CB Nate Clements (All B1G, NFL Pro Bowl)

[Buckskin86]

Left Cornerback and Raiders
Left Cornerback Assessment

One question dominates the right-cornerback spot. Is Nate Clements worth the money? The eight-year $80 million deal with $22 million in guarantees Clements secured last March is no longer the richest contract for an NFL defender (Dwight Freeney and Richard Seymour have richer deals) but Clements remains the league's highest paid defensive back.

nj.com
Nate was great

Undoubtedly last year, he earned his money. He continued to stay healthy, he quickly became a leader with his maniacal in-season workout regiment, positive jabber and the controlled desperation with which he plays. And according to the game charters at our favorite web site, profootballoutsiders.com, he took the opposition's best receiver more than any other NFL corner - a whopping 63 percent of the time.

And while this is unknowable, he probably covered that receiver one-on-one with little help. His knifing open-field tackles made fans and media utter, "wow" in a season with few "wow" moments. His hammer chop of Rams wide receiver Torry Holt led to a fumble recovery and a 14-point turn around in the 49ers' 17-16 September win in St. Louis.

While he doesn't drape a receiver with cellophane coverage, like a Champ Bailey or Deion Sanders, he's damn good. The 49ers ranked 16th in defending the top receiver last year, pretty good considering that was Clements' duty almost exclusively. That number could go down this year. Coming from Buffalo, he didn't know the NFC receivers well and he also had to learn a new defense. For a student like Clements, familiarity will make him better.

However, what was disappointing last year was the defense's inability to take advantage of Clements's skills. With Clements matched against the top receiving threat, theoretically, there were more bodies to blitz or cover the rest of the opposition's receivers. But the 49ers ranked 25th in adjusted sack rate, which is computed by dividing sacks and intentional grounding penalties by total pass plays.

Also, while Clements fared well against the top receiving threat, the 49ers coverage of a team's second receiver plunged from 9th last year to 23rd according to profooballoutsiders.com's DVOA calculation. In fact, in the last four years, the 49ers have ranked last, next to last, 29th and 29th in pass defense according to their DVOA, a ranking the 49ers hope Clements will lift. But he needs help.

Niner Insider : Left Cornerback and Raiders

 

[Buckskin86]

Two-Minute Drill: CB Clements

August 26, 2008

Get to know more about cornerback Nate Clements as he answers these two-minute drill questions!

Q: When you were a kid, what were you afraid of?
A: My father. I think most kids are afraid of their parents, especially their father. It?s wasn?t fun getting into trouble and then having to answer to him.

Q: When you think about Ohio State, what immediately comes to mind?
A: You mean The Ohio State? Tradition, winning and fans. Those are the first words that come to my mind.

Q: What is the best nickname ever given to you?
A: Nasty Nate, Nate Dog, those are the two most common ones. Lockdown, I can?t forget about Lockdown. My friend gave me that one, you know

Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers - PR News

 

[Buckskin86]

Fan Q&A with Clements
September 02, 2008

Thanks to everyone who sent in questions over the last few weeks. We've selected a few and gotten answers from cornerback Nate Clements.

Q: Hi Nate, as a Pro-Bowl cornerback which type of wide receiver is more difficult for you to cover: a strong, tall guy like the Cowboys Terrell Owens or a short, quick guy like the Panthers Steve Smith? -Cary Sekoff, San Francisco, CA.

A: I say both types of receivers are hard. You have one guy who is physical and one guy who is fast. I think with a guy like T.O., you don?t want to play into his game. He wants to get physical so he can use his strength against you. Then with a guy who is smaller, you want to try to get your hands on him and slow him down.

Q: Yo Lockdown! If you were to retire a 49ers, would you stay out here in the Bay Area or would you move back to Ohio? In other words, do you prefer life out here in California or someplace else, like Ohio? -Tim, Sacramento, CA

A: I like it out here, but I am actually going to move to Houston, Texas when I?m done. I?m building a house there right now. I visited there and I liked it and thought I wouldn?t mind living there. No state taxes helps too.

Q: Nate, our defense looks awesome this year. How do you think our secondary will match up against some of the better passing teams, for example the Cowboys and Patriots? -Jeff

A: I think our secondary is going to be very competitive and I think we thrive on opportunities to go against the top receiving corps. I think we are a talented group in our own right and I think we?ll fare very well this season.

