thoughts on Quinn and Clausen...

[josejose4482]

So like many of you all, I wonder, why aren't our former QB's getting any love in the NFL. First, started with Quinn. Not getting a chance to play, gets traded and then they draft Tebow. Now, Clausen appeared to be a clear starter for Carolina, and now the Panthers are going to draft Scam (which surprises me considering Rivera is a defensive minded coach). I know the league has a "you better win now" mentality but geeze, Clausen and Quinn can't catch a break. Yes, they were placed on bad teams but to me the QB wasn't the issue. Both the Broncos and Panthers need help all over the field. Is my love for ND blinding me and (and I hate to say this) could it just be that they can't cut it in the NFL?? Am I missing something? I mean, they played in pro-style offenses while under Weis and are intelligent players and have the ability to make excellent throws. Were they only good at the college level??
Sorry for my rant...just puzzles me with the draft being today if anyone feels the same way.

 

[Zibby32]

my only hope is that Clausen gets traded to the Patriots! AHAH

I cant believe we are going to watch JeMarcus Rus...I mean Cam Newton get drafted #1 overall tonight.

If you are that QB needy, I would go grab Marc Bulger and draft Ponder/Dalton/Gabbert. The formula is very simple for drafting successful QB's. Time, knowledge, and TIME!

 

[josejose4482]

If you think about it, they're on the path to draft QB's with their 1st pick 3 straight years. Next year it'll be Andrew Luck.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Clausen showed that he was a tough kid with a great arm at ND. But the truth is, he wasn't a winner. 3-9, 7-6, 6-6 were his records as the Irish QB. It's obviously the coaching staffs fault as well as Jimmys but the kid just did not win...

 

[ACamp1900]

Which school has had most QBs work out?????????

QB's fail more often than not... anyway, jumping off the Clausen train is way premature at this point, he was totally thrown to the wolves on the worst team in football with a horrible O line... as. a. rookie.

If Carolin wants to destroy their franschise further I suggest they select another QB early... if they want to build something stick with Jimmy and build around him.

 

[johnnykillz]

I hope sCam Newton does get drafted by Carolina and Jimmy gets traded to another team with potential. If that happens, when he has a chance to step up, he'll wow someone. Otherwise, I think he still wins the starter job over Newton.

 

[woolybug25]

Which school has had most QBs work out?????????

QB's fail more often than not... anyway, jumping off the Clausen train is way premature at this point, he was totally thrown to the wolves on the worst team in football with a horrible O line... as. a. rookie.

If Carolin wants to destroy their franschise further I suggest they select another QB early... if they want to build something stick with Jimmy and build around him.

I agree with this ^^^

Furthermore, this draft is deep in QB's. All accounts that I have read say that they want to trade up into the second round, they could get a good QB there. Or jeebus.... the lockout is over and they should be picking up one of the guys on the market.

And thirdly.... if they want to draft the next Vince Young, why don't they just trade for the original Vince Young?

 

[rtrn2glory]

a trade for clausen right now would be the best thing maybe to a team close, but needs a QB where he can come in and potentially compete for playing time, perhaps minnesota or seattle

i worry that brady may never get a chance and that bums me out b/c i absolutely loved him and really thought he was going to be a good pro.

 

[Jerry]

As far as Quinn goes I think he may have blew it by holding out for a few weeks his Rookie year. That gave Derrick Anderson the opportunity to have a career year and basically messed up Quinn's chances to play his first two seasons. When Quinn did get the opportunity in his 3rd season the Browns were god-awful. I remember watching one of their games and Quinn had 5 guys in his face on every pass attempt. It was really sad watching him scramble for his life just to throw the ball away.

Clausen may never really get a chance to play in the league. Because he fell so far in the draft the Panther's have no money invested in him and unless something crazy happens tonight I don't see him starting for Carolina anytime soon.

I think being successful at QB in the NFL depends on 3 factors.

1. Performance - obviously
2. Opportunity - Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round. He could have easily never taken a snap in the NFL. But he got a shot.
3. Supporting cast - Quinn and Clausen have gotten on the field. But their teams have been terrible. Landing on a team with a solid O-line and good receivers is crucial.

 

[Jerry]

Clausen showed that he was a tough kid with a great arm at ND. But the truth is, he wasn't a winner. 3-9, 7-6, 6-6 were his records as the Irish QB. It's obviously the coaching staffs fault as well as Jimmys but the kid just did not win...

I've read a lot of people saying this lately on mock draft sites. But ND's defense stunk the whole time Clausen was there. In less you expected him to play both ways I don't think there was any QB in college that would have done much better than Clausen at ND in the same situation.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i agree with the not winning games thing...clausen definitely did not, but our defense was absolutely horrendous that year (painful to even think about)

thanks a lot tenuta and brown.

