An unbiased look at Clausen

[mav1234]

the main knock on Clausen in the draft was his attitude. Also, not many QBs were chosen ahead of him, so yes, teams passed over him, but that happens. Teams frequently pass over players that end up great. A 2nd rnd pick still can have great value, so just because he was chosen in the 2nd round doesn't mean he is doomed to failure.

Most things I've read about Clausen have indicated he is doing well for a rookie. I agree that if the Panthers get the offense the ball more, I think his numbers would go up (and the offense would do better). Our bend-don't-break-D needs to get teams off the field.

[panthers55]

p55, why do you think the team hasn't admitted they are playing poorly? Many interviews, from players on both sides of the ball, seem to indicate they know that is happening.

Do you really think Fox is going to go on TV and say "Yeah this team sucks. Man, we've got tons of young players, like that Hardy guy, making mistakes, letting the back sneak out behind him"? Or "Marshall didn't make the tackle he was supposed to" or "Gamble has been playing soft"? Do you really want that in public? I sure as hell doesn't. He doesn't give us specifics because he doesn't need to. His players CLEARLY are getting that treatment.

Nothing I've seen or read about this team in the last two weeks implies ANYONE thinks the team is playing fine.

I know Fox is not the kind of guy who will throw players under the bus or say they are playing poorly. But wouldn't you just like him to say that we know we played poorly last week. That we need to play better across the board and that we are not very good right now.

He almost seems to think if he doesn't admit it himself, no one will figure it out or it will buy him some time until he can turn things around.

Maybe it is me but I haven't read anything from the players or coaches negative at all. Seems most everyone is acting as if things are not that bad.

[mav1234]

I know Fox is not the kind of guy who will throw players under the bus or say they are playing poorly. But wouldn't you just like him to say that we know we played poorly last week. That we need to play better across the board and that we are not very good right now.

He almost seems to think if he doesn't admit it himself, no one will figure it out or it will buy him some time until he can turn things around.

Maybe it is me but I haven't read anything from the players or coaches negative at all. Seems most everyone is acting as if things are not that bad.

Fox knows that people can figure it out. His comments have been negative enough in recent post game interviews he clearly knows things aren't hunky-dory. I seem to recall him saying sometime recently that we had a lot of areas to improve on, which is about as much as you can get from Fox about play quality.

I really don't need him to tell me we're doing poorly, I can tell from watching the game and listening to his comments after it.

I haven't seen the Panthers say pretty much anything positive about their play. I believe Beason did come out after week 1 or 2 and say that everyone needed to play better. The combined film watching was designed to show everyone how it wasn't just one person or aspect of the game that was struggling. The latest Observer articles almost always carry quotes with Panthers players saying they have to do better.

edit: btw, I understand your frustration. I really hate to see how they are playing. I just think the players know they are. in a way, I do wish that fOx would just go off and be like "this team is not playing well and that is my fault. I am not preparing them as wella s I need to. This is something that will change" but it won't happen. Just not Fox's way. =(

[CRA]

Decent QB rating (I know, meaningless). Zero turnoevers (again, meaningless). A few clutch plays and a touchdown mixed in with rookie mistakes. If a rookie quarterback plays like that your team is in a position to win if everyone does their jobs. I'm not saying Clausen was exceptional, but the team could have won with his performance. In fact, they were winning most of the game for once until they blew it in the end.

Why not reset your expectations and enjoy progress? You said it yourself if Clausen is in then Plan A did not work.

actually, Clausen didn't have any clutch plays. He had one TD on a play NO basically gave us a free TD. His famous 4th down play didn't result in anything......it resulted in a new set of downs that he played a big part in the clock dwindling down so that we had zero chance if his last pass was completed. Hard to call that clutch

[panthers55]

I see your argument and I don't disagree P55... but if he turns out to be a great QB... man alot of people are gonna be bringing up your posts aha.

Jusr like they were waiting to bringing up all my posts about not winning more than 6 games or being pretty bad because we lost all our veterans. Don't think we will be seeing those and I am too classy to go back and do the same for those predicting 12-4. Truth is I really should know better. It is like telling your buddy his wife is cheating on him. He is angry and denies it and even when he realizes you were right, he isn't going to thank you for it. You get crap no matter how it turns it. LOL

The reality is that I didn't say he might not be good in a few years, he could be. Problem for me is how long do we have to suck while we wait, and what if he doesn't turn out good. Then we are 2 years down the road and still waiting for the next Delhomme or Beuerlein free agent.

I am simply saying he isn't very good now, isn't NFL ready and was brought in too soon. I don't expect him to suddenly improve. Will he be the next Peyton Manning?? Who knows. I liked Cantwell so I guess I am not that good a judge of potential. I am not good knowing who will be the next great guy or who will suck. I just know what I see now and what is or is not good.

