49ers' Nate Clements, Shawntae Spencer And NFC West Cornerbacks
by David Fucillo on Jan 31, 2011 8:01 AM PST
in San Francisco 49ers News
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PrintFor those who have never checked it out, Pro Football Focus is a statistical website that offers a variety of their own analysis on the NFL. They recently wrote up an article breaking down the cornerbacks in the NFC West and our very own Nate Clements was rated as the best cornerback in the division. I'd say that's worth a front page post (thanks to manraj7 for pointing this out in a FanShot). Our stats man Florida Danny had some comments a year ago about PFF's stats and process. I recommend reading over his comments at that link just to get his perspective on this. Whether you agree with Danny or not, he knows enough about this stuff that it's at least worth a read.
The PFF article linked above goes through the top thee cornerbacks for each team based on snaps played. Nate Clements rated the highest and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie rated out as the worst cornerback in the division. Clements high rating came from having the highest rating in run support and the second highest rating in pass coverage. The run support rating isn't particularly surprising. He's always been incredibly solid in defending the run and general open-field tackling. However, I'd imagine a few folks will be surprised by the high rating he received in pass coverage. The only corner with a higher coverage rating in the NFC West was Bradley Fletcher of the Rams. The number three corner in the division was Michael Adams from Arizona.
For a guy like Clements, it's easy to jump on him because of the contract. We can't blame him for taking the big money contract from the 49ers but it does put a big X on his back, particularly when he gets blown up for a big play. Of course, in the NFC West considering him the "top cornerback" isn't exactly a monstrous stretch. The division isn't exactly packed with big time corners.
They also refer to Shawntae Spencer's substandard level of play in that he reportedly gave up the worst completion rate for a starter (70.1%) and missed the most tackles (14). Given his relatively strong 2009 season, one has to wonder where he really settles on the continuum of good to bad. I know some folks think he's just awful, but I'm not quite so inclined to write him off at this point. 2011 will bring an interesting competition at the cornerback position, particularly if the 49ers add a first round cornerback.
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While I think Clements will be on the Niners, I dont think there will be a week 1 of the 2011 season, so i voted no.
no week 1?
You think the NFL season will be cancelled entirely?
by David Fucillo on Jan 31, 2011 8:22 AM PST up reply actions
I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I am preparing myself for the worst.
The owners seem resolved to sit the season out. They broke off the current CBA knowing it would be a tough fight to get more for themselves, and yet they did it anyway. Maybe they are just really good poker players, but that’s my impression. The question is whether the players are going to blink and get something done. Right now, I’m not convinced they will. And if all of that comes to fruition, then we wont be having a 2011 season. And what if they do actually dissolve the union so they can file an anti-trust suit? It could get very ugly.
Sometimes you dont really realize what you have until it’s gone.
Possibly one week
or two
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"
by SportsChicken on Jan 31, 2011 6:12 PM PST up reply actions
no way
there is way too much money on the table. ESPN is paying 2 BILLION a year for MNF rights alone, and the market went up double digits I believe.
Harbaugh will find a QB and he will succeed.
and tons of history to suggest that cancelling a season cripples interest, ratings, and revenue for years… and yet hockey did it anyway.
My general opinion is that it is more possible than people think.
for whom is the equation true?
I’ll bet that most owners will put the $$$$ in front of the NFL.
Hell, most people would.
The NHL would literally have died without a lockout. You had the equivalent of Barry Sims getting paid $7-8M a year by teams like the Rangers completely destroying the ability of smaller market teams to field any sort of competitive payroll. The NHL is a much better product as the result of the lockout as well.
The NFL on the other hand is already raking in the money hand over fist. A lockout at this point just seems utterly ridiculous. (I’d actually understand a strike, the NFLPA has the worst deal in all of sports, no guaranteed contracts and a salary cap.)
Clements should be #2, 3, or S
Spencer seemed to play too cautious this year. He got burned a few times early and then just started giving too much cushion even when he had safety help. I was very disappointed in his play this year. How many times can you give up a 10-15 yard out or comeback route???
Harbaugh will find a QB and he will succeed.
I really liked when spencer
gave up the deep pass late in the season.
then did not bother to tackle the guy and he went into the end zone.
he got lucky he stepped out of bounds. lol
something was definitely up with spencer
"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin
by HUNGRY HUNTER on Jan 31, 2011 10:19 AM PST up reply actions
Look ma I'm famous.
So ya Clements really isnt that bad. His contract is heavy no doubt but it isn’t that bad. Spencer and Brown on the other hand need to go.
