James Richard Clausen

[Philliez01]

I think it's a little unfair to give up on a QB so early, but Clausen is looking pretty Cory Pickett out there. It looks like he's prepared too, that's the worst part. He looks like he literally just can't make the throws to hack it. Granted, I only saw his performance against one of the better defenses out there so I can't say I've really studied him this year.

On Andrew Luck, his potential has to outweigh Clausen's. Restart the franchise with Luck as the headliner and progress will be seen.

[FUNBUNCHER]

Guys around are here are hard on rookie QBs.
The Panthers WRs as a group have been one of the worst in the NFL.

Jimmy isn't ready to start as a rookie, but to write off a QB in his first year on a bad offensive team is harsh IMO.

[bored of education]

He sucked as a prospect. Nothing has changed.

[Miaoww]

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

Guys around are here are hard on rookie QBs.
The Panthers WRs as a group have been one of the worst in the NFL.

Jimmy isn't ready to start as a rookie, but to write off a QB in his first year on a bad offensive team is harsh IMO.

Exactly. He's been thrust into an awful situation as a rookie (and a guy that should be completing his senior year now) and has struggled.

He's made progress every week he's started, but they've been baby steps.

Of course it doesn't matter that I think he'll be vastly improved next season and has the potential to be a very good QB in this league because the Panthers will be pressured into taking 'the Messiah'.

[stephenson86]

I watched last night, he looked flat out ****. The throw to the end zone for Rosario?? ******* pitiful attempt. Looked like my grandma throwing ****.

[BeerBaron]

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

Guys around are here are hard on rookie QBs.
The Panthers WRs as a group have been one of the worst in the NFL.

Jimmy isn't ready to start as a rookie, but to write off a QB in his first year on a bad offensive team is harsh IMO.

When your going to be staring at an elite level QB prospect with the #1 overall pick, you have to have seen more out of Jimmy to be able to seriously consider passing on Luck.

Jimmy has been awful. Supporting case, NFL-readyness....none of it matters. He has been bad, and they should take the elite QB prospect. It's not like they took Clausen in the top 10 last year or anything like that, you can afford to move on from a 2nd round pick if you can potentially replace him with an elite prospect.

And in addition, like I already pointed out, he has shown no flashes of potential. No big plays to give you a preview of what might be to come....his best highlights are completed checkdowns.

[Thecollegedropout]

Originally Posted by NotRickJames

And the thing is - he's got a supporting cast. He's got Steve Smith, he's got a rejuvenated running game with Stewart and Goodson - but he still can't get much done. The offensive line isn't particuarly good, but it could be worse.

The Panthers will be taking Luck, as they should. I suspect Clausen will be the third quarterback next year.

You've heard of QBs making the talent around them look better? Clausen is the opposite.

I am an Irish fan and I have to disagree with all of your assessments.

What leadership can he show? He is a rookie, very few rookies take the reigns of being a captain of a team. The only rookie QBs I can think of lately who have shown direct leadership to start in the NFL are Ryan and Bradford.

I think his zip is alright, I do agree he doesn't have a lazer cannon of an arm but he isn't as bad. I do think he is the type of QB who needs extra protection and is a QB who cannot be a gamebreaker by himself. He is a player who when good things are happening, he will be very consistent and steady but when bad things happen, he can't figure things out. Its a usual trait for a young QB as we see with Sanchez or early Flacco so its not just Clausen.

Kyle Orton was a "Game manager who sucked" but won because of the talent, in particular the D around him early in his Chicago career. Big Ben led his team to the AFC Title game despite looking overmatched alot of the time year 1....however the talent around him was superb so it helped him out.

Steve Smith is living off big reputation at this point, he has been mediocre this year. Dropping passes, not running crisp routes. He just doesn't seem motivated due to the poor record.

The O-Line in pass protection is pathetic for CAR. Very few QBs can survive that type of play...maybe a Vick or Roethlisberger type could but alot of QBs, especially rookies wont survive.

Running game has sucked up until recently and its been a dreadful year for DeAngelo Williams in particular.

[Thecollegedropout]

Originally Posted by bored of education

He sucked as a prospect. Nothing has changed.

I have seen all of his Irish games and I can tell you he was great out of college and was a very good prospect.

Even Mel Kiper loved him...same with Scott Wright on this website. The guy was a very, very good prospect.

[RealityCheck]

Not at all. Sucked in college and is sucking harder in the NFL.

Carolina's future is Luck or Mallett.

[Thecollegedropout]

Originally Posted by RealityCheck

Not at all. Sucked in college and is sucking harder in the NFL.

Carolina's future is Luck or Mallett.

He only sucked his Freshman year because of a bottom 5 in NCAA running attack, an ATROCIOUS O-Line and a defense that would quickly get worn down.
(Ironically similar to the Panthers this year....)

Sophomore and especially Junior year though he was great. Too bad the defense and Charlie Weis sucked though or else Clausen's career records would be much better.

Junior year he looked like a different man out there....even with a foot injury.

[prock]

Originally Posted by RealityCheck

Not at all. Sucked in college and is sucking harder in the NFL.

Carolina's future is Luck or Mallett.

Except he didn't suck in college.

[steelcrew43]

Did not like him coming out and this year has shown me no glimer of hope for clausen

[A Perfect Score]

Just thought Id chime in after watching the game last night. Clausen looked absolutely atrocious. The line play was subpar, but Stewart was running well and Clausen missed a huge amount of throws. His footwork was beyond abysmal, he looked like he was dropping back in cement. For someone who was lauded for his experience in a pro style system and his mechanics, they were certainly terrible and on full display last night. He looked awful, and I see no reason why Carolina would pass on someone like Andrew Luck for what I saw last night, regardless of the investment they've made in him. He looked god awful.

