this year. I got this feeling Irvin will step into Clemons role just fine and maybe just maybe, improve it a little. Wouldn't it be awesome if next year there is a competition between the two and Irvin wins with Clemons becoming our 3rd down rush specialist?

 

[SmokinHawk]

I will admit, I would much rather have the steady hand of Clemons at the leo spot, but the light really seemed to come on for Irvin and he got some pretty damn good pressure in his limited role.

 

[Obie]

Irvin might fill in fine for Clemons, but then we still lose what we had from Irvins spot before.

 

[Okungfu]

I like Irvin , he'll do just fine sucks to lose Clem , but next man up !

 

[jkitsune]

I hope you're the only one. Clemons is a great all-around DE who can play basically every snap of a game and has something like the 6th-most sacks in the NFL over the last 3 years. Losing him is a huge blow, particularly since the team clearly hoped to have him for the next 3 years based on his contract (although there's still no official word on the severity of his injury, so maybe that's not in jeopardy).

That said, I actually do have a feeling that Irvin will play the game of his career next week. Even if he doesn't show up on the stat sheet, I think he, like Jeremy Lane and Byron Maxwell, like Sweezy (usually) and hell, even like Omiyale that one game that Russell Okung didn't play, will play admirably in backup.

 

[CANHawk]

I think Clem is a great player and you don't just shrug off losing a guy of his caliber, but I also get the feeling that Bruce is going to seize the opportunity to silence all of his draft day critics on this grand stage. I'm more worried about how well will Scruggs step up and play what we like to call "the Raheem Brock Role" that Irvin has been doing such a good job of manning.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

You're not high on a player who's a great run stopper and has 11 sacks this year?

This is a big deal, without consistent pressure on Ryan he'll have time to throw to arguably the best WR corp in the NFL.........AND Tony Gonzalez.

 

[Starrman44]

I am definitely worried about the loss of Clem. Great player...

 

[amill87]

the light really seemed to come on for Irvin and he got some pretty damn good pressure in his limited role.

That leads to the million dollar question and I think we will get our answer this Sunday. Is the production because of the player or the position?

 

[Hawkfan77]

Losing Clemons is ridiculously huge, in the worst kind of way.

 

[CANHawk]

I'm reeeeeealy wondering if they pull the trigger on Ray Edwards now. They brought him in and kicked the tires before the playoffs started for a contingency just like this.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... e-seahawks

 

[amill87]

Losing Clemons is ridiculously huge, in the worst kind of way.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a big loss but I'm just not that worried.

Does everyone think it just some kind of coincidence that Irvin looked the best he has looked all year when he suddenly got to play Clemons' position? I get that the Redskins were one dimensional at that point (which BTW the Falcons already are one dimensional before we even start) but Irvin looked completely different.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Does everyone think it just some kind of coincidence that Irvin looked the best he has looked all year when he suddenly got to play Clemons' position? I get that the Redskins were one dimensional at that point (which BTW the Falcons already are one dimensional before we even start) but Irvin looked completely different.

You're comparing a banged up Redskins O-Line with a gimpy QB to a healthy fresh Falcons team with an entire week to prepare for Irvin. The answer is Yes, Yes you should be concerned.

 

[amill87]

I'm reeeeeealy wondering if they pull the trigger on Ray Edwards now. They brought him in and kicked the tires before the playoffs started for a contingency just like this.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... e-seahawks

I'm down for that.

His job is going to be come in on 3rd down and rush the passer. Eff the run game, go get Ryan!

 

[ImTheScientist]

Losing Clemons is ridiculously huge, in the worst kind of way.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a big loss but I'm just not that worried.

Does everyone think it just some kind of coincidence that Irvin looked the best he has looked all year when he suddenly got to play Clemons' position? I get that the Redskins were one dimensional at that point (which BTW the Falcons already are one dimensional before we even start) but Irvin looked completely different.

:13:

 

[hawker84]

i am, that's a crushing blow, if not just for debth and reps sake... but when he wasn't getting home, he was still getting in there applying pressure... it a big loss, and i hope Irvin can step it up.. but you better believe that little bowling ball turner will be running right at him..

 

[Axx]

I am, Irvin hasnt particularly impressed me at stopping the run..

 

[amill87]

Does everyone think it just some kind of coincidence that Irvin looked the best he has looked all year when he suddenly got to play Clemons' position? I get that the Redskins were one dimensional at that point (which BTW the Falcons already are one dimensional before we even start) but Irvin looked completely different.

You're comparing a banged up Redskins O-Line with a gimpy QB to a healthy fresh Falcons team with an entire week to prepare for Irvin. The answer is Yes, Yes you should be concerned.

And Clemons only had one sack (called back due to penalty) against that same exact team.

I just feel that this stuff doesn't matter to this team. They have a "next man up" mentality. The reason I'm not concerned isn't because Clemons isn't a good player for what we ask him to do, it's because I think Irvin can fill his role just fine.

 

[jkitsune]

Losing Clemons is ridiculously huge, in the worst kind of way.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is a big loss but I'm just not that worried.

Does everyone think it just some kind of coincidence that Irvin looked the best he has looked all year when he suddenly got to play Clemons' position? I get that the Redskins were one dimensional at that point (which BTW the Falcons already are one dimensional before we even start) but Irvin looked completely different.

This is an instance of post hoc ergo propter hoc. That is, 'after this, therefore because of this.' Irvin played Clem's position, and he played well for a couple series, but is that because of a change of position or because Irvin, who has had a couple dominating performances from his own side earlier this year, just played really well? Is it the Redskins OL? A gimpy QB? Was Irvin hyped up because it was the playoffs so he put his best foot forward? There's no way to know.

I agree with you on one thing, though. I think Irvin's going to have a good game next week if he has to run out there. I'm more worried about whoever takes Irvin's role.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

And Clemons only had one sack (called back due to penalty) against that same exact team.

I just feel that this stuff doesn't matter to this team. They have a "next man up" mentality. The reason I'm not concerned isn't because Clemons isn't a good player for what we ask him to do, it's because I think Irvin can fill his role just fine.

There's way more that Clemons does than just sack QB's. As other's have pointed out he's fantastic against the run and containment responsibilities. Two things that Irvin has struggled with all year.

Just saying IMO it's silly to say you're not concerned about losing one of our best players on defense. Does it mean we'll lose? Of course not, but it does make it harder to win.