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Something to Think About: Clausen vs Bradford

TylerDurden

By TylerDurden,
in Carolina Panthers

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TylerDurden Grand Master

TylerDurden

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I'm not saying what Clausen is yet, I don't know... None of us do. He looked better today, but what really strikes me is how Sam Bradford is playing. Before the draft, I told all my boys I thought Bradford was going to be a bust. I didn't think he had a big arm and he was accurate but he played in a system that contributed a lot to that at OU.

What I'm saying is, should we temper our feelings of how great he's gonna be when you take this into consideration?

Bradford is playing under a former DC as a head coach, just as Clausen is. I don't know who their OC is and don't feel like looking, but unless Spagnuolo turned over the whole offensive side to that guy, their philosophy schemes are probably not that different. I'm sure Meat could add more to this...

Watching what each of them have done so far, I am blown away by how out-of-his-mind and veteran-like Bradford is playing considering how depleted their WR Corps is. They got Mark Clayton, who I believe is a former college teammate, but Flacco wasn't able to do a whole lot with him... Donnie Avery, their only real speed threat got knocked out for the season. If I'm not mistaken another guy with some speed/size Laruent Robinson was injured as well. Yet Bradford is making those guys look like The Greatest Show on Turf...

My point is, Clausen has had Smitty for 2 weeks, and he couldn't find him. Moore may have sucked otherwise, but he got him on a TD both weeks he played, my guess b/c he let the downfield plays develop. Smitty is a HOF-caliber WR. Bradford doesn't have any of those... Yet he makes his WRs look better. Clausen doesn't do this with our WRs.

This is why I have a hard time buying into Clausen so far. Bradford seems to make things happen, while Clausen takes what is given, or less...

This isn't a trolling style Moore vs. Clausen thread, I just threw that in about Moore b/c it is something to consider when Clausen couldn't find Smitty but a handful of times in 2 weeks and none over the middle, crossing the field, or deep... They were all passes to the flats, a slant, and a crossing route as far as I can remember. And no doubt, Moore played like crap for most of his two games, but I honestly don't know if Clausen looks much better aside from his pocket awareness.

So, is Clausen as elite as we're trying to make him out to be, or are we just hoping homers trying to find straws to grasp at in an undoubtedly disappointing season.

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TylerDurden Grand Master

TylerDurden

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Why are you expecting a mid-2nd round pick to be playing at the same level as the #1 overall pick in the draft?

I'm not, I'm just saying it's something to think about. Many people felt Bradford was a frail system QB and he is looking like the true definition of a franchise QB right now. He looks closer to the elite guys in their rookie years (Manning, Ryan, and other who started their rookie years) than Clausen is so far.

Honestly SMF, did you expect Bradford to be this good, or even good at all? I really didn't... I didn't know what Clausen would be, I didn't really have a feeling one way or the other.

But is it that Bradford is that good, or can it just be chalked up to the offenses they play in now - our caveman offense vs theirs... Is the offense itself limiting his ability and Bradford's isn't? Or is Bradford that much better and we're being too butterflies and rainbows about our rookie QB?

And also, you know Clausen was projected to be a Top-15 guy or somewhere around there initially.

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rayzor Grand Master

rayzor

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bradford essentially went into the offseason as the starting QB. everything in the offeseason and training camp leading up to the regular season, including all four preseason games went on with him as the starter.

clausen is at least a couple months behind bradford. they went into this season intending on moore being able to do the job for a year or two while they brought clausen along slowly. they changed course and clausen suddenly finds himself thrown into the starting role. give him a couple months and i doubt you will find as much separation between them. next year you won't find much at all.

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