lol @ jimmy haters

[Steel Panther]

While he is unproven in the NFL, he has more tools than Jimmy that would lead to the belief he can be more successful.

Jimmy literally has the tools of a HS QB. He was hyped because of his readiness. We were lied to. Now he is just a short QB with no arm and no accuracy. Those come along every year so why try and make him something he's not? Why not build around a guy that has the tools to be elite rather than try and build a guy up that only has the tools to be average?

I'm not trying to make him something he's not. I'm simply stating that it is way too early to tell if Clausen will be a keeper or not. The way some of you guys make hasty decisions, you would have given up also on guys like Manning, Favre, and Aikman, all of whom struggled as rookies.

Just a "lighten up" call is all...again, I am not at all ready to grant Clausen the franchise label...just saying let's cool the hyperbole when criticizing him, that's all.

[TheRealDeal]

I'm not trying to make him something he's not. I'm simply stating that it is way too early to tell if Clausen will be a keeper or not. The way some of you guys make hasty decisions, you would have given up also on guys like Manning, Favre, and Aikman, all of whom struggled as rookies.

Just a "lighten up" call is all...again, I am not at all ready to grant Clausen the franchise label...just saying let's cool the hyperbole when criticizing him, that's all.

Please stop using guys like Manning, Favre, and Aikman.

Manning threw for 3000 yards and something like 20 TDs.

This is what makes you guys sound so crazy. You don't realize that what he is doing isn't even typical for a rookie QB, it's below that. Don't disrespect all other rookies and say Clausen is playing like them. Most rookies show a lot of glimpses but also make a lot of mistakes. Clausen is just kind of taking up space out there, not doing much of anything.

And not looking at his production on the field but the actual tools he brings with him onto the field you will see it's a longshot for him to be successful. Do some critical thinking and analysis and stop making wide sweeping generalizations about all rookie QBs and you will see Clausen for what he is...a product of hype.

[mav1234]

Or a product of an abysmal offense and coaching. He may not be any good, but none of our QBs have looked good, either. It's damn clear that it isn't until the game is nearly out of reach they actually uncork him on a regular basis... It's like we have to plod along until poo IF WE DONT SCORE ITS OVER and by then it's usually too late and/or he or someone else makes a mistake to ruin the game.

Clausen hasn't shown enough, but he's the best we have now unfortunately. Luckily, he has the chance to change that if he continues playing like he has!

The reality is Clausen's stats have to be a disappointment... most notably his W/L, but also his completion percentage and TDs thrown. Where the difference is between many posters is if that disappointment means his career here should be over or not, and if those stats mean we should try Pike or AE or not. Frankly, I don't see why AE can't get out there with some wildcat myself, not like our delicate offensive balance will be thrown off. We blow anyway.

I don't think Pike should go out yet though, but that's just me.

[DaCityKats]

he played decent(lucky at times), but havent we seen this before........right now jimmy looks like jake delhomme 2.0.

[TheRealDeal]

Or a product of an abysmal offense and coaching. He may not be any good, but none of our QBs have looked good, either. It's damn clear that it isn't until the game is nearly out of reach they actually uncork him on a regular basis... It's like we have to plod along until poo IF WE DONT SCORE ITS OVER and by then it's usually too late and/or he or someone else makes a mistake to ruin the game.

Clausen hasn't shown enough, but he's the best we have now unfortunately. Luckily, he has the chance to change that if he continues playing like he has!

The reality is Clausen's stats have to be a disappointment... most notably his W/L, but also his completion percentage and TDs thrown. Where the difference is between many posters is if that disappointment means his career here should be over or not, and if those stats mean we should try Pike or AE or not. Frankly, I don't see why AE can't get out there with some wildcat myself, not like our delicate offensive balance will be thrown off. We blow anyway.

I don't think Pike should go out yet though, but that's just me.

For me it's not so much the production but the tools. I understand he is in a bad offense and I understand the playcalling sucks but at some point in a game the stars align and you gotta be able to make a play.

Ignore his stats for a minute. He's listed at 6'2" which means he's closer to 6'0" or 6'1" and many have commented that when he stands next to Moore he looks more than an inch shorter than him. Now I know there are small QBs in the league but it's not ideal and small is the exception not the rule.

Now let's look at his arm strength. He's thrown one deep ball in stride (no LPF, the ball to Stewart was not in stride) and countless others behind receivers sometimes as much as 5 yards. Add in the fact that he rarely throws it over the middle and downfield and it seems he knows his limitations. Again, there are QBs who have been successful in the NFL with below average arm strength (CP) but they are the exception not the rule.

Accuracy? His completion % is right around 50%. That's not so bad for a rookie in our offense. What's that? He throws something like 87% of his passes less than 10-15 yards? That 50% number is now becoming unacceptable. Inaccurate QBs have a hard time of being successful, but it's not impossible.

Low Release Point/Terrible Delivery. Low release points aren't such a bad thing for normal to big QBs but when you are on the shorter side you need to be able to get the ball out as high as possible or find those elusive passing lanes. Clausen has had trouble with this in the past as seen by the batted balls. Adding to the low delivery and small stature, he has a long windup. Even if the linemen can't get to him, they can time his delivery fairly well and get their hands up to bat balls. Again, not impossible to be good just a hell of a lot harder.

