What QB starts next week?

[WinOverAll08]

Alright guys, here's the big question for next week vs Penn State: Who starts? Before the game started, and primarily this entire summer, I felt Demetrius was the best man for the job. I thought his athletic versatility would give him an advantage over the others. However, Charlie's offense is just not set up to be a QB-running team, at least not in my opinion. That and the offensive line played horribly. Sharpley looked promising, but made some mental mistakes here and there. Clausen, although playing against the Second team, looked very good. His throws were accurate and he seemed to have good control of the game. Although he is young and very inexperienced, I would give #7 the start next week. Why not, ya know?

 

[notredomer23]

Clausen, IMO. this is a rebuilding year, might as well give the freshman most experience. Upset alert in Happy Valley

mods can this some how be made into a poll

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Sharpley starts, second string is Clausen, third string jones, only playing jones if the other two get hurt. IMO

 

[jakerbluegold]

Clausen will start, CW wants this team to win, and JC is the guy to do the job

 

[jakerbluegold]

Mark May Smokes Poll

 

[Junkhead]

I think JC will provide the best chance to win, with Sharpley a close second if he isn't pressured.

 

[WinOverAll08]

did mark gaymay say something stupid again? what a douche

 

[Timugen]

I think JC will provide the best chance to win, with Sharpley a close second if he isn't pressured.

I would prefer to give Clausen the shot too, but if you're gonna throw that qualifier in there about Sharpley you need to keep in mind that Clausen took a sack the one and only time he was blitzed (by 2nd stringers.)

 

[GoshenGipper]

If Clausen is fully healthy or anywhere close to it I would like to see him start. If not Clausen then Sharply.

 

[Pete]

Sharpley starts, second string is Clausen, third string jones, only playing jones if the other two get hurt. IMO

Hammer meet nail

 

[Sureal]

IMO, it's not even a question. Sharpley first string. Clausen second string.


I am so ticked sick even want to post. I thought maybe we lose but not like this. Don't know what else to say...

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I say go with Clausen. He's the future of the program. The other guys didn't show me anything. Go Irish!

 

[johnnd05]

I think Sharpley starts, though I think he'll be on something of a short leash - if he doesn't perform, it's Jimmy's team.

To be honest I can imagine DD coming in now and then for a change of pace ...

 

[quiksilver253]

my money's on sharpley...i just dont think charlie is going to start a true freshmen at happy valley....but clausen is the second stringer. I would like to see them split time though

 

[Steve]

DD prob should come in as a change of pace. It works for other teams.

Clausen starts. Maybe.

 

[NDgettysburg]

Sharpley until he shows he can't do it...if we're down by any more than 10 at the half....Claussen comes in.

 

[johnnd05]

Sharpley until he shows he can't do it...if we're down by any more than 10 at the half....Claussen comes in.

Absolutely, 100% right.

 

[johnnd05]

One thing that should be mentioned (and again, I don't think he will, or should, start next week): Clausen looked 100% healthy from what I could see. He throws a really nice ball.

 

[GoshenGipper]

One thing that should be mentioned (and again, I don't think he will, or should, start next week): Clausen looked 100% healthy from what I could see. He throws a really nice ball.

Speaking of that, what's up with ESPN going out of their way to show his one incompletion in their highlight film of the game?

 

[johnnd05]

I'm wondering something, though: I was just reading a blog entry (I forget where) that complained about how Sharpley didn't look very good. Is this a case where my lack of any in-depth football knowledge is hurting me, or is this guy just wrong? I know his numbers were definitely solid, and he made some decent throws. Not much athleticism, but decent throws and a good head on his shoulders - definitely enough to show that he deserves another shot next week. (I mean, CW said he brought him in just to run the two-minute drill, right? And - with no running game to speak of, mind you - he played well enough to stay out there until mop-up time ...)

Am I right about this judgment? Or am I just blind to some sense in which Sharpley didn't perform well?

 

[johnnd05]

Speaking of that, what's up with ESPN going out of their way to show his one incompletion in their highlight film of the game?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I am SO happy not to have cable.

