If Clowney is our pick, it will be because the coaches and the front office have come to a common agreement. Mostly because Crennel's can effectively build his defense around this pick. As recently signed NT Jerrell Powe was quoted in this mornings Chronicle, " it's more of a linebacker defense " and Clowney will be lining up as an outside linebacker on run downs. Which side is unclear, but most probably on the right side where Mercilus currently plays. Mercilus was a 4-3 DE who converted to 3-4 OLB and Clowney should be able to adapt to the position as well as Mercilus did. This will be an upgrade at the position and should give us the potential to have the dominate pass rush from each side, with Watt on the opposite side, which is the rationale for taking Clowney.
But as shown with Crennel's KC defenses, if you don't get dominate play out of your right side DE, offenses will put the LT on Clowney every down. We'll have to see how effective Clowney will be going up against the best in every contest, likely one-on-one.
From recent mocks, it's looking likely that NE may be considering Tuitt at the bottom of the first. My mock has him falling to us at #33. For our new defense to play to its potential, we need a player of Tuitt's dominance at the right side DE position. If Tuitt falls to us at #33, it will be interesting to see what we do with the pick - whether we resist taking a QB. We might be able to trade down a few picks and still get Tuitt, but if he falls out of the first round, I'd wake up Friday morning with him as our targeted pick.
Clowney + Tuitt on our right side would be dominate.