Jimmy Clausen Goes Pro; Devaney Taking Aim?
by kevinramsfan on Dec 7, 2009 10:57 AM CST
in 2010 NFL Draft
40 comments
The news out of South Bend today is that Notre Dame's junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen is entering April's NFL draft. Clausen was the number one overall player out of high school a couple of years ago, but it seemed like his career for the Golden Domers was star-crossed. Never had a great offensive line, his defense stunk, and lacked playmakers on offense (until the emergence of Golden Tate this year). Will he be moving to a similar rebuilding situation in St. Louis? In an article on ESPN.com, Tom Friend speculates about his possible destination:
Rated as perhaps the top quarterback in this year's class, he is believed to be coveted by St. Louis, Cleveland and Washington -- three teams that will conceivably pick in the top 5.
Draft talk around here has started to heat up lately, and for good reason. The Rams simply need talent. Everywhere. Including quarterback. We all know that Marc Bulger is likely done as a Ram, and Kyle Boller has performed up to the standards he was hired to - backup. Jimmy Clausen won't solve the Rams problems on offense. Personally, I've lobbied for a playmaker at WR like Dez Bryant in the first round, mostly because I'm afraid of taking a quarterback as high as we're likely to be picking. There's certainly also an argument for guys like Ndamukong Suh on defense. That being said, I can't help but feel like Devaney and crew are looking hard at a QB, especially after I read this:
But six days later, he threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns at Stanford, and his ability to persevere is why several general managers, who have requested anonymity, believe he is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year's draft. They say he's already mastered an NFL offense, has already been subjected to a leaky offensive line and has already been part of a rebuilding process. They like that he played his entire college career on national TV and that he thrived in one of the biggest fishbowls in sports: Notre Dame.
*Emphasis Added
We don't know what he have in Keith Null. But he's not ready to be a starter in the NFL. And yet there are serious holes all over this team, of which QB is not the most glaring. Is Jimmy Clausen going to be a good pro QB? Probably. Will he help the Rams next year? Probably not.
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If he knows how to run a pro offense
why would the Rams want him? They’re running a grade school offense (and I’m not sure if that isn’t insulting grade schoolers). Seriously, what is the point of drafting a QB in the first round if his job is going to call for handing off to Jackson and throwing one yard passes into the flat? Spags and Shurmur seem to think that is the offense that makes the most sense, if you can believe the quotes in the paper and the evidence on the field every weekend. Why draft a QB? We need to draft all defense and try to get them to the point they can shut out opponents. That’s our only chance to win a game.
okay bud, we know your opinion about shurmur
and i share your opinion on him, but we have to think realistically here. do you actually think management will not draft a pro-style QB because of the offense we’re running? i think not.
it’s a 50/50 shot shurmur is gone after the season anyway. and if not, he’ll have no excuses to not open up the field next year. this year he got away with the “players” remark about play calling for a bit, but it’s really starting to piss off people. if he has players next year (and he will) and still has a conservative approach, he’ll be gone midseason anyway. guaranteed. we shouldn’t worry about pat shurmur when thinking about QBs for next season.
jd is legend for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 7, 2009 11:13 AM CST up reply actions
after seeing boller yesterday
it’s clear to me we cannot count on him to start 16 games next year and be at least halfway successful. as much i want to focus on wide receiver or defensive line in the first round, it’s becoming more and more obvious that the rams are going to have to take a QB with (likely) one of the first two picks. that sucks, considering bulger was doing okay this year and i’m not that impressed by what i’ve seen from this year’s class of quarterbacks.
that being said, jimmy clausen is the correct pick. four months ago, i would have lobbied for sam bradford, but he now has way too many question marks surrounding his shoulder. clausen is the best and most prepared QB that ran a pro style offense at notre dame under charlie weis. if the rams are smart, they will pick clausen in april.
jd is legend for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 7, 2009 11:05 AM CST reply actions
What is not to like about Clausen?
Why is he not a bona fide #1 pick? Because the NFL scouts say he isn’t? I call bullshit. NFL scouts are the one the dubbed JaMarcus Russell, Tim Couch, Ryan Leaf, David Carr, etc, etc, etc as the next great NFL QB. They had Vince Young, Matt Leinart and company as top 10 pick
They also doubted that Aaron Rodgers would be a legit NFL starter… same goes with Drew Brees. So why are we placing so much weight on Mel Kiper’s and Todd McShay’s opinion of Jimmy Clausen?
