Jimmy Clausen. King of the Chuck it up and pray.

[bert2834]

First off, that's alot of reading from you guys.

Second, if your O-line can't open holes and drive at the point of attack then we need to stop having Hughes and Allen try and run it up the gut. Aldridge is about the only one that might be able to run up the gut with no hole.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

What scares me is some of Clausen's passes remind me of Powlus.

On the brighter side of life, UNC QB is out for the game againist us. I hate it for the kid, but is good for ND. It is a shame Yates will be out, but hopefully we can stop a red shirt Freshman QB.

 

[Sureal]

Defense ain't da problem. Keeping our defense off the field with sustained drives by the offense, now that's the problem. This version of matador run blocking ain't gonna cut it in any level of football. Unless we go with a 3 wr base formation with the intentions of throwing the ball 75 percent of the time we had better run block. You give the ball to any decent running back 39-40 times they will put numbers up on you. Especially if your offense can't sustain drives...

First post about the game since the game, I can't post directly after a loss. I'd get banned.

 

[NDinL.A.]

First post about the game since the game, I can't post directly after a loss. I'd get banned.

LOL. I feel you. I got in a big fight with my lady, which was totally my fault because I was so pissed at how we closed the game. Later, I saw the positives and I think we are still on course to turning this thing around. Change is a process...

 

[SoCalDomer]

First post about the game since the game, I can't post directly after a loss. I'd get banned.

don't think we haven't thought about it without you posting.

 

[Sureal]

Dude that is the G-rated version of what I really was thinking... No way I should have posted anything immediately after that game. No I don't expect a NC but I do expect better play from our offense.

I truly believe we have one of the most underated good defenses out there if our offense can give them breathers. Call me crazy if you want but they did a decent job against an offense that ran it 500000 times. They shut the passing game down. They got tired at the end. I had no problems with them. It was the o-line.

Nevertheless... Purdue is next....

 

[JeremyND07]

I am with you man...I had a post typed up right after the game but I did not want to deal with the "you have to be positive bs"! ND fans are expecting too much out of JC in my opinion though and they need to lay off. I am not a JC fan from a personality stand point but the kid has matured a lot in just a year...2 more years of that kind of hard work and there is NO limit to what this kid can do...especially with Tate, Floyd, and Kamara (who will get a lot better)!!! Keep remembering Soph/Freshman...the OL is a different story!!!!

 

[NDinL.A.]

You guys are completely right. You don't have to be GD93 positive (where's that guy been?), because our play didn't deserve it. But my whole issue was with people saying Clausen sucks and fire CW, when Clausen clearly doesn't suck, and CW needs to be evaluated at the end of the year. One road loss with sophomores and freshmen doesn't define a season. If we were clear-cut NC hopefuls, then yeah, that's a major problem. My thing is, be realistic, and realize that last season we were so awful that it's going to take a season to change. No one wants to hear that, least of all me, but that's the reality of the situation.

You want to fire CW and hire a new coach and start all over? Fine, go take a look at my Bruins over here at UCLA. They'll be better, but they're starting from scratch. And it's ugly. Stay the course, keep improving each day, and talk to me at the end of the season.

As for Latina, yeah, time is running out for that guy...

 

[NDsuperfan09]

Here my last words in here. Jimmy is a sophomore who happened to play his worst half of footbal in an ND uniform in the first half (very reminiscent of the BC game last year). Last year he came out threw a pick and Sharpley was put in. His mindset, attitude, confidence are definitely up and he is not hanging his hat on his mistakes. MSU will be the 2nd best defense we play all year. He came out in the 2nd half and threw it well enough to give us chances to win. It was a dr.jekyll/mr. hyde tye performance. He needs to be less erratic though IMO.

 

[irishlaw77]

You guys are completely right. You don't have to be GD93 positive (where's that guy been?), because our play didn't deserve it. But my whole issue was with people saying Clausen sucks and fire CW, when Clausen clearly doesn't suck, and CW needs to be evaluated at the end of the year. One road loss with sophomores and freshmen doesn't define a season. If we were clear-cut NC hopefuls, then yeah, that's a major problem. My thing is, be realistic, and realize that last season we were so awful that it's going to take a season to change. No one wants to hear that, least of all me, but that's the reality of the situation.

You want to fire CW and hire a new coach and start all over? Fine, go take a look at my Bruins over here at UCLA. They'll be better, but they're starting from scratch. And it's ugly. Stay the course, keep improving each day, and talk to me at the end of the season.

As for Latina, yeah, time is running out for that guy...

I have to agree with you on Latina. A starting line that features at least juniors and a depth chart that includes numerous 4* athletes cannot block for the run. Experience-wise, this should be one of the strong points of the team. It is all the more exaggerated and frustrating after hearing all the rhetoric about becoming bigger, tougher and all the bonding off the field.

