QB Jimmy Clausen

[OV Argo]

Apparently added to the Argos neg list? (according to a report posted on Riderfans)

Ex- Notre Dame and was on NFL rosters where Trestman was before in the NFL (Bears for one).

Starter by Labour Day ;o)

[Stevoman]

I'm thinking he'll be signed soon as well. He's been out of football for a year but was with Trestman in Chicago and Baltimore.

[KCargosfan]

Apparently added to the Argos neg list? (according to a report posted on Riderfans)

Ex- Notre Dame and was on NFL rosters where Trestman was before in the NFL (Bears for one).

Starter by Labour Day ;o)

Noooooooooooooo. This guy is terrible.

[Will]

Noooooooooooooo. This guy is terrible.

In the NFL...

[OV Argo]

Noooooooooooooo. This guy is terrible.

Yeah, but, ... Notre Dame plus on NFL rosters ... c'mon man, get with the Program - imagine him throwing bombs to Ochocinco. ;o)

[Wobbler]

You don't put a guy on your neg list unless you plan on negging with him when he becomes available. Admittedly it was the old regime that put him on the list, but I'd be surprised if we haven't reached out.

[ArgoRavi]

You don't put a guy on your neg list unless you plan on negging with him when he becomes available. Admittedly it was the old regime that put him on the list, but I'd be surprised if we haven't reached out.

I thought that Popp and Trestman put him on the neg list as soon as they were hired by the Argos.

I have no idea how good or bad Clausen is. I have heard of him but never seen him play. His NFL stats are underwhelming and it doesn't seem as though Notre Dame has produced a lot of stellar pro QBs since the 1970s but Trestman must see something in him that makes him think he can succeed at this level.

[argolio]

Like anyone else, if signed he'll prove his worth (or lack thereof) in camp.

[jerrym]

Here's some information on Clausen's college career at Notre Dame showing some potential and some serious red flags.



Clausen, now a Carolina Panther, failed to lead the Irish back to glory. After declaring his intention to enter the draft a year early, he had been slotted as a potential top-10 pick.
He was drafted 48th overall.
Now, scratching their heads while looking at Clausen's eye-startling statistics, Irish fans simply ask, "What went wrong?"
Notre Dame fans watched Clausen throw the ball at lightning speeds for his three years in the Blue and Gold, sometimes showing glimpses of talent that no quarterback had ever shown. Clausen was mentioned among the best in both his sophomore and junior seasons, in which he threw for more than 6,000 yards and 53 touchdowns.
However, much too often those glimpses of amazement never seemed to be enough. In only three years in South Bend, Clausen left school as Notre Dame's record-holder for career losses for a starting quarterback.
It wasn't the statistics that told the story of Clausen.
No matter the outcome of the game, it always seemed as if he had played solid, as if he had done all that he could have done to win the football game.
Sure, he had plenty of knocks on him. He was much older than any other freshman entering back in 2007. He didn't have the leadership skills of Tim Tebow. He drank beer on the weekends, and sometimes, got into bar fights. ...

But what fans fail to sometimes realize is how special Clausen actually was for the Notre Dame program. Although it didn't result in success for the team, by no means was he the sole reason for the downfall of Charlie Weis.
Winning is a team effort. A quarterback controls the offense, and without him, the team is set up for failure. Without a defense, an offense can only do so much.
When his chance to start in the NFL comes, Clausen will start another legacy. Who knows? He maybvery well go down as one of the best passers to come through the league in decades.
With a good all-around team, everyone knows the California Kid can do damage. I, for one, fully expect him to do just that and get the ring he once promised before he hangs up his cleats.
But when we look back on Clausen's legacy at Notre Dame, the losses and unmet expectations will always loom. He won't be mentioned among some of the Irish greats like Montana, Hornung, or Theismann.
Instead, he will be mentioned along with the worst three-year stretch in the history of Notre Dame football, whether or not he deserves that blame.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/428451-jimmy-clausen-the-notre-dame-legend-that-never-was

[jerrym]

HIs NFL career also has some red flags after being ranked the the top ranked high school prospect and a "can't miss" in 2007. It's always possible that he may approach his potential in the CFL, but that certainly doesn't not include running, as testified to by a career 1.8 yard average on 37 attempts in 21 games (http://www.nfl.com/player/jimmyclausen/497108/careerstats).



