Jimmy Clausen: 10 Reasons He'll Have a Breakout Season in 2011
Jimmy Clausen had a rough welcome to the NFL.
He struggled as the Panthers limped to the worst record in the NFL. It looked like Clausen's tenure with the Panthers would be short lived, as Andrew Luck was the top prospect in the NFL draft. However, Luck went back to Stanford for another year and that will keep Clausen in the discussion in Carolina.
Clausen is coming back with a year under his belt and he's in a position to make a big splash next year. With that in mind, here are 10 reasons that will happen. If you have any thoughts or comments, make sure to leave it in the comments.
What do you think Jimmy Clausen's future will hold?
No. 10: Flashes of Promise
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At times, Jimmy Clausen has looked like he has what it takes to be a starting quarterback.
They aren't long stretches by any means, but when Clausen has everything click for him, it's a thing of beauty. Now it's just a matter of getting it all together on a consistent basis so he can start producing at a high level.
It's time for him to channel those flashes and become a better quarterback.
No. 9: Full Offseason of Work
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When you're a rookie quarterback, you don't have a lot of time to get caught up to speed.
You come into camp in August and try and digest as much of the playbook as possible before opening day. Quarterbacks in that situation usually don't get a lot of complex looks to work with or go against, and it's an uphill battle to get up to speed.
Now Jimmy Clausen has a chance to come in and get work done all offseason long and be ready to go next season.
No. 8: Improved Offensive Line
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We all know Jordan Gross is a beast on the offensive line, but it had struggles at times.
There were times Jimmy Clausen went back to pass and he just had no time. The offensive line struggled to block the pass and the run and it was just a bad situation on that line. Carolina hired John Matsko to be the offensive line coach and he's a guy who can turn the ship around.
If Clausen gets time, he won't have to rush his throws and will make better reads.
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No. 7: Intelligence
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One thing that Jimmy Clausen has shown is his intelligence.
Clausen has shown the ability to read defense and adjust to different plays. He hasn't exactly had a lot of chances to show it off in his situation, but he's made good reads, he's just been handcuffed by a stagnant offense.
It's not all Clausen's fault, even though he struggled last year.
No. 6: Improved Chemistry
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Jimmy Clausen has a full year with his teammates and that familiarity should help him and the Panthers out next year.
Clausen had issues with Steve Smith at one point last year where Smith was yelling at him on the sidelines and if those two can form a connection, they could be a deadly combination for years to come. The quarterback needs to get in there and build relationships with his teammates.
A year of going to battle with those players should help everyone involved next season.
No. 5: Rebuilding
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The Panthers didn't have a lot of talent on the roster last year.
Carolina didn't give Jimmy Clausen a lot to work with, but those days might be over as the Panthers have a lot of cap room to work with and if Carolina can bring in some free agents in areas of need, it's going to make the team much better than it has been.
If you get Clausen some talent, we'll see what he's really made of.
No. 4: Fresh Start
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Ron Rivera is the new head man in Carolina and a fresh start can be good for Carolina and Jimmy Clausen.
With Rivera will come a whole new system for Clausen, and a new chance to do some different things and give him chances to make plays that weren't there before. Last year, Clausen wasn't given a chance to do much under center and coming with this new regime is a chance to grow together into a potent offense.
It's hard to thrive when you're not really put in a position to succeed.
No. 3: Staying Healthy
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Last year, something that slowed Jimmy Clausen down was a concussion he suffered during the season.
Getting your bell rung isn't good for any player, but when you're a rookie quarterback who hasn't had much time to get familiar with the system, it's even more difficult. If he can stay healthy, keep putting in work on the practice field and get out there for games, he'll have a much better chance to succeed.
Injuries can derail a young quarterback's success.
No. 2: Bounce Back in the Running Game
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Last year, Carolina's running back duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart struggled.
A lot of that had to do with an offensive line that got no push up front, but if the Panthers can get that running game back on track, Carolina won't have to rely as heavily on Jimmy Clausen during the course of a game.
If the running game dominates like it can, Clausen's going to find more room to throw.
No. 1: A Year's Experience
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Now that Jimmy Clausen went through the rigors of a season and all the ups and downs that go along with it, he's going to be a better player.
He knows what worked and what didn't and what he has to do to get ready to play each and every Sunday in the NFL. That experience and knowledge is invaluable and will help him mightily as he heads into next season.
Clausen must take that knowledge and turn it into results for the Panthers.
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