I understand the give him time argument but if he is not healthy then why is he playing. If he is healthy he has been horrible when given time and do not give me the comp % argument...(50) 2 yard dumps are not impressive!!!!! Jimmy was a product of a GREAT HS system and is just an average QB...I hope I eat my words someday but what have all you seen that makes you think Jimmy is that good! I think sharpley should start the next 2 years and Crist after that!!!!
IMO, Clausen (if healthy) would / should / will absolutely start ahead of Sharpley - if not this year then without a doubt in 2008.
Reason?
Not my expert evaluation of the QB position, but CW's.
One thing we should all be able to agree on is that despite this year's house of horrors season and multiple HEAD COACHING mistakes, if there is one thing that should remain beyond reproach at this point it would be CW's ability to recognize and develop talent at the QB position.
From his days with the NYJ (Lucas, Testaverde having career years under Weis) through ND (Quinn becoming what he did and attributing much of the credit to Charlie), Weis has proven again and again that he is able to at the very least help develop QBs (and in the words of those QBs themselves - specifically Brady and Quinn - he does a lot more than just help)!
Given that Weis was sold on Clausen as the starter prior to any injuries or surgeries this year; and that Weis also put him into the fray behind arguably the worst college offensive line in the last 30 years - ahead of Sharpley in the first place, I would say those are ringing endorsements from a man much smarter than myself in the area of QB potential, development, and fundamentals.
While I may harbor doubts (private and publically) about Weis' abilities as a head coach, his track record with QBs is unblemmished and gives no reason to doubt him or believe he suddenly became stupid with QBs overnight.
IMO, the QB 3-deep should look like this for the next few years (just loves me some good old fashion DCE!):
2008
Clausen 1 (SO)
Sharpley 2 (SR - no 5th year option extended beyond this season, goes on to full-time baseball; he has shown the ability to be a decent back-up, but not one who could come in and win games - he'll make an excellent tudor for Dayne....)
Crist 3 (FR - DNP to save a year of eligibility and watch; a luxury Clausen did not have)
2009
Clausen 1 (JR)
Crist 2 (SO)
HOT NEW QB RECRUIT 3 (FR)
**unless Crist is good enough to take the job away, if so Clausen likely transfers to Tenn.**
2010
Clausen 1 (SR)
Crist 2 (JR - with 3 years of eligibility left)
HOT NEW QB RECRUIT 3 (SO)
**unless Crist is good enough to take the job away, if so Clausen likely transfers to Tenn.**