Q: Hey there, Nate. When people talk about the top corners in the league, you're always in the mix. My question is, what is it about your game that separates you from the likes of Champ Bailey or Chris McAlister? - Contraxx

A: I think we are all good corners. We all do different things well. For me, I just work on being a well rounded player and being a complete corner. I feel like I can defend against both the run and the pass

Official Site of the San Francisco 49ers - PR News

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Clements Keeps at It

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Chrissy Mauck
November 06, 2008

Clements scores on a blocked field goal ag
ainst the Giants.
When Nate Clements signed on with the 49ers during the 2007 off-season, the highly sought free agent believed he was joining an organization on the rise. Although the team hasn?t experienced the success he envisioned with a 2-6 start to the ?08 campaign, Clements still feels San Francisco will return to its glory days. It?s just a matter of putting in the extra work to get there.

A strong work ethic has been a staple for the veteran player throughout his entire life. As a youngster growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, Clements learned early on that if he wanted to go places in life, he?d have to work his hardest to get there.

Continued...........

 

[CHU]

Clements is doing an excellent job of covering Larry Fitzgerald tonight on MNF. Holding Fitzgerald well below his season average.

Although, with the amount of money Clements is being paid, that's expected.

 

[3074326]

He had one bad drive, but aside from that, I agree.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Clements Honored for Community Work

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Lisa Goodwin
November 12, 2008
Clements Honored as National Neighborhood MVP at Local Playground Build; Rossum Adds to Build with Surprise Backpack Giveaway

On Tuesday, November 11, Nate Clements, cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers was honored as a National Neighborhood MVP from the NFL. Clements, after returning less than ten hours earlier from his Monday Night Football game in Arizona, along with Sourdough Sam and members of the local community joined forces to build an entire playground for Peabody Elementary School in the Richmond District of San Francisco.

?It was definitely an honor to be named a NFL Neighborhood MVP. It was all for a good cause, we all volunteered for a common goal to reward the kids at the school by putting up a new playground and giving them a better learning environment."

Continued.............

 

[jwinslow]

[FONT=arial,helvetica] Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) takes a hard hit from San Francisco corner back Nate Clements (22) on an incomplete pass in the third quarter during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, in Irving, Texas. Witten was injured on the play. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam) [/FONT]

 

[3074326]

That was a fantastic hit. Probably the only positive thing he can take away from the game, both as a team player and based on his own performance. :(

 

[Pryor2Posey]

I wasn't to fond of that hit, cause the cowboys are my team and Witten is the man. Then I realized Nate layed the wood and it brought a smile to my face. He also jacked up Orlando Scandrick on a PR. Scandrick was running full speed and Nate just stood there and decleated him. Other then that, TO had his way. Although to Nates credit quite a few of those big plays were made by Romo extending the play.

 

[Buckskin86]

NFL Notes: Return to Buffalo no biggie for 49ers' Clements
By Bee News Services
last updated: November 26, 2008

SANTA CLARA -- When Nate Clements returns Sunday to the city where his NFL career began, the San Francisco 49ers cornerback doesn't have a whole lot of nostalgic plans. He's more interested in stopping the 49ers' fall than in going back to Niagara Falls.

"I saw that a couple of times, and I went to Toronto a couple of times," Clements said. "Other than that, it's just Buffalo."

And that was a very good thing for Clements, who spent his first six seasons with the Bills before signing an $80 million free-agent deal with the 49ers last year. Clements never made a Pro Bowl or got into the postseason while playing on just one winning team in Buffalo, but he developed the skills and work ethic necessary to be a key defensive player worth a life-changing contract.

"I'm very anxious to get back to my old stomping grounds," Clements said Wednesday before the 49ers practiced in a chilly rain that might be California's closest approximation to everyday weather in western New York. "That was the foundation of my career, where it started professionally. It was nice to be in an organization that had a lot of tradition."

Clements heads into Sunday's game hoping to rebound from one of the lower points of his pro career. Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens shredded Clements' defense with seven catches for 213 yards in the 49ers' loss at Dallas last Sunday, including a 75-yard touchdown catch on which Owens shook off Clements like a heavy winter coat.

Clements got precious little help from his teammates after interim coach Mike Singletary declined to double-cover Owens. But Clements, who has previously proclaimed himself the best cornerback in the league, made few excuses for his struggles.

Even after the disappointing game, Clements was back in the 49ers' weight room Monday for his daily extra workouts with weights and the treadmill. Clements' discipline and drive for self-improvement is remarkable to his coaches -- but the Ohio State product said those habits were honed and perfected during his time in Buffalo.

"I think the fact that it wasn't a city like Miami or Atlanta is something that was kind of a hidden blessing in disguise," Clements said. "I wasn't able to always go out, and I think that really helped me on the field. I didn't really have that many distractions off the field. The fans there were very supportive, and the atmosphere there is kind of like a collegiate atmosphere. They're die-hard fans for their football."

Clements also was a punt returner for much of his time with the Bills, and he could be back in that role Sunday for the 49ers. Allen Rossum is expected to miss the game with an ankle injury, and Singletary wants a sure pair of hands in the lineup.

