After the Tennessee Titans officially agreed to terms with Jadeveon Clowney on Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel touched on a number of topics involving the team’s biggest offseason acquisition during a Zoom call with the media on Tuesday.
Vrabel noted that Clowney still has to sign his contract and is going through the testing protocol, but hopes that he can be in the building by Tuesday and begin practicing with the team soon depending on where he is physically.
#Titans' Vrabel: Clowney hasn't signed contract yet, but team hoping to meet with him, get him in building tomorrow. Based on where he's at physically, hope he can practice with team.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) September 7, 2020
As far as his chances of being available for Week 1, Vrabel says they are “pretty good”, although it remains to be seen if he’ll have a full complement of snaps should he play.
Vrabel said chances of Clowney playing some in Denver "pretty good."
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) September 7, 2020
Clowney’s acclimation period should be quicker than most considering he has some familiarity with Vrabel’s defense, as the Titans head coach was his defensive coordinator in 2017 with the Houston Texans. Vrabel notes that some things have changed from Houston to Tennessee, though.
Mike Vrabel there should be some system language carryover from when he coached him in Houston. Said some things have changed in TN.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) September 7, 2020
One of the things that Clowney brings to the table is versatility with his ability to play at outside linebacker and along the defensive line. Vrabel explained how Clowney was able to do that in Houston.
Mike Vrabel on moving Jadeveon Clowney around in 2017: He has really good football IQ. He has the ability to learn and study the concepts, a good grasp of what we asked him to do. That made it easy to learn a second job. #Titans
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 7, 2020
Depending on how things go in the days to come, it looks like the Titans will get their first look at Clowney in live game action when Tennessee hits the field for its season-opener against the Denver Broncos on September 14.
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