The following don't need explanations:

.2 TD/Int Ratio

1 TD/166 Att (Holy F*ck)

Reports of being a bad leader/teammate

So while it isn't impossible for Clausen to turn into a decent/good QB, the deck is stacked against him.

[mav1234]

Look, there's a lot that can't be argued with; his vaunted accuracy has so far not panned out, his release point/delivery were issues, and obviously his TDs are a problem. I do not believe his arm strength is a real issue, but either play design, blocking, or confidence (a debate for another thread, and likely a mix of all three). However, we have seen some recent improvement, especially in the area of getting the ball around linemen and accuracy

It's not enough to avoid drafting Luck but really, if Pike can't beat BSP, what makes you think Fox is going to ever start him?

For now, I just want to see some improvement... but honestly, if he gets sacked or hurried every other passing down, we're not gonna see him go long and it's time for a change in play calling. Moore would have benefited from this too imo.

Two last things that I think need to be cleared up, because they are consistent MYTHS on this board...

Clausen was measured at the combine at over 6'2", not just at 6'2", but over it. I don't believe he is 6', no matter how he looks next to Moore. He just isn't. His height is not the problem, it never was... I really believe if he was 6'4" he would have had batted passes the way he was playing I don't know why people claim Moore is more than an inch taller unless Moore is a tall 6'3", which is possible.

Where have the reports been about being a bad teammate/leader this season? Nowhere. In fact, Smith thought enough of the guy to take on Talib after a play for a hit, so I think we can completely dismiss that angle. He may or may not be good now or in the future but I think his teammates respect him. I really think this is bull, and unless you have inside info on *this* one, I think you should abandon it as an objection until we actually have something substantial to the contrary. Plenty of things wrong with Clausen; there's no evidence being a bad teammate is among that.

[BigCat#1]

so if we trade clausen do we bring matt moore back as the #2

[Cat'sGrowl]

Wow. Haven't been into this thread yet. Shoulda known it'd be more of the same. People telling people to calm down because Clausen is a rookie. P55 and TRD crying because Moore's on the bench.

Don't know why I expected to find an intellectual conversation in here.

I'm out.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Look, there's a lot that can't be argued with; his vaunted accuracy has so far not panned out, his release point/delivery were issues, and obviously his TDs are a problem. I do not believe his arm strength is a real issue, but either play design, blocking, or confidence (a debate for another thread, and likely a mix of all three). However, we have seen some recent improvement, especially in the area of getting the ball around linemen and accuracy

It's not enough to avoid drafting Luck but really, if Pike can't beat BSP, what makes you think Fox is going to ever start him?

For now, I just want to see some improvement... but honestly, if he gets sacked or hurried every other passing down, we're not gonna see him go long and it's time for a change in play calling. Moore would have benefited from this too imo.

Two last things that I think need to be cleared up, because they are consistent MYTHS on this board...

Clausen was measured at the combine at over 6'2", not just at 6'2", but over it. I don't believe he is 6', no matter how he looks next to Moore. He just isn't. His height is not the problem, it never was... I really believe if he was 6'4" he would have had batted passes the way he was playing I don't know why people claim Moore is more than an inch taller unless Moore is a tall 6'3", which is possible.

Where have the reports been about being a bad teammate/leader this season? Nowhere. In fact, Smith thought enough of the guy to take on Talib after a play for a hit, so I think we can completely dismiss that angle. He may or may not be good now or in the future but I think his teammates respect him. I really think this is bull, and unless you have inside info on *this* one, I think you should abandon it as an objection until we actually have something substantial to the contrary. Plenty of things wrong with Clausen; there's no evidence being a bad teammate is among that.

This, however, is a good post.

[panthers55]

he played decent(lucky at times), but havent we seen this before........right now jimmy looks like jake delhomme 2.0.

Clausen wishes he was as good as Jake. Head to head Jake still was much better than Clausen even with 2 picks.

[panthers55]

so if we trade clausen do we bring matt moore back as the #2

Clausen isn't going anywhere. He is going to be like Weinke. Had a terrible rookie season was replaced by a veteran or real franchise quarterback and will be a career backup until he eventually gets released after his rookie contract expires.

[Phil Dees]

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?season=2010&archive=false&seasonType=REG&qualified=false&conference=null&tabSeq=0&statisticCategory=PASSING&d-447263-p=2&experience=null

[mav1234]

Clausen wishes he was as good as Jake. Head to head Jake still was much better than Clausen even with 2 picks.

do you honestly believe Jake had a better game yesterday than Clausen?

[panthers55]

Wow. Haven't been into this thread yet. Shoulda known it'd be more of the same. People telling people to calm down because Clausen is a rookie. P55 and TRD crying because Moore's on the bench.

Don't know why I expected to find an intellectual conversation in here.

I'm out.

Once all the Clausen homer's like you leave the IQ rating in this thread will double. As for Moore you are the first to mention it. Seems you have to make up crap when you got nothing to contribute. A lot like you have to make up crap to show Clausen is improving.