Anyone Still Want to Defend Clausen?

[Proudiddy]

^^^

Proudiddy - Blitz recognition is clearly something that rookies will always struggle with as opposing defences are so much better at hiding who they are sending.

Clausen is not the worst QB in the world, nor is he the worst rookie in the history of the NFL.

He has had moments, but the moments of him struggling are far outweighing the good. Try not to get so angry about it, not much you or I can do about it. Give him the remaining games to get a decent body of work to see if there was any progression in his play at all. Before this game he had made progress and the first half was a continuation of that.

Remember that the meltdown also included a special teams TD, so whilst Clausen was bad int eh second half, there were other contributions to the dismal showing after the 2nd quarter.

Good post.

But, my point is not that he is the worst QB ever, but he is bad. He really will not amount to much of anything in the NFL except maybe a career backup or journeyman 3rd stringer. He is REALLY bad.

I tend to be more fired up about things during the game and a few hours after, but Jimmy's suckage sticks with me for a little bit longer.

It maybe because I did have a slim amount of hope that he could live up the 'pedigree' and hype but not only did he not live up to that, he has failed miserably.

You're right about reads being problems for all rookies and the speed of the game is totally different from college, but the stuff he is doing is inexcusable. He gives up on plays way too early and way too often. I'd rather watch a guy throw INTs all game because I know he's trying and at least it's exciting when they're throwing it downfield. They're TRYING to make something happen.

Clausen won't throw it downfield and as MurkN just pointed out, Smitty said they were open he just wasn't making the throws.

Gettis has shown he's good. LaFell has shown improvement and may be a legit slot man for years from what I'm starting to see. And obviously, we know what Smitty can do. There are only so many excuses I can take from people before we look at this realistically and see where a bulk of the problems are coming from.

Plenty of rookies have started in this league, even this year... And Clausen doesn't look "okay" or "average" or like he has potential, he looks like he sucks and will have a career of sucking. I feel we have enough of a body of work on him, and it's safe to say now "he is what he is."

[Highlandfire]

Once the ball is in his hands on any play that isn't a run, our offense completely dies. He doesn't read blitzes, doesn't know who's coming, who is his hot read... He makes the most throwaways I have ever seen from any QB EVER on a game-by-game basis. He has no "escapability" under pressure.

I have no problem with accepting this team sucks, but I can't continue watching this guy. There is NO possible way he is our "best chance to win."

St. Pierre was better.

I really hope they just give Armanti some snaps and let Null play. This guy doesn't belong on an NFL field.

No he doesnt. Ill say it again and as long as the pos is taking up an NFL roster, he is nothing but HYPE. NEver has been anything but hype and never will be. He is ANOTHER Hurney F@K up move.

But there are some on here that A. are ND fans or B. believe every draft pick we make is going to be a star, that believes he needs 'time'. For every game we give this pos to 'develop' is another game further away from trying to contend again

[CRA]

As bad as he's been, offensive line is getting worse by the week. You can do what you do and blame Clausen every week but with this poo offensive line, no qb will succeed.

he has had some decent OL play in recent weeks. he also has had a decent ground attack the past 4 games.

only problem w/ that line of thought is there is little difference in Clausen's performance when he had lots of time or zero time.

not to mention, he continues to bail on plays instead of stepping up in the pocket.....which makes the OL look worse. Those are downs a functional QB takes a step up in the pocket and actually attempts to make a play (you see that several times a game by just about every other team in the NFL).

OL hasn't been great. no doubt. But when they give him time he is still just a bad QB.

[House]

No he doesnt. Ill say it again and as long as the pos is taking up an NFL roster, he is nothing but HYPE. NEver has been anything but hype and never will be. He is ANOTHER Hurney F@K up move.

But there are some on here that A. are ND fans or B. believe every draft pick we make is going to be a star, that believes he needs 'time'. For every game we give this pos to 'develop' is another game further away from trying to contend again

So who in the fug do you suggest that we put under center instead of Jimmy?

If you say Armanti you are fuging retard. "Lets put in a QB that ran a single wing option attack at an FBS II school to play QB!"

There is no one out there right now but Jimmy for this year. I feel bad for Luck if he declares because with the way this team is playing right now there is no QB on the face of this planet that is going to win games.

Unless the TEAM starts playing better then no new QB is going to step in and "save the day".

[CRA]

While I wouldn't defend Clausen and say that he is a good QB, I still would reserve judgement on his future based upon this years play.

No one on offense and 2/3rds of the D have looked nothing better than horrible all year long.

Kalil is not the future Pro-bowl C he looked like last year. Gross looks like he could be replaced with a half full sack of 'taters. Wharton was a terd when he was in the game. To be honest SS hasn't really looked like he was ever at any time the best WR in the game at one time. Williams was not inspiring and looked like a 3rd string RB, up until this game so did Stewart. King, who used to be reliable at least, is now one of the worst TE's in the league.

These are all guys that HAVE to perform at a higher level if a rookie QB is going to succeed.

