Sharpley starting for Navy??? Please!

[Clausen2Kamara]

I disagree. I love CW but last week he said JC was banged up and when he gets healthy again he will be the starter...I just don't get it. I mean I like Evan but I just don't get it that we are going to start a JR. for the rest of the season...its not like we are in any kind of bowl contention. I would start JC for many reasons.

1. It would give him valuable experience for years to come.

2. It would also help him get his timing down with his receivers for next year. Then we might look like a cohesive passing unit because it has a lot to do with being comfortable with your receivers.

3. We are playing below average opponents the last 4 games and JC should flourish. This would give him a lot of confidence going into 2008 along with the whole team.

Anybody agree? Disagree?

 

[johnnd05]

I disagree. Like I said somewhere else, I don't think it would be fair to Evan. It may have been - indeed, it probably was, unless Clausen really was banged up - to start Sharpley in the first place, but what's done is done and I think he deserves a bit more of a shot to show what he can do. No matter who starts, though, Clausen will almost certainly get some significant playing time.

 

[GoshenGipper]

Who says he's truely healthy?

 

[goldandblue]

Personally Clausen is a freshman and is playing at pretty much the same level as the junior Sharpley. (Minus the mobility in the pocket.) I say at the least, make sure Clausen gets some significant P.T.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Personally Clausen is a freshman and is playing at pretty much the same level as the junior Sharpley. (Minus the mobility in the pocket.) I say at the least, make sure Clausen gets some significant P.T.

Agreed, don't you think Sharpley starting against these cupcakes will do us any good? I mean either one will do well in my opinion but why not go with they guy who is going to be at ND longer? So he does good and he starts for us next year...I just don't see the upside to this. I'm not in love with JC or anything, its just logic. Timing and confidence are everything for a QB and CW is not allowing JC to do any of these things. If we want to build to a NC in 2009, then we are holding our WHOLE team back, imo.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

I disagree. Like I said somewhere else, I don't think it would be fair to Evan. It may have been - indeed, it probably was, unless Clausen really was banged up - to start Sharpley in the first place, but what's done is done and I think he deserves a bit more of a shot to show what he can do. No matter who starts, though, Clausen will almost certainly get some significant playing time.

I do agree with you on this that giving Sharpley another chance but Clausen got another chance against powerhouses like Michigan and BC. Sharpley is getting another chance again NAVY!! I think if he does good, it will once again give us optimism which will not come into fruition next year when Evan plays against the likes of Mich and USC next season. I say play JC and build the foundation for a serious run in 2009. Face it JC is more talented than Evan. He is just going from an o-line is HS in which never let him get touched to one that roll over in college. Not to mention facing many different coverages and blitz schemes being thrown at him. It takes some time.

 

[Junkhead]

I'd like to see ND pound the ball against the much smaller Navy D line. I'd start Sharpley, but bring in JC if the offense is as pathetic as normal.

 

[goldandblue]

Agreed, don't you think Sharpley starting against these cupcakes will do us any good? I mean either one will do well in my opinion but why not go with they guy who is going to be at ND longer? So he does good and he starts for us next year...I just don't see the upside to this. I'm not in love with JC or anything, its just logic. Timing and confidence are everything for a QB and CW is not allowing JC to do any of these things. If we want to build to a NC in 2009, then we are holding our WHOLE team back, imo.

Yeah, obviously this years in the drain, let's prepare for the future of N.D. football.

 

[johnnd05]

I do agree with you on this that giving Sharpley another chance but Clausen got another chance against powerhouses like Michigan and BC. Sharpley is getting another chance again NAVY!! I think if he does good, it will once again give us optimism which will not come into fruition next year when Evan plays against the likes of Mich and USC next season. I say play JC and build the foundation for a serious run in 2009.

Yeah, but it's not JUST about '08/'09; it's also about the guys who are here now, and have been working their butts off all season and offseason. Sharpley is one of them, and he's been exemplary in the way he's patiently waited his turn. For that reason alone, he deserves better than being yanked one week after being named the starter.

After Saturday it was pretty clear that Evan is not going to be the guy to lead ND to the promised land; unless he FAR exceeds that performance next week, that impression won't go away. That he will be playing against poorer defenses than Clausen did (and note that BC's pass defense has actually been pretty bad this season) won't hide the fact - if it is one - that he's just not accurate enough to be the starting quarterback for a top team. But hey - if he comes out there and sets the world on fire, then he deserves as much of a shot at the starting job for next year as Jimmy does.

