Anyone Still Want to Defend Clausen?

[Chimera]

It's no secret that I don't like Clausen. I love to chime in about his noodle arm at every opportunity.

But I'll say this... Clausen is trying to lead this team. When Goodson was down after a return against the Seahawks, Clausen was the only player to walk over to Goodson and give him encouragement. Every time Clausen got steam rolled, he got up slowly, but every time the offense took the field, he was hustling and motivating the rest of the team.

He is a guy who needs veteran leadership. And some strength in his arm.

[OneBadassCat]

It's no secret that I don't like Clausen. I love to chime in about his noodle arm at every opportunity.

But I'll say this... Clausen is trying to lead this team. When Goodson was down after a return against the Seahawks, Clausen was the only player to walk over to Goodson and give him encouragement. Every time Clausen got steam rolled, he got up slowly, but every time the offense took the field, he was hustling and motivating the rest of the team.

He is a guy who needs veteran leadership. And some strength in his arm.

This. I respect that Clausen is giving his best to lead the team but he needs work. I too suspect his arm is not where it needs to be.

[rayzor]

It also helps he has 8-9 in the box when he passes

That said the kid is the second best long term prospect in my mind.

i don't see that 8 or 9 in the box being much different with him as a pro.

[mav1234]

I have watched him several times this year and have become more impressed with every outing. I wasn't a big fan at the beginning of the year but he can do things no one else in football can do. I saw him elude a full out blitz and flick the ball 40-50 yards down field and hit a receiver in stride for a TD. What was amazing is that he made it look routine with little to no effort. If it is shown that his football IQ and work ethic is close to his athleticism, he may be the best guy in the draft bar none.

I've seen him 3 times and I came away very impressed each time, but I also was just as impressed with the style of offense they ran, and I suck at telling the two apart... but I really think he'd be a good choice if we go his direction, so wasn't trying to take a hit on his arm.

He is a guy who needs veteran leadership. And some strength in his arm.

Honestly, I don't think his arm strength is a problem as much as his recognition and patience with plays. It may be that his toe is still causing him a bigger issue than we thought it would, but he has made some decent deep throws... though yeah, he doesn't have the best arm.

one thing I will say about him in the first half last week, he was DEFINITELY letting plays develop. He still dumped the ball off but you saw him reading defenses and looking down the field and not just immediately checking it down. There were times this last week in the 3rd quarter he actually held the ball too long =\

All that changed in the second half though =P Terrible outing, but you are right: He is trying to lead this team. Fox is even tryng to encourage him lately, haha.

[pantherbiker]

All u Clausen haters: He aint going no where...get used to it..Even if we get Luck, Clausen will still be here. Right now has very little trade value. Time to start pulling for the kid.

[KillerKat]

All u Clausen haters: He aint going no where...get used to it..Even if we get Luck, Clausen will still be here. Right now has very little trade value. Time to start pulling for the kid.

If we get Luck, Clausen will be holding a clipboard.

[mav1234]

All u Clausen haters: He aint going no where...get used to it..Even if we get Luck, Clausen will still be here. Right now has very little trade value. Time to start pulling for the kid.

I pull for him because he's a Panther.

I would like to love him 'cause he's good... as it is, I just hope he doesn't look terrible on sundays. =|

[pantherbiker]

If we get Luck, Clausen will be holding a clipboard.

Hope Luck is as good as everyone thinks (me included) wonder how many people have actually seen Luck play percentage wise....I haven't.

[Cavscout]

Clausen will make a good back-up QB for Luck next year

[weyco2000]

Clausen will make a good back-up QB for Luck next year

If Panthers, Lions or Buffalo have 1st pick, Luck stays in school. 49ers on the other hand... No QB wants to come to Carolina and play behind a OL that allows more concussions than a crash test dummy.

[klumme]

If Panthers, Lions or Buffalo have 1st pick, Luck stays in school. 49ers on the other hand... No QB wants to come to Carolina and play behind a OL that allows more concussions than a crash test dummy.

Yep and then next year ( if there is any football ) he can go pro and play for a just as bad team. You know the team picking first overall is not a very good team right.

[mick eye]

Not gonna defend him but was he playing DT and i miss it. We gave up 3 touchdowns to Lynch. We made a Buffalo reject look like Adrian Peterson. In other words once again Jimmy is not the biggest problem. We need help on both lines.

[Icege]

I really think the communication problem is that so many people just attached themselves to Jimmy once he was drafted that they're not looking rationally at this. He's the first young, relatively high pick QB they've likely ever cheered for (because 1995 might as well be a lifetime ago) and gosh darnit he's going to succeed because I convinced myself all summer and fall that he was going to succeed.

Human minds evolved this really interesting trait to doubt evidence when it disproves a belief. So a person who was sold on Jimmy is going to doubt what they see. Surely it has to be because of something ELSE going on with the team, he's just not getting a fair shot!

In that very same train of thought, however, human minds have this interesting trait of assuming that their perception is reality. There are some posters on this board who have convinced themselves beyond a shadow of a doubt the following:

1) Clausen will never be an NFL QB

2) 1st, 2nd, and some 3rd round draft picks are required to be Rookie of the Year candidates, or they're busts

3) Trading away DWill, JStew, Goodson, Sutton, Smitty, Clausen, Otah, Beason, Davis, Gamble, and Godfrey for draft picks will make us a much better team

4) Players can flourish under any system

5) Fox's system allows for a productive QB

6) Armanti Edwards stole my bike

The kid has definitely looked pretty bad, even with all of the problems we've had. I still think Clausen can develop, and I still believe the pick was the correct one. Even if he doesn't turn out, the team drafted Clausen and Pike trying to find a young, potential franchise QB. They drafted a bunch of WRs to try and get some depth there.

Here's an even more interesting stat that a lot of people seem to be blind to:

Clausen - 1 passing TD

Total Rushing TDs this season: 6 (Goodson - 2, JStew - 2, DWill - 1, Vaughn - 1)

Certainly Andrew Luck is going to fix our rushing attack :yesnod: :confused: That prick better not stay in school just because we have the #1 pick >.<

[CRA]

Here's an even more interesting stat that a lot of people seem to be blind to:

Clausen - 1 passing TD

Total Rushing TDs this season: 6 (Goodson - 2, JStew - 2, DWill - 1, Vaughn - 1)

Certainly Andrew Luck is going to fix our rushing attack :yesnod: :confused: That prick better not stay in school just because we have the #1 pick >.<

ground game starts slow every year here. It always comes on late and this year looks to be no exception (and they are coming on w/o the #1 RB).

Last 4 weeks they have averaged 130 yards on the ground. That is simply very good production. Clasuen has done NOTHING. The number 1 ground attack in the NFL (KC) has only 4 more rushing TDs. The 9-4 Bears have 1 more score on the ground.

I mean the Clasuen excuses are crazy. It is always well, if he had this he would be better.....whatever it is he gets and he does nothing. When a QB is THAT bad it is simply impossible for his team to give him ideal scenarios each week. Defenses are put at too big of an advatnage when your QB is that bad......which effects the OL and RB play.

but back to the ground game. Fox divides the season into 4 quarters. The 3rd quarter we just finished Carolina had one of the top ground attacks in the entire NFL. Jimmy just sucks giant balls.