Here is what I know about JImmy Clausen. He has a career completion percentage of 62.6%. He has a career TD/INT ratio of close to 3-1. This year his TD/INT ratio is an ungodly 7-1. As stkcardinalsfang mentioned, he has run a pro-style offense for three years at ND and should transition more easily into an NFL offense more easily than any of the other top picks.
Clausen has done all of with without the luxury of having elite top end talent around him. Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and Tim Tebow have been surrounded with current and future NFL talent throughout their careers. How about Clausen? The best player he has helping him on offense is Golden Tate. Clausen is the guy. Hands down. He will be a great NFL QB.
as mentioned
this has become more and more obvious to me. this is the rams single biggest need, and this is the guy that most aptly fills that need in the draft.
jd is legend for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 7, 2009 12:38 PM CST up reply actions
Mel Kiper and Todd McShay aren't NFL scouts.....
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
Build the D...
…wait for this in a couple of years:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL86mogw4UE
Since we’re talking about Clausen. :D
If you want clutch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efuPAhdyZ8c
Seriously, I may be a homer, but I totally bagged Sanchez when he came out. I can see Barkley is the real deal. Let’s have a couple of good years, stockpile picks and trade them all for the #1 and take this guy in 2011/12. That is the master plan.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
I love Barkley...
…even though I go to the “other” USC. Still, I’m not sure the Rams can wait that long.
by kevinramsfan on Dec 7, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions
Holy crap I've never spoken to someone that goes to "the other" USC...
…now that I have, I’ll stop referring to it as such. You’re just the East ‘SC, we’re the West ’SC.
I know the Rams probably won’t wait that long, but I wish they would. This guy reminds me so much of Carson Palmer, but about a year ahead (since Palmer didn’t start till the last part of his freshman year). ‘SC has struggled this year, but it’s been more on the defensive side.
Barkley has been fine, and looks to be the real deal for years to come. I’d love to see him in the horns. It’s always my thought that you need to get the right QB, not just the QB because you need one. If anything, I think this is the year to take a pass because:
A. None of these guys (and I say this as someone who has watched AT LEAST 3 games from Clausen, Bradford, Locker, McCoy, and Tebow this season, minus Bradford of course), in my opinion, warrant a top 5 pick based on their performances this season.
B. Despite how well the defense played yesterday, we are still allowing a pathetic 146.2 yards per game. Despite having one of the best young Linebackers in the game in the middle. Paging this man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Aza5XHhR0
C. It might be a better financial decision to wait on that QB till 2011 since there are growing talks about a rookie cap salary, which would significantly reduce our losses if that QB ends up being a bust. Especially since QBs command such a high pay grade if taken early.
D. Because of the fear of the cap mentioned in ©, many QBs are going to come out this year, making it a stockpiled draft for QBs, meaning we might get REALLY good value at QB in the second or even third rounds. Less risk, possible reward.
E. We have to build to our strengths, and the defense is obviously closer to that than the offense is. I know we need points, but we’ve been decimated by injuries thus far. If we wait for that cap that may come, or even draft a QB in round 2, we might get the better value.
GO RAMS!
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
by TrojanRam on Dec 7, 2009 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
146.2 RUSHING * yards per game
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
I appreciate that...
We have a little bit of an inferiority complex, especially in football. I am glad we snatched Alshon Jeffery away, he’s going to be a player here, and would have been a drop of water in an ocean over there. As far as basketball, I was there for Part 2 of “The Game for the Name” (as we put it) in Columbia. O.J. Mayo was as dirty as they come, and Daniel Hackett had the quietest triple-double I’ve ever seen and you guys won. The only sport we can really measure up to you guys in is baseball, but I digress. I like your east-west version better.
As far as the Rams go, I basically agree with everything you said, especially about our Defense and the crop of quarterbacks. We shouldn’t feel compelled to take one if we aren’t sold on any of them, which I’m certainly not.
by kevinramsfan on Dec 7, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions
Every program takes years to build...
