Jimmy Clausen Kicked *ss last night. Now that's how to play QB. He looked just as good last night than anyone that I've seen this year. I guess that player from Hawaii that said Clausen was the best QB he seen on film wasn't to far off now was he.
Clausen will have a GOOD year next year. If ND plays like that all year they will be in a BCS game. This will give them momentum for next year.............
I've had my criticisms of Jimmy...mostly related to some bad habbits he developed from getting sacked amd pressured alot ...my concerns were really articulated by Ware in his criticism of The HI QB...when he starts looking at the oncoming rush and not reading coverage...he's in trouble. Jimmy had a long stretch where thats what he was doing ...IMO.
He was a different kid last night. He didn't lock on as much...he wasn't nervous...he had some time to throw it..and at times, he made his own time. I couldn't have asked for more from him...way exceeded my expectations.
In contributing to Jimmy's performance, Hughes was a STUD. He put the pads to some Dbacks, and made them pay. AWESOME! Ole' #5 showed some down field vision, but for the fist time he consistently got to the LOS before having to make a move...He got to run some downhill, and it was pretty...and the KO return...just nice vision, and he finally got a block or two. The O-line looked more sure than they've been all year, which was the most critical part of this win...tip my hat to them.
I will always be more comfortale with sustained drives. This team had some of those, and then hit some home runs. Pretty damned potent.
I won't dismis the win as just HI...I think HI would have beaten syracuse, and worked some of the teams we lost to this year. They have some atheletes...and as the PA guys went over the pro prospects in the game...they were all HI boys. Its a good win. Anyone who goes over there to play will tell you...its a hard place to win.
Again the O-line did some things...now look at every other facet of the game when the o-line is competent...this team is some consistant O-line play away from BCS...lets hope we see that in '09.
For now CONGRATS seniors...damn glad you got this one...you've had some tough years, and I personnally wouldn't want it to end any other way for you...thanks for toughing it out.