Dallas Already Forgotten

Nate Clements, the 49ers’ top cornerback, is taking a pragmatic approach to coping with a forgettable game.

He has forgotten about it.

Clements is coming off his worst performance in two seasons with the 49ers. He surrendered a good portion of Terrell Owens’ 213 receiving yards on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

“Last week’s game?” Clements asked, as if the memory has already been wiped blank. “I’m focused on moving forward. As a corner, you have to look at it as water off a duck’s back — let it just roll right off you. You have to get ready for next week.”

Clements will return to the place he called home through his first six NFL seasons, as the 49ers travel to face the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. The 49ers last played a game at Buffalo in 1998.

“I knew we were playing them. I wouldn’t say I circled it (on the schedule),” Clements said. “It’s not like I have a vendetta. The city and the organization treated me fairly. Now, I’m definitely anxious to go back. I just want to win the game.”

The 49ers inquired about a possible trade for Clements at the 2006 trade deadline. However, the Bills did not give the 49ers permission to speak with his agent about a contract extension.

When Clements became a free agent the following March, the 49ers wasted no time in signing him to an eight-year, $80 million deal. Because the final year of the contract automatically voided after one season, Clements’ deal is now scheduled to pay him a total of $64 million over seven seasons through 2013.

Clements has given the 49ers pretty much what they expected when they signed him. He’s been a reliable cornerback who works hard and shows up to play every Sunday. However, he experienced his share of struggles on Sunday.

The 49ers put Clements on Owens for much of the game. Owens had seven catches for 213 yards and a touchdown. (In fairness, Owens made a 52-yard reception on a play in which cornerback Donald Strickland and safety Mark Roman were to blame.)

Niners interim coach Mike Singletary said his confidence in Clements has not wavered. He said he would not hesitate to place Clements in single coverage against the opponent’s top threat, which this week would be Bills wideout Lee Evans.

“It wasn’t a mismatch,” Singletary said. “I think Nate Clements can cover T.O. If we just said, ‘Nate Clements, go over there and get on the line of scrimmage and do not let him off the line of scrimmage,’ I would say nine out of 10 times, Nate Clements would go over there and do that.

“(But) that’s not the way we play defense. That’s not the way we played it because they (the Cowboys) have so many other guys that can hurt you.”

Although Clements did not have a particularly enjoyable game against the Cowboys, he did manage to display one of his best attributes. He is a physical cornerback who is willing to stick his nose into the action.

Clements’ role in run support has been one of his best features since coming to the 49ers. He was instrumental last season in holding Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson to 3 yards on 14 carries.

Clements delivered some bone-jarring hits Sunday to help take out some of his frustrations against the Cowboys.

He broke up a corner route to tight end Jason Witten when he knocked the wind out of Witten just as he got his hands on the ball. He also upended running back Marion Barber on a running play, and leveled rookie Orlando Scandrick when Clements let a ball go over his head after lining up deep on a punt return.

“I like to think I was known as somebody that could tackle forcefully before that game,” Clements said. “I think I’ve done that my whole career. I just play hard. I don’t try to force anything, and I just go out and play hard.”

Source: Matt Maiocco

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