 

[TDHeysus]

I hope sCam Newton does get drafted by Carolina and Jimmy gets traded to another team with potential. If that happens, when he has a chance to step up, he'll wow someone. Otherwise, I think he still wins the starter job over Newton.

Clausen is good enought to start somewhere....if CAR cant see that, another NFL team will eventually. I think Clausen has a better chance to start than Quinn.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

No offense, but I personally don't see the necessary leadership qualities to start in the NFL at quarterback in either Quinn or Clausen. Clausen of course still has plenty of time to develop his maturity and moxie, but Quinn missed his window. His confidence is shattered, and he will be a career backup I'm afraid.

 

[ACamp1900]

this draft is very deep in QB's.... average Qbs... I don't see a single one I'd jump at drafting... not one.

If I were Carolina I'd trade the pick to help build on the interior or I'd take Pat Peterson

 

[dales5050]

The thing that is really going to screw Carolina in this draft is not being able to make trades. Steve Smith has already said he wants out of Carolina, has his house for sale and cleaned out his stuff.

If they were able to trade Smith, they could move out of the #1 spot and and trade with a couple of other teams that are dumb enough to take Cam as well. Mostly teams that just want to sell tickets like Buffalo or Cincy.

Hell - Carolina could trade the #1 pick and Steve Smith for the #4 pick and Palmer with Cincy. Palmer, like Smith, has already said he does not want to play in Cincy next year.

This would allow Cincy to get a QB like Cam and a skilled WR like Smith, while Carolina gets a Veteran QB like Palmer and a WR like A.J. Green. Carolina would then have 2-4 years to groom Clausen under Palmer..similar to Rogers in Green Bay or find a replacement QB in that time.

 

[woolybug25]

The thing that is really going to screw Carolina in this draft is not being able to make trades. Steve Smith has already said he wants out of Carolina, has his house for sale and cleaned out his stuff.

If they were able to trade Smith, they could move out of the #1 spot and and trade with a couple of other teams that are dumb enough to take Cam as well. Mostly teams that just want to sell tickets like Buffalo or Cincy.

Hell - Carolina could trade the #1 pick and Steve Smith for the #4 pick and Palmer with Cincy. Palmer, like Smith, has already said he does not want to play in Cincy next year.

This would allow Cincy to get a QB like Cam and a skilled WR like Smith, while Carolina gets a Veteran QB like Palmer and a WR like A.J. Green. Carolina would then have 2-4 years to groom Clausen under Palmer..similar to Rogers in Green Bay or find a replacement QB in that time.

Since the lockout is lifted, I think that technically they can make trades.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Kinda funny that this thread would be the first I read today. Just last night, the last thread I read was an old one early in Clausen's sophomore season asking if he may leave early for the pro's. I said he was the most accurate passer I had seen at ND, and that I thought he would leave early. This was maybe 3 or 4 games into his soph. season. I was actually ridiculed. NDinLA and I were about the only ones saying Clausen was good.

I still think Clausen will skip his senior season and go pro. Call me a dummy if you want...but...wait...what were we talking about? What day is this?

 

[IrishBlood81]

Which school has had most QBs work out?????????

QB's fail more often than not... anyway, jumping off the Clausen train is way premature at this point, he was totally thrown to the wolves on the worst team in football with a horrible O line... as. a. rookie.

If Carolin wants to destroy their franschise further I suggest they select another QB early... if they want to build something stick with Jimmy and build around him.

Yeah totally agree with this. Its right on. I think Clause can and will be a solid QB, he was just thrown into the fray waaaay to early and as a rookie that can really screw up your development.
I think he'll come around though and be a franchise QB.

 

[irishtrain]

Clausen has been pushed thru in college and the pros ahead of schedule because of an great ability to throw a football. This can be and just might be a fine QB someday when his maturity/savvy catches up with his talent. To give up on this guy now is a huge mistake that someone else will reap the benefits later if he chooses to stick tough and keep plugging. I dont know Jim Clausen as far as an attitude of I'm going to get it done-but the guy can throw the ball. He could sit for 2 more years and resuface as a starter somewhere else. I hope Carolina lets him go if they draft Newton and he gets a chance to learn the pro game under a good coach and present starter who see his talent. Its not done yet for this guy. As for Quinn I'm stumped-the guy looks prototype on paper and has the tools.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Quinn seems to be ok with being a backup for some odd reason. Clausen on the other hand hasnt really been given a chance, he honestly had better talent offensive wise at ND then Carolina does. Minus the running backs of course

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

I personally feel that Clausen will be a good quarterback in the NFL. He really was thrown to the wolves last year at Carolina and I doubt ANY quarterback would have had much success there last year never mind a Rookie quarterback. Carolina has a ton of areas it needs to work on and they are in a rebuilding mode. If Carolina was smart, they would build their team based around their quarterback. The Colts did this with Peyton Manning and it seemed to work out well. Soldifying the Offensive Line, having a capable running back and Targets to through to make a quarterback's job so much easier. I wouldn't count Clausen a wash just yet.

