Good lord, stop bashing Jimmy....

[Hairless Cat]

its simply really

LUCK>CLAUSEN

if Luck doesn't declare, I'll go back to 'game manager' mode. f**k Clausen and f**k his potential game managing abilities (for now).

You wont know that till he plays in the NFL -

[Urrymonster]

I think the universal agreement is that he sucked this year. The debate is whether he will improve or not. I am in the corner that supports giving him time while looking to upgrade the position in the offseason rather than putting all our eggs in his basket.

This is essentially the point most are trying to make.

There was everything wrong with our offense as a whole this year, so chucking in a rookie to manage it all was a recipe for disaster. I personally feel he has shown signs of progressing and his collegiate career shows he makes good jumps between seasons.

I am happy to sit and watch Luck & Clausen battle for the top of the depth chart next season, pending Luck comes out.

[Kevin Greene]

Call Jimmy the second coming if you like.

Just make sure Andrew Luck is wearing a Panther uni next year.

That is all.

[Erik Stall]

Ok just a couple of facts

1. He had 8 fumbles on the season including snaps, that isn't bad, especially considering who often he was sacked (33 times)

2. He finished the season with 28% of his passes over 10 yards and 10% over 20 yards, which was a definite progression from his mid season numbers

If by 8 you mean 9, then yeah. Also that's 9 in 10 games started, which is quite bad.

[MHS831]

As Clausen's biggest opponent, I could go on for days about this.

The dude played QB under center his entire collegiate career and still fumbled how many snaps? He looked scared in the pocket, panicking immediately whenever he felt the slightest bit of pressure. He rarely stepped up and always tried to run around the pressure, something he's not physically capable of doing. His arm strength is laughable. How many times did he bounce passes to receivers or throw it at their feet? How many times did he completely miss receivers because he wasn't on the same page as them and he thought they were running a different route? Worst of all, he's had absolutely zero confidence in himself since Day 1. He's not called Captain Checkdown for no reason. No, he didn't throw too many interceptions because when he did manage to hit a guy they were usually fairly accurate. I see his ceiling as a poor man's Chad Pennington, but he has a lot of problems to work out first.

He never had the tools to be a first round pick. The only reason he was even considered a first round pick is because his agent's buddy Mel Kiper had his agenda. Many teams passed on him, many several times and many who needed QBs just as bad as Carolina. It's as if they all scouted him and didn't like what they saw while Carolina bought into the hype and thought they were getting great value.

I have no comments about him as a person because I do not know him like that.

But just because I think he's terrible doesn't mean I won't support the guy. If he's the Panther's QB next year I'll cheer for him to win every game and to be a Pro Bowler. It's not as if I have some sort of vendetta against the kid. I just don't think he's very good and I see almost no reason for optimism going forward.

I support Clausen because I think there are a lot of variables that factor into a QBs' success. He sucked this year, but I am glad that you will support him because I think it will pay off. We as a fan base can kick our players when they are down and ruin them if they start believing it.

You just described a young Jake Delhomme and what they said about him--in NFL Europe. Jake was never great, but he learned to combine a positive attitude with limitations and found a place where he was supported and developed--things Jimmy doesn't have.

I think there is about a 20% Jimmy will EVER make it as a starter in the NFL, but he is cheap and could be a viable backup one day.

[Urrymonster]

If by 8 you mean 9, then yeah. Also that's 9 in 10 games started, which is quite bad.

And how many times was he sacked? He had a few problems early with the snap likely due to nerves, for the most part they seem to have gone.

Do we focus on the 5-6 fumbled snaps, or the fact that he hardly ever put the ball on the ground when getting hit?

[pstall]

Clausen is AWFUL. You could put him on the Pat's right now and they would prefer the hot dog vendor over him.

Guys. Please learn how to recognize talent.

[TheRealDeal]

Are you really making the argument that he doesn't fumble that much when sacked as a positive for him?

It's sad that it's come to that right? Right?

[CarolinaCatBrigade]

It's not that I hate Clausen by any means. I think with a few seasons under his belt, a solid offense built around him, and a ground game to help him feed off the play action. He could be good. But when a prospect like Luck comes around once a decade you cannot pass him up, it would cripple the Panthers for many more seasons if we don't grab our Franchise QB now.

[err456]

I have made my share of neg. comments about JC but it's pointless to continue. The FO knows what they have and it's obvious they don't read our opinions before making up their minds on a matter anyway. The new coaching staff will deal with the QB situation as best they can and I believe we will be OK.

[rayzor]

main thing i have been saying is that he didn't do anything this year to show we should pass up luck (or newton) in the draft. he didn't do anything to convince that he was the man that could be relied upon to lead this team going forward.

many rookie franchise QBs will show something really positive that will give you an idea of what you have looking forward. clausen did nothing except maybe show a minimal amount of improvement.

i'm not concerned with making sure he has another chance. i didn't see much of anything to make me believe he deserved another chance. the position needs an upgrade and we will struggle to even just be average without it.

[car5nc]

http://minivangundy.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-collectible-jimmy-clausen-action.html

[mwright350]

This is essentially the point most are trying to make.

There was everything wrong with our offense as a whole this year, so chucking in a rookie to manage it all was a recipe for disaster. I personally feel he has shown signs of progressing and his collegiate career shows he makes good jumps between seasons.

I am happy to sit and watch Luck & Clausen battle for the top of the depth chart next season, pending Luck comes out.

I agree that Jimmy should sit on the bench - but I really don't feel like he should even be in the hunt for starter next year. I have no problem with letting him battle it out for the number two role with whoever else is in camp as practice squad fodder but I'd like to see our draft pick + someone else competing for the starting role. Jimmy hasn't shown enough this season to indicate that over the summer he's going to suddenly develop into a quality NFL start IMO

[Urrymonster]

Are you really making the argument that he doesn't fumble that much when sacked as a positive for him?

It's sad that it's come to that right? Right?

Well the simple point is that some QBs have equal problems with ball security once it's int heir hands. He doesn't. The Qbs who have been sacked a similar amount of times have all had around the same amount of fumbles, only Jimmy has fumbled the snap more.

I am not using this as an example that he is the GOAT, nor do I think we should ever pass on Luck. However some people are focusing on the smallest facts as a reason that he will never make it.

Why can't people just lay off, watch the draft, then watch TC? The kid could actually progress and give us two talented QBs on the roster. Bashing him achieves nothing, especially considering what he was up against.