 

[Junkhead]

I'm wondering something, though: I was just reading a blog entry (I forget where) that complained about how Sharpley didn't look very good. Is this a case where my lack of any in-depth football knowledge is hurting me, or is this guy just wrong? I know his numbers were definitely solid, and he made some decent throws. Not much athleticism, but decent throws and a good head on his shoulders - definitely enough to show that he deserves another shot next week. (I mean, CW said he brought him in just to run the two-minute drill, right? And - with no running game to speak of, mind you - he played well enough to stay out there until mop-up time ...)

Am I right about this judgment? Or am I just blind to some sense in which Sharpley didn't perform well?

Sharpley threw well, but he was pretty horrible against pressure. Ideally, the QB has time to throw, but we didn't. ES took it on the chin a few times, when he shouldve chucked it out of bounds. I'm not saying I could do it, but the QB needs to be able to feel the pressure AND read the D.

 

[johnnd05]

Sharpley threw well, but he was pretty horrible against pressure. Ideally, the QB has time to throw, but we didn't. ES took it on the chin a few times, when he shouldve chucked it out of bounds. I'm not saying I could do it, but the QB needs to be able to feel the pressure AND read the D.

That sounds right. Like I said, the guy looked about as mobile as a sofa.

Having said that: he was in a situation where the defense knew he had to throw, and they blitzed the crap out of him. That's a really tough place to be in.

But you're right, he should've done a better job of getting rid of the ball.

 

[Kauz]

if ND spent all the time and energy in getting clausen to come to ND..why not give him his shot to start..if he proves himself next game..then great...if not...then go to the vet. sharply

 

[johnnd05]

One more thing on the whole QB issue: I remember CW saying in the preseason that "if you have two QBs, you don't have one". I take it the point there was that you need to have a guy who's the clear starter, your clear #1 guy, so he can be confident and be a leader.

But then the other day when he was asked about the DJ rumors he said "maybe I'll play two guys", and to be honest it looked like that actually was his plan today - didn't he say to the halftime interviewer that he brought Sharpley in to run the 2-minute drill?

Note, though, that doing something like that is NOT the same as having "two QBs" in the original sense - you DO have a #1 guy (DJ today, ?? next week), and then you have another guy who comes in when you need something special done.

It's for this reason that I can imagine DJ still seeing the field, as a change-of-pace option threat, even though ES or JC will probably be starting next week.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I say start Clausen. He's the future and the other two showed nothing when they had the chance.

 

[johnnd05]

I say start Clausen. He's the future and the other two showed nothing when they had the chance.

How is 10/13 for 92 yards "nothing"? Clausen (4/6, 34 yds against the second string) had a lower comp. % and fewer yds/comp than Sharpley.

Just sayin' ...

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

If Clausen is fully healthy or anywhere close to it I would like to see him start. If not Clausen then Sharply.

If he wasn't fully healthy, why the hell would he be in the game in the first place??? Play the kid from here on out.

 

[choo choo]

i think its pretty evident by now that we're going nowhere this season if that's our offense...could not have been worse...defense did an admiral job considering how long they were out there defending the goal...clausen has to start...no way around it he gives our only chance to improve

 

[Golden_Domer88]

I want Clausen to start. Notre Dame needs him to start. He made good decisions the time he was on the field. Like that roll out that he had where he could have forced it in the WR on the sideline but just tucked in away and ran out of bounds. Thats smart and we NEED him to start here on out. I dont give a rats ass if he played against the second stringers. They still put pressure on us, he made great reads and nice passes. I guarantee you if JC would have made that pass down the middle to Hord that everyone would be praising him to be the starter. But everyone thinks that since he is a freshman and inexperienced that he should not start. Well just look at the other two QB's. Jones is another story that we all know about. But Sharpley looked like a back-up QB. He hesitated to throw the ball and let the line calapse around him.

PSU has a good defense but not as good as GT's. PSU will not Blitz that much like GT did. Give Clausen the ball and let him get comfortable with his guys and sit back and watch him be him.