 

[SoCalDomer]

Weis said last week that the game is much different from the sideline and there are things Clausen can learn by slowing the game down and observing from the sideline.

But saying that Clausen should start to give him experience assumes he can learn nothing from observing. It assumes the only way for Clausen to get experience is by being in there. I disagree that planning for the future requires Clausen start the Navy game. In fact, I believe preparing Clausen for the future doesn't even require Clausen play during the Navy game.

There is alot he can learn without risking further injury. If Clausen were a sophmore, having already watched 12 games last year and 8 games this year from the sideline, had over a year and a half to learn the playbook and get conditioned, then putting him in there would be the next logical step. But he's not there yet, I see no reason to rush him.

So much of this season is off kilter due to the spread option debacle. In my opinion, playing for the future would have been to immerse everyone in the playbook we are going to use from the beginning. Start Sharpley, because he's been in the system the longest and is more familiar with the whole playbook. Then, Clausen coming in the last four games gave him 8 games to observe and learn from the sideline without risk of injury. Not to mention his elbow would be that much further along from the spring surgery.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Yeah, but it's not JUST about '08/'09; it's also about the guys who are here now, and have been working their butts off all season and offseason. Sharpley is one of them, and he's been exemplary in the way he's patiently waited his turn. For that reason alone, he deserves better than being yanked one week after being named the starter.

After Saturday it was pretty clear that Evan is not going to be the guy to lead ND to the promised land; unless he FAR exceeds that performance next week, that impression won't go away. That he will be playing against poorer defenses than Clausen did (and note that BC's pass defense has actually been pretty bad this season) won't hide the fact - if it is one - that he's just not accurate enough to be the starting quarterback for a top team. But hey - if he comes out there and sets the world on fire, then he deserves as much of a shot at the starting job for next year as Jimmy does.

I hear where your coming from. I agree he deserves another shot and ES has been loyal. I just didn't see any significant progress from him last week from the previous week when JC was clearly banged up. IMO JC needs to toughen up and realize this isn't HS anymore and he's going to be hit and hit hard. I hope Evan does well, but time will tell. I just don't want another QB controversey going into next season. Say if Evan does well the rest of the season and starts next season, we prolly win like 7 games, then what do we do in 2009 when all of our heralded recruits have legit experience and are ready to make a NC run? Turn to JC who from the games he started this year has nothing to take from them, except failure? Or turn to a soon to be redshirt freshman in Dayne Crist? It should be interesting how all of this should play out. I say play JC the rest of the season IF he's healthy and let these games give him confidence to take the reigns for the next few years.

 

[KAPLAN]

We just have to beat Navy. 1-6 I can live with. Getting our doors blown off by Michigan, USC.... hurts but if Navy beat us I would probably have to jump.

 

[KamaraPolice]

I disagree. I love CW but last week he said JC was banged up and when he gets healthy again he will be the starter...I just don't get it. I mean I like Evan but I just don't get it that we are going to start a JR. for the rest of the season...its not like we are in any kind of bowl contention. I would start JC for many reasons.

1. It would give him valuable experience for years to come.

2. It would also help him get his timing down with his receivers for next year. Then we might look like a cohesive passing unit because it has a lot to do with being comfortable with your receivers.

3. We are playing below average opponents the last 4 games and JC should flourish. This would give him a lot of confidence going into 2008 along with the whole team.

Anybody agree? Disagree?

While I agree it's not fair to Sharpley, this season is a lost cause. I'd rather get the losses out of the way this season and not suffer any next season.

I know that atleast 3 of the final teams cannot play defense. We should win all four based on how well the defense has been playing. That's why I think Clausen should start. Let the guy do something positive this season.

On the flip side though, we have an entire offense that is struggling. They also need to get it rolling.

It's a tough call, but I'd like to see Clausen atleast have a good game this year, so I dont have to hear all summer about the reasons why Crist will start.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

While I agree it's not fair to Sharpley, this season is a lost cause. I'd rather get the losses out of the way this season and not suffer any next season.

I know that atleast 3 of the final teams cannot play defense. We should win all four based on how well the defense has been playing. That's why I think Clausen should start. Let the guy do something positive this season.

On the flip side though, we have an entire offense that is struggling. They also need to get it rolling.

