Are Gabbert and Newton better than Jimmy Clausen??

CanadalovesND · Mar 9, 2011

Jimmy fell into the late second round because many teams had issues with his intangibles, even though he was labelled as a Top 10 pick. Now, this year, there are two quarterbacks that are labelled as Top 10 picks, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert.

This has been playing through my head for a while now, are these two QBs better than Clausen? Jimmy had great accuracy, a good arm, was great in the pocket, and could read a defense like any other top quarterback. The only downfall on him was his apparent missing leadership skills, and the fact that he wasnt a athletic QB like Newton or Gabbert, and by that I mean, mobility, and scrambling ability.

Newton is a hell of an athlete, but did not show the accuracy Clausen did while in college, or the footwork. Gabbert, is similar to Newton, he also struggles with accuracy, footwork, and arm strength. So, is Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton a better Qb prospect than Clausen? Should one of them be drafted by Carolina the save a team with, as so many scouts label it, "nothing at QB"?

Ironman8 · Mar 9, 2011

*Are Gabbert and Newton....

I think Gambert could be better in the pros, but I just have a feeling Newton will be more of a Vince Young than a Dante Culpepper.

phork · Mar 9, 2011

Several mock drafts have Gabbert going to... Carolina. Heh.

mgriff · Mar 9, 2011

I'm really trying to be objective about this, and I have to say no. The chances of Cam Newton being a successful NFL QB are short, really short. Gabbert has a much better shot but I don't think he was nearly as impressive this year as Jimmy was in his junior season.

IrishLax · Mar 9, 2011

mgriff said:
I'm really trying to be objective about this, and I have to say no. The chances of Cam Newton being a successful NFL QB are short, really short. Gabbert has a much better shot but I don't think he was nearly as impressive this year as Jimmy was in his junior season.

Exactly. No way the Panthers grab him #1 overall. I expect the Panthers to try to trade down.

phork · Mar 9, 2011

You cannot trade the #1 pick. Its almost a death sentence. You are saddled with #1 money and since there really isn't any stand outs in the draft, no one wants it.

NoJusticeNoPeace · Mar 9, 2011

The rookie wage scale will make the #1 pick more tradeable.

IrishSteelhead · Mar 9, 2011

I hope this doesn't ruffle too many feathers, but IMO Clausen has the image of a spoiled brat, like Ryan Leaf turned out to possess. Clausen is a good teammate from what I saw during his time at ND, but there is an unfair stigma that will surround him until he shakes it off by putting up good stats and winning games. People forget quite a bit when you are winning......

TDHeysus · Mar 9, 2011

I dont know that much about Gabbert, so I will just offer up my thoughts on Cam v Clausen:

I think Cam Newton is Tim Tebow with a better throwing motion. Take Tebow, and make him a better thrower(not gonna say passer, there is a difference), and you got Cam Newton. I think ppl see Cam as someone that can be developed into an NFL qb. I think Cam has better 'upside' than Tebow. Whether he(Cam) goes down the road of developing his skills while in the league, or the JaMarcus Russell road of doing nothing to futher his professional skills, remains to be seen.

Comparing Newton to Clausen, JC is more old skool (pocket passer, making reads, pass-first qb) a time old proven product in the NFL. With the right development, I think JC will be a very good, at the very least a solid QB. Cam Newton is a gamble, Cam is a 'if the receiver is covered, I'm gonna make something happen' type QB and that type of QB is not a proven product in the NFL. Even if that type of QB is successful, he is gonna get hurt. Vick exploded this year because of his PASSING, dude got crunched when he ran it and broke a rib or something. So if Newton is going to be succesful in the NFL he is going to have develop his passing skills, something JC has been doing since middle school.

short term - probably cam newton, puts butts in the seats, and will be exciting, more likely to get injured, more likely to have a shorter career.
long term - probably JC, more likely to play a longer career, good work ethic, loves playing QB position, traditional NFL pocket passer.

phork · Mar 9, 2011

I see little comparison to Newton and Tebow. Tebow is more likely to run you over than run around you..

TDHeysus · Mar 9, 2011

phork said:
I see little comparison to Newton and Tebow. Tebow is more likely to run you over than run around you..

passing is NOT either of those 2 strong points...they are more comfortable running; around you, or thru you, its still running. JC isnt looking to run at all, only when he has to.(Dayne Crist is this way too)

NoJusticeNoPeace · Mar 9, 2011

Gabbert is a bust in the making. He's lazy, played in the spread, and does not have elite accuracy. He's going to be average.

Cam Newton = Vince Young

Carolina doesn't have a good option for QB.

TDHeysus · Mar 9, 2011

Title2012 said:
Gabbert is a bust in the making. He's lazy, played in the spread, and does not have elite accuracy. He's going to be average.

is this the QB i have heard compared to Matt Ryan? (or at least ppl think he has Matt Ryan potential)

TIDROW40 · Mar 10, 2011

I believe Carolina had unrealistic expectations for Clausen. He dropped in the draft because he needed work and wasn’t ready to start in the NFL. The thing that stands out about Clausen is the progression that he made in college. Each year when his Oline got better he got better. Lets face it Carolina had a horrible Oline. As for Newton and Gabbert, I think Gabbert will become a very good starter in the league. I’m not sold on Newton. I not sure he has his head in the right place; believe he may be too much about the attention and press hype, than putting in the necessary man-hours needed to be successful. I strongly believe Carolina would be making a mistake by selecting a QB this year. Chances are they are going to finish near the bottom again this year, so give Clausen another year if he doesn’t improve you are in position to draft Andrew Luck.

