The area where Seattle is clearly not as good defensively as they were last year is their inability to consistently apply pressure to the quarterback.
I would want Clemmons, even if only in a rotational role.
I liken pass rushers to pitchers on a pitch count. They only have X amount of EFFECTIVE pass rushes per game. They get gassed in the fourth quarter. In general for all NFL teams, a solid pass rushing rotation mitigates the frequent late game heroics of many quarterbacks, due in large part, to gassed pass rushers.
Against Green Bay, the offensive turnovers in the first half chewed through the pass rushing "pitch count" rapidly. When Rogers stormed back to tie the game he was never really under duress. The offensive turnovers indirectly destroyed an otherwise huge advantage of Rogers being less mobile due to fatigue of the defensive line.
When you look at the big picture, the biggest games in post season are typically against elite quarterbacks. The most proven countermeasure is quarterback pressure. Move him off his spot. Make him less accurate. Force more interceptions.
The reason why Seattle has fewer takeaways this season is not on the secondary. It is because the defensive line is forcing fewer rushed throws. The biggest danger to Seattle, a team heavily reliant on defense, is big disparity in time of possession (ie. San Diego, Kansas City). It gasses the pass rush and effectively diminishes the effectiveness of the defense, especially in late game scenarios.
Give me Clemmons for the Super Bowl and I would sleep much easier.