…all it takes is a good coaching staff, some nice recruiting, and it’ll happen for you guys. It’s all patience. I think Spurrier is doing ok, though I’m not sure how the ‘SC fanbase feels. We were bad in the 90s and struck gold with Pete Carroll. That’s all it takes sometimes. I’d love for there to be a ’SC vs ’SC National Championship Game. Now that right there would be a game for the name. :D As for OJ Mayo, the guy was here too little time for me to notice. The east-west version it shall be from now on. :D
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
+1
I agree with your logic, though I don’t know much about the guy you recommend. The Rams should not parlay the desperation after a terrible series of games like this into a desperation pick at QB in the draft. We need the strongest foundation player we can find with that top pick, and there’s a strong chance he’ll be playing some other position.
RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion
this makes me happy to hear
if the Rams don’t do something about their QB situation they won’t win another game…they may tie all 16 if they drafted Suh, but they won’t win if they can’t score points.
Turf Show Times
I think that you all forget...
that there are ways to built outside of the draft. All the talk around here makes it sound like the only way for us to get a playmaker WR, or a DT, or a OLB or whatever is through the draft.
I think everyone needs to remember that we are projected to be one of the teams with the most cap space next year (if there is a cap). There are a lot of good players that will be FAs next year that will help us build. Here is just a few:
WR
Vincent Jackson
Brandon Marshall
Braylon Edwards
Miles Austin
DL
Elvis Dumervil
Julius Peppers
Aaron Kampman
Kyle Vanden Bosch
Vince WIlfork
Richard Seymour
Casey Hampton
The best QBs on the market consist of Kyle Orton and Jason Campbell.
In other words… we need Jimmy Clausen. Draft Clausen with your first pick and sign a playmaking WR like Vincent Jackson. Than you you have surrounded him with the tools he would need to be successful (plus we could talk about V-Jack and S-Jack… just think about it!) Maybe pick up a solid pass catching TE as a safety blanket (Owen Daniel is a FA as well).
You all talk like we need to draft lightening in a bottle with our first pick this next year… pick a savior that will come in and lead this franchise to the promise land in one season. Well I have news for all of you… that is not how winning franchises are built… and WR is certainly not the way to go if you are looking an instant spark to the offense. Traditionally WRs are slow to start in the NFL and don’t become stars until their 3rd year or so.
I just think you all need to gain a bit of perspective and stop viewing the re-building process so narrowly. This is going to be more than just one draft. It is going to be several drafts, along with several FA classes that will get the Rams back on track. But we will not be able to do without a franchise QB. Jimmy Clausen is that guy. He is the guy we should take in the first round. Hands down.
That is a pathetic list of FA's...
Look at the age or cost of those guys:
WR
Jackson will never hit the FA market…Charger’s won’t let it happen.
Marshall… good option, but wonder about his cost. Could be worth it tho.
Edwards, I can’t see the Jet’s letting him go. Sanchez needs someone to throw to.
Austin… let’s not get carried away on his ‘breakout’ season. I wouldn’t want to spend money on him quite yet… unless the deal was right.
DL
Elvis will want too much $$ and he currently plays in a 3-4
Peppers received the ‘franchise tag’ last year, which means top dollar if you want him He’s 29 and only has 6 sacks this year.
Kampman plays in a 3-4 defense
Vanden Bosch is 30 and will cost too much $$
Willfork will be re-signed by NE; they traded Seymour to make room for Willfork’s salary.
Seymour will have his pick and he’s going to a winning team. We all saw the way he reacted to being traded to the Raiders. Crybaby…
Hampton is 31… might as well keep Little.
There are 2 other viable options for QB: Kolb and Quinn. Either of those could work as well.
Suh will change our D in such a positive way it’s worth it to pick him, IMO.
I really question...
If any of you actually watch football. All of your comments are absurd and really don’t have any place in an intelligent discussion about the building of the team.
Jackson is one of the best young receivers in the NFL. He has over 800 yards and 7 TDs and is averaging 17 yards per catch. The only was SD will keep him from hitting the open market is the franchise tag. But they also have HUGE impending FA in Shawn Merriman, Sproles, and McNeill. There is no way ANYONE could say with certainty that he will never hit the FA market.