No. 1 overall?
That would be Jimmy Clausen, the “can’t-miss” prospect from Westlake Village, Calif., who missed so badly. Clausen went to Notre Dame for college, then was drafted in the second round by the Panthers in 2010. Clausen then led what was the worst Panthers offense ever for most of his rookie season. Carolina went 2-14 as Clausen started 10 games and threw only three touchdown passes to go with nine interceptions.

Clausen later found some irregular work as a backup quarterback but could not make an NFL team in 2016 and quite likely never will play in the league again. He was a major NFL flop, and also did not fulfill his stated goal at Notre Dame of winning “multiple” national championships. In fact, Clausen never came close to winning one at Notre Dame.



http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article129802109.html

[Wobbler]

I thought that Popp and Trestman put him on the neg list as soon as they were hired by the Argos.
I see that now - links (http://3downnation.com/2017/04/21/argos-add-former-nfl-notre-dame-qb-neg-list/) are helpful, everyone.

[KCargosfan]

Yeah, but, ... Notre Dame plus on NFL rosters ... c'mon man, get with the Program - imagine him throwing bombs to Ochocinco. ;o)

This guy was average in college and terrible in the NFL with multiple shots from the Ravens and Bears. There is no lengthy tape on this guy where anyone would say, "Yeah, he'll lead us to 11 wins in 18 games."

Guy makes Kevin Glenn look like John Elway.

There's a trend in the CFL where I-AA quarterbacks (Ray, Lulay, Mitchell, Reilly, Harris) or smaller-school I-A quarterbacks (Burris, Collaros) are having the success. I have a hypothesis that this may be because they have to be more precise in their passing in college, where at some of the bigger schools, you can just throw it up because your receiver will go make a play.

Then when the smaller-school guys get to the CFL, they're playing with guys who can already go make a play, so their precision passing stands out further.

I guess my point is that average QBs can look good at the Alabamas, Texas', Ohio States and Notre Dames of the world because the surrounding talent makes them look good.

[KCargosfan]

Like anyone else, if signed he'll prove his worth (or lack thereof) in camp.

He's already proved his lack of worth multiple times over. If a guy sucks in the NFL, what would lead a CFL team to be like, "Hey, this guy all of a sudden might start throwing completions and not interceptions!"

[Rich]

Jimmy Clausen is easily a better QB than Drew Willy.

The fact that he has worked the Trestman system and terminology would make his transition to the CFL a whole lot easier. Don't forget that at one point The Professor actually named Clausen the starter ahead of Cutler, only to have Clausen suffer a season-ending injury the next game. I wouldn't be surprised if Clausen and Trestman believed that they had some unfinished business together. I'm excited about it. Clausen got thrown to the wolves when he was a rookie with Carolina, it killed his confidence. But nobody got more out of him than The Professor did, and the CFL just might be a good fit for him.

[Rich]

Here's some information on Clausen's college career at Notre Dame showing some potential and some serious red flags.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/428451-jimmy-clausen-the-notre-dame-legend-that-never-was

I don't see the serious red flags. Surely you're not referring to drinking beer on weekends and getting into a bar fight?

[KCargosfan]

Jimmy Clausen is easily a better QB than Drew Willy.

The fact that he has worked the Trestman system and terminology would make his transition to the CFL a whole lot easier. Don't forget that at one point The Professor actually named Clausen the starter ahead of Cutler, only to have Clausen suffer a season-ending injury the next game. I wouldn't be surprised if Clausen and Trestman believed that they had some unfinished business together. I'm excited about it. Clausen got thrown to the wolves when he was a rookie with Carolina, it killed his confidence. But nobody got more out of him than The Professor did, and the CFL just might be a good fit for him.

Clausen's poor play was caused by his mediocre talent and bad decision-making, not his time with Carolina.

Trestman had a poor run in the NFL. The fact he kept no-talents like Clausen around was part of the reason.

[Rich]

Trestman had a poor run in the NFL.

It wasn't all bad. In his first year the Bears offence was 2nd in NFL scoring. I'm sure we'd all be happy if the Argonauts were 2nd in league scoring.

[paulwoods13]

He's already proved his lack of worth multiple times over. If a guy sucks in the NFL, what would lead a CFL team to be like, "Hey, this guy all of a sudden might start throwing completions and not interceptions!"

