Source: Panthers leaning to stick w/Clausen & pick Dareus

[DaCityKats]

That is called 'rookie style'. It happens to 99% of all QBs their first year.

But ultimately it's the QBs measure of progress that determines their worth.

so if a qb shows no progression in 10+ games, what is his worth?

[CRA]

All rookie QB's are projects to one extent or another... Rivera does need to show some improvement from the offense we saw last season but it's not a "make or break" year for him and he certainly won't be blamed if Clausen struggles again since he inherited Clausen.

I don't think any rookie QB should be asked to start week 1, I think that's unfair and foolish. It's also unfair and foolish to decide that Clausen can't be a good starting QB after one season... takes at least 3 years to fully evaluate.

yes, they are all projects. Clausen is a legit project QB though.....nor does he appear to even fit in Chud's offense if he gets up to NFL speed. Pike and Clausen were horrible picks. Horrible picks b/c they drafted them knowing Fox was walking and no clue what the next coach would want. The sooner they move on from those two the better.

[XClown1986]

New regime, new offense, new gameplans.

All 3 of those reasons should tell you why Clausen is still going to be here next year, and why they will try to groom him for the future.

Anybody saying that Clausen doesn't fit Chud's offense didn't pay attention to his career at Notre Dame and are immediately discredited. He was at his best stretching the field and getting the tight end involved. Wonder what kind of offense Chud wants to run?..... Hmm...

I'm not saying he WILL be the guy in the future but what I am saying is that he played his senior year in the NFL. He had the star receiver screaming in his face consistently, a coaching staff that didn't like him, an offensive gameplan that didn't help him, and the most inconsistent leaky O-line we have had in years. Not to mention we couldn't even run the damn ball like we wanted to. But in the end, Clausen kept his composure and ground out the season, biting his lip. NO ONE was happier than Clausen to get a new coaching regime. The kid showed class and flashes of talent here and there throughout the season. Giving up on him after the turd of a team we had last year collectively is naive and stupid.

[CatMan72]

yes, they are all projects. Clausen is a legit project QB though.....nor does he appear to even fit in Chud's offense if he gets up to NFL speed. Pike and Clausen were horrible picks. Horrible picks b/c they drafted them knowing Fox was walking and no clue what the next coach would want. The sooner they move on from those two the better.

I don't know how you can label Clausen and Pike (especially Pike) as horrible picks after just one season?

If Clausen and/or Pike have the talent, then you build an offense around them... you don't try to force them into an offense that they can't execute. Rivera is a practical man, I'm sure he understands this.

[rippadonn]

I didn't see anything from JC that would make me think that as a player he will dominate a game a series or anything. I was hoping he would be a lot better coming out of a "pro" offense in college.

We will not draft Andrew Luck, not this year or next year.

[grateflday]

the million dollar question though:

Who the Hell is going to throw them the damn ball!?!?!?!

Clausen looked like a turd last year. I really, really, really, really, really, really, hope we don't go into next year with him as our starter. his indecisiveness and inability to throw to his receivers at any point on the field makes me confident in saying that he is worthless as a QB and won't amount to anything in the NFL.

The sad thing is our QB play is most likely going to suck next year no matter what or be mediocre at best. Even if they are lucky to get some half decent Veteran. It sure would be nice if we had to endure another brutal season with this problem knowing we have Cam being developed and waiting in the wings VS nothing BUT hope waiting an entire season for another draft.

[Cavscout]

IMO...Clausen will not be the starter next year...neither will Cameron Newton...neither will Blaine Gabbert...nor will any other rookie QB

I think we go with Matt Moore or a FA as the starter and draft Dareus

[CRA]

I don't know how you can label Clausen and Pike (especially Pike) as horrible picks after just one season?

If Clausen and/or Pike have the talent, then you build an offense around them... you don't try to force them into an offense that they can't execute. Rivera is a practical man, I'm sure he understands this.

they are absolutely horrible picks (notice I am not saying players).

drafting 2 QBs as Fox was a lameduck was completely rah-tarded. How can you draft QBs when you don't know the new offense or coach? In the past decade, the only coaches using leftover QBs have used Superbowl QBs. Wasted picks b/c they knew Fox was gone. You don't draft QBs for an unknown coach/offense....especially 2 in one draft.

Clausen and Pike also most likely don't have the talent to build around b/c neither were 1st round talent. Thinking one might turn out to be a Brady is a waste of energy.

Clausen may be decent one day......I just don't see any logic in claiming Rivera will start him in 2011.

[rippadonn]

New regime, new offense, new gameplans.

All 3 of those reasons should tell you why Clausen is still going to be here next year, and why they will try to groom him for the future.

Anybody saying that Clausen doesn't fit Chud's offense didn't pay attention to his career at Notre Dame and are immediately discredited. He was at his best stretching the field and getting the tight end involved. Wonder what kind of offense Chud wants to run?..... Hmm...

I'm not saying he WILL be the guy in the future but what I am saying is that he played his senior year in the NFL. He had the star receiver screaming in his face consistently, a coaching staff that didn't like him, an offensive gameplan that didn't help him, and the most inconsistent leaky O-line we have had in years. Not to mention we couldn't even run the damn ball like we wanted to. But in the end, Clausen kept his composure and ground out the season, biting his lip. NO ONE was happier than Clausen to get a new coaching regime. The kid showed class and flashes of talent here and there throughout the season. Giving up on him after the turd of a team we had last year collectively is naive and stupid.

Regime change is exactly why he should be sweating and exactly why he canceled everything and returned to Charlotte this offseason. He knows he didn't do well.

If the CBA was solved I'd trade him to Cinci while he still has value for a second rounder.

[MadHatter]

Love the Cam Nuthuggers logic....

Draft Clausen and play him immediately. He struggled mightily. Don't give him time to learn and progress.Consider him a bust and throw him away.

Draft Cam. Sit him on the bench because he needs to learn and develop.

[teeray]

John Clayton who is at the owners meetings was just on Sportscenter this morning and says the Panthers are warming up to drafting Cam Newton and says we may be favoring him at this point. Also says AJ Green is in the mix.

So take everything (including John Clayton) with a grain of salt at this point.

[Swarly]

nice

[Cat'sGrowl]

My sources tell me we're seriously considering drafting Derek Jeter.

[thunderraiden]

The Carolina Panthers have always been the OK team with a good running game, good defense and no franchise QB. Those who continue to forget that fact are doomed to repeat it.

ANY pick is a roll of the dice, any player or FA is a risk. If Cam or Gab or Mallett have a 60-50% chance of being a franchise QB you make that pick.

I'm sorry but where are you getting your statistics? Players taken in the first 16 spots in the draft at the QB position have had a 25% success rate.... That's because you have players like Andrew Luck, Payton Manning, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers in the top who you know are going to be great. The ones with glaring red flags tend not to be the ones who help out that statistics. I say tend because you have your Flacco's, and Freeman's to consider.