Miles Austin is also one of the best young receivers in football. He is only 25 years old, is 6-3 214 and will have over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs this year (he is sitting at 928/9). Oh, and by the way, Austin had 5 catches through the first four weeks. So my question for you RamsFan1979 is this, if you aren’t excited about Austin what WOULD get you excited?
Elvis Dumervil CURRENTLY plays in a 3-4, but were you aware that this is his first year in that system as an OLB? Because most people who follow football know that the first three years of his career were spent at DE in a 4-3 system. During those first three season as a DE he averaged over 8.5 sacks per season. Oh, by the way, he is leading the NFL in sacks w 15 right now and has a change to break the single season record. But he plays in a 3-4, why would Spags what him?
Kampman… See Dumervil. He has played in a 4-3 all of his career except this year. I don’t know why we would want him. He only averaged over 9 sacks a season since 2005. Not to mention that he is 260 and is stout against the run. Lord knows we don’t need a player like that.
Vanden Bosch being 30? Who cares? That is nowhere close to being old of a DE. He does happen to be one of the best run stuffing DEs in football and has averaged over 8.5 sacks per season of the last 4. But he is 30. Over the hill!
Hampton being 31? See Vanden Bosch. There is also the minor detail that he anchors the line for the best run defense in the NFL this year. But why would we want to give up a 3.6 yards per carry or only 77 yard per game on the ground when we could average 4.6 per carry and 146 per game right?
They will all cost too much money anyway. We need to spend that money wisely because we don’t have much to spend. We would only be 25 million under the projected cap next year… IF THERE EVEN IS A CAP. Plus, why would we want to spend money on a team that is so obviously headed in the right direction?
I really don’t mind people putting their opinion out there. It is what makes message boards and blogs fun. What I do mind is instance mindless argument for argument sake. If you have something to say then say it. But make sure you do your research first and base your opinion on legitimate football knowledge and facts.
By the way...
Leonard Little is 35. When he was 30 and 31 he posted 7 sacks and 9.5 sacks respectively. When he was 32 he posted 13. He is 35 how and is on pace for 8.5 this year. Clearly 30 and 31 are too old to be productive NFL defensive linemen. Kampman. Peppers, Vanden Bosch and the like should all just retire!
Funny
the latent sarcasm dripping from your comments. OK, since you brought it up, what happened to Little last year and the year before. Ages 33 & 34… injury at 33 & a 12 game season w/18 tackles & 6 sacks. This is the last year on his contract right? Bet we don’t keep him. He has durablity cause of the first few years on the team, but how much you wanna bet he won’t be here next year? I want to see him retire a Ram.
Question all you want
but since neither one of us carry any weight your point is moot.
I don’t see SD letting Jackson go, he is talented and they need him. I can see them letting Merriman go, he’s on the decline and is expensive. That is my view, so you disagree, BUT if you were the GM wouldn’t you try like hell to keep him? Have you seen the receivers they have behind him?
Miles Austin is akin to Avery; good first season, but it doesn’t warrant a big payout w/half a good season. After Avery’s breakout season would you renegotiate and give him more money I know hindsite is 20/20, and we can seen the money would not have been worth it for the organization. We have very capable receivers and money would be ill spent on a 1 yr wonder.
Dumervil, thanks for proving my point. He has excelled in the 3-4 and was so-so in the 4-3, so the answer is in your own response as to why we wouldn’t want to pay big $$ for him… we play a 4-3 btw. Funny how ppl think the transition would be seamless…
Kampan may want to leave, but the season isn’t over. Maybe both him & GB decide to part ways. Yes he could make an impacft on the team.
Depending on the mileage, 30 [now 31 for VB] could be old in the NFL, disagree if you want. Last yr he had a groin injury, I don’t know how many games he missed, but I do remember he didn’t play the whole season. He’s not that productive thus far either. Again, depending on the money… but I’m thinking he’d want more than we’d be willing to pay. Looking at the last season and this his totals aren’t that good at all; yeah that means his production is down. Heck, we can even thro Hampton in this class as well. What has he done compared to J. Hall or Little I’d rather have Hall & Little come back than either of those two. They are reliable and make a lot of stops for the team. Add Suh, another top D pick, allow injured to rehab and the defense is much better. Keep the age we have [may or may not happen] and inject younger talent. BTW, why did we get rid of Pace, Holt, & Bruce? Hint: has to do w/$$ & age, being past their prime, or something like that.
