October 15, 2007

Time for Clausen experiment to end?

The Wizard of Odds links to a great commentary by Jeff Carroll in today's South Bend Tribune. Carroll contrasts Notre Dame QBs Jimmy Clausen and Evan Sharpley in trying to project who should be the starter for UND.

Carroll says it is time for Clausen to return to the bench, because he's in over his head, while Sharpley is playing... err... sharply.

Clausen has absorbed all he can at this point, in six starts of this miserable campaign. That has included hit after punishing hit behind a line that is not getting better fast enough. In fact, one of the reasons that Irish coach Charlie Weis removed Clausen in the third quarter against the No. 4-ranked Eagles was he felt he was physically beaten down. But whatever the reason, he's not getting the job done. His progress has stagnated.

Tom Fornelli of the AOL Fan House blog agrees: Evan Sharpley Just Took Jimmy Clausen's Job.

Once Sharpley came on the field, the entire Notre Dame offense changed. They actually resembled, dare I say it, a competent college offense. The Irish gained 431 yards on the day, which I'm pretty sure is 431 more yards than they had gained all season. Sharpley went 16-for-26 in the second half for 208 yards and two touchdowns, as the Irish managed to pull within a touchdown at 26-19 with eight minutes to go.

...

After what I saw today, I don't think there's any question. It should be Sharpley. Clausen didn't play horribly, but the offense still never looked in sync with him out there, even when they moved the ball. Sharpley on the other hand ran the offense smoothly, and moved the ball down the field consistently.

Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune says Clausen should still be considered the starter and the future of Notre Dame football, but maybe he should learn from the bench for now.

The only guy who gets the only vote in the matter isn't talking, of course.

Coach Weis said he will make a decision on the starting QB come Tuesday.

Weis faces an intriguing decision at this point. Sharpley seems to be in better control of the offense and the Irish look good when he plays. Clausen is much more accurate statistically, he practices better than Sharpley, and yet... the team does not seem to be producing with Clausen.

However, Sharpley is not without his warts, either. He was sacked something like seven times in the Penn State game because he chose to hold the ball rather than get rid of it as the o-line bullfighters waved PSU defenders through like traffic cops. Against Purdue, he did a lot of things right, and a couple that almost bit him.

Sharpley was 11-for-29 passing, verifying Weis' concerns about his accuracy that stem from the junior's apparently less-than-stellar practice weeks. He had two sure interceptions dropped.

But he also threw a touchdown on his first drive. And he had two would-be first-down passes dropped by freshman Duval Kamara. And a touchdown pass to Robby Parris called back due to a hold. And a Vince Young moment when he slipped two BC rushers and then had enough moxie to complete a key third-down pass to Carlson.

He has guided ND's three longest touchdown drives this season, including two in a terrific second half against Purdue. Six of ND's nine completions of more than 20 yards have come from his arm.

If Weis changes course, it would be an admission, of sorts, that his annointing Clausen the Irish saviour was... premature. Weis doesn't seem exceptional prideful given the "you are what you are" 6-5 record statements of years past, but...

If Weis is truly intent on rebuilding the Irish, then he owes it to Notre Dame to give Sharpley the playing time that he's earned. E-Sharp may not have the golden resume that Clausen has, but given the choice between wins & resumes, I think most Irish fans would prefer the "W".

Posted by Kevin Donahue