Dave Dickenson, Ricky Ray and Henry Burris, to name three, were not even allowed to suck in the NFL because they couldn't get off the bench or the practice squad. So I'm not using NFL performance as an indicator of how a guy will do in the CFL. Some guys (Mike McMahon, for instance) are bad in both leagues, but some guys are good in the CFL despite failing in the NFL.

[AngeloV]

Some guys (Mike McMahon, for instance) are bad in both leagues, but some guys are good in the CFL despite failing in the NFL.

And Erik Kramer was good in the NFL despite sucking in the CFL. Sometimes surroundings have more to do with performance than the player himself.

[Will]

And Erik Kramer was good in the NFL despite sucking in the CFL. Sometimes surroundings have more to do with performance than the player himself.

I still cannot comprehend how he shredded the Jimmy Johnson-era Dallas Cowboys in that playoff game. He never took the bull by the horns in Detroit though. I think he only had the one good year in Chicago.

[AngeloV]

I still cannot comprehend how he shredded the Jimmy Johnson-era Dallas Cowboys in that playoff game. He never took the bull by the horns in Detroit though. I think he only had the one good year in Chicago.

He had more success in Detroit than most did in that era.

[Will]

He had more success in Detroit than most did in that era.

Scott Mitchell circa 1995 regular season might disagree with that notion, but yeah, the Lions offence in the 1990's should have been idiot proof. Hand the ball off to Barry Sanders and then play-action bomb to Herman Moore.

[KCargosfan]

Dave Dickenson, Ricky Ray and Henry Burris, to name three, were not even allowed to suck in the NFL because they couldn't get off the bench or the practice squad. So I'm not using NFL performance as an indicator of how a guy will do in the CFL. Some guys (Mike McMahon, for instance) are bad in both leagues, but some guys are good in the CFL despite failing in the NFL.

I don't think Clausen has the talent of any of those three. Not even close. I've seen nothing from Clausen in college or the NFL that leads me to believe he'll have any success in the CFL.

[argolio]

I don't think Clausen has the talent of any of those three. Not even close. I've seen nothing from Clausen in college or the NFL that leads me to believe he'll have any success in the CFL.Call me crazy, but I get the feeling you don't like him.

[Tobin Rote]

I don't think Clausen has the talent of any of those three. Not even close. I've seen nothing from Clausen in college or the NFL that leads me to believe he'll have any success in the CFL.

Terrible thing to say about a former Fighting Irish QB. The last one we had turned out to be pretty good.

[AngeloV]

Call me crazy, but I get the feeling you don't like him.

This type of anger usually means one thing...KC bet on his team and lost. We've all been there.

:D

[Will]

I don't think Notre Dame has produced a good pro QB since Joe Montana.

[ArgoRavi]

I don't think Notre Dame has produced a good pro QB since Joe Montana.

They had Theismann, Clements and Montana back in the 1970s but I can't recall one since who has had any success in the pro ranks.

[Will]

They had Theismann, Clements and Montana back in the 1970s but I can't recall one since who has had any success in the pro ranks.

Neither can I. Rick Mirer was supposed to be the next big thing but he fizzled out.

[AngeloV]

They had Theismann, Clements and Montana back in the 1970s but I can't recall one since who has had any success in the pro ranks.

Jarius Jackson had a serviceable career as mostly a back up, but did ok when he played for the Lions and Argos.

[1971GreyCup]

Just putting this name on the Argos negotiation list has dominated the forum in the absence of Argos news. I sure hope news starts flowing soon from training camp, wherever that will be held?

[ArgoRavi]

Jarius Jackson had a serviceable career as mostly a back up, but did ok when he played for the Lions and Argos.

Forgot about Jackson, AV. Other than him, there hasn't been much over the past few decades in regards to QBs coming out of Notre Dame. Tony Rice was in Saskatchewan for a bit in the early 1990s but didn't amount to much.

[argolio]

Steve Beuerlein was a good backup and sometimes starting NFL QB from '88 to 2003. Probably the best Notre Dame pro post-Theismann.

EDIT - Not named Joe Montana of course. And you can argue Tom Clements was on Beuerlein's level, but I think we've debated Clements to death.