Clausen could be punished by a fast LSU defensive line and LB blitzes. He will take a severe beating physically in the game with LSU. He still has a weak arm by college standards and you won't convince me he can beat LSU with a deep ball. I tried to find out exactly how far he can throw a ball with this supposed new found arm strength, and found no new information. Maybe someone who trolls the Vols boards can provide this. He does lack accuracy beyond 25 yards due to a lack of arm strength and still is prone to tossing dead ducks, my favorite type for opposing QBs. He is more in the mold of a Matt Mauck without Mauck's arm strength and does seem to avoid turnovers better than Ainge, why he starts. He'll test the defense with a short & an intermediate (15-25 yards) passes & crossing routes. It's all he'll have time for before he's put on his can by LSU's front seven. If we blitz the corners, he prolly won't even have time for that. You'll see him in action against Florida. No doubt, Pelini's defensive game plan will be based on Clausen's tendencies as shown in Gainesville. And, with the noise in Tiger Stadium, Clausen can forget the audibles, creating more presure on him. At least we pray the game is played in Tiger Stadium. I'm interested to see Clausen's reaction when Florida gives him the full blitz. Don't miss scouting Clausen during the Tennessee/Florida game. I'll be glued to the set.
I believe you're correct. If they lose a couple of games, with Clausen as their starter, then I think they should revisit letting Ainge take over and stick to developing him. Ainge is talented, and has all the tools to be successful, but his decision making needs work--and that doesn't come unless you have game experience. If last week is any indication, Tenn. isn't going to be as good as some people expected them to be. But then again, I should probably hold judgment until AFTER we've played our first game.....
This is the argument some LSU fans were saying for Russell last year. "Develop Russell & oh well if we lose a couple games because of it, atleast he'll be better for next year." That's horse$hi&. You play the best player available & win as many games as possible. Let the ones that need developing develop at practice, not on the field at the expense of the team.
I hear what you're saying. Sure, you play for the "now"....but when your other alternative is Rick Clausen, you hardly have someone who's got superior abilities than the younger Ainge.
He saved their season last last year from disaster after being overlooked. Same thing this year most likely. He's just like his brother......he just wins. Forget arm-strength. And, the Clausen's have a younger brother that is supposed to be better than either one of them.
I hear some people saying that you can't tell too much by the way a team plays their 1st game because, well, it's only one game. But weren't we uttering similar phrases after the OSU game last year? We played at pretty much the same level for the rest of the year with the exception of a couple of games.
Very good analysis I put him in that category as well. I'll never forget his "start" against Ole Miss (I believe) in 2002, man that was painful to watch. Glad he hung in there , says alot for his character. Too bad for him that the Tigers are goind to put a whippin' on him like he's never seen !
