I'm very disappointed how the majority of the media, scouts and fans have been down on JC. Clausen has battled and played with a severe toe injury all year. Do any of these morons know how difficult it is to play QB with a foot injury?? A QB's footwork is essential to be successful. I mentioned back in early September, Clausen could be the first pick selected in the draft. Clausen has played in a pro-system and had to fight his ass off to make plays to score to keep up with his lousy defense. Clausen isn't the most friendly player and comes off, at times, as arrogant. Hell...I met Johnny Unitas about 15 years ago at a trade show and he was a grumpy son of a bitch. I'm betting Clausen will be a beter Pro than Bradford. I will be one of his biggest supporters...as long as the Bills don't draft him!!
Clausen's been my #1 rated quarterback all year long. Todd McShay is a douche bag. Mel Kiper's one of the few talking heads that actually understands that Clausen is an NFL ready passer.
I remember after the Claussen Pro Day I was reminded again why McShay is such a fucking tool. This was not face to face which would have made it memorable BUT. First McShay comes on and talks about how sources around the league are so worried about his character. My response to this is "Well what do those people who have spent a year with him think" Kiper comes on and talks about how he spoke to his coaches, his team mates and a who's who of other ND officials who say what a great guy he is and how he was voted team captain etc. Kiper goes on to say about all the toughness he has had playing through pain and on a bad team Afterwords I really wanted them to cut back to McShay to just look like an idiot. I admit I was never really a Claussen guy until this year when I realized what he went through and man he should be the number one pick overall, without a doubt
Agree 100%. Clausen is so much better than Bradford. I think Bradford is the next Alex Smith/David Carr. The dude couldn't make it through one game with a bad oline healthy. How is he going to stay healthy with a below average oline in the NFL. He will be rushed and start right away because they have shit at QB. He will have an awful time trying to learn pro offenses on the fly. He is a type a guy who if he is going to be successful it will be with his second team. To me Clausen is ready to start right now. He is more ready than Sanchez was last year. I dont know how high of a ceiling he has, but he would be an upgrade for most teams in the league. A lot of people like to make the Cutler comparison because of his "bad attitude", but to me he is much smarter than Cutler and is much more accurate. He is going to make some fans very happy and if I'm the Jaguars at 10 there is no way I pass on him.
Clausen is the best NFL prospect. I think Bradford will be injury prone and will struggle in the league. McCoy won't be given a shot and he really won't be good either.
Perfectly said. What people also need to realize is that so much of his attitude has been built in by his upbringing. He was fawned over at Oaks Christian (and why not? He justified their gorgeous and expensive athletic facilities), he was fawned over at ND, and the first time he sets foot in an NFL locker room...that treatment ends. The FO may bend over backwards for him, but he'll be just another rookie to his HC and his teammates...at least from a personal perspective.
I've been ahead of the curve on being down on Clausen, but I have my reasons. I wouldn't use a top 5 on any QB in the draft and not a top 10 on Jimmy. As crazy as it may sound, that injury he has is nearly as serious as Bradfords and way more than McCoy's. He is going to have a plate in his big toe forever. He is the type of Qb that has to be perfect mechanically in order to be able to wing the ball, that toe can screw him up for a while. He still hasn't run. He fell short in big games. I also don't like his deep ball and it's not like he didn't play with talent. He is better than Brady Quinn but far from a no brainer. I can't think of a recent first rounder to compare him to. That being said, I do think he can be a Pennington type, but with a better arm.
He reminds me of the pre 2009 Phillip Rivers only more ready to step into the NFL unlike Rivers. Seen all of Jimmy's games and thought of this exact comparison last season before the junior year, where he was nearly flawless. Both guys were never "winners", have that same cocky demeanor, not the best cannons of an arm but they both have a proper feel as to where to direct the ball Both also are average on the feet or when getting out of the pocket, neither will terrorize you with their footwork game. Both also had help from 2 VERY similar WRs in Jerricho Cotchery of NC St and Golden Tate of ND. The comparisons of the 2 are simply mind boggling.........both guys will probably be the 2nd QB taken in each's class too and neither will or had attended the draft itself. My lone thing is I don't know if Clausen can have a year Rivers had this past season. That was a STUDLY year by Phillip, I don't know if Jimmy can unleash that. Also depends on what team he is going to, a team like Chan Gailey and Buffalo would ruin Clausen IMO. But a team like Del Rio and the Jags would be an absolutely great fit.
The record at ND has to be a motivation for him at this point, too, even if it wasn't his fault. The guy won 3 straight CIF titles at Oaks Christian and had to figure he was heading into a perennial winner at Notre Dame, too.
Ok everyone knows I am no draft guru. However, I want to pose this question: How does Clausen differ from any of the other good to great QB's that came out but were really not looked upon as winners. I will use 2 names, Cutler and Rivers. How is he any different. Not in style, why do you think he will be more or less successful at the next level. Right now there is serious doubt whether Cutler or Rivers can win big games. Just curious.
That's the one thing. I think Clausen is more talented than Bradford, but he has to prove he's a winner. Gun to my head, I'd pick Clausen over Bradford, but I admittedly haven't done much more research into the two players besides just seeing them play a bunch in college. That said, he seems like a total douchebag.
I would definitely pick Clausen above Bradford, but at the same time I would hate to have a whiny prima donna as QB and with all the talk, especially when guys with insight like Mayock and Casserly says he might have character issues, I don't think there is smoke without fire. Also, the way he threw his WR under the bus in his interview with Jon Gruden* left a bad taste in my mouth. I know ESPN probably picked his worst moment from an long interview, but he really came of like a Kerry Rhodes-personality - and the guy is supposed to be the leader of his team! * http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5089195&categoryid=2459789
Clausen has all the tools needed to run an NFL offense. Teams worry about his ability to lead and that is someone a bum rap. All the ND players interviewed support him and that should be good enough for most to see his teamates belive in him. It all part of the predraft over hype. When there is nothing new to talk about for months they have to over inflate any potentail weaknesss so they can fill an hour long show every day for over a month between the combine and the draft. Its not sports, its reality TV aimed at men.
There is a few differences between Clausen and the other 2 QB's. The other QBks had traits that made teams drool. Cutler might have top 5 arm strength in NFL history. Rivers had a Marino-like. Quick release and anticipation. Both also had great size and all around atheticism. Cutler was also hanstrung by going to Vandy.Rivers was hamstrung by an unorthodox throwing style and Spurrier a bit. Clausen had advantages these guys didn't have and NONE of the outstanding traits. His big claims are that he played in a pro style offense and he is smart and technicaaly sound.