It's a tough call, but I'd like to see Clausen atleast have a good game this year, so I dont have to hear all summer about the reasons why Crist will start.

Agreed 100 percent. The last thing we need next season is another QB controversy going into next season.

 

[GoIrish41]

I'd start JC, but I'm not the coach. If Sharpley does well against a weaker opponent all of the sudden there is a QB controversy brewing for next year. I don't have anything against Sharpley, but if anyone other than JC is under center next season, I think it is a huge mistake. Why not give him some confidence by playing against some cupcakes this year?

 

[kmoose]

To reiterate a question asked before, but still unanswered............

Who says Clausen is completely healthy?

 

[johnnd05]

I don't see why people are so worried about the possibility of a QB "controversy" (I'd just say "battle") heading into '08. In the first place, this won't happen unless Sharpley looks a HELL of a lot better than he did last week, and getting Clausen in at some point in the second half will give him a shot to show his stuff as well. But more generally, the key point is that Weis is going to make his QB decision for next year based on how guys perform, both on the field and in practice. Just like JC got pulled when he stunk it up against BC, he's not going to get the starting position next year just because he's the Golden Boy.

Am I saying I think he won't be starting in '08? Absolutely not - I'd bet all I have that he will, and part of the reason for this is that after last week I simply don't think that Sharpley is very good. But at the same time, I just don't think that giving Evan a bit of a chance to play at the end of the season is going to make much of a difference in this regard.

IMO the only good arguments in favor of starting JC would be either that (1) it will get him more experience or (2) he gives ND a better chance to win. I think that benching Evan on the basis of (1) would be really unfair, and while I think that (2) is probably true, I think that Weis is right to say that Sharpley deserves a bit more of a chance before getting pulled for poor play.

What's done is done. Evan Sharpley is the starting quarterback for this team right now, and pretty much all of us thought that was the right thing to do after the BC game. Constant shuffling at a position as crucial as the quarterback spot isn't good for ANYONE.

 

[SoCalDomer]

I'd start JC, but I'm not the coach. If Sharpley does well against a weaker opponent all of the sudden there is a QB controversy brewing for next year. I don't have anything against Sharpley, but if anyone other than JC is under center next season, I think it is a huge mistake. Why not give him some confidence by playing against some cupcakes this year?

You're assuming he's going to do well. What if he doesn't? I think this goes back to him being ready to take the field or not. Yes, game experience is great. But if a guy is not ready for it, he may not have success.

 

[piyachi]

Good stuff John -

Look I am not only on the JC-is-our-starter bandwagon, I painted the thing. But I don't think he is going to go the rest of the season without seeing some playing time. It would be a benefit to the kid psychologically to be able to play teams that we can pass on, and move the ball - but the experience factor isn't so great as to play a banged-up kid that needs to recuperate.

Frankly the way we have switched people around, he will probably see at least a third of the playing time in the last four games, in my estimation.

Besides, for the navy game we are going to be run, run, run - especially if they feel JA is healthy enough to go. The QB is pretty much going to be the game-manager in that one, so it isn't like the impact will be felt as much as some of our previous....games.... if you want to call them that.

Clausen will be the starter next year, and the safer bet is resting him and giving him a little playing time while rewarding Evan for sticking in there. JC is a smart kid, he knows this isn't some form of punishment - and hopefully he can really learn something on the sidelines.

 

[NDFan4Life]

I agree with what SoCalDomer said. CW did say having Jimmy on the sidelines gave him the opportunity to observe how the game seems to slow down. I believe he also said during his presser that Jimmy agreed with him.

Evan should start the last 4 games and when we have enough of a lead, put Jimmy in for mop-up duty. That should give him some quality pt. Isn't that what they did with Evan last year?

 

[NDOM]

Disagreed. I think Sharpley gives us the best chance to win. On top of that I dont think Clausen is healthy. From what I can tell after his "medical procedure" he is only at about 70-75% healed. I think it is affecting his throwing alot. Let him rest and get him going when he's healthy.

 

[kmoose]

Evan should start the last 4 games and when we have enough of a lead, put Jimmy in for mop-up duty. That should give him some quality pt. Isn't that what they did with Evan last year?

Sharpley barely saw the field last year. His final season stats were 1-2 for 7 yards. As for Clausen getting quality PT? Wouldn't it be safe to say that he has already gotten some quality PT this year? If Clausen is 100% go, then I don't mind seeing him in there. But, if he is only 95% go, why risk aggravating a "ding", and it becoming a full blown injury?

