Among the reasons Jadeveon Clowney liked the Seahawks? He has to play again in a 4-3 defense

RENTON – Jadeveon Clowney is a new start for Seattle. This term was used when he met the journalists on Monday after his first training with the Seahawks. It is also a return to its roots.

Because he had not signed his franchise etiquette, Clowney basically had a veto over where Houston Texans could attempt to trade it.

And among the factors that drew him to Seattle – a winning team with an elite quarterback, what he heard about the atmosphere of his close friend and former Houston teammate, Duane Brown, a city that he would like a lot – it's the defensive plan of the Seahawks.

Seattle intends to use Clowney as a defensive end in his 4-3 defense, and most likely as a LEO end-stop position, which Clowney played in South Carolina, where he excelled at to become the first choice in the 2014 NFL draft.

With Houston, however, he played in a 3-4. And although the program has been altered enough in his last years there, he has started to prosper and get to three consecutive Pro Bowls, but Clowney said that he was never totally at ease.

"They have a 4-3 here," Clowney said, listing why he loved Seattle. "I have not been in this system for a while. This played a big role. ''

Clowney played both defenseman and linebacker with Houston, playing enough of the latter to be officially ranked linebacker when the team placed him a franchise tag. This has become one of the many clashes between Clowney and Houston as this designation means he will earn about $ 1.2 million less this season than if he had been classified as a defensive player.

The Houston system and its use as a linebacker forced Clowney to give up coverage. This is one of the many things he hopes to leave in the past.

"I can go back vertically by not letting myself down and letting my head go down and grind," Clowney said. "When you go forward, you do not think much, so the best thing about this defense is that you have behind you guys who can do all the games and guys at the front, we go from there. before and go ahead and wreak havoc. That's what I like about this situation. "

According to Pro Football Focus, Clowney had 29 cover passes in 2018.

But even if it did not seem like much, it was more than Clowney had to worry about, it was a problem.

"Coming out of college, it was very, very different for me, from 4-3 to 3-4," he said about the Houston defense. "Now that I'm here, I know I'm moving forward. So, I can take as much weight as I want and go. "

Clowney is listed at 255 pounds by the Seahawks, the weight he was listed last year by Houston. But he was listed at 266 in the NFL rankings in 2014, while he was running a 4.53 40.

And it's this combination of weight and speed increase that the Seahawks have most at heart, relying on high school and linebacker – the three Seattle starters are considered particularly good in pass blanket – to treat any cover the Clowney said was the main thing he sometimes had to do in Houston.

"He has played a lot in the backfield over the years and instinctive games have entered and caused problems, and we plan to allow him to do it in our scheme and it will really suit what we do," said the Seattle coach says Pete Carroll. "We have seen an excellent fit, whether at the beginning or at the end. So, it fits pretty much what you are looking for. "

Clowney, who has a record of 9½ bags in 2017 and nine in 2018, wants a 4-3 not only because it could be more fun and more suitable, but also because it's the best way for him to show exactly how much it's worth.

Clowney became available because Houston was not ready to enter the type of contract that Clowney wanted, leading to the franchise etiquette, and then to the team's desire to negotiate it. Clowney did not sign the tag, so he had the opportunity to decide where he wanted to go because he could not be exchanged without signing the tag.

Carroll said the negotiations went to the bottom of the 13-hour talks. The deadline set for Saturday to define the team's 53-player roster prior to its approval, due to the overall complexity of the deal, which included the transfer of players traded from Seattle, Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin to Houston.

It's an effort that, says Carroll, began several months ago when the Seahawks realized that Clowney might be available – it's easy to wonder now if Seattle has always thought it could replace Frank Clark by Clowney. Admittedly, Clark's trade meant that Seattle was more inclined to go to Clowney to try and replace Clark's 13 bags last season.

"John (Schneider) (Seahawks General Manager) has been here as long as we can," said Carroll of Clowney, who, as Clark, received a franchise label last March. "For me, it's a classic example of competition at every turn."

Seattle agreed not to score Clowney after the current season, which allowed him to sign a long-term contract with the Seahawks or become an unrestricted free agent.

"Is this a factor?" Said Carroll about this deal, which is apparently the first time in 11 years that a team agrees not to break the franchise of a player who has already been struck with a label. "Yes, it was part of the negotiation."

But that also means that Clowney knows he's playing this season for his future – either to convince Seattle that it's worth a contract that could reach $ 21 million a year and make him the highest paid 4-3 defensive player in the world. NFL, or convince another team.

Carroll and Clowney both stated that they would be worried about the future later. But both also know it's there.

Clowney, 26, said he'd been working in Miami and Houston this summer. Carroll said it was evident during Monday's practice – the first football action for Clowney since Houston's defeat in the playoffs last January – which he had put in the time.

"There is no doubt that he is really fit," said Carroll, who said Clowney would play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. "He would tell you that he's organized the best season he's ever had." He was really motivated to come camping and prove that it was valuable and that it was worth it, among others. Not having the chance (in Houston), we see the advantage. "

Clowney also sees benefits in Seattle. And if each party gets what they want in the end, all the better.