"Panthers QB Clausen experiencing 0-5 again"

[Jpjr]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=txpanthersclausen

By MIKE CRANSTON AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—An inexperienced Jimmy Clausen(notes) has been thrown into a starting job probably before he was ready and surrounded by a suspect supporting cast. It’s produced plenty of mistakes and zero victories.

Forgive Clausen if he feels his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers is a replay of his freshman year at Notre Dame.

Even the miserable 0-5 record is identical.

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“I’ve been in this situation before,” Clausen said.

It’s that humbling experience with the Fighting Irish in 2007 that Clausen is using to keep his confidence from plummeting with the Panthers. Given the starting job after Matt Moore(notes) committed six turnovers in two games, Clausen is off to a rough start.

The second-round draft pick has completed 47.3 percent of his passes for one touchdown and three interceptions. He’s fumbled seven times and lost three, and the Panthers are averaging a league-low 10.4 points and 236 yards a game.

“I’ve been through that whole scenario of not being as good as you want to be and not winning the games you want to win,” Clausen said. “You’ve just got to keep fighting through it. Strong people will come out in the end and be victorious.”

Clausen was one of the most-hyped college recruits, coming from a family of quarterbacks and never losing a game in high school in California. His decision to attend Notre Dame drew plenty of attention, and he was promoted to starter in the second game of his true freshman season.

Things didn’t go well. Notre Dame managed 24 points in his first three starts. He finally threw his first touchdown pass in his fourth game, but it wasn’t enough in a 33-19 loss to Purdue to drop the Fighting Irish to 0-5.

“There are some times when I was doubting myself,” Clausen said. “Whether I could play at this level in my freshman year at Notre Dame, whether I made the right choice to go to Notre Dame or not. There was just a lot of negativity going through my mind.”

Clausen said friends and family kept him positive, and there was some improvement later in the season as Notre Dame finished 3-9.

Now he hopes to use that experience again with Carolina (0-5) heading into the bye week off to its worst start in 12 years.

“The biggest thing I took from that is just keep battling, keep grinding, keep going out there and having a smile on your face,” Clausen said. “That’s going to turn over to the rest of the team. And even though you guys aren’t winning, it’s just a matter of time until you get to that point where everything starts clicking.”

If Clausen needed any more reminders of how eerily similar things are to 2007, new Panthers receiver Devin Thomas(notes) provided him a memory when he showed up this week as the latest addition to Carolina’s ragtag receiving unit.

Thomas, waived by Washington last week, caught a touchdown pass for Michigan State in a 31-14 victory three years ago that dropped the Fighting Irish to 0-4.

Thomas said Clausen was one of the first people to send him a text message after Carolina claimed him Monday.

“He knew we beat up on Notre Dame and he was happy I was on his side,” Thomas said, smiling.

Even if Thomas can contribute and Steve Smith returns quickly from a sprained ankle, a struggling offensive line and defenses clogging the box with run-stoppers to force Clausen to throw will make it difficult to turn things around.

But Clausen insists the fall of 2007 will prevent him from getting rattled.

“Not losing a game in high school and going to Notre Dame and, ‘What am I getting myself into?’ It was definitely tough,” Clausen said. “I’m to the point now where I try to stay even keel. Don’t get too high or too low.”

Notes: The Panthers scattered after Thursday’s practice for a three-day weekend that came after a warning from coach John Fox for players to “make good decisions.” … Fox was trying to keep the mood positive. “We put a lot of time and effort in this,” he said. “I know sometimes on Sunday it may not appear like it.”

[CLTPanther]

At least he has the right attitude

[rayzor]

very interesting. it could just be that when he goes into a new situation that it just takes a few weeks to get acclimated and then blossoms from there. i hope so.

[Mr. Burgundy]

Im a big fan of the way he handles things...I think its just a matter of time before he is producing on a high level

[Jhyler12]

At least he has the right attitude

Yeah, he has the right attitude but he has never been in this situation, he is in the NFL now. Alot different from college... :leaving:

[Jpjr]

Yeah, he has the right attitude but he has never been in this situation, he is in the NFL now. Alot different from college... :leaving:

How is it any different?

Going from playing in a high school game to national TV starting at quarterback as a true freshman at ND is a pretty big jump.

The take-away for me is that by his junior year he was arguably the best quarterback in college football. If Weis did not have patience with him he would have never seen his potential. The Panthers are smart to keep throwing him in there.

[TheRealDeal]

At both ND and Oaks Christian he played a cupcake schedule. The difference is in the NFL there are no cupcakes, any given Sunday right?

[CLTPanther]

Panthers = Cupcakes. Also, I wouldn't exactly call playing Michigan and Navy cupcake.

[Anybodyhome]

Right, and anytime they did have a legitimate team on the schedule they lost. Oh, I know it was because of the coach, no O-line, not a real running threat and one good WR... gee, sounds eerily familiar...

[Jhyler12]

How is it any different?

Going from playing in a high school game to national TV starting at quarterback as a true freshman at ND is a pretty big jump.

The take-away for me is that by his junior year he was arguably the best quarterback in college football. If Weis did not have patience with him he would have never seen his potential. The Panthers are smart to keep throwing him in there.

I will give you he did well his freshman year with no O Line blocking for him at ND. (Clausen finished his freshman year having completed 56.3% of his passes for 1254 yards, with 7 touchdowns (plus two rushing TDs) and 6 interceptions and a passing efficiency of 103.85, and he was sacked a team-record 34 times.) But not everyone goes to the NFL, just the big boys... thats all im saying. Believe me I hope he turns it around im just saying hes starting out real slow and looks as if he is 2nd and triple guessing himself on almost every play...

[TheRealDeal]

Michigan's defense has been beyond poop the whole time he was there and now you are defending Navy? I'm don't want to get into it but everyone knows they don't play a difficult schedule and that's something that is a big change. NFL defenses are tough even for guys who play in conferences with tough defenses so for him it will be even tougher.

You know what they say, if you can't spot the crazy guy on the bus, you are the crazy guy on the bus. If you can't spot the cupcake in the NFL...

[Jhyler12]

Right, and anytime they did have a legitimate team on the schedule they lost. Oh, I know it was because of the coach, no O-line, not a real running threat and one good WR... gee, sounds eerily familiar...

Thank you...

:smash:

[koolkatluke]

Michigan's defense has been beyond poop the whole time he was there and now you are defending Navy? I'm don't want to get into it but everyone knows they don't play a difficult schedule and that's something that is a big change. NFL defenses are tough even for guys who play in conferences with tough defenses so for him it will be even tougher.

You know what they say, if you can't spot the crazy guy on the bus, you are the crazy guy on the bus. If you can't spot the cupcake in the NFL...

What about USC were they cupcakes?

[CLTPanther]

I'm not defending Navy, but if you have to ask that, you don't watch college football. They were 10-4 last year including wins over ND, nearly beat #6 OSU, and beat Mizzou in the Texas bowl. Me thinks you don't know college FB.