When CW came in, he had a bunch of junior players, and he was able to enhance their natural improvements to result in breakout performances for a few. (Quinn, Stovall, Samardzija, etc.) So far this year the breakout performances have been from a walk-on coverage guy and a sophomore WR. Remember how many CW's would-be juniors are no longer with the program for one reason or another. We are going to continue to take our lumps this year, and barring any more transfers, will have a lot of juniors that can possibly take that big step up next year.

 

[NDMontana]

Yeah, and I went to Justin Tuck's wedding, and I talked to players there that said they loved Charlie Weis. So does that make me right or you right about CW?

Not sure if you're calling me a liar....you asked for names and you got them.

As far as being right about Charlie Weis.....WTF are you talking about? Read through my posts and point out to me where I ONCE said that I want Charlie gone. You won't find it because I didn't say it. I agree that it's early but three games is 1/4 of the season. I'd like to see through your eyes because we're seeing two different things. It's good to be positive not oblivious.

 

[NDinL.A.]

You need to read through my old posts. I was saying the same thing you are saying except I wasn't bragging about the people I know.

Here's the thing: You seem to be oblivious to pretty much anything positive. It took you like 40 posts (it seems) to write a single thing positive. The idfference between you and I is that I knew that this year would be a struggle, and that 8 wins was a realistic goal. You say that, but then fly off the handle when anyone brings up something positive. Why is that? Nobosy wants to look for moral victories. We're not pansies, we're friggin' ND baby! But you have to be truthful. I keep saying it: Change is a process. It's not a quick-fix. Yet you say seem to think that we should be dominating the world, even though you say on the other side of your mouth you're a realist. Can't have it both ways Montana...

 

[NDMontana]

You need to read through my old posts. I was saying the same thing you are saying except I wasn't bragging about the people I know.

Here's the thing: You seem to be oblivious to pretty much anything positive. It took you like 40 posts (it seems) to write a single thing positive. The idfference between you and I is that I knew that this year would be a struggle, and that 8 wins was a realistic goal. You say that, but then fly off the handle when anyone brings up something positive. Why is that? Nobosy wants to look for moral victories. We're not pansies, we're friggin' ND baby! But you have to be truthful. I keep saying it: Change is a process. It's not a quick-fix. Yet you say seem to think that we should be dominating the world, even though you say on the other side of your mouth you're a realist. Can't have it both ways Montana...

I have stated emphatically that I DID NOT EXPECT ND TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Stop trying to put words into my mouth. You keep on saying that I said this or that or I expect this or that. How do you know? You've posted more things that I've never said than things I have said!!

I SAID I EXPECTED PROGRESS AND JUDGING BY OUR OFFENSIVE RANKINGS THAT IS NOT HAPPENING!!! When your team goes 3-9 and you say you expect to see progress that doesn't mean a national championship or does it? I'm disappointed that we have no running game, our o-line can't open a hole and our d-line looks non-existent.

I haven't tried to put words in your mouth....return the favor and stop trying to do it to me. I am a realist and I do expect progress. What do you call looking for positives in losses....it's called a moral victory. Did some good things happen? Sure. But obviously more bad than good happened....otherwise we would have won!!

 

[SoCalDomer]

alright, now can someone grab their guitar so we call sing kumbaya?

i've got smores!

 

[NDinL.A.]

I have stated emphatically that I DID NOT EXPECT ND TO WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Stop trying to put words into my mouth. You keep on saying that I said this or that or I expect this or that. How do you know? You've posted more things that I've never said than things I have said!!

I SAID I EXPECTED PROGRESS AND JUDGING BY OUR OFFENSIVE RANKINGS THAT IS NOT HAPPENING!!! When your team goes 3-9 and you say you expect to see progress that doesn't mean a national championship or does it? I'm disappointed that we have no running game, our o-line can't open a hole and our d-line looks non-existent.

I haven't tried to put words in your mouth....return the favor and stop trying to do it to me. I am a realist and I do expect progress. What do you call looking for positives in losses....it's called a moral victory. Did some good things happen? Sure. But obviously more bad than good happened....otherwise we would have won!!

I'm good SoCal Domer. I know what you're saying about being civil. I respect the fact that at least he brings something to the table, and puts thought behind what he says. I just disagree with him.

I did not, in my last post, say anything about an NC. Read it again.Like I've been saying, you seem to ignore my points completely, which you just demonstrated by screaming about NC's.

I'm a realist. When you go 3-9 it's going to take more than 3 games to become the studs we all want them to be. Yeah, you gave me numbers, but like I said I'm not a stat-rat. I see with my own eyes progress, freshmen and sophomore studs that will be great in 1-2 years, if not sooner. You choose to ignore that, and want progress in a fashion that I just think will take a bit longer. I have patience, up to a point of course. We disagree on that, but we're running in circles. For the most part, we agree with each other, we just say things differently. Peace...