 

[AZic11]

I wouldn't mind if Sharpley starts. He has handled himself very admirably throughout this whole process, and for that reason alone I'd like to see him get another shot. In addition, I do think that there is something to be said for learning from the sidelines. Maybe Jimmy gets more out of watching than he does playing (particularly if he's not 100%)?

Plus, there is no saying that if Sharpley starts against Navy, JC can't get some meaningful snaps the rest of the year. He might still start the later games, or CW might throw him in for a drive or two. I think a balance of watching and playing might serve Jimmy well.

 

[mbooch]

I'd start JC, but I'm not the coach. If Sharpley does well against a weaker opponent all of the sudden there is a QB controversy brewing for next year. I don't have anything against Sharpley, but if anyone other than JC is under center next season, I think it is a huge mistake. Why not give him some confidence by playing against some cupcakes this year?

Until this squad actually stats to play like a varsity colege team, it may be wise to refrain from referring to any opponent as a "cupcake". Having been at the blood-letting last Saturday, the "cupcake" moniker BELONGS to the Notre Dame offense right now.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Some work product from irishdan123084

a close source of mine just informed me that an emergency meeting with the board of trustees has been called to meet this week regarding notre dame's football program. if i'm not mistaken, last time...

Do you guys remember this was the guy who CW beat out for the coaching job. He was the quarterback that won the National Championship while CW was still in school. Would he have made a better coach...


No Heart
A good friend of mine was in the room when 4 to 5 upperclassmen football players were hanging out, sitting around, drinking last week after the Penn State loss. Each player was confirming and joking around how much they suck and how bad this team is

I understand that with recruiting it is a game of patience, but does anyone else have a bad vibe for the remaining spots that we have left open

can we please refrain from the use of homosexual remarks on this thread. thanks!
(I had to include that one just on principle)





What's the deal with all the negativity?? As if Irish fans need more shit piled on them. Heresay and 2nd hand info that isn't verified that reflects badly on ND.....I'm not sure many here need/wish to hear it.
Just wondering.

 

[mbooch]

I'd start JC, but I'm not the coach. If Sharpley does well against a weaker opponent all of the sudden there is a QB controversy brewing for next year. I don't have anything against Sharpley, but if anyone other than JC is under center next season, I think it is a huge mistake. Why not give him some confidence by playing against some cupcakes this year?

I think you may wel have a QB contrversy for the next TWO years, once Crist gets here and serves his tutelage as a freshman. For now, I agree with CW that Clausen may well benefit the most from WATCHING a lot of football this year. My suspicion is that his arm surgery robbed him of a lot of strength and conditioning time in the summmer, and the hip isn't helping matters at all. Platooning him and Sharpely may well be the best strategy with neither man being the presumptive starter going into '08.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Let Evan start. Musical QBs get old. Clausen should get some time, but Sharpley should get the start.

 

[bluegold06]

Clausen has to get ready for next year. This team will go no where with Sharpley. He doesn't have the accuracy to hit a receiver any farther than 10 yds downfield. He even misses most of them. With Clausen he might try to force it in, but he does have the accuracy to get it in there.

 

[JeremyND07]

Agreed 100 percent. The last thing we need next season is another QB controversy going into next season.

I think the QB controversy next year is a given and Weis created this mess. He has (4) games to make one of these guys look good. If not everyone will be calling for Crist to start especially if he gets here early!!!! Even with time neither Clausen or Sharply have looked good! I have not seen anything from Jimmy that shows him being the second coming...so far he is making Powlus look underrated!!! Average arm strength and poor mobility!!!!

 

[johnnd05]

I think the QB controversy next year is a given and Weis created this mess. He has (4) games to make one of these guys look good. If not everyone will be calling for Crist to start especially if he gets here early!!!! Even with time neither Clausen or Sharply have looked good! I have not seen anything from Jimmy that shows him being the second coming...so far he is making Powlus look underrated!!! Average arm strength and poor mobility!!!!

Mr. Patient, huh? Sheesh ... try offseason elbow surgery and a dreadful offensive line. Give the kid a frigging CHANCE.

I can promise you that nobody will be calling for Crist to start on the basis of what happens in these next four games. Well, maybe not nobody, but ...