An unbiased look at Clausen

[Mother Grabber]

To say he's a long way from looking NFL-ready is ridiculous. He is playing and surviving in the NFL with an average line and below average receivers. He may be a long way from making the pro bowl, but he is clearly ready and able to play in the NFL.

[Jpjr]

I wouldn't.

to me that play was like LaFell one handed catch.....I would be more impressed w/ him looking better on the plays he should be doing better on than a wild fluke play.

Entitled to your opinion. That "wild fluke play" is what sets apart game managers from clutch quarterbacks. Clausen has a history of fourth quarter comebacks. Bradford to my knowledge has zero. Being clutch is the part of quarterbacking that can't be taught.

[mav1234]

so let me get this straight. If a QB is flushed out of the pocket, or has no pocket because the OL is practically being beat off the ball, and the QB happens to outrun DEs/DTs and throw the ball, he is not pressured by their criteria?

that... that's retarded, I'm sorry.

Much of the article is spot on, yeah, but I won't let this one point go. Our o-line isn't even good, let alone great. Clausen is NFL ready. He could have waited, which likely would have made his first few games better, but management wanted to give something for fans to cheer about, so here we are.

[CRA]

To say he's a long way from looking NFL-ready is ridiculous. He is playing and surviving in the NFL with an average line and below average receivers. He may be a long way from making the pro bowl, but he is clearly ready and able to play in the NFL.

don't recall anyone saying he's a "long way".

he just wasn't ready the past 2 starts.

I don't think the OL is that average. Defenses are playing a little different this year. Until a QB sticks in the pocket and makes a team pay w/ a deep ball...teams will continue to outmatch the OL. It is a numbers game up front. Fox is right about that one imo. The blueprint is there for Ds.

Until Carolina proves teams can't do that.....opponents will continue to make the OL and ground game look average.

[rayzor]

So what are the positives in Clausen.

So far manages the ball well with few turnovers

Scans the field OK but could improve

Decent mobility

What else?

he's quick to correct mistakes. if you see a glaring one in one week, you don't see it in the next one. he's always improving things.

to me, thats the biggest thing he'll have going for him.

[Mr. Scot]

Loved that he went right back at Pierson Prioleau when challenged.

[Guild]

he's quick to correct mistakes. if you see a glaring one in one week, you don't see it in the next one. he's always improving things.

to me, thats the biggest thing he'll have going for him.

If this is truly the case then we will beat Chicago. The passes in the dirt will be easy completions as will the batted passes.

If we want to win at all this season Clausen better improve and fast.

[rayzor]

it isn't hate.

Jimmy just isn't ready to be on the field yet. I wouldn't call it "smart" football. You can tell he isn't comfortable w/ the speed yet....and it is causing him to be conservative. He goes to his first read on a quick throw or scramble as the first sign of pressure. That leaves a lot of "smart" plays on the field not to be made.

I like what I have seen thus far from Jimmy. People are just trying to overblow stuff and pretend he is currently something he isn't.

i think he is ready to be on the field now. he's not up to NFL speed yet, but he is still ready enough to be on the field and learning from that experience.

it's going to take some time but i feel like he'll get there. he's going to do a whole lot more learning this year by playing than he would have sitting down and watching anyone. it's also going to be beneficial for the team to get used to him being there and growing with him in the long term. this year is just about growth. it's about building for down the road. it sucks for people who were wanting a superbowl run this year but thats water under the bridge now. only thing we have to look forward to is seeing these guys grow into what we hope will be a solid and competitive team in years to come.

[CRA]

Entitled to your opinion. That "wild fluke play" is what sets apart game managers from clutch quarterbacks. Clausen has a history of fourth quarter comebacks. Bradford to my knowledge has zero. Being clutch is the part of quarterbacking that can't be taught.

Not really. Stud QBs and WRs don't just bring the wild fluke play to the table. Like I said, the every down plays you need from them is more impressive. That is why when that is all someone has shown it doesn't hold a ton of water. LaFell showing better positioning on his routes and using his body would be more impressive than that one catch hemade.

I don't really care about college accomplishments once guys make it to this level.

[rayzor]

Loved that he went right back at Pierson Prioleau when challenged.

same here. he's looking for a fight. i don't think he's one to back down from one. reminds me a bit of philip rivers in that regard and i have to admit i like that...as long as he can back it up.

[CRA]

i think he is ready to be on the field now. he's not up to NFL speed yet, but he is still ready enough to be on the field and learning from that experience.

it's going to take some time but i feel like he'll get there. he's going to do a whole lot more learning this year by playing than he would have sitting down and watching anyone. it's also going to be beneficial for the team to get used to him being there and growing with him in the long term. this year is just about growth. it's about building for down the road. it sucks for people who were wanting a superbowl run this year but thats water under the bridge now. only thing we have to look forward to is seeing these guys grow into what we hope will be a solid and competitive team in years to come.

well, he is ready to get out there and start learning.....I can agree with that. He isn't ready to go out and help us win games. He is working toward that.....

I just fell people are unrealistic about where he currently is. and again, I like what I have seen thus far...he is just isn't very good at the moment.

[unicar15]

Gotta start somewhere and given our recent QB history...taking care of the ball is a good place to start. He had us in the game against a much much better team and against maybe the best QB in the league at their house. He also made throws that IMO Matt Moore is not capable of making.

[mav1234]

Not really. Stud QBs and WRs don't just bring the wild fluke play to the table. Like I said, the every down plays you need from them is more impressive. That is why when that is all someone has shown it doesn't hold a ton of water. LaFell showing better positioning on his routes and using his body would be more impressive than that one catch hemade.

I don't really care about college accomplishments once guys make it to this level.

I think if we say that Clausen has only had one good play in his playing time, then yes, you can say that it was just wild and flukey. I don't think that 4th down throw was wild and flukey, but evidence of his ability to move out of the pocket and make some throws. While that was certainly the most impressive, it was not the only time he did that in that game. He has shown the ability to get out of the pocket, read defenses, and find an opening. That is something to be happy about, and why I take that 4th down play to be a sign of what he may be possible of in the future, instead of just a fluke that we'll never see again.

of course, if he never completes that kind of throw again, it'd just be a "fluke."

[thefuzz]

well, he is ready to get out there and start learning.....I can agree with that. He isn't ready to go out and help us win games. He is working toward that.....

I just fell people are unrealistic about where he currently is. and again, I like what I have seen thus far...he is just isn't very good at the moment.

This is your problem.

No one is really all that concerned with the Panthers winning games except for the players and fans.

Hurney and JR have Clausen on the field to see if he has "it". If he does, great we build around him, and if not, we keep trying at QB. They have already decided that MM does not have "it".

It is very obvious that JR and for that matter Hurney are not worried about winning this year, just planning for the future.