Post-Spring Projection: Jimmy Clausen

The odds to win the 2008 Heisman Trophy were recently released and Jimmy Clausen checked in as an 80-to-1 play. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for his chances at taking top player honors, but at least he was named on the 45-player list.

Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State, and incoming Ohio State quarterback Terrell Pryor were both 100-to-1, but other than that, Clausen was about the longest shot on the board. Even Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis has better odds at 60-to-1, and he is suspended from the team indefinitely.

The Heisman list means nothing to anyone around the Notre Dame program, and it shouldn’t. But it does shed some light on the outside expectations of the Irish quarterback and his offense entering the 2008 season.

Let’s face it, if you base anything off of the play of Clausen as a freshman and the offense during the 2007 season, it’s hard to place the bar very high, and maybe 80-to-1 seems generous.

But there is much reason for hope with the momentum Clausen gathered at the end of last season. After throwing just one touchdown with five interceptions in his first six appearances, Clausen hit for six touchdowns and just one interception in his last three games.

The importance of confidence and experience can’t be understated, and Clausen found both at the end of last season.

“It was tough but I learned so much through some tough times last season,” Clausen said this spring. “I feel so much more comfortable with everything this time around. It has an entirely different feel.”

Clausen is up 17 pounds to 212 this spring. A healthy arm allowed for more upper body work in the weight room. And two springs and a regular season in the offense should also make him smarter this season. That was already evident in the spring. The zip was back on his passes and he didn’t look like a skinny kid trying to run the offense while running for his life.

Clausen obviously needs improvement in every area because his 9.1-yard per completion average and his 5.1-yard per attempt average will not cut it this season. Of course, a little help from his offensive line could help improve both averages.

Leadership will also be an intangible worth watching. Clausen is the face of the program, so he needs to become the voice of the program. It’s something that Clausen admitted he was uncomfortable with last season, but his coach hopes he is ready for this time around.

“Jimmy’s getting all the reps,” Charlie Weis said during spring ball. “That allowed him to start forming a chemistry and bonding with the receivers and allowed him to get more of a leadership role with the offensive linemen. I’ve been very, very pleased with his progress, as well as his throwing.”

What’s A Good Season?

A good sophomore season for Clausen starts with improvement in every area. And Weis is so confident the improvement is coming, the coach predicted Clausen will be ahead of where Brady Quinn was when the two are compared as juniors.

Clausen completed 56.3 of his passes last season with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. This Irish offense may rely on the running game more this season with running backs coach Michael Haywood calling the plays. But even so, Clausen needs to almost triple his touchdown total and tally at least 20, while maintaining the interception total.

More importantly, Clausen has to at least make some first downs and keep the offense on the field, and that will come through improved progression reads and more poise in the pocket, areas that all young quarterbacks struggle with. One of the biggest problems for Clausen and the Irish last season was a 31-percent third-down conversion percentage.

Much was made this spring about trying to transform Clausen into a team leader. If he can start fast, produce and lead the team to at least seven regular-season wins, the troops will follow his lead through this season, and beyond.