OT: Nate Clements Demoted (at least for this week)

[Dayman]

I think Samurai Mike might be outsmarting himself on this one. Either that, or Clements' play has dropped off significantly from week 1.

http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers...n-prompts-quesions-about-clements-future.html

Brown is set to take over at left cornerback for Nate Clements because the 49ers' coaches believe he matches up better against the Indianapolis Colts' receivers. The Colts use a lot of three-receiver sets, so Clements will probably be on the field for most of the game, too.

I'm told this is a one-week demotion for Clements based on the team's belief that Brown matches up better against the style of receivers the 49ers will face against the Colts. Indianapolis' offense is comprised of a bunch of mostly 6-foot tall receivers, such as Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Pierre Garcon.

Clements and his physical style is better suited to bigger wideouts. The Colts' biggest receiver is 6-4 Hank Baskett, who has just one catch this season. Clements might return to his usual role next week against the Titans.

Still, this is a significant move for the 49ers to give Clements a reduction in playing time.

After all, Clements scheduled salary takes a leap to $6 million next year. A cornerback who makes that much should have the coaches' confidence to be successful against any type of receiver.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/8025/clements-situation-with-the-49ers

What's this about the newly re-signed Tarell Brown displacing Nate Clements on a one-game basis because he matches up better against the Colts' receivers?

A few thoughts that come to mind:

• Clements has been inconsistent this season. He doesn't look comfortable out there. Is he hurt? Is his mind right? I'm not sure, but this situation strikes me as a little odd. As much as the 49ers like Brown, teams facing Peyton Manning and the Colts need all the experience they can get at cornerback.
• Clements will still play in the game, presumably. Might his playing time come at Dre Bly's expense in various nickel situations?
• Clements is 29 years old and has started 128 games since 2001. His salary jumps to $6 million in 2010 and his contract becomes prohibitive in 2011 and beyond. Those things wouldn't affect Clements' status for a game in Week 8 this season.
• I'd be surprised if this were part of some broader transition from cornerback to safety. Several 49ers fans have asked me about this. Coach Mike Singletary laughed when a reporter brought it up a couple weeks ago. I think Clements would be a few years away from that sort of move.

This one is a bit baffling from this angle and I don't have enough information to say anything definitive. Yes, Clements has been inconsistent, but he's still a good talent and a hard worker and a good teammate, by all accounts. We haven't seen the last of him as a starting corner in the NFL.

 

[Ronin]

Here's more on the situation

It's not known whether Clements will be the slot cornerback. If he is, he could end up seeing just about as much time as the starters. I'm hearing that the move is personnel-based -- that the coaching staff feels the Spencer-Brown duo matches up well against the Indianapolis receivers, most of whom are smaller, quicker guys.
Clements is a good match on bigger, more physical receivers such as the Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald. That makes me wonder if he will be assigned to cover the Colts' Dallas Clark, a tight end who has been as prolific as a receiver this season. Brown, who was hurt in training camp, had been the No. 4 cornerback to start the season. That he is starting also means that he has leap-frogged Dre Bly for this game at least.
*************
Here is the contract status of the 49ers' cornerbacks. Obviously, the 49ers see Brown and Spencer as part of their future cornerbacks corps. Clements likely is part of that corps, although his salary will make a big jump next season.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblog...rown-gets-star.html?mi_rss=49ers Blog and Q&A

 

[Arizona's Finest]

:teamimploding:

 

[Goldfield]

Thats just dumb.

 

[TJ]

I think Samurai Mike might be outsmarting himself on this one. Either that, or Clements' play has dropped off significantly from week 1.

http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers...n-prompts-quesions-about-clements-future.html

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/8025/clements-situation-with-the-49ers

I totally agree....you dont demote your best CB playing probably your most talented team on the docket. Singletary had better realize that being a coach in the NFL isn't like the movies where you create drama to motivate the team.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

They are paying Nate Clements a FORTUNE to play cornerback.

 

[Syracusecards]

That's the equivalent of us saying "DRC, their top WR only runs a 4.6 so we're going to start Ralph Brown over you."

You gotta wonder what is being said in the locker room about this. This is the type of move where he can lose the team if it backfires. Unless there's more to it than we know, which is certainly possible.

 

[az1965]

This is a real head scratcher

 

[Stout]

The sad thing is, I'm playing against Wayne in fantasy! Torch 'em, Colts...except for you, Wayne

 

[Goldfield]

You gotta wonder what is being said in the locker room about this. This is the type of move where he can lose the team if it backfires. Unless there's more to it than we know, which is certainly possible.

I agree, moves like this will make everyone second guess him.

 

[Shane]

I agree, moves like this will make everyone second guess him.

and that is a great thing.

 

[Krangodnzr]

According to Football Outsiders stats from last year, Nate Clements wasn't even a Top 30 cornerback. He has been a bust for the Niners (like every free agent they've signed over the last 5 years or so).

 

[Arizona's Finest]

So far so good on this call. Indy has 3 three and outs already after only having ten all season.