NDinL.A. · Mar 10, 2011

Title2012 said:
Gabbert is a bust in the making. He's lazy, played in the spread, and does not have elite accuracy. He's going to be average.

Cam Newton = Vince Young

Carolina doesn't have a good option for QB.

How is he lazy? Proof?

Playing in the spread does not mean you can't be a good QB. Just ask last year's 1st round pick, who played at Oklahoma in a spread and had a damn good rookie season. Drew Brees played in a spread offense, and he'd doing kinda good, wouldn't you say?

I don't know about elite accuracy because I didn't see every game, but in that bowl game he was throwing darts all over the place on the button. I remember texting my Mizzou buddy during the game and remarking on how THAT was the Gabbert that everyone was talking about going pro early. He was absolutely sick that day.

Your characterization of Gabbert (aside from the spread thing) sounds a lot like the b.s. people were making about Jimmy Clausen last year. And if Gabbert does get drafted by Carolina, he'll suck too behind that awful line with awful wide receivers. He better pray he doesn't get drafted by Carolina.

WhoDeyIrish · Mar 10, 2011

Carolina should give Clausen another shot. He progressively got better at Notre Dame and I think by his 3rd full season he will be a good QB in the league. Carolina could benefit by trading that pick or picking the best player in the draft Patrick Peterson. Corners never go number 1 but this one should. I wouldn't take one of the DT's because you can get guys just as good as the players expected to go in the top 5 in the second or 3rd round. I don't think you jump a DT that high no way. I don't see anyone in this draft is the caliber of Suh.

TDHeysus · Mar 10, 2011

Even if Clausen doesnt catch on in Carolina, he will get his shot somewhere in the NFL. I think he will make the best of it when the time is right. He'll be a good QB, just maybe not with CAR.

irishff1014 · Mar 10, 2011

I think with the right team Gabbert will be very good but he needs to sit atleast a year. Jimmy got put in to early on a bad team i think he is done in te NFL.

irishpat183 · Mar 10, 2011

I actually like a guy that I'm thinking will suprise some people, I like Jake Locker over all three of them. I think he's gonna suprise a lot of people. Very athletic, smart, has a good arm. I truly believe that he fell so far due to a bad enviroment and some bad mechanics (that can be fixed). I have him out-performing both Gabbert and Newton. Newton has a million dollar athletic makeup, but a ten cent brain. The people around him will end up destroying his career(especially his pimp father). He's another VY. Gabbert, I believe, will be a good (not great) QB. He's got some kinks to work out, but who doesn't?? He's a very intelligent guy who has the frame and arm to play QB. He just needs to work on the accuracy.

Cam Newtons problems aren't "fixable". That's the difference. Like Jamacus Russell. Stupidity will get you nowhere in the NFL...unless you're playing WR.

irishpat183 · Mar 10, 2011

TDHeysus said:
Even if Clausen doesnt catch on in Carolina, he will get his shot somewhere in the NFL. I think he will make the best of it when the time is right. He'll be a good QB, just maybe not with CAR.

Like Quinn did?? Don't count on it. Gotta make the best of every shot you get in the league, even if it's with CAR. I think Quinn is a better, more prepared QB than Clausen and he's now buried on a depth chart and never really got a chance other than a few games in CLE....who was terrible when he was there.

I hope nothing but the best for ol Jimmy (even though I was never a fan) but I think if CAR goes QB, we may have seen the last of him. I know it's early and I'm gonna hear the "He's only a rookie" but it happens in the NFL ALL THE TIME. Guys just dissapear. The coaches are around him all the time. They know him better than we do.

InKellyITrust · Mar 10, 2011

irishpat183 said:
Like Quinn did?? Don't count on it. Gotta make the best of every shot you get in the league, even if it's with CAR. I think Quinn is a better, more prepared QB than Clausen and he's now buried on a depth chart and never really got a chance other than a few games in CLE....who was terrible when he was there.

I hope nothing but the best for ol Jimmy (even though I was never a fan) but I think if CAR goes QB, we may have seen the last of him. I know it's early and I'm gonna hear the "He's only a rookie" but it happens in the NFL ALL THE TIME. Guys just dissapear. The coaches are around him all the time. They know him better than we do.

Every thing that you said makes a lot of sense. With all of that being said, I wouldn't mind Shanahan getting his hands on him. Sit out and watch some games. The Shanahans can develop QBs. It's better than anything else that they have right now.