 

[SoCalDomer]

I'm good SoCal Domer. I know what you're saying about being civil. I respect the fact that at least he brings something to the table, and puts thought behind what he says. I just disagree with him.

no i know, my guitar comment was me just trying to be funny.... back to the drawing board.

for those of you newer to the board, this often happens where our anger and emotion after a loss starts to fade by monday. come wednesday we're all back on the wagon cheering for a win the next saturday. so just keep that in mind if things don't go well in any future game. of course the team could just make it easy for us and win everything decisively from here out... sheesh, not asking to much. LOL

 

[fortwayne_nd]

alright, now can someone grab their guitar so we call sing kumbaya?

i've got smores!

Smores!!! I missed smores??? Day late and a dollar short.

 

[glenncurtiss]

Powlus repeat?

Powlus repeat?

I truely hope that Clausen is the best man for the job and that this is not a repeat of the Ron Powlus era who seemed to play regardless of performance and whose best year was when he watched Kevin McDougal take ND to single loss and a #2 final ranking.
Like any other team, what happens if he gets hurt?
#2 needs to get some snaps in games for when and if the time comes.
Like Powlus, Clausen presents a one-dimensional threat where running does not seem to be an option and the defense can focus on running backs and recievers only.

 

[renesikaffynd]

why is it that when the team performs badly, everyone gets on the quarterback.

if you watch the tape closely you can notice that of clausen´s 2 interceptions, only one was his fault. the one he threw to a double covered duval kamara was arguably his fault but th other one inside the 20 was not and here is why.

if you saw it closely you can see that one of the lineman forgot to plnat his feet while blocking and this got the pocket completely demolished nd out of order, in fact the lineman was so far behind that he was interfering with clausens reads and that why he didnt see the safety switching out to cover kamara, the only thing he saw was the corner blitz and by instinct when u see that u throw it to that side. i mean, he could have done better but i bet 7 out of ten division 1 quarterback who have done the same

wouldnt you agree??

 

[phork]

I blame Kamara for most of those INTs.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I liked Powlus. I thought he was a great athlete in the wrong offensive system.

renesikaffynd, I agree with you. So much that I looked up your posts and can't figure out why you have two bad rep dots. (I have figured out already that red is confrontational, and green is Kumbaya. j/k

Phork, I have read many of your posts too. I really enjoy reading your opinion. Keep em coming please.

 

[Junkhead]

Ron Powlus seems to be a good rep of the University, but as a QB, he was in the wrong system. I remember him throwing the ball out of bounds pretty much every other play.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

He was probably doing what he was told to do. Otherwise, he was a Heisman candidate at a matching offensive system.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I was just reading this thread over, and it illustrates a very good point. People need not overreact after one loss, because many times in the end we look like fools for posting without thinking. Example: I read this all from the same poster on different posts (I'll paraphrase):

* "I'm ready to see Crist play" (and burn his redshirt???)
* "It was unfortunate USC didn't get Clausen instead of ND"
* "He's average"
* "No ability to read defenses"
* "He doesn't have much of an arm"

What we needed to keep in mind was that he's still so damn young that we need to give him a chance to delevop and show us his skills. Last year he couldn't count one Mississippi before he was running for his life, and he had a bad elbow to boot. Now he's got an O-line that can at least pass-block, 2 incredible weapons at wideout with plenty of depth to back them up, and a year under his belt. And hell, he MIGHT even have a running game now!

I've always been a huge JC fan, having watched him several times out here in SoCal. And I sang his praises here even after the MSU loss. But even after last week, I'm not going to crown him king, or better than Brady, just like I wasn't going to bury him after the MSUcks game. And if he turns into a dud, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong. (I was way wrong on AA, who I almost gave up on while a lot of you kept saying he was great. And he KILLED last week!)

But you gotta admit, damn the future looks bright, with his cannon and those young receivers!!! Go Irish!

 

[NDMontana]

I was just reading this thread over, and it illustrates a very good point. People need not overreact after one loss, because many times in the end we look like fools for posting without thinking. Example: I read this all from the same poster on different posts (I'll paraphrase):

* "I'm ready to see Crist play" (and burn his redshirt???)
* "It was unfortunate USC didn't get Clausen instead of ND"
* "He's average"
* "No ability to read defenses"
* "He doesn't have much of an arm"

What we needed to keep in mind was that he's still so damn young that we need to give him a chance to delevop and show us his skills. Last year he couldn't count one Mississippi before he was running for his life, and he had a bad elbow to boot. Now he's got an O-line that can at least pass-block, 2 incredible weapons at wideout with plenty of depth to back them up, and a year under his belt. And hell, he MIGHT even have a running game now!

