I always visioned Clements as a super talented but immature athlete. The way he named himself the Play Maker just reinforced this notion that sometimes he cared more about his own stats more than the team. At times he went for unnecessary INTs instead of simply defending the passes to help the team win.
But I honestly believe that he is showing signs of growing out of that shadow this season. Maybe his struggle last year and earlier this year has changed him a bit, much like how struggles changed Losman's cocky attitude.
Not once he has referred to himself as the Play Maker this year. He's surpprisingly low key even when people asked about his big plays, very un-Clements like (of the past). Heck he even sounded level-headed most of the time.
Now the cover 2 scheme does not call for a cover guy as good as Clements, in fact he struggled in this scheme early this year. He's much more valuable in schemes like Gregg's 6-4 where one-on-one CBs are a must. But Jauron and Co. found a perfect match for Clements in Buffalo's cover 2 by matching him to opponents best WR after the bye week. That allowed them to move Whitner around to support run defense, to rush the QBs, and to help out double cover dangerous TEs. Let's face it, the Bills in recent weeks were stopping the runs with 8 in the box and Clements allowed them to do that without getting burned for big plays. From that viewpoint I can see Clements is arguably more valuable to the current Bills team than any one else - even Schoebel recognizes that.
Maybe next year or eventually the Bills will field a front 7 that can stop the run. But no one knows that for sure. Right now, Jauron and Co. know a combination that does work (to a degree) with Clements in the lineup. It'll be hard, in my opinion, to break that up. Unless Clements and his agent become unreasonable, I think Levy and Wilson have to do all they can to re-sign him. Pro-ball or not, I view him as the best defensive player on this team. What would the coach Marv think had Bruce Smith left the team in the early 90s?
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