Irish52 · Mar 10, 2011

Right on TIDROW40. Giive Clausen a good OL, two good WR, 1 good TE amd 1 good RB and whala, you have a good and exciting football team. Mind you, I said "good", not outstanding. I think Clausen is a much better QB than he is given credit for. All he needs is a supporting cast..just like any top QB in the League has. Give him a chance.

irishpat183 · Mar 10, 2011

InKellyITrust said:
Every thing that you said makes a lot of sense. With all of that being said, I wouldn't mind Shanahan getting his hands on him. Sit out and watch some games. The Shanahans can develop QBs. It's better than anything else that they have right now.

I'm not saying that Jimmy is done, by any means, only that sometimes guys just don't get more than one opportunity. Even if it's not a "fair" one.

Lord knows our Skins need help. Skills positions are in terrible shape, and we need another safety. Shanny is a fine coach, but he's not God. We need some players. Haslett really screwed up the D (was 5th in the league in 09) with the switch. We'll see if that gets better this year. Sheesh. Makes me depressed talking about it.

irishpat183 · Mar 10, 2011

Irish52 said:
Right on TIDROW40. Giive Clausen a good OL, two good WR, 1 good TE amd 1 good RB and whala, you have a good and exciting football team. Mind you, I said "good", not outstanding. I think Clausen is a much better QB than he is given credit for. All he needs is a supporting cast..just like any top QB in the League has. Give him a chance.

Wow. Why don't we throw in a good D as well?? So set the guy up with everything and he'll be good??? That doesn't mean he's a good QB, just means that he can play with good people around him. Manning and Brady (even Rodgers and Brees teams had tons of injuries) both do it year in and year out, no matter who they plug in.

I think ANYBODY can play with what you just said. That's a poor indication of how good a QB is.

Anchorman · Mar 10, 2011

CanadalovesND said:
Jimmy fell into the late second round because many teams had issues with his intangibles, even though he was labelled as a Top 10 pick. Now, this year, there are two quarterbacks that are labelled as Top 10 picks, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert.

This has been playing through my head for a while now, are these two QBs better than Clausen? Jimmy had great accuracy, a good arm, was great in the pocket, and could read a defense like any other top quarterback. The only downfall on him was his apparent missing leadership skills, and the fact that he wasnt a athletic QB like Newton or Gabbert, and by that I mean, mobility, and scrambling ability.

Newton is a hell of an athlete, but did not show the accuracy Clausen did while in college, or the footwork. Gabbert, is similar to Newton, he also struggles with accuracy, footwork, and arm strength. So, is Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton a better Qb prospect than Clausen? Should one of them be drafted by Carolina the save a team with, as so many scouts label it, "nothing at QB"?

I think some of it is exactly what you said. Gabbert and Newton are both tremendous athletes with bigger experience in terms of big games than Clausen. Raw athleticism and intangibles like leadership are much harder to teach/develop than footwork, etc., which is one of the reasons we also saw Tebow go ahead of Clausen.

Junkhead · Mar 10, 2011

irishpat183 said:
I think Quinn is a better, more prepared QB than Clausen and he's now buried on a depth chart and never really got a chance other than a few games in CLE....

I loved BQ when he was at ND, but his accuracy is nowhere near Clausen's.

irishff1014 · Mar 10, 2011

I still thnik that with the right team Brady will do better the Jimmy.

irishpat183 · Mar 10, 2011

Junkhead said:
I loved BQ when he was at ND, but his accuracy is nowhere near Clausen's.

You may be right, but he was better prepared to go pro than Jimmy was. BQ has less physical talent, but is a better leader.

Mirer3Powlus · Mar 10, 2011

Quinn never had an NFL arm. Great college QB with great intangibles and leadership, but let's be honest: he doesn't have the accuracy to make it at the next level. He never got his fair shot in Cleveland, but I don't think you would have seen much better results if they had decided to stick with him.

Jerry · Mar 10, 2011

irishpat183 said:
Wow. Why don't we throw in a good D as well?? So set the guy up with everything and he'll be good??? That doesn't mean he's a good QB, just means that he can play with good people around him. Manning and Brady (even Rodgers and Brees teams had tons of injuries) both do it year in and year out, no matter who they plug in.

I think ANYBODY can play with what you just said. That's a poor indication of how good a QB is.

For anybody who had Manning on their fantasy team they know he played terrible for awhile when Indy got hit with all those injuries. Not having time to throw, no running game and WR's running bad routes will make even a Hall of Fame QB look pedestrian.

The Patriots "plug in" great free agents and well drafted rookies. Indy's had solid teams for the better part of Manning's career and GB and NO were the last 2 super bowl teams. I understand your argument but your examples of guys who play for some of the best all around teams in the NFL is sort of weak.

Are Gabbert and Newton better than Jimmy Clausen??

Well-known member

Jaqen H'ghar

Raining On Your Parade

Useful idiot

Something Witty

Raining On Your Parade

Banned

All Flair, No Substance

FLOOR(RAND()*(N-D+1))+D;

Raining On Your Parade

FLOOR(RAND()*(N-D+1))+D;

Banned

FLOOR(RAND()*(N-D+1))+D;

New member

New member

Recruiting/Draft Addict

FLOOR(RAND()*(N-D+1))+D;

Well-known member

Banned

Banned

New member

New member

Banned

Banned

New member

Community Mod

Well-known member

Banned

New member

Member