The Modesto Bee | NFL Notes: Return to Buffalo no biggie for 49ers' Clements

Clements has already forgotten Dallas
By MATT MAIOCCO
PRESS DEMOCRAT
Wednesday, November 26, 2008

SANTA CLARA ? Nate Clements, the 49ers? top cornerback, is taking a pragmatic approach to coping with a forgettable game.

He has forgotten about it.

Clements is coming off his worst performance in two seasons with the 49ers. He surrendered a good portion of Terrell Owens? 213 receiving yards on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

?Last week?s game?? Clements asked, as if the memory has already been wiped blank. ?I?m focused on moving forward. As a corner, you have to look at it as water off a duck?s back ? let it just roll right off you. You have to get ready for next week.?

Clements will return to the place he called home through his first six NFL seasons, as the 49ers travel to face the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. The 49ers last played a game at Buffalo in 1998.

?I knew we were playing them. I wouldn?t say I circled it (on the schedule),? Clements said. ?It?s not like I have a vendetta. The city and the organization treated me fairly. Now, I?m definitely anxious to go back. I just want to win the game.?

Clements has already forgotten Dallas | PressDemocrat.com | The Press Democrat | Santa Rosa, CA

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Cornerback Clements excels against his former team



By MATT MAIOCCO
PRESS DEMOCRAT


Published: Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 3:20 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 9:54 p.m.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. ? A week ago, 49ers cornerback Nate Clements patiently answered all questions at his locker. He talked about what went wrong.
On Sunday, Clements was the last man out of the visitor?s locker room at Ralph Wilson Stadium. This time, however, he was not interrogated. He was asked to speak about his successful return to play his former team.
Clements and the entire 49ers defensive backfield played exceedingly well in a 10-3 upset victory against the Buffalo Bills.
?We just wanted to come out and compete,? Clements said. ?Every Sunday we prepare ourselves. This week we practiced hard and studied, and we did a lot of hard work. So we wanted to come out and make a good showing and get a ?W.

Continued..........

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

December 3, 2008

Clements has small fracture in thumb


After Sunday's game in Buffalo, Nate Clements had an air of contentedness about him. His 49ers had just beaten his former team, he had played well and he had put the memories of the Dallas Cowboys game behind him. What was unknown at the time was that Clements had injured his thumb in the game. The 49ers' top cornerback will miss today's practice with what coach Mike Singletary said was a small fracture in the thumb. Singletary said the 49ers will be cautious with Clements this week. It's not known how well he can jam at the line of scrimmage or whether he can return punts.

Continued..............

 

[Buckskin86]

Cornerback rankings: Asomugha is the best and still getting better
Posted: May 26, 2009

The cornerback position will always feature some of the NFL's top athletes, but the position is evolving. Speed will continue to be the calling card, but teams are looking for that same speed in bigger corners who can compete with the size and quickness of today's wideouts and support the run.

RealScouts, Sporting News' team of former NFL scouts, rank their top 20 cornerbacks for '09:

5. Nate Clements, 49ers. Clements' numbers were down in 2008, but he is still one of the best all-around corners. In addition to outstanding cover skills, he's an excellent tackler who is strong against the run and can play any position in the secondary.

SportingNews.com - Your expert source for NFL Football stats, scores, standings, blogs and fantasy news from NFL Football columnists

 

[Buckskin86]

49ers Cornerback Clements Suffering From Pneumonia, Sidelined From Training Camp
June 3, 2009
Matthew Harvey - AHN Sports Reporter

San Francisco, CA (AHN) - San Francisco 49ers Cornerback Nate Clements has been sidelined from training camp this weekend, after being hit hard by a case of pneumonia.

His ailment will likely keep him out of mandatory weekend camps that will take place on June 6.

He joins a group of beat up 49ers including rookie first round draft pick Michael Crabtree and Arnaz Battle, with a pair of foot injuries.

Cornerbacks Walt Harris and Shawntae Spencer, Defensive end Ray McDonold, and two other rookies, Alex Boone and Pannel Egboh, are also out.

Clements, however, is one of the most inexpendable members of the 49ers defense.

A veteran of nine years, he began his stint with the franchise in 2007, where he nearly matched his career best performance with three forced fumbles, four interceptions and a sack.

He's currently one of the highest paid players in the league, on the third season of an $80 million, eight-year deal - with $22 million in guarantees.

In 2008, the sagging 7-9 49ers were ranked above average in their defense - 13 overall - though the team was slowed down offensively by pandemonium in the quarterback position, having three quarterbacks throughout the season.

49ers Cornerback Clements Suffering From Pneumonia, Sidelined From Training Camp | AHN | June 5, 2009