Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

[BillsWin]

http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers-headlines/ci_13606226?nclick_check=1

[trapezeus]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

they forgot to mention that he's a playmaker.

[PECKERWOOD]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

That link is not working for me.

If it's just me, I'm getting very close to scrapping this stupid ****in AOL toolbar, it keeps pullin shananigans like this. I don't wish AOL toolbar on no one.

[BuffaloBlitz83]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

Nate is an above average CB, better than anybody we have, but nowhere near as good as the contract he received. Not even close. I rate Winfield a cut above him also.

[BillsWin]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

works for me Peck!

[PECKERWOOD]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

[Jaybird]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

not working for me

[BillsWin]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

Poole: Clements fails to meet lockdown hype

By Monte Poole

Bay Area News Group

Posted: 10/20/2009 09:42:30 PM PDT
Updated: 10/21/2009 04:01:05 PM PDT

Click photo to enlarge


San Francisco 49ers Nate Clements (22) trips up St. Louis Rams Steven Jackson... (Nhat V. Meyer)

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The 49ers and their fans are sweating the offense, wondering if Michael Crabtree can give it some juice, hoping coordinator Jimmy Raye will summon creativity from a mind more comfortable with basics.
Nate Clements, for one, ought to be thankful.
The curiosity about Crabtree, the obsession with fixing a stagnant running game and a deficient offensive line foster a climate that at least partially obscures the shortcomings of the cornerback who arrived in 2007 on a vessel of hype crafted from his sterling reputation and the staggering contract negotiated by his agent.
Clements' $80 million ($22 million guaranteed), eight-year deal — since adjusted to $64 million over seven years — made him at the time the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. His play through 36 games as a 49er has not measured up to his salary.
The latest example is Nate's previous game, Oct. 11 against Atlanta, when wide receiver Roddy White enjoyed a career day: eight catches, 210 yards, two touchdowns. As astounding as the overall numbers are, the most disturbing sequence for the 49ers, their fans and Clements was the way White finished his 90-yard touchdown. After catching a short pass in front of Clements, White spun out of a tackle and dashed away like a cheetah outrunning a bloodhound.
Any fine, instinctive 29-year-old cornerback who loses ground in a chase is counting the minutes until he becomes a safety.
White's performance

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was reminiscent of Terrell Owens' masterpiece last November. Then with the Cowboys, T.O. roasted the Niners, mostly Clements, for seven catches, 213 yards and a touchdown.There are the other instances in which Clements is shown in an unflattering light, such as San Francisco's Sept. 27 loss at Minnesota. The Vikings scored first when a 49ers blitz left Clements in coverage against wide receiver Sidney Rice. Brett Favre spotted the matchup and burned the blitz on a 30-yard hookup with Rice.
This is unbecoming of a cornerback whose Web site is "Lockdown22.com."
Yet it made sense for the 49ers to pursue and sign Clements. They had enough salary-cap space to hide a fleet of yachts, they needed a quality cornerback, and Clements was by all accounts the best available free agent.
The presumption was Clements would be the best cover corner in a San Francisco uniform since Deion Sanders' one-year mercenary mission in 1994.
But legitimate shutdown corners intimidate even the best quarterbacks, persuading them to do the smart thing and throw to the other side of the field.
There is nothing to indicate passers fear throwing toward Clements.
Which means the 49ers defense, while improving, still has a hole — especially when the pass rush is slowed. There is no shutdown corner, meaning the entire field is in play for the quarterback. The Falcons, with two weeks to prepare, saw that and exploited it.
It's reasonable to think Houston, which plays host to the 49ers on Sunday, will do the same. Texans coach Gary Kubiak is offensive-minded, Matt Schaub is a quality quarterback, and Andre Johnson is one of the five best wide receivers in the NFL.
If Clements were a true shutdown corner, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky could rely on him to contain Johnson, forcing Schaub to look elsewhere. It worked for the Jets, who in a 24-7 victory last month held Houston to 183 yards. Covered mostly by New York corner Darrelle Revis, Johnson was limited to four catches for 35 yards.
Revis the following week was primarily responsible for holding New England's Randy Moss to four catches for 24 yards in a 16-9 victory over the Patriots.
Thus is illustrated the value of a shutdown corner. Revis is a member of an elite fraternity, along with the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha, Denver's Champ Bailey and a few others.
Clements is beaten too often and too badly to be among them.
This is not about whether Nate is a good guy. He certainly seems to be, on and off the field. It's not about whether he's a good player, either. He is instinctive, dedicated and among the league's most physical corners, whether jamming a receiver or cutting down a runner. Any general manager in the NFL would be happy to have him.
The 49ers surely are happy Clements is on their roster. He's the best they have.
And it's a lot easier to cast him as such when fires are raging elsewhere, diverting attention toward the punchless running game and the leaky offensive line and the shiny new toy to be unveiled Sunday.

[PECKERWOOD]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

I tell you what, if he gets cut within the next few years, I hope we resign him. He wasn't a bad player, he just wanted too much, we couldn't provide it to him, he was a great player for us, no hard feelings.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

That link is not working for me.

If it's just me, I'm getting very close to scrapping this stupid ****in AOL toolbar, it keeps pullin shananigans like this. I don't wish AOL toolbar on no one.

Just disable it. Your PC probably needs a tuneup as well.

[DMBcrew36]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

You have to be pretty damn good to live up to $10 mill/yr. And expectations are also going to be big when you run your mouth like you're the best.

[trapezeus]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

i think the bills have the same level of talent as the current day nate clements on our roster for a whole lot less. Mcgee is a better tackler for sure. he may not have the nose for the ball, but he makes stops.

Clements has always been beatable. he's had some horrendous games that our DB's haven't had. maybe that's because people run on us a whole lot more, but still. he's had that chambers in miami game a few years ago, and from the article, it sounds like he's done it a handful of times in San Fran too.

Good riddance, i say.

And to the poster who said winfield was better, right on!

[casdhf]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

I always liked Nate, but he wasn't worth half the money he got paid.

[PECKERWOOD]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

Just disable it. Your PC probably needs a tuneup as well.

What do you mean by tune up? As in I should reformat?

[cocamide]

Re: Clements fails to live up to lockdown type

That link is not working for me.

If it's just me, I'm getting very close to scrapping this stupid ****in AOL toolbar, it keeps pullin shananigans like this. I don't wish AOL toolbar on no one.

I hate all of them toolbars. Are you using Internet Explorer? If so, stop now, and start using Firefox, or even Chrome. I suggest Firefox though, since it has AdBlock.