Clausen will develop into a fine qb next season.

[Urrymonster]

Based on absolutely everything I have seen on him from the moment he opened his mouth after draft, to the moment he twitted he was going to the movies the day he got announced as a starter, to the way he carried himself on the field, to the way he doesn't look or act the part, to the way he speaks in press conferences with fear crackling through his every word(clearly reciting and rehashing what was given to him), to the way he disappeared off the face of the planet when he got benched, to the way he finished the season to today when he's twitting pictures of him flying through the mountains.

Nothing about his behavior over the past year screamed maturity, character or leadership.

"The Panthers have just made the best pick of the draft!"

What has he said to the press other than take the flak for the season? Not once has he said a bone headed thing, thrown another player under the bus or been deluded about his level of play.

How he carried himself ont he field? The kid was pounded. 2nd highest % of sacks to drop backs. Yet he got up, time after time and went back in. Not once did he have anyone to go to on the sidelines, so he was essentially learning all by himself. That's not his fault, our OC was up in the stands, our QB coach was nowhere to be seen and our other QBs were equally as inexperienced.

You call it fear in his voice when it's clearly just borderline depression. The kid knew the whole team has on his shoulders and he didn't have one experienced guy to help him through it. He was downbeat because he felt he was to blame. Personally I would prefer him to be down than to be cracking jokes and not taking it seriously (aka Jarrett).

He makes one apology to Beason, the main 'vet' who tried to help him become part of the team (Smith is a young players worst nightmare). Personally I saw that as confiding in a friend than apologising to the defence, yet Smith took it personally. Should he have apologised to the offense? No. No one should apologise as all players should recognise it's a team game and everyone is trying as hard as they can.

The main thing people seem to have with him is him twittering nice things as he is on his holidays. Frankly I do not blame him for wanting to get away after the season he just had. He probably expect Luck to be the king of Charlotte already and was just trying to take his mind off things. Not exactly a sign of lack of maturity.

Face it, all you are basing things off is what he was like when he was a fair bit younger and he got caught in some stupid photos (which pretty much all college people do).

He may well struggle with maturity and leadership, but you can't judge that on his time with the Panthers, suggesting so just shows your lack of maturity.

[CarolinaBlue34]

We must have watched 2 different season's.

[Catalyst]

I really think Smith is a part of his problem. Clausen seemed intimidated by him and that's a very bad thing. Smith had reason to be frustrated, but his behavior toward Clausen was pretty uncalled for, IMO. But then we've always known Smith was a prick.

[Majestic87]

Despite my avatar, I'm not a Clausen fan boy, and have ripped on him quite a few times. But....

With a new OC, a new QB Coach, I think Clausen has a pretty good chance at success.

I know, I know, "when he had time in the pocket, he was horrible.". It was apparent he didn't trust his Oline, they sucked ass at protecting the passer early on in the season and in spurts even in the later games. Can you blame a rookie that took the kind of abuse he took for being a little antsy, feeling pressure where there was no pressure?

Can you really say the Panthers did everything in their power to help him succeed? Was Rip a good qb coach? Was Davidson a decent OC? Did you feel they tried to call plays to fit his strengths? It seemed to me no thought really went into it, that they were just doing the same generic plays they'd do with anyone back there.

I look at the Rams and see a team that changed their play style for their rookie qb. They gave Bradford a ton of rookie friendly plays. That franchise gave him confidence in knowing he was "their guy".

I'm not ready to write Clausen off yet. Hopefully, neither are the big wigs in charge.

I agree...Panther fans are so damn fair weather...If Clausen goes out and throws for 4 TD's and 300 plus yards you would get 50+ threads saying fug Andrew Luck

[panthers55]

All the maturity won't change that he doesn't have the physical skills or athleticism to be a great quarterback. Sure there are guys who aren't great physical specimens who have been good quarterbacks just as there are other guys with great athleticism who never developed.

But despite people saying he is 6'3"- he looks shorter and throws sidearm winging too many passes into the helmets of linemen. He has little to no elusiveness, medium to poor arm strength and lacks a killer instinct. He just doesn't seem to have what it takes. Again he might be the next Drew Brees or Joe Montana- both guys with limited physical attributes who turned out to be outstanding QBs, but then again they are few and far between.

Then there is the whole debate about whether he has the mental skills and capacities to be a franchise quarterback, but that is still up in the air at this point.

[panthers55]

I agree...Panther fans are so damn fair weather...If Clausen goes out and throws for 4 TD's and 300 plus yards you would get 50+ threads saying f**k Andrew Luck

Then again Clausen didn't throw 4 TDs all year and never had even a 200 yard game. If he had throw for 4 TDS and 300 yards ever, we wouldn't be talking about needing a franchise quarterback. The fact we are looking again for a quarterback is because he was so awful this year.

[Sandy Claws]

If clausen becomes a good QB i'll cut my balls off.

Let's define "good QB" for the record.

[Zod]

Jury is still out on Clausen, plain and simple. No one knows what he will end up being. They only pretend they do.

[AceMan]

Clausen gets more excuses than a pregnant nun.

[Kitten Diver]

Just read the thread title and loled. Good Friday morning joke.

[CLTPanther]

Not that Clausen has as much ability as Cutler, but look how much better Cutler was this year with a good OC. Never know how much difference someone who actually knows how to work with a QB will make.

[Gin and Juice]

The only thing funnier than Luck announcing he is staying in school, would be releasing Clausen and having him then signed by another team that have coaches that give a damn instead of being lame duck, and he becomes the second coming of Breesus!

You all blast Hurney for the pick, but if another coaching staff turned him into a reputable QB then you all would be screaming for him to be fired again!

I really do not believe that you can take this past year's performance and use it to measure your whole future against!

[Mvp2014]

Not a big fan but with Fox and big Dave out of the picture who knows what will happen, I'd love to see him excel

[NotImpressed]

Really? Amazing what a dream world fans live through.

Do us all a big favor and stop going to games!!

Hopefully all of you with tickets are smart enough to return the favor to Mr Richardson in not continuing to attend the games. Empty seats will send a message.