Clausen poised for improvement?

[Mr. Scot]

From Robert Weintraub of Football Outsiders (link)

The NFC South seemed poised to become the "Division of the Quarterback." Then, Andrew Luck spurned the pros to return to Palo Alto, Calif. That leaves the Panthers with Clausen, fresh off a rookie campaign that placed him 46th of 46 quarterbacks (qualifying minimum: 100 attempts) in DYAR and 44th in DVOA. The quarterback he replaced, Matt Moore, was scarcely better, ranking 43rd in both categories. Clausen was 1-9 as a starter, with three touchdown passes and nine picks. At times he struggled with the most basic of throws, such as bubble screens and quick slants.

Shall we pile on? Why not? Clausen also ranked dead last in quarterback rushing numbers.

Naturally, Clausen could improve -- he has nowhere to go but up. And the Panthers have indicated he will be given the first shot for 2011, so he has no choice but to get better.

Clausen does have a few positives. For example, he actually took care of the ball well. His total of nine interceptions in 339 attempts compares quite favorably to a number of recent rookies, including Mark Sanchez in 2009 (20 picks in 364 passes) and Josh Freeman (18 in 290), both of whom got significantly better in Year 2.

The Panthers don't have the option of selecting another quarterback in the second round, as they did with Clausen. The team dealt the choice to take wide receiver Armanti Edwards, who barely played last season. So unless the team feels Cam Newton's game can translate to the NFL, it will have to wait until Round 3 to tab another challenger for the starting job.

"This isn't Notre Dame anymore" were the cutting words of Steve Smith after Clausen apologized to the defense for his poor play in a game last season. Of course, Smith and the wide receivers did little to help Clausen in his rookie campaign. Smith, 32, is a shadow of the All-Pro he once was, and questions abound about his presence in Carolina in 2011. The other receivers were a mélange of rookies (Brandon LaFell showed flashes of potential) and vets better suited to special teams (David Clowney). Tight ends should be a drowning quarterback's best friend, but Jeff King and Dante Rosario were more anchor than life raft. Carolina's pass-blocking was also poor, ranking 31st in Adjusted Sack Rate.

Carolina's defense wasn't as bad as it could have been, given the horrific offense. The pass rush was a respectable 17th in Adjusted Sack Rate, the front line was 11th in Adjusted Line Yards and the unit overall was 16th in DVOA. Still, the weak link was at tackle, meaning that with Luck out of the picture the beneficiary will be Nick Fairley. So, the defense could have some serious teeth in 2011. But unless the offense (read: Clausen) improves, the Panthers can't hope to rebound and compete with the stronger teams in the division.

Still not confident it'll happen, but fairly confident he'll be given the chance.

More than one person has pointed out that Clausen made significant improvement between his first and second year at Notre Dame.

[JawnyBlaze]

Good article. While I don't necessarily think he'll turn out as good as Freeman, Freeman looked as bad his rookie year as clausen did last year

[Jackofalltrades]

Well we'll have a bona fide QB coach for the first time in I don't know how long. So I think he'll improve, but I don't think he'll have to do much as I believe he'll be behind a vet QB, ala Billy Volek.

[Mr. Scot]

I'm not ready to predict anything other than that he'll get the chance to show if he can be "the guy" or not.

And as dubious as it might sound, it's not out of the question that under the new staff, we see a whole different player.

[micnificent28]

Well we'll have a bona fide QB coach for the first time in I don't know how long. So I think he'll improve, but I don't think he'll have to do much as I believe he'll be behind a vet QB, ala Billy Volek.

Yea lets rally behind old billy he'll lead us to the promise land,just like he did with......

[Mr. Scot]

Volek (or someone like him) would be purely a stopgap/fallback in case Clausen failed. Then the search for a true franchise QB would take place next year.

Going that route is a definite possibility.

[Jackofalltrades]

Yea lets rally behind old billy he'll lead us to the promise land,just like he did with......

He's played well when given the chance, he brings a much needed vet presense to the huddle and gives Clausen and Pike time to develop.

He's an immediate upgrade, which you can't say about anyone in the draft.

So substitute your sarcasm with reason and you don't have much of a point.

[UsAgainstTheWorld]

I get annoyed by these guys who don't recognize David Gettis as much as he should be, just because he isn't drafted as high as Brandon LaFell. The same thing happened with Everette brown and Charles Johnson.