[JPP90]

Not big enough or strong enough, and his teammates don't respect him. Steve Smith insulting him in the media a couple weeks ago tells you all you need to know. If he had any redeeming qualities whatsoever, his teammates would have his back.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by FUNBUNCHER

Jimmy isn't ready to start as a rookie, but to write off a QB in his first year on a bad offensive team is harsh IMO.

There are serious issues. Even times when he has time to throw and has an open receiver, he struggles to accurately place the ball.

He desperately needs an NFL QB coach.

[BlindSite]

He's a huge bust as of this moment and is not an NFL calibre QB, I doubt he ever will be.

[JPP90]

Originally Posted by BlindSite

He's a huge bust as of this moment and is not an NFL calibre QB, I doubt he ever will be.

I wouldn't call him a bust because as a late 2nd rounder its hard to say he was ever viewed as a franchise QB. He just doesn't possess the arm to make NFL throws. I wouldn't want him doing anything but backing up my starting QB.

[descendency]

His arm is fine. It's not elite, but it can make throws when he has to.

I think he just has so little confidence in his team-mates (OL) right now and has so little support, he's not developing like he should.

Having said that, even bad rookies show glimmers of hope. Clausen hasn't show anything - at all - all season.

[wicket]

Originally Posted by DeathbyStat

He can be a very good NFL starter not a great one.

Probly 10-15 best QB in the league pretty good but not elite.

I don't think you can pass up Luck.

I don't feel that Luck is the best prospect since Peyton Manning, but i think he is the best prospect since Matt Ryan

a comparison that doesnt work for me as imho stafford was a better prospect than ryan.

Even though im clearly not ready to write jimmy off i have to say that I cant fault the panthers for drafting luck if he became available. Imho they should do just that unless some absurd offer comes in for their first overall pick, im which case they could gladly take the offer

[descendency]

Matt Ryan went 3rd even though the team drafting 1st need a QB. That's how good he was compared to Matthew Stafford.

Stafford > Ryan.

Bradford > Ryan.

Luck > Ryan too.

edit: Ryan as a prospect was an inaccurate guy with average arm strength (at best - compared to most top 5 QBs).

[wogitalia]

Bradford > Ryan.

Don't agree there though you could argue they were equal. Both had some noteworthy flaws coming out.

Agree with the rest though, Stafford is the best QB prospect in quite a while so to say since Ryan is just weird because if you make it to Ryan you have several years before you get anyone close to Stafford.

As for Clausen, he has thrown a few good passes but is in a horrible situation, which is kind of ironic because most thought he was actually in the best situation of the first 3 QBs this season, for whatever reason, most likely the lame duck coach, the team has given up, the blocking has been pathetic in both run and pass all year, the receivers have mailed it in since day dot, the defense is giving up leads and has been pretty ordinary as well.

I liked Clausen as much as the other two prospects, which was more a case of three flawed prospects that I didn't fell good about than any statement for Clausen being good, but he has been in the worst situation out of those 3 and has looked the worst as a result.

I have seen a few good NFL caliber throws in a few games but his deep ball has been shaky and his mechanics seem to be worse than his past couple of years at ND, mostly though he looks panicky back there, he hasn't had a lot of time in general, but he looks rushed even when the line does give him that rare time.

[stephenson86]

The one thing I have observed about him...regardless of EVERYTHING else like what he did in college etc. the guy throws a ******* horrible pass, like not nice in the slightest, his arm looks very weak.

[descendency]

Bradford's concerns (to me) were mostly "I have yet to see him do..." rather than actual flaws. That said, I am ignoring his medical concerns because if he checked out with a medical staff, I am going to listen to their opinion and not worry about it as a football issue.

Andrew Luck is the best QB prospect since either Matthew Stafford (who I am leaning towards) or JaMarcus Russell.

[SchizophrenicBatman]

Clausen actually throws with solid velocity and a nice spiral on short passes...his accuracy is just awful because of his footwork and inconsistent sidearm delivery. Where his weak arm really shows up is in his inability to throw anything downfield except the fade route where he just lofts the ball up in the air

He has no confidence or pocket presence and just plays small in general. I do think he can improve as a player but I really don't see how he can be anything more than an average NFL QB (and the chance he gets there is slim as it is).

It's easier than ever to pass in the NFL which is why you see so many rookie QBs have early success.

It just seems like everywhere Clausen goes there's an endless amount of excuses about how much his team sucks and that's why he loses. How about he just win in spite of that for once? But naw, once the Panthers actually get a good QB and start winning again I'm sure Miaoww will be back here talking about how Clausen is more valuable because of the cost efficiency ratio of their contracts (LMAO @ that argument on Bradford)

[papageorgio]

Originally Posted by bored of education

He sucked as a prospect. Nothing has changed.

Every person in the media loved Clausen as a prospect. No one expected him to leave the top 15. His season was very good and he played thorugh injury to get his 28 touchdowns. The intangibles is what took Clausenen down. Im sure his interviews didn't go to well and his intangibles were questioned.

In fact I see a lot similarity's between Clausen and Luck. They both have just average arm strength and do seem to check down a lot with short passes allowing there receivers to gain the bulk of the yardage.

As a Bills fan I know the most important trait in a quarterback needed for the AFC east is arm strength. I just don't see the upside in having a Mark Sanchez 2.0 on the Bills with Luck.

That is why to me drafting Newton or Locker to groom under Fitzpatrick is the best scenario for the Bills in this draft.