an “elite run defender” is exactly the same type of nonsense that is applied to Sammy— who was considered elite at “drawing coverage away from other receivers.” Those are just ways to make excuses for lack of actual production.
Clowney was the number 1 overall pick in the draft, and the numbers don’t lie. His production as a defensive end is putrid. Elite ends are expected to stop the run— that is just par for the course. But they are paid to sack the QB.
Clowney is just a plain bad. And he apparently also has a bad attitude. There is a reason that no one wants to pay him money and no one ever wants to re-sign the guy. The one time a team Re-signed him (Browns), they clearly now have regretted it.