Clausen already smarter then jake...

[Peppermint9030]

Clausen said he wants to get the ball to Smith, but that it would be a mistake to force it to his star receiver, especially if he's constantly double-covered, as he has been.

"I can't force anything," Clausen said. "I tried to force that one into him (Sunday), and it got intercepted. And that is what you get more times than making a completion. I have to be smart."

[dbeat]

I think this also begs the question; is Smitty having trouble getting open?

[Peppers90 NC]

One thing Jake did not get as much credit for was he his presnap calls, setting up the run game

[Peppermint9030]

we tried with keyshaun this team has to get blown up... even more then what it has been (coaches, fo)

[rayzor]

I think this also begs the question; is Smitty having trouble getting open?

not really a question. he is having trouble getting open. no doubt about it. it;s only going to be jimmy getting the ball to the other receivers that is going to open up smith and the running game.

btw...glad he's catching that early. one thing i really trust about clausen is his commitment an ability to change what needs changing. thats always been the case with him. if he sees a problem he'll almost obsess about it till he conquers it.

[The_Cannon]

Yea I feel confident with Jimmy that if nothing else for good or worse at the end of his career he will have worked his ass off and if he sucks it won't be for him not trying.

[Zaximus]

we tried with keyshaun this team has to get blown up... even more then what it has been (coaches, fo)

You mean the year we successfully had a #2 in Keyshawn, that worked? He had like 850 yards and 4-5 TD's, what more you want from a #2? Then, we cut him lol and it's been rough since.

[Jackofalltrades]

Smitty will blossom with a better run game and a second receiver.

Who wouldn't have trouble getting open in double coverage?

[mj4life]

I think this also begs the question; is Smitty having trouble getting open?

it wouldn't hurt if we added a few wrinkles to help him get open like moving him around more & sending him in motion etc,etc

[Mr. Scot]

Hate to say it, but that's not entirely a good thing.

Smith is one of those guys who's "always open" even when he doesn't seem to be (or so he'd tell you).

The NFL is a game of inches. To be successful, quarterbacks have to learn that sometimes you do need to take chances. Otherwise, you become David Carr.

Happy that he's being careful with the ball? Yeah, but as time goes alonghe needs to gain the confidence to gamble at least once in a while.

[GreatPoupon]

on the throw clausen was intercepted on: he put it right on the numbers... unfortunately a defender was there.

i think jake would have airmailed that throw and smitty would have had to jump out the stadium to catch it. and that sometimes happened. i think the throw was accurate but maybe he could have "thrown him open" a little more.

[monstercat]

it wouldn't hurt if we added a few wrinkles to help him get open like moving him around more & sending him in motion etc,etc

This...especially the motion part.

Anyway, I was encouraged by Gettis last week. He didn't many catches, but he has proven that he can do the job, and he will only get better. I thought LaFell made a hell of a catch on that bomb last week too. People who have never done it, don't realize just how hard it is to be running full speed and looking over one shoulder, only to have to turn and catch the ball over the opposite shoulder, all while trying to get both feet in along the boundry. To me, that's one of the hardest catches there is.

I'll say it again, every problem with this offense is correctable, and it's mostly little things. I'm not even close to giving up on this team yet.

[The Total Package]

agree completely. Just hope its not too late before we start clicking. Take away the penalties last week and let Jimmy throw the ball more the 5 times in the 1st half and we might sustain a few drives. I can't remember, but i'm pretty sure Clausen was 1-5 completions in the first half last week. 1yd run, -1 yd run, 3rd and 10.

1-5 on 3rd and 10 is not horrible.

[Snake]

The fact is there are several problems with getting smith the ball.

#1 most of the pressure is coming from the right side that Smith is on.

#2 Smith is never put in motion so he is always doubled.

#3 No run game and the FS is up in the box.

#4 The #2 more times then not is one on one because the FS is in the box.

It start with the TEs and WR catching the ball and making the Defense pay. If they do that Smith will be open.