[mav1234]

The reality is that I didn't say he might not be good in a few years, he could be. Problem for me is how long do we have to suck while we wait, and what if he doesn't turn out good. Then we are 2 years down the road and still waiting for the next Delhomme or Beuerlein free agent.

that is Fox's general philosophy on QBs, actually. That's why they don't usually draft them, or at least, don't invest high round draft picks in 'em. They saw something in Clausen that they thought was different (or Hurney did...).

I have hope that what they saw will pan out.

I don't want to wait 2 seasons to have a decent QB, either. It's not like this situation is built for his success like we thought it was when the draft first happened, either. I have hope for the future, but grah. It is frustrating for the time being (even if I do like Clausen & think he is doing pretty well for a rookie)

[panthers55]

Fox knows that people can figure it out. His comments have been negative enough in recent post game interviews he clearly knows things aren't hunky-dory. I seem to recall him saying sometime recently that we had a lot of areas to improve on, which is about as much as you can get from Fox about play quality.

I really don't need him to tell me we're doing poorly, I can tell from watching the game and listening to his comments after it.

I haven't seen the Panthers say pretty much anything positive about their play. I believe Beason did come out after week 1 or 2 and say that everyone needed to play better. The combined film watching was designed to show everyone how it wasn't just one person or aspect of the game that was struggling. The latest Observer articles almost always carry quotes with Panthers players saying they have to do better.

edit: btw, I understand your frustration. I really hate to see how they are playing. I just think the players know they are. in a way, I do wish that fOx would just go off and be like "this team is not playing well and that is my fault. I am not preparing them as wella s I need to. This is something that will change" but it won't happen. Just not Fox's way. =(

Seems to me when you lose the first 3 games by double digits and score 10 points a game, you can't really say you are doing good. What we will never hear Fox say but is close to the truth is for him to come out and say I knew we were screwed when Richardson dumped all the veterans and we killed all our depth. It is hard enough to win in this league when you go into a game on even terms let alone with a huge disadvantage. If this teams wins more than 8 games I need to be coach of the year.

[Jangler]

No, Clausen doesn't look like Bradford. But if he looks like Flacco or Sanchez next year or in two years, then I will be glad we started him early.

He already looks better than Leinart so that's something.

Just want to say again, I'm a Notre Dame fan, I was not happy we drafted him. But he is turning me.

[scpanther22]

No all of them passed over him twice and most of the reports I have read about his performance so far are like the original analysis. He isn't very good and not NFL ready.

As for our guys and FO, answer this. Have we ever been right about drafting a quarterback? Ever?? What makes everyone think that Clausen is now the one. I remember when Weinke was the next greatest thing. For that matter I remember when Collins was going to be great too. I totally bought into that. Bought his rookie card, got it signed, just waiting for him to be the next All pro. Maybe after 15 years of watching the next greatest guy fizzle away. I have learned to be a little more cautious in expecting much or wanting to wait years in the hopes he actually develops.

Out of all the knocks on Clausen "He isn't very good and not NFL ready" was not one of them.If anything I have heard he is advance.When it comes to rookie QB

not saying he will be a All pro.just saying we should give him time and I dont think he sucks..

[belle]

Many NFL jerseys are on hot selling! www.base-price.com

[Guild]

I think the defense is not good at all. We have some great indivdual players but they play poorly as a group. Seems on every play someone is out of position, not where they need to be. Look at the tackling on Sunday. We had a bunch of guys in the Saints backfield or between the Saints player and the sticks and almost without fail we missed tackles and allowed them to make the first down and get lots of extra yards.. How many times did the DE for example take an inside rush, lose contain and they popped it outside for a big run. We didn't get off the field because we let them convert 60% of their third downs. We didn't get off the field because we gave up 27 first downs. The Saints had a few drives of like 8 or 9 minutes. Seems to me that part of the problem is just the opposite, we didn't give the offense the ball enough or in very good position. The defense didn't break but it was silly putty the rest of the time. If not for a few bellringing hits that jarred the ball loose. we would have lost once again by double digits.

Great points. Couldn't rep you this time sorry.

[panthers55]

Out of all the knocks on Clausen "He isn't very good and not NFL ready" was not one of them.If anything I have heard he is advance.When it comes to rookie QB

not saying he will be a All pro.just saying we should give him time and I dont think he sucks..

That is the thing. When he was drafted people did say he was the most NFL ready. Now after seeing him play and all the mistakes, poor accuracy etc, people are beginning to retract all that like the OP article. Who has heard people gush about him or say he is doing well. Most of the folks are being gracious saying he is a rookie and making rookie mistakes and now all the praise is going to Bradford.

[rayzor]

at everyone feeding the p55 trolling machine.

[HPPantherzfan]

I see your point P55 Clausen does suck but, unfortunetly, he is light years ahead of Matt Moore so at this point he is our only hope