Nate Clements Settling Down Nicely As A Bengals Cornerback

by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 26, 2011 11:07 AM EST

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 06: Nate Clements #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals reacts after recovering a fumble by the Tennessee Titans during play at LP Field on November 6, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Bengals won 24-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Once Johnathan Joseph Ezio Auditore'ed his way out of Cincinnati, the Bengals front office quickly responded by signing former Bills and 49ers cornerback Nate Clements with a two-year contract. It wasn't a great start for the former the Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback in Cincinnati.

Against the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos, Cincinnati's first two games into the 2011 regular season, Clements allowed 228 yards receiving, including two 50-yard receptions and two touchdown receptions, for an opposing quarterback rating of 142.1 on passes thrown against players he covered. Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton posted a 156.3 passer rating when targeting Broncos receivers that Clements was assigned in week two.

But those two games are hardly an accurate portrayal of Clements' time in Cincinnati. An accelerated free agency period, combined with the immediate arrival of training camp, eliminated offseason minicamps for free agents to adjust into a new system. Much like the NFL's early offensive onslaught in September, defenses finally recovered and defensive free agents like Clements are making a greater impact on their respective teams.

In the past eight games, Clements hasn't allowed 60 yards receiving in any game, forcing receivers to convert less than 50% of the receptions they're targeted. Against the Buffalo Bills, when the Ryan Fitzpatrick (pre-contract extension) offense was on fire eariler this season, Clements held receivers he covered to one reception for 17 yards and an opposing quarterback rating of 39.6. Against the Seahawks, Seattle receivers caught two of seven attempted targets for 22 yards receiving.

Not allowing a touchdown since week two against the Broncos, Clements has posted an opposing quarterback rating of 56.7 in eight games since Cincinnati's loss in Denver. Last weekend against the Baltimore Ravens, Clements posted his first interception in a Bengals uniform.

As the Bengals make a push into the 2011 NFL playoffs, Clements will be a huge factor keeping Cincinnati's secondary stable. In his past five games before his season-ending injury, Leon Hall posted an opposing passer rating of 61.2 in past five games.

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I think hes done well overall

new system…tough shoes to fill…..had a pick last game…some really big plays in other games….This pickup was crucial after losing J.Joe(I think he was the best CB available after J.Joe)…I would draft a CB in the first 2 rounds and keep Clements for a few years for him to develop…

by ticalcaldwell on Nov 26, 2011 11:38 AM EST reply actions

He is definitely a playmaker

Even if he doesn’t get a ton of INTs, he’s still forcing fumbles, blocking field goals and wrapping up RBs. You’ve gotta be pretty happy with how he’s played.

by Paul Cannon on Nov 26, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

i thought he was too at the time

But Carlos rodgers has been great in san fran. Clements has been solid and is good when not trying to cover people like torrey smith.

by JCompton41 on Nov 26, 2011 4:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

solid veteran

A good signing—a smart player who has come up big in certain situations. We still need to draft a CB for the future but can’t say I’m unhappy with Nate as the placeholder for now.

by goffchile on Nov 26, 2011 12:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I'm very surprised

To see anything good said about him. Every time I read his name somebody is saying something negative. Thank you for writing an article that points out how solid he has been recently. I don’t think he’s gotten the credit he deserves

by SCbengalsfan on Nov 26, 2011 2:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I like him...

he’s been a leader on our defense and I certainly hope he returns next year although I think he would benefit our secondary more by moving to SS. But with Hall down we’re going to need him to step up as we will need Jones to step up as well. The two of them aren’t Hall and J-Joe but if they can stay healthy and produce at the level that I know they can then they might actually be a solid combo for the rest of the season. But I don’t want to see our defense regress the same way it did in 2009 because of excessive injuries. I think we lost about half of our starters that year by the time we reached the playoffs and it hurt us badly in the playoff game against the Jets. I don’t want to see a repeat of that this year.

by dstacify on Nov 26, 2011 9:03 PM EST up reply actions