Clements is an above average CB. If we could get a shutdown corner our CB Corp would be beastly.
Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
my dog <3
by manraj7 on Jan 31, 2011 9:06 AM PST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Why the hate on Brown?
He seemed to be perfectly serviceable as the third corner.
by asmithisaverage on Jan 31, 2011 9:50 AM PST up reply actions
That's what I have been saying
Brown was ok as the #3 guy. Everyone knocks on him. I even linked a Maicco article grading everyone that said he was fine. Granted Maicco is just a sportswriter, but someone that spends more time following the team and has more of an inside scoop on stuff than we do.
Well I’m sure follows the team closer than the majority of you guys…lol
At the amount of $ he is scheduled to make??????????
HELL NO, PAY CUT OR CUT HIM
D train to Bensonhurst Brooklyn BABEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would just like to say to the person that called me ignorant for saying Clements could be our best DB: ha!
by mcwagner on Jan 31, 2011 9:36 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Who gives a rats A$$............
about NFC west rankings any way?
The Niners always do good in the division.
How is he ranked vs. the league-thats what counts, and the amount of $ he is paid for his rank vs. the rest of the corners.
D train to Bensonhurst Brooklyn BABEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dude a positive overall number means that he is above average in the entire league.
And these ranking include every game that they played this year.
Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
my dog <3
He didn't do bad.
Clements did as well as can be expected I think, considering the poor pass rush we had quarterbacks had time to pick apart our backs. Yes, it could have been better pass coverage, but again, when the opposing QB has time to wait and catch a open reciever, even the best DB will get burned. I didn’t get to watch all the games this pass season, but those I saw, Clements was in on a lot of plays, even when it was obvious we would lose, he still played, to me that says a lot and with a little help, he can do better.
TORCHED!!!!!!!
THAT IS NATE CLEMENTS NICK NAME " TORCHED "!!!!!!! THATS WHAT TOP FLIGHT RECIEVERS DO TO HIM…………SOME 2ND TIER RECIEVERS AS WELL!!!!!! SPENCER IS BETTER THAN CLEMENTS BY FAR!!!!!! HELL A ROOKIE IS BETTER THAN CLEMENTS!!!!!!! CLEMENTS IS NOT A SHUT DOWN CORNER………..NEVER HAS BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE!!!!!!!! GIVE ASOMUGHA OVER CLEMENTS ALL DAY AND CLEMENTS GETS TORCHED EVERYTIME!!!!!!
I think we could do much worse than Nate @ CB.
That said, it’s time to renegotiate the contract. I wonder how much different the tone would be if he just would’ve gotten down after the pick in ATL. On second thought, screw him.
This is his contract
http://www.ninercaphell.com/player/183-Clements-Nate.html
Might need to restructure that.
Kellen Moore is awesome
Katie Mcgrath is our savior
my dog <3
wow...
Clements ran a 4.33 40 at the combine… I didn’t realize he used to be that fast…
he needs to play more man
coverage, he’s better in bump and run. get’s caught looking on the backfield too long. a good olb will fix that.
Clements is better than he seems.
Sure Tackler, Great in coverage, when we have an efficient pass rush (we don’t) and shutdown safety support (we dont).
Jay Cruise
Ab Workouts Mind Body Spirit Arthritis Treatment
Still allows too high YAC
other than that, I’d agree he’s pretty good
I like Nate.
I love how pumped he gets when he gets a big hit. Maybe i just like corners that can hit.
by TaylorMaysCantCover on Jan 31, 2011 12:42 PM PST reply actions
I like Nate too
He’s one of the best corners Buffalo has had in a long time…
What I took away from this
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was the worst CB in the NFCW.
lmao.
Lets learn from this fellow niner fans: Just because you’re fast doesn’t mean you’re good.
What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
"I'm just like you, but 10 times better"
It must be a Cromartie thing
Excellent rookie season, All Pro sophomore season than fall of a cliff.
It's Whore-baugh, remember?
I really can't agree with Clements being the best in the West.
I would rate Spencer above Clements even. He cannot cover the Roddy White’s of the league if his life depended on it. I would argue that both Seahawks corners are better than Clements. Trufant and Jennings are better. I would even consider Bradley Fletcher a better corner than Clements. Clements is like a mini-linebacker… he is just too slow and cannot keep up with the faster WR’s of the league anymore.
He doesn’t deserve to start anymore, IMO.
Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing -- the result. -Lombardi
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