Jadeveon Clowney is one big question and answer for the Houston Texans. The 6-foot-5, 266 lbs. linebacker exploded into the mainstream with the infamous bone-jarring hit on former Michigan running back Vincent Smith during the 2013 Outback Bowl – one of South Carolinas three straight bowl victories from 2011 to 2013. He collected 24 sacks in three seasons with the Gamecocks but had his work ethic called “OK” by college coach Steve Spurrier before the NFL Scouting Combine in February. He responded to the criticism with a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, best among defensive linemen, a 42-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9 broad jump, both second among defensive linemen. But poor results in the bench press – 21 reps was less than Miami punter Pat ODonnell (23) – resulted in another knock on Clowneys pedigree. NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was less kind with his criticisms during an NFL Network segment in April, months after the combine. “I look at Jadeveon Clowneys (game) tape and I dont see a guy that is playing the game with his hair on fire, making plays, running up and down the field sideline to sideline, doing all of the things," Sapp said. Clowneys answer? Although it wasnt his decision, the 21-year-old did enough to make the Texans believe he had the assets worthy of the No. 1 overall pick at the 2014 NFL Draft in May. The question Clowney has to answer next is whether the Texans made the right choice with the top pick and a subsequent five-year deal. First of all, Clowneys “lack of effort” could be in large part due to a sports hernia injury he admitted to playing with in his final season with the Gamecocks. He had groin surgery in June to deal with the nagging problem. The admission in itself is enough to take the work ethic jabs off the table, for now at least. His natural blend of tremendous size and speed makes him a pass-rushing nightmare. His 24 sacks in three years at South Carolina amassed a total of 147 yards lost – an average of 6.1 yards lost per sack. Despite a lackluster showing of three sacks in his final year of college – with the alleged injury – Clowney wreaked havoc when he did get to the quarterback, averaging 8.6 yards lost per sack. Developing a strong partnership with defensive end J.J. Watt – 31 sacks in the last two seasons – could result in a lot of pain for opposing QBs. The Texans were tied for 29th in the NFL last season with 32 sacks, a far cry from the fifth-highest total of 44 in 2012. A little less pressure on Watt to carry that load could be good for him. Clowneys physical gifts also make him a bandage against opposing ground attacks. Using the sample size available against relative competition, which Vincent Smith can attest to, Clowney has shown the ability to drive right through the offensive line. Though its not always enough to keep the ball in the hands of the quarterback, there is often little space between a handoff and Clowneys 83-inch wingspan. Not surprisingly, he can be overwhelming to block. If by chance an offensive line can keep him out of the backfield that wingspan is more than capable of plugging holes in the blink of an eye. Houston allowed 122.4 yards per game on the ground last season, the 10th highest total in the league. Its tough to argue Clowney wont help lower that figure. The questions remain. Answers pending. POWER SURGE? J.J. Watt needs help. The 6-foot-5 Wisconsin product has accounted for 47 per cent of the Texans sacks over the last two seasons. When Watt is flying – see his league-leading 20.5 sacks in 2012 – life is good. He was named Defensive Player of the Year and the Texans finished the 2012 campaign fifth in the NFL with 44 sacks. But when he slows down – just 10.5 sacks in 2013 – it reverberates through the lineup. Houston finished tied for 29th with 32 sacks last season. Watt can carry the line. He has before. But if the Texans want to be feared across the NFL, the rest of the line will have to carry Watt sometimes. EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing something right. Despite ups and downs at every turn in his career, the Harvard graduate continues to find a job. The Texans are hoping for the quarterback who threw more than 20 touchdowns for three straight seasons from 2010-2012 with the Buffalo Bills, well, without the 54 interceptions he threw over the same span. In his favour is the presence of Andre Johnson, miles away the best receiver Fitzpatrick has ever thrown to. But throwing to Johnson should be the least of Fitzpatricks concerns. The Texans receiving corps features six rookies (two TEs, four WRs) and 13 players with less than four years of NFL experience (three TEs, 10 WRs) A Harvard education cant be a bad thing in this situation. Terrell Owens Cowboys Jersey . Although Olivetti, a qualifier, had 13 aces, he failed to force a single break-point chance on Gasquets serve and lost his own three times. Gasquet next plays third-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, who won had 18 aces in a 6-2, 6-4 win against seventh-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France. Emmitt Smith Womens Jersey . On Saturday night, Winnipegs strong offense was again accompanied by some fantastic pitching which gave the Fish a commanding victory. http://www.cowboysfootballgearshop.com/randy-white-jersey/. Spains victory rendered Frances 3-0 win against Finland meaningless as Spain needed just one point to secure passage to Brazil. Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema scored either side of Joona Toivios own-goal as France advanced to the playoff among the eight best second-place finishers. Daryl Johnston Jersey . I kind of got a taste of being able to pick a suit with the draft lottery, I went with the bow tie. Connor McGovern Womens Jersey . "There are a lot of things that are going very well in this organization. Im not coming in here to rip things apart," Nicholson told reporters Friday. "I know what Hockey Canada was when I started, and I know where this (Oilers) organization is today.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Yoenis Cespedes is gone to Boston and the Oakland Athletics are slumping without their former slugger. Josh Reddick is a bright spot in the lineup and continues a recent tear, getting a two-run double in the ninth inning of a 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday that cost the AL West leaders a sweep. "We couldnt get anything going. Our lineup continues to struggle," Reddick said. "We know we have a good lineup with or without Cespedes. We miss him. Someone has to step up. We havent done that yet. We have to keep grinding." The As acquired ace Jon Lester in last Thursdays trade deadline deal that sent Cespedes out of town, and the pitcher starts again Thursday. The Rays handed reigning AL Pitcher of the Month Sonny Gray (12-5) his second straight defeat following a 5-0 July in which he had a 1.03 ERA. This is the second time Gray has lost consecutive outings in his first full major league season, also to Baltimore and the Yankees on June 7 and 13. "When you put your team in a hole like that, youre putting a lot of pressure on the offence," said Gray, tagged for a career-high 10 hits. "Thats tough to climb out of." Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer to help Jeremy Hellickson end a six-start winless stretch for his first victory in 11 months. Hellickson (1-1) allowed two hits and one run in seven innings, struck out three and walked none. He hadnt reached five innings in any of his previous three starts this year or in five outings dating to the end of the 2013 season. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year returned late last month following rehab for the January elbow operation. Kiermaiers first-pitch homer in the fourth was just the ninth surrendered this year by Gray, who came into Wednesday with a 1-0 record and 0.61 ERA in two career starts against the Rays. Hellickson retired the first nine As hitters in order before Coco Crisps leadoff single in the fourth, then the righht-hander recorded seven more outs in a row.dddddddddddd "That looked like the Rookie of the Year Hellickson," manager Joe Maddon said. "My thought is now that hes done it once he can really take off." Eric Sogard broke that up with a sixth-inning homer, snapping a career-high 110-game homerless streak dating to July 21, 2013. Josh Reddick added a two-run double in the ninth off former As closer Grant Balfour. Gray plunked Kiermaier in the fifth to load the bases and Desmond Jennings followed with a two-run single to chase the right-hander after a season-low 4 1-3 innings. Jesse Chavez, moved to the bullpen when Lester arrived, worked 3 2-3 innings. Oaklands No. 3-4 hitters of Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss went a combined 1 for 7. "Weve seen a stretch where we scored double-digit runs," manager Bob Melvin said. "Were not doing that right now. Were not getting consistent at bats like weve been getting." MOSS FUNK Moss is mired in an 0-for-17 funk that matches the longest hitless streak of his career, also done in September 2010. "If we keep getting guys on base, were going to do what we do," Reddick said. "Weve got to get out of our rut." COLISEUM LEASE The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority approved the Athletics 10-year lease deal that keeps the club in Oakland for now -- a formality in the deal reached last month. TRAINERS ROOM Rays: Catcher Jose Molina took a foul tip on his right arm in the third but stayed in the game. Athletics: Melvin said shortstop Jed Lowrie could be back from a bruised right index finger for Thursdays series opener with the Twins. UP NEXT Rays: After an off-day in Chicago, RHP Chris Archer (7-6, 3.42 ERA) pitches Fridays opener of a weekend series at Wrigley Field to close out interleague play. Athletics: LHP Lester (11-7, 2.59) is 5-0 with a 1.38 ERA over nine starts since a June 7 loss at Detroit. ' ' '