Will Jimmy Clausen start as a Freshman

[irishfan81]

Alright I know I know but as soon as our future Heisman trophy winner Brady Quinn leaves to the NFL will Jimmy take the spot. I say yes he reminds me of a John Elway and is going to enroll early for football sake. I think he will and he'll be a great one.
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extreme vaporizer

 

[TNirishfan83]

as soon as quinn is gone, hes def. our starting qb without a doubt. #1 player in the nation deserves IMO

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

Probably...but I think he will have a good battle with Sharpley (sp?) for the spot

 

[luckofirish8]

I think Jones could push for the starting QB position, but if Clausen is as good as many people believe he will win the job.

 

[KMac151993]

I think there are still 3 very talented QB's that will have already worked in the system so I wouldn't say that its a shoo-in.

 

[donjuan]

I really believe that JC will have his hands full trying to beat out Demetrius. He's a stud too! He doesn't have all the hype but he has all the tools! I also think that Weis knows how well these versatile qb's are doing now running the spread. To be able to run as a last resort and actually gain good consistant yardage is a huge factor! Also, Jones is so confident in himself that he could really accell! But, so could JC too! So it should be interesting! -don

 

[scooper]

as soon as quinn is gone, hes def. our starting qb without a doubt. #1 player in the nation deserves IMO

Nobody "deserves" anything. Especially due to what some web sites rank him. If he's better at that point than Sharpley, Jones or Frazer, he'll start.

The good thing is, out of those four talented players, at least one will probably be a player and he will be learning from the master.

 

[iloveirish_12]

Jimmy is starting as a freshman for sure. Coming in early is going to give him the upper hand. There is no doubt Jimmy is the starter for the opener.

 

[knute]

as soon as quinn is gone, hes def. our starting qb without a doubt. #1 player in the nation deserves IMO

I disagree. I hope that each of the four candidates is given a shot to win the job.

You don't get to be the starting quarterback of Notre Dame by what you did as a junior in high school. That just gets you in the door.

I think the exciting thing is that we have four guys who each have the type of talent needed to be the starter. Now you put them through the Weis machine and see which one is _really_ outstanding.

 

[scooper]

I disagree. I hope that each of the four candidates is given a shot to win the job.

You don't get to be the starting quarterback of Notre Dame by what you did as a junior in high school. That just gets you in the door.

I think the exciting thing is that we have four guys who each have the type of talent needed to be the starter. Now you put them through the Weis machine and see which one is _really_ outstanding.

I wish I could give you some rep points but I'd already given you some and apparently must spread the wealth.

 

[knute]

Jimmy is starting as a freshman for sure. Coming in early is going to give him the upper hand. There is no doubt Jimmy is the starter for the opener.

How does coming in early give him the upper hand? He'll be two years behind Sharpley and 6 months behind Frazer and Jones. If anything, he's in a hole.

But, just to contradict myself, Weis must think that Clausen is good enough to catch up or I doubt he would have recruited him the way that he did.

 

[irishfan81]

He's gonna start as a freshman he's that good. The kid has 3 state titles and has all of California's records he's gonna be the next great Irish QB
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full melt hash

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Two things everyone knows: Jones is a dual-threat QB and Clausen isn't.

That said, it all comes down to where things fit with Weis' offensive philosophy. I don't know enough about Weis' NFL career to know whether he's had much or any experience with a dual threat QB.

Both are good enough to start. But only one can fit into the offensive gameplan best.

So looking at sheer talent is the wrong approach.

_________________________

I'm separating this from the rest of my post. Why? Because it has nothing to do with what I said above, as I don't know enough about Weis' offense. This is purely my own speculation, that said, I think that Clausen will win the starting position, but I don't really have any specific reason to think so.

The good news for Clausen is that we will probably have an offensive line that is strong enough to suit his needs.

ND's fan base is separated into those that are excited about seeing the guy play who has been hyped so much (Clausen, obviously) and those that are either rooting for the perceived under-dog (Frazer or Jones) or want to see a more 'mobile' offense.

