8 receptions for 142 yards in a losing cause...Al Michaels comments at the end that the "good news for the Bucs was that a star was born. this Clayton kid is good." John Madden replied "yeah, he's real good."
I watch the game, and Clayton had a break out game just as I hoped for. The bucs should have won the game too, but they coughed the ball up in key situations and the rams got 14 points off turnovers.
yeah, griese, although he had a decent game considering, underthrew that ball. Mike had to slow down just enough and twist around just enough that when he tried to turn on the afterburners to smoke the DBs, he just kind of lost it and fell forward for 5 yards. Had that ball been on the money, thats 6 points for clayton....I was sooo frustrated, and although I know he was too, he didn't show it...he just got back up and kept playing hard. Of all of the rookie WRs Michael is alone in the top 30 in yardage in the league, currently 11th overall with 443 yards. He wasnt the fastest WR or the strongest coming out. Coaches chose to pick those with the biggest numbers ahead of Mike. But Gruden said it best after mike was picked “Michael Clayton is unique, he’s a leader, he’s an inspiring, charismatic football player, very talented. He’s physical, and he’s going to give us something this offensive football team needs, and I know our players at One Buc Place are very excited.”
LSU goggles aside, I was extremely impressed with MC last night. He is such a competitor and a solid football player. I think he is on pace to win Rookie of the Year (the second LSU Tiger in as many years). In the three complete games that I have watched Clayton, I have been impressed with his grasp of the offense, his ongoing ability to contribute to the run game in blocking downfield, his ability to run great routes, and his nose for getting himself into position every time they throw to him so that even if he can't make the grab the DB can't make the int. He is truly playing like anything but a rookie and he is not the liability that so many other rookies have been this season. Clayton has been on the top of his game since high school. It's exciting to have so many former Tigers playing so well in the NFL - I expect to see lots more scouts in Tiger Stadium.
Well Rookie of the year is already been handed to Ben Rothlisberger (And probably should be) But Clayton is showing the world Saban can turn players in the great players. I sure wish he was still in a Tiger Uniform, can you have imagined what he would have done this year.
I did not follow the game fully, but watched the initial parts just to see how Booger and Clayton introduce themselves. Booger introduced himself as "Anthony McFarland - National Champions LSU" and Clayton (perhaps the rookie humility still being there) said "Michael Clayton, Louisiana State".