[jtnc]

Sugar coated BS.

[Mr. Scot]

Sugar coated BS.

The guy doesn't work for the Panthers, and we're far from one of ESPN's favorite teams.

I'm skeptical of Clausen too, but what motive would Weintraub have for "sugar coating" anything about Clausen?

(heck, the analysis of his performance last year is anything but)

[micnificent28]

He's played well when given the chance, he brings a much needed vet presense to the huddle and gives Clausen and Pike time to develop.

He's an immediate upgrade, which you can't say about anyone in the draft.

So substitute your sarcasm with reason and you don't have much of a point.

Your conservative mind set is exactly the reason the panthers are not an elite team right now. It falls in line with the fox theory of play it safe use the vets. You'd rather play stop-gap QBs instead of taking a chance on a franchise player. If the bucs went out and signed Billy volek instead of drafting freeman,maybe they wouldn't be where they are right now.

I'm all for drafting someone like luck but,sitting around waiting on the perfect QB is just as damaging to a franchise as Drafting one bust. You have to be in it to win it,Billy volek is just another nice way of saying jake,rodney,or vinny until the next stop gap. When does it end?

[Mr. Scot]

If they sign a stopgap player like Volek, They're still taking a chance on getting a franchise QB.

The difference is they'd be taking that chance on Jimmy Clausen.

Whether we like it or not, that is a legitimate option.

[teeray]

From Robert Weintraub of Football Outsiders (link)

Still not confident it'll happen, but fairly confident he'll be given the chance.

More than one person has pointed out that Clausen made significant improvement between his first and second year at Notre Dame.

Unless he grows three inches or completely changes his mechanics he is going to struggle in the NFL. His release is so low he almost can't even use the middle of the field unless it is 15+yards. Slants, crossing routes, and quick hitches are going to be a struggle for him until he gets a higher release point.

He also occasionally has a hitch in his delivery that he will have to iron out and become more consistent with in order to effectively and consistently throw down the field (like deep outs, post routes, seam routes, etc.)

So he could do it but he has a lot of work to do.

[rayzor]

Naturally, Clausen could improve -- he has nowhere to go but up.

too true. bar is set pretty low. still hoping he can pull it off if we don't draft newton. sure would make life easier to have a good QB around.

More than one person has pointed out that Clausen made significant improvement between his first and second year at Notre Dame.

that's pretty much about the only thing he has going for him. sucked his first year at ND, but got markedly better each year. it could happen with a more stable program and better coaching, healthier Oline, a better offensive playbook, and a year under his belt.

biggest concern for me is his leadership ability as well as his ability to take control of the offense. i never see a day where he can take charge over smitty or have any respect from him.

Good article. While I don't necessarily think he'll turn out as good as Freeman, Freeman looked as bad his rookie year as clausen did last year

freeman looked nowhere near as bad as clausen.

He's played well when given the chance, he brings a much needed vet presense to the huddle and gives Clausen and Pike time to develop.

He's an immediate upgrade, which you can't say about anyone in the draft.

So substitute your sarcasm with reason and you don't have much of a point.

he hasn't started a game in 5 years and hasn't won one in 6 years.

i wouldn't call him any more of a vet than todd collins. need more than to starts in 8 years before i take someone seriously as a vet. after the crap he pulled that got him out of nashville and his contentment for the last 4 years to just be a backup, i don't know that he has much of anything worthwhile to offer any young QBs other than "yeah, i've seen that offensive playbook. i got to practice with it a lot." "doesn't knowing the playbook and the offense mean anything?" we got coaches for that.

it's a stretch to say he's an immediate upgrade and wouldn't even call him much of an upgrade over clausen. i sure wouldn't consider him an upgrade over moore...maybe in his early days, you know, back in the day when he actually had a shot but ran away from it. the guy is 35 years old now.

he sure isn't better than a lot of the younger FA QBs who will probably be available.

there is nothing that hurney or this coaching staff has said or done that would lead me to believe they want or feel it's necessary to start some old QB. this team is going young and they are serious about wanting to get a franchise QB in here. that means that whoever they have starting will be someone who they actually believe could be their franchise QB. that won't be some old QB like volek who has no future in the league.