Funny how you did what you don’t like… that’s the funny thing when you point the finger at someone, you have three others pointing back… or rather points as to why I see why we’re not going to bring in ‘older talent’. I can see us going after Cofield of the Giants or Jolley from GB.
Let's draft Clausen
but they need to find a good possession receiver and a good TE to help him. With Jackson in the backfield and Smith at LT, we can have a successful offense in a year or two. Suh would be a great player but I’m not sure a DT is a important enough position to pass on a possible franchise quarterback.
For me it always comes back to risk vs reward
Do we really want to commit 70 million dollars to Jamarcus Russell, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Alex Smith, Vince Young (Up to 6 weeks ago). Sure there are hits and misses at all positions, but qb always seems to have the biggest price and biggest risk to it, he won’t pan out, or he’ll be injured and worthless to us in a year or two.
Its like buying a house, are you just going to go buy a house that you don’t really like, just because its better than all the crappy houses on the block?
but at some point you have to take that risk
because that’s the only way you are going to find a winning QB.
jd is legend for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 7, 2009 12:40 PM CST up reply actions
How about...
Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, Donovan McNabb, and Phil Rivers?
You want Dez Bryant? How about Mike Williams, Ted Ginn, Troy Williamson, Reggie Williams, Charles Rogers, David Terrell, Peter Warrick? All top-ten WR busts in the last five years.
You want Suh?Well, I don’t think I need to remind any Rams fans about the busts at DT in the last few years.
My point is this, there are risks at every position in every draft. You can’t base your drafting off of people who have been busts in the past. If that were the case the Lions wouldn’t have Calvin Johnson right now. The Chargers wouldn’t have Phillip Rivers, the Bengals wouldn’t have Carson Palmer, and the Rams wouldn’t have Steven Jackson.
Correction
the WRs were drafted in the last 10 years… not 5
you forgot the little brother and some dude named brees...
jd is legend for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 7, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
Kampman
I think is a real possibility. He doesn’t like the new 3-4 and the greenbay defense has some decent linebackers that are stepping up and I think he is a true defensive end not a hybrid. I think he’d help out tremendously. And something we need is a menace in the backfield he’s 30 so he is a veteran that has been healthy his whole career he has never missed a game due to injury the past 5 years. I think its a start to help the D line out.
Here is the truth.
> The Missouri State Highway Patrol is cracking down on speeders heading into
> St. Louis . For the first offense, they give you two St. Louis Rams
> tickets. If you get stopped a second time, they make you use them.
>
> Q.What do you call 47 millionaires around a TV watching this year’s Super Bowl?
> A. The St. Louis Rams
>
> Q. What do the St. Louis Rams and Billy Graham have in common?
> A. They both can make 70,000 people stand up and yell, ‘Jesus Christ’.
>
> Q. How do you keep the St. Louis Rams out of your yard?
> A.Put up a goal post.
>
> Q.Where do you go in St. Louis in case of a tornado?
> A. To the St. Louis Rams Stadium…. they never have a touchdown there!
>
> Q.What’s the difference between the St. Louis Rams and a dollar bill?
> A. You can still get four quarters out of a dollar bill.
>
> Q.What do the St. Louis Rams and a opossum have in common?
> A. Both play dead at home and get killed on the road.
DEA called to visit the Dome
The DEA visited the EJ Dome yesterday. They were called in to inspect a mysterious white substance that nobody wanted to get near. Oh yeah, it’s called the endzone.
BPA
Rams need to take the BPA. Whether it be Suh or Clausen.
Don't draft Clausen
If Campbell hits the free agent market, pick him up and with the first pick get the beeeeast! Suh, or Mccoy,we need defense.
Null is more NFL ready than Clausen
The Rams are messing up HUGE by not playing Null the rest of the season!!!!!!
If the Rams select a qb with the first pick without playing Null enough to know what he can do, they will be jynxed again with a failure of a high round draft selection! My predictions usually come to fruition.
you must be keith null
Null is more NFL ready than Clausen
how in the WORLD could you possibly make that assumption?
jd is legend for Cardinals' closer 2010!!
by stlcardinalsfang on Dec 8, 2009 12:25 PM CST up reply actions
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