Clausen actually looked like a pro QB today

[Davidson Deac II]

He is not that short. The small hands don't really matter. Being slow reading defenses, could be because he is a rookie, or could be because we have so many rookie receivers (probably a combination of the two). Locking on to receivers can be fixed.

The low release point is a definite concern though.

[gunn2122]

How did Freeman look the first 3/4's of last year?

^^^

well it's not so much that Clausen's hands are small (which apparently? they are), it's his inability to hold onto the football

I thought he was terrible, but Freeman was oozing with pro potential even when he looked bad. Clausen has not.

[Floppin]

I thought he was terrible, but Freeman was oozing with pro potential even when he looked bad. Clausen has not.

Whatever you say homer.

[Jpjr]

^^^

well it's not so much that Clausen's hands are small (which apparently? they are), it's his inability to hold onto the football

I thought he was terrible, but Freeman was oozing with pro potential even when he looked bad. Clausen has not.

I'm sure McCoy and Sanchez are/were "oozing" with potential as rookies too.

A lot of fans have a tough time differentiating a good offense from a good quarterback. The opposite is also true.

The QB gets too much credit and blame from most fans.

[CarolinaCatBrigade]

^^^

well it's not so much that Clausen's hands are small (which apparently? they are), it's his inability to hold onto the football

I thought he was terrible, but Freeman was oozing with pro potential even when he looked bad. Clausen has not.

oozing with pro potential huh? like that game last season vs. the panthers where he threw 5 picks?

[Makish]

i like how most people say Clausen will be decent, who the F@#$ wants decent i want a Franchise Qb like everyone else in our division

[Pimpdaddy]

He can run the offence, we just need one.... the Oline sucks! We have enough WR's now, we have enough RB's. We need some slobs on the line that can take us to the next level, obviously that aint Jeff Otah...

[Vagrant]

There are still a few very correctable problems that could really help his game.

1. He needs to utilize more pump fakes or raise his arm angle to get passes over the defensive line. The book is out on Clausen not being able to get throws over those hands if you get them up, and he's thrown a lot of passes into those big meat hooks.

2. He checks down way more than he should on important downs. There are times when you just need to take a chance and go down the field and trust that your WR have enough athleticism to get up and make a play when you need it. That trust is not there with Clausen and his group to this point. I think the throw to Gettis was the perfect example. He gave him a jump ball, a wobbling duck, and Gettis went up and got it.

3. He's deathly afraid of throwing picks. This goes back to the previous point. There is no reason that a QB should be throwing 3 yard under routes to the HB on 3rd and long or even worse, throwing the ball out of bounds. Safe is death in the NFL and if you don't take some chances, you won't get the results either. You can't get single coverage with no safety help on every down and there will be times you have to drop a ball behind a CB and in front of a S to get the throw in. You can't be afraid to take that chance. The coaches know a bad throw from good coverage.

4. The first instinct for Clausen under pressure is not to roll out, but to step forward into the next level of coverage where he has no protection. He gets a little happy feet back there when the pocket closes around him. He's not staying strong enough mentally to hold that pocket and not take off for a short rushing gain and let the play develop. It's like his first instinct is not to look for the open man, but to look for the rush and then if the rush isn't coming then look for the open man. He can't be afraid of taking a big shot if it means he finds a wide open WR for a TD. Clausen hasn't been hit hard in all the time I have watched him, really, because his eyes are always in the backfield as opposed to down field where he can make plays.

5. Clock management. If he wants :15 at the LOS, then he needs to break the huddle :20 early so he has time to get the play off. There is no reason for Smith to be holding his hand and calling timeouts for him in those situations. You don't need to walk all the way up to the LOS to point out the mike when the building is quiet. Be more vocal. Use your voice. It seems like Clausen has a pre snap checklist that he can't get through in time to not take 3-4 delay of game penalties per game if not for burning timeouts. He needs to tighten that up and roll through it a bit better in order to get the play off on time. Even if he runs it down to 1 second or 2 seconds, it puts the offensive line at a MAJOR disadvantage because they don't have to listen to the cadence, they can just snap on the play clock expiration and run the offensive line over.

[OneBadassCat]

Small hands might actually be an issue. It's easier to throw deep if you have big hands.

[gunn2122]

oozing with pro potential huh? like that game last season vs. the panthers where he threw 5 picks?

I didn't get to see that game, actually. Most of JF's problems his rookie year were with decision making, he was always trying to force it down the field and make something happen, being aggressive. I'll take that from a rookie qb.

Keep in mind that Freeman was 21 as a rookie and JC is 23. JC should be more nfl ready, in theory (pro style offense, etc).

[Floppin]

I didn't get to see that game, actually. Most of JF's problems his rookie year were with decision making, he was always trying to force it down the field and make something happen, being aggressive. I'll take that from a rookie qb.

Keep in mind that Freeman was 21 as a rookie and JC is 23. JC should be more nfl ready, in theory (pro style offense, etc).

And that matters how? They both had the same amount of college experience, three years.

[CarolinaCatBrigade]

I didn't get to see that game, actually. Most of JF's problems his rookie year were with decision making, he was always trying to force it down the field and make something happen, being aggressive. I'll take that from a rookie qb.

Keep in mind that Freeman was 21 as a rookie and JC is 23. JC should be more nfl ready, in theory (pro style offense, etc).

And I'm sure last year people called for JF head too. If you seriously think you can judge a QB after 4 games, especially in this offense under this coaching staff, then your a f*cking idiot. It took 3 seasons for Troy Aikmen to finally "get it", he wasn't incredible his first two seasons. Plus, Clausen is playing through his foot injury which is hampering him from making those deep throws, seeing how you use your legs/core to pass the ball.

Don't believe me?: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/11/14/1837035/clausen-pike-seek-new-look-next.html

[Jangler]

We will see how confidant he plays next week against the Ravens.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Jimmy looked average today, which is better than his usual crap. Still has a ton to work on and I still don't trust him as our future. But he looked calmer out there. I still can't fathom why Davidson called for itty bitty Clausen to make the goal line TD. That was beyond dumb. And we actually had a chance to stay in this game and for once it wasn't our offense's fault that we lost. The D blew this game BIG time.