 

[irishpat183]

No offense, but I personally don't see the necessary leadership qualities to start in the NFL at quarterback in either Quinn or Clausen. Clausen of course still has plenty of time to develop his maturity and moxie, but Quinn missed his window. His confidence is shattered, and he will be a career backup I'm afraid.

Someone with some sense........I know we all love our boys, but neither one is "franchise" material.

We're all missing one thing...This is the NFL. I think that if either guy was wowing anybody, they would've taken notice (especially staffs of their own teams) and given them the opportuinty.

Not saying one or both of them couldn't develop into a solid backup or fill in starter...but I just don't see it. And it's a shame, because I thought BQ was gonna be a stud. Never thought Jimmy was gonna be an NFL guy, I must admit.

 

[irishpat183]

And while Jimmy didn't have a team around him in CAR...he got his shot. Maybe the staff saw something that we didn't look for, because we(as ND fans) were too busy complaining about the "talent around him" and making excuses for Jimmy.

Just a thought....

 

[irishpat183]

With all that being said, I still don't think CAR's best option is a QB with the first pick.

Locker will be the STEAL of this draft. Book it. Love that guy. Got a feeling about him.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Watching Jimmy play against the Seahawks he had a horrific offensive line. Smith didn't want to play, and he had no other receivers to throw to. And their offensive game plan was horrible. For a Rookie, I don't know who would have been successful.

Now QB schools, what QB's have been successful.

How are Miami's guys doing--Walsh, Torretta, and everybody since?
How are Texas Guys doing--Young, Sims, etc
How about BYU--Bosco, Sark, Max, etc. OK, young was a stud
How about FSU--how was their heisman guy doing?
HOw about UW--Huards and the other kid that was a niner
How about LSU-Flynn and Russell
How about Tennessee--Peyton yes, but how is
UCLA
Oregon--Joey, Akili and Clemens

So, many bad but Notre Dame guys always get more critique done.

Really USC and Michigan has had success. NOt a ton for the rest.

 

[Riddickulous]

Quinn and Clausen are two different situations.

Brady Quinn has had many different starting opportunities and has performed badly every time he's seen the field. The fact that Tim Tebow started over him this season is very telling.

Jimmy Clausen's had one horrible year on a horrible football team and they're already throwing him under the bus.

 

[irish1958]

I only saw one St. Louis Ram's game. All Bradford's throws were short to very short, three step drops, and throwaways if the primary receiver wasn't open and the back was covered. I think I could have played QB with those conditions. Punts were an offensive weapon and a better than average defense kept them in (most) games. except for the dough-si-doughs in the Seattle game.
If either Clausen or Quinn had this type of handling they would have been successful; now, maybe never.
I agree that Quinn made a colossal error with his hold out. Whoever is his agent did him a great disservice.
Coutler in Chicago played dodge-em until his offensive coordinator wised up or he would have been killed, and the Bears started to win. When Quinn and Clausen played, they had terrible offensive coordinators who expected Payton Manning performances from raw rookies with terrible offensive lines and poor skilled players (or, at least, poorly motivated skilled players).

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Watching Jimmy play against the Seahawks he had a horrific offensive line. Smith didn't want to play, and he had no other receivers to throw to. And their offensive game plan was horrible. For a Rookie, I don't know who would have been successful.

Now QB schools, what QB's have been successful.

How are Miami's guys doing--Walsh, Torretta, and everybody since?
How are Texas Guys doing--Young, Sims, etc
How about BYU--Bosco, Sark, Max, etc. OK, young was a stud
How about FSU--how was their heisman guy doing?
HOw about UW--Huards and the other kid that was a niner
How about LSU-Flynn and Russell
How about Tennessee--Peyton yes, but how is
UCLA
Oregon--Joey, Akili and Clemens

So, many bad but Notre Dame guys always get more critique done.

Really USC and Michigan has had success. NOt a ton for the rest.

Purdue just called, they are angry you didn't include them lol.

 

[PigtownIrish]

Quinn seemed doomed from the start. The holdout, then the first thing they try to do is change the way he grips the ball, then Anderson's hot year.

It is a very rare quarterback indeed that can succeed in any conditions. Other good QBs need to get lucky with the right situation. I don't think either Quinn and Clausen can survive bad situations.

 

[phork]

Quinn is a bust. I think Clausen will end up a journeyman QB.