 

[bmf175]

I think there are still 3 very talented QB's that will have already worked in the system so I wouldn't say that its a shoo-in.

I agree, it cracks me up people are already putiing him starting as a freshmen and by opening day at that......
I will not make any assumptions on who is going to start, especially when 3 of the 5 qbs we are talking about has not even put on a game jersey, but I will say Sharpley is talented and will have the benefit of 2 full seasons by that time not to mention being trained by Weis himself.
Although JC is ranked very high, all QBs that go to ND are usually ranked pretty high themselves. We shouldnt count them out so soon.

 

[scooper]

He's gonna start as a freshman he's that good. The kid has 3 state titles and has all of California's records he's gonna be the next great Irish QB

My neighbor growing up had won multiple OH big school titles as a QB. Didn't mean a lick. Didn't play a down in college.

He may very well start, but it will be because he steps on campus and beats the other guys out. NOT because of his rankings or what he did in high school.

Here's some homework. Look up the 10 QB's ranked ahead of Brady Quinn his senior year. Now, which of that list would you rather have?

 

[bmf175]

Two things everyone knows: Jones is a dual-threat QB and Clausen isn't.

That said, it all comes down to where things fit with Weis' offensive philosophy. I don't know enough about Weis' NFL career to know whether he's had much or any experience with a dual threat QB.

Both are good enough to start. But only one can fit into the offensive gameplan best.

So looking at sheer talent is the wrong approach.

Agreed looking at shear talent is an error. SO what can we look at??? the game plan... not really because Weis never has the same game plan. He plans for different teams differently there really isnt one set game plan with Weis.

Everybody has commented on the shear size of Weis' play book, do you think a freshman is going to be able to learn it better in 7 months compared to somebody that has been there for a couple seasons?????

So if we cant go off of HS ranking nor game plan the only thing that, I think, we should go off is time in system.
Who will have the most reps and time in system when Quinn leaves? That person will have the best shot at starting.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Agreed looking at shear talent is an error. SO what can we look at??? the game plan... not really because Weis never has the same game plan. He plans for different teams differently there really isnt one set game plan with Weis.

ha, you can't look at anything, you just have to wait I guess. Fortunately next season will keep our minds off the 'grand question' until January.

There's nothing else to talk about at the moment, that's the problem.

Recruiting news is literally dead. At least until August, unless somebody makes a surprise committment before James Wilson (Benn?... maybe.. probably not, I think he's waiting for homecoming).

It's a boring time to be a college football fan.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

He plans for different teams differently there really isnt one set game plan with Weis.

Oh, there's no denying he changes his gameplan, but I don't think it's dramatic enough that one type of QB would be preferred in one game and a different in the next.

So one of them will fit.

 

[ShivaIrish]

I thought the only JC that's a shoe-in is the one overlooking the football field with raised arms.

 

[bmf175]

Oh, there's no denying he changes his gameplan, but I don't think it's dramatic enough that one type of QB would be preferred in one game and a different in the next.

So one of them will fit.

I didnt say he would split time, obviously one of them WILL fit, unless he doesnt want a QB on the field.
My point is he tailors the game around his players weaknesses and strengths, so really he CAN make any one of them fit if he had to, but I would think it would be easier to play which ever QB that has the most experience in his system. The QB that knows what Coach Weis expects and knows how he wants everything executed is more than likely the QB that has been in HIS system the longest.

But who the hell knows???? Except for Weis, and I doubt he is spending too much time on who is going to start two seasons away, right now he is worried about Ga. Tech....if that far, more than likely recruiting is at the top of his to do list.

 

[BGIF]

I wish I could give you some rep points but I'd already given you some and apparently must spread the wealth.

I just bumped his rep points for you. He's pretty savy for a waterboy!

I have no horse in this race. I just love the talented competition. May the most effective QB win.

 

[irishwavend]

My neighbor growing up had won multiple OH big school titles as a QB. Didn't mean a lick. Didn't play a down in college. ?

