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Jadeveon Clowney is one big question and answer for the Houston Texans. The 6-foot-5, 266 lbs. linebacker exploded into the mainstream with the infamous bone-jarring hit on former Michigan running back Vincent Smith during the 2013 Outback Bowl – one of South Carolinas three straight bowl victories from 2011 to 2013. He collected 24 sacks in three seasons with the Gamecocks but had his work ethic called “OK” by college coach Steve Spurrier before the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He responded to the criticism with a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, best among defensive linemen, a 42-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 broad jump, both second among defensive linemen. But poor results in the bench press – 21 reps was less than Miami punter Pat ODonnell (23) – resulted in another knock on Clowneys pedigree. NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was less kind with his criticisms during an NFL Network segment in April, months after the combine. “I look at Jadeveon Clowneys (game) tape and I dont see a guy that is playing the game with his hair on fire, making plays, running up and down the field sideline to sideline, doing all of the things," Sapp said. Clowneys answer? Although it wasnt his decision, the 21-year-old did enough to make the Texans believe he had the assets worthy of the No. 1 overall pick at the 2014 NFL Draft in May. The question Clowney has to answer next is whether the Texans made the right choice with the top pick and a subsequent five-year deal. First of all, Clowneys “lack of effort” could be in large part due to a sports hernia injury he admitted to playing with in his final season with the Gamecocks. He had groin surgery in June to deal with the nagging problem. The admission in itself is enough to take the work ethic jabs off the table, for now at least. His natural blend of tremendous size and speed makes him a pass-rushing nightmare. His 24 sacks in three years at South Carolina amassed a total of 147 yards lost – an average of 6.1 yards lost per sack. Despite a lackluster showing of three sacks in his final year of college – with the alleged injury – Clowney wreaked havoc when he did get to the quarterback, averaging 8.6 yards lost per sack. Developing a strong partnership with defensive end J.J. Watt – 31 sacks in the last two seasons – could result in a lot of pain for opposing QBs. The Texans were tied for 29th in the NFL last season with 32 sacks, a far cry from the fifth-highest total of 44 in 2012. A little less pressure on Watt to carry that load could be good for him. Clowneys physical gifts also make him a bandage against opposing ground attacks. Using the sample size available against relative competition, which Vincent Smith can attest to, Clowney has shown the ability to drive right through the offensive line. Though its not always enough to keep the ball in the hands of the quarterback, there is often little space between a handoff and Clowneys 83-inch wingspan. Not surprisingly, he can be overwhelming to block. If by chance an offensive line can keep him out of the backfield that wingspan is more than capable of plugging holes in the blink of an eye. Houston allowed 122.4 yards per game on the ground last season, the 10th highest total in the league. Its tough to argue Clowney wont help lower that figure. The questions remain. Answers pending. POWER SURGE? J.J. Watt needs help. The 6-foot-5 Wisconsin product has accounted for 47 per cent of the Texans sacks over the last two seasons. When Watt is flying – see his league-leading 20.5 sacks in 2012 – life is good. He was named Defensive Player of the Year and the Texans finished the 2012 campaign fifth in the NFL with 44 sacks. But when he slows down – just 10.5 sacks in 2013 – it reverberates through the lineup. Houston finished tied for 29th with 32 sacks last season. Watt can carry the line. He has before. But if the Texans want to be feared across the NFL, the rest of the line will have to carry Watt sometimes. EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing something right. Despite ups and downs at every turn in his career, the Harvard graduate continues to find a job. The Texans are hoping for the quarterback who threw more than 20 touchdowns for three straight seasons from 2010-2012 with the Buffalo Bills, well, without the 54 interceptions he threw over the same span. In his favour is the presence of Andre Johnson, miles away the best receiver Fitzpatrick has ever thrown to. But throwing to Johnson should be the least of Fitzpatricks concerns. The Texans receiving corps features six rookies (two TEs, four WRs) and 13 players with less than four years of NFL experience (three TEs, 10 WRs) A Harvard education cant be a bad thing in this situation. cheap jerseys from china . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports. wholesale jerseys china . The rookie is rewarding their faith with a stellar first season. MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, Jamie McGinn had two goals and an assist, and Colorado beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-1 on Saturday. https://www.chinajerseysreplica.us/. Of all the names out there who could realistically be dealt by Wednesdays deadline, Ryan Kesler remains No. 1 on the most desired list. And while were not sure if theyre any closer to a deal, we now have a defined price. cheap china jerseys . As for regular Olympic spectators, theyre being warned that most travel insurance policies wont cover acts of terrorism or war. The Games in southern Russia, which run from Feb. 7-23, are being staged amid unprecedented security and under global warnings of danger. fake jerseys china . And thats good news for Canada. Kelly, who plays No. 8 at the back of the scrum, is captain of the Canadian womens team.MIAMI - The Miami Heat will try to take a 2-0 lead over the Charlotte Bobcats in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals when the teams meet for Game 2 Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena. The two-time defending NBA champions took Game 1, 99-88, on Sunday. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were their future Hall of Fame selves in Game 1. The pair combined for 50 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. James made four of Miamis 11 3-pointers and finished with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Wade added 23 points and five assists. The duo shot 18-of-32 (56.3 percent) from the field, and Miami received key contributions off the bench from James Jones and Chris Andersen, with Jones chipping in 12 points and Andersen adding eight points and 10 rebounds while limiting Al Jefferson on the defensive side. "Besides starting off slow in the first and second quarters I thought we played a pretty good game," Wade said. "Now were going to go look at adjustments we can make and figure out how we can be better in Game 2." Jefferson has become the story of this series. He started strong on Sunday, but was hobbled after suffering a strain to his left plantar fascia in the first quarter. "When it first happened I was in a lot of pain, but as the game went on it eased up," Jefferson said, adding he received a shot at halftime but would be fine for the remainder of the playoffs. "Its just somethinng I have to play through.dddddddddddd" And Jefferson left no doubt on Tuesday when speaking with the media. "Im suiting up," Jefferson said. "Itll take more than that to make me sit down." He still logged 18 points and 10 rebounds on Sunday ,while Kemba Walkers 20- point effort led the club. This would appear to be a one-sided matchup on paper. The Heat have won the last two titles and appeared in the Finals three seasons ago. They earned the No. 2 seed with another great regular-season run. The Bobcats are making their second playoff appearance in franchise history and entered the series having dropped 16 consecutive regular-season games to their fellow Southeast Division rivals. But Charlotte was game on Sunday. The score was even, 59-59, before James hit from behind the arc late in the third quarter, and the four-time league MVP beat the buzzer with another 3- pointer to send the Heat into the fourth with a 72-65 advantage. The Heat pulled away for good early in the final stanza, as Jones and Wade each connected from long range during a 13-1 surge that extended Miamis lead to 87-70 lead under 6 1/2 minutes to play. The closest Charlotte got down the stretch was the final score. Heat guard Mario Chalmers is questionable for Wednesday with a bruised knee. If Chalmers cant go, Norris Cole or Toney Douglas would get the start. Game 3 will be Saturday night in Charlotte. ' ' '