I've always been a huge JC fan, having watched him several times out here in SoCal. And I sang his praises here even after the MSU loss. But even after last week, I'm not going to crown him king, or better than Brady, just like I wasn't going to bury him after the MSUcks game. And if he turns into a dud, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong. (I was way wrong on AA, who I almost gave up on while a lot of you kept saying he was great. And he KILLED last week!)

But you gotta admit, damn the future looks bright, with his cannon and those young receivers!!! Go Irish!

The USC comment was out of line on my part.

JC read the Purdue defense like a book.

You would have to post the entire text to understand the context. You're picking out snippets, what a shock.

I said I wanted to see how Crist looks out of interest. I didn't say I wanted Crist starting. Good try.



The Purdue defense isn't too good, either.

People need to stop annointing JC as some sort of savior after one great game. Yep, great game. He looked really good. He put a lot of zip on all his passes, even the deep outs; showed great touch at other times and made great decisions.

By the way read along a little more to the post where I said I base things on what I see....didn't you say, in another thread, that I only base what I say off of stats. You're eager to put your foot in your mouth. You leave out a lot of details and I'm sure the other posters are getting a little tired of you trying to turn this forum into your personal back-and-forth venue. Give it a rest.

By the way, out of curiosity, how do we measure the offenes new found success? Could it be the great stats they put up? The proof is always in the pudding.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Didn't say i was talking about you. Never even mentioned you in fact.

You missed the point of my thread. Not a surprise.

Stats can be used to augment, but football players and games don't live off of stats. See: NY Giants. If you had gone by what you had seen, then you could have seen this coming. You didn't see it coming. Reading the thread again, you even said you hoped you were wrong about JC and you'd gladly eat crow if you were wrong. You argued with me over and over how wrong I was about him.

But I'll even call a truce. You and I, believe it or not, believe in the same thing fundamentally. We're both realists. We both see ND has a long way to go, but a lot of progress has been made (you do admit to that now don't you?) and the future suddenly looks very bright. And I admit, like you, I am passionate about ND football, and I have probably gotten out of line from time to time in our discussions. I apologize.

Truce, on my part at least...

 

[NDMontana]

Some of the quotes in their entirety:

I don't think Crist would do better than Clausen by any means but I would like to see what he's got.


In his defense, I will say that Charlie Weis needs to open the playbook and let Clausen sink or swim.

More on Crist:
I'd like to see his mechanics, see how looks throwing the ball down field. I'd also like to think that he would have some live game action in case JC doesn't pan out.

USC went after Clausen pretty hard but he didn't commit to them (lucky SOB's). (Tongue in cheek comment that NDinLA tried to take out of context).

Here were our offensive ranks after Week 3:
Ranks:
Offense
Rush yards per game: 112th
Passing yards per game: 70th
Total Offense: 108th
Pts. per game: 90th

Those are pretty comparable to last season. There is no way that anyone could've seen what happend against Purdue coming. I think the offense turned the corner and the upswing has begun. My views through the first three weeks were justified and I'm confident in saying that we got a lot of help from Michigan, struggled to beat San Diego State and then got beat up by MSU. We could have been 0-3, easily. We could have been 3-0, too. But looking at the stats vs. last year there was no progress. That's was all I wanted to see. And I saw it last week. Now we find out if it's sustainable.

 

[Steve]

:hug:

 

[ojo_223]

And the biggest stat that you didn't compare to last year? We were 2-1 and not 0-3. That is the one that matters most to me. I don't care if we win ugly as long as we win!!

Go Irish!

 

[NDinL.A.]

Just to set the record straight, here are your exact quotes, NDMontana, from this thread:

"I'm ready to see the Great Dane (Crist that is)." (Why would you want to burn a redshirt just to see a guy play? I mean, seriously? By your logic, Crist would only get 1 year to shine if Jimmy stayed 4 years. Now, he gets 2 yrs minimum plus an extra if Clausen leaves early).

"He's received a lot of hype, which isn't his fault, but he talked a pretty big game too, which is his fault. He's been proven wrong and so have the critics."

"He has a hitch in his throwing motion, he doesn't have much of an arm (umm, wow), he telegraphs his passes and has shown no mobility at all"

"I don't think Clausen sucks, I think he's average."

"I'd like to see through your eyes because we're seeing two different things." (Got that right)

"Nothing, and I mean nothing, would please me more than having to eat crow on the subject." (Really? You have a weird way of showing it.)

You keep saying that no one saw this coming, but plenty of us, on this board, did see it coming and wrote about it. That was the crux of our argument. I don't know why you can't see that, but oh well. Enjoy the Stanford game. Hopefully we can sustain this progress. Peace...