Ray: D'you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds?
Jerry Maguire: Did you know that Troy Aikman, in only six years, has passed for 16,303 yards?
Ray: D'you know that bees and dogs can smell fear?
Jerry Maguire: Did you know that the career record for hits is 4,256 by Pete Rose who is NOT in the Hall of Fame?
Ray: D'you know that my next door neighbor has three rabbits?
Jerry Maguire: I... I can't compete with that!

I love how everybody discounts sharpley...The great thing about all of the quarterbacks coming in is that they have good arms. Jimmy may be more fundamentally sound, but Weis will be able to impart his genius on any of them who are able to soak up what he has to give. For the most part, I assume that whoever has been in the system the longest will probably have the best shot of starting. Wolke is transferring b/c he never really had the skills to carry out this offense. My personal bet is on Sharpley, but you never know... I think Jones is an experiment for Weis...the kid has a great arm, so he can always be a drop back passer, but I think Weis is trying to play with something he never really got a chance to play with in the NFL, which is having a dual threat QB in the backfield...or in other words, 2 RBs (one of whom can pass) and 4 WRs. With Weis' genius, he has the chance to perfect the use of the Dual Threat QB by adding check offs into the offense that allow Jones to go through his reads and then turn himself into a dangerous option as a last resort. A Jones/ Sharpley, Frazer, Clausen combo would also be nice in that opposing teams will have to honor both QBs and do not know who to practice for the week before the game. Do we practice against the more convential drop back passer & his formations, or do we practice against the more run oriented/ spontaneous offense Jones brings to the table? My bet is Sharpley or some combo of him and Jones is what we see in 2007

 

[Irish Envy]

I'm not going to get into this argument. My only input into this discussion is as follows:

May the best man earn the job.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

I disagree. I hope that each of the four candidates is given a shot to win the job.

You don't get to be the starting quarterback of Notre Dame by what you did as a junior in high school. That just gets you in the door.

I think the exciting thing is that we have four guys who each have the type of talent needed to be the starter. Now you put them through the Weis machine and see which one is _really_ outstanding.

That's exactly it. While I believe it will be Clausen, let's face it...we want the Irish to win. The best man gets the job...that's how it works. No promises are made about when guys will play. They need to earn it on the field.

A great example of this a few years ago was Joey Getherall. He had to send a tape to ND to get noticed. He FOUGHT for that job. He earned it.

Clausen has so much talent and skill, but let's face it...his one extra star above Jones and Frazier should assure him NOTHING. All 3 guys (4 with Sharpley) will fight for the vacancy left by Quinn.

 

[jiggafini19]

I'll cross this bridge when we come to it.

I've got Calvin Johnson and Georgia Tech on the brain right now.

 

[PMac]

i think Jimmy could learn the playbook well enough by opening day...

Dont forget about how quickly Quinn stepped up in the Weis offense

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

Claussen starts easily. Jones will play some and Frazier too, but Claussen beats 'em out hands down. He's the best!

 

[leppycole]

DJ will start over Clausen, year 1. DJ is out to prove something. He would have bugged out if he did not think he could compete. He is more athletic that Clausen.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

DJ will start over Clausen, year 1. DJ is out to prove something. He would have bugged out if he did not think he could compete. He is more athletic that Clausen.

What a great problem we have. 2-3 guys who can step in and play should #1 go down.

Man, its been a while since we were in this position. It's such a NICE change.

And, by the way, I agree with you. DJ or ZF will most likely start over Clausen in 2007.

However, from what I hear maybe DJ could become a 'back if Clausen is all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips

 

[PMac]

DJ will start over Clausen, year 1. DJ is out to prove something. He would have bugged out if he did not think he could compete. He is more athletic that Clausen.

whats more important to Weis, athletic ability or a more polished pocket passer. Yes an athletic qb is nice, but JC has much better technique and velocity, which is important to Weis. I guess DJ should be able to learn technique by the time JC gets to ND but JC is just a better overall passer.