The player is a very good prospect at his natural position, but to use him in this role on another unit is misguided.
Jets rookie defensive end Michael Clemons has had a solid season as a rotatational defensive lineman. There is no doubt about that.
But playing him on punt coverage is a extremely misguided, and Joe Douglas needs to pull the plug on this. Covering punts doesn’t fit his skill set.
He’s a 6-5, 263-pound defensive end with long legs who is not built to play in space. He’s not great at changing directions in the open field. That isn’t a shot at him, it’s just reality. He’s good at his regular job.
The Jets have allowed two punts for touchdowns recently – one in New England that won the game, and then another one against Detroit, which clearly helped decide that game.
On both plays Clemons was on punt coverage, and really had no chance at tackling, the quick, fast returners with great change of direction ability.
Look, not blaming him for these returns. He had plenty of company, just saying it’s time to stop making this man do something he’s not built to do.
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