I am as excited as anyone about the possibilities that Luck holds. However, if this TEAM doesn't start playing better then Luck will look just as bad or worse than Claussen does right now. You can bank on that.

last year Kalil didn't have revolving doors at both tackle positions. IMO, that is probably the biggest reason Kalil hasn't looked as good.

[MadHatter]

So who in the f**k do you suggest that we put under center instead of Jimmy?

If you say Armanti you are f**king retard. "Lets put in a QB that ran a single wing option attack at an FBS II school to play QB!"

There is no one out there right now but Jimmy for this year. I feel bad for Luck if he declares because with the way this team is playing right now there is no QB on the face of this planet that is going to win games.

Unless the TEAM starts playing better then no new QB is going to step in and "save the day".

I agree that Clausen should start the rest of this season. There is no upside to putting anyone else in there.

Maybe (long shot) a light goes off and he starts looking and making decisions expected of even a rookie QB....however I would not get my hopes up.

[Proudiddy]

What also gets me is that people actually believe this OL has gotten this bad since last year. Gross, Wharton, and Kalil are still in tact. Last year, Schwartz was well regarded and considered an up-and-comer with solid performances in limited action. Bernadeau was well regarded as well with great measureables.

So these guys all the sudden went from that last year to scrubs? All 5 of them? At the same time?

This is my point. People would rather blame 5 guys for one individual's sake because of their homerism.

Clausen doesn't avoid pressure. He steps into it, not away from it.

[cookinbrak]

Smith just took a subtle shot at Jimmy on the post game radio interview saying the sacks weren't coverage sacks and that receivers were open but not getting thrown the ball.

That's more of a shot at the Oline.

[CRA]

What also gets me is that people actually believe this OL has gotten this bad since last year. Gross, Wharton, and Kalil are still in tact. Last year, Schwartz was well regarded and considered an up-and-comer with solid performances in limited action. Bernadeau was well regarded as well with great measureables.

So these guys all the sudden went from that last year to scrubs? All 5 of them? At the same time?

This is my point. People would rather blame 5 guys for one individual's sake because of their homerism.

Clausen doesn't avoid pressure. He steps into it, not away from it.

the OL hasn't been great this year.

that said, not enough people acknowledge how a QB impacts that....especially really bad QB play. It impacts what opponents can throw at OLs and a QB's decisions can also make them look horrible.

[panther4life]

Smith just took a subtle shot at Jimmy on the post game radio interview saying the sacks weren't coverage sacks and that receivers were open but not getting thrown the ball.

heres what I heard.

announcer/reporter:what happened smith?

Smith: well we just sputtered out in the 2nd half. As a reciever you dont know whats happening behind you since your running downfield, ya we hear the crowd noise and turn around but by that point the refs already blowing the whistle. I will say this tho, Gettis, Lafell, and myself did a good job of getting open. I can tell you those werent coverage sacks.

then his shot at the coaching staff

Smith: we practice hard and earn our money during the week, then on sunday we get to come out and be boys and have fun. go out and draw plays up in the dirt, the plays we were drawing up just werent working.

I think the first shot was open for interpetation. Meaning it could be the o-line or clausens fault. I'm sensing some of both.

[House]

I agree that Clausen should start the rest of this season. There is no upside to putting anyone else in there.

Maybe (long shot) a light goes off and he starts looking and making decisions expected of even a rookie QB....however I would not get my hopes up.

I have no hopes for Jimmy anymore, at least not for this year. I wouldn't go as far as some and say that he is never going to be good but he is probably more of a project than we expected.

I just get pissed with these idiots who are screaming to "put in someone else!". There is no one else, Armanti is not a pro-style QB and St. Pierre is a 30 some year old backup with absolutely NO upside or even remote potential.

Worst case scenario, we play Jimmy for the rest of the year. He gains some experience and has a friendly cap # so he is a good young back-up QB for the franchise that may develop some trade potential in the future.

[cookinbrak]

What also gets me is that people actually believe this OL has gotten this bad since last year. Gross, Wharton, and Kalil are still in tact. Last year, Schwartz was well regarded and considered an up-and-comer with solid performances in limited action. Bernadeau was well regarded as well with great measureables.

So these guys all the sudden went from that last year to scrubs? All 5 of them? At the same time?

This is my point. People would rather blame 5 guys for one individual's sake because of their homerism.

Clausen doesn't avoid pressure. He steps into it, not away from it.

Last year, Vincent and Otah played on the right side. We ran to the right a lot.

[panther4life]

the oline doesnt protect him so why should i?

my new stance on the matter

[Proudiddy]

the OL hasn't been great this year.

that said, not enough people acknowledge how a QB impacts that....especially really bad QB play. It impacts what opponents can throw at OLs and a QB's decisions can also make them look horrible.

Well, in all fairness, the OL isn't AS good as they were last year, but there's no way they are as bad as people are trying to make them look this year.

So, you did a better job of saying what I was alluding to, the QB has a bigger effect on an entire team than anyone. The offense wasn't great with Moore in there either, but they looked better. Clausen has had a ripple effect and is making the OL and WRs look bad, when in fact his inability to recognize and avoid pressure and refusal to throw downfield once he takes a hit is the real problem.