A fair evaluation of JC at this point can only conclude that he has truly regressed starting with the UNC game.

 

I couldn't help but notice the roar from the crowd when Sharpley came in for a play after JC got rocked. That just proves that the fan base is losing patience with JC's 4 turn overs a game.

 

Yes, I know he's young.

 

Yes, I know his POTENTIAL

 

Yes, we've all heard that before. Point is, he's not getting the job done RIGHT NOW.

I agree that he's regressed, but you won't find me among those cheering when Sharpley gets in. I think Clausen's game experience is still more valuable and he is catching on to the check down mentality.

 

It hasn't been mentioned here or in the press, but it looked on a couple of occasions Jimmy was audibling at the LOS (including on running plays) when he saw a certain look, perhaps changing the direction of the run, etc. One such play was the last TD run by Allen I believe. I'm not sure these intangibles are there with Sharpley. Maybe they are, maybe not. I still think the pros far outweigh the cons of going with JC despite the rush of TOs as of late.

 

Part of the problem is that up until UNC teams were giving us single coverage on the out and deep routes with Floyd and Tate and now they are rolling up or even doubling on them. This should have been an immediate switch in offensive strategy to go to the underneath routes and I'm not sure that it was clearly defined until late in BC or even to Navy week.

yes but we will overcome this at SC , for now it will be a run game against the fellas from Syracuse, then jc will have a homecoming at SC. go Irish

I think overall, his decision making has really taken a hit. With CW entrusting more of the offense to him, he has to know how to withold some of his wild throws.

 

I'm not happy with his his regression either, but at the same time realize it's part of the maturation process. He definitely needs to improve his decisions and it starts during the off-season.

 

I'm in favor of bringing in Sharpley if JC continues to suck. Maybe that will shock his pool?

A fair evaluation of JC at this point can only conclude that he has truly regressed starting with the UNC game.

 

I couldn't help but notice the roar from the crowd when Sharpley came in for a play after JC got rocked. That just proves that the fan base is losing patience with JC's 4 turn overs a game.

 

Yes, I know he's young.

 

Yes, I know his POTENTIAL

 

Yes, we've all heard that before. Point is, he's not getting the job done RIGHT NOW.

 

I listened to a college football recap show last night, and they had a few quotes from an NFL scout on ND. The scout said (in a nutshell) JC is everything his hype said he was going to be. He said he had the best combination of Accuracy, Arm Strength, and Touch he has seen in one guy in a long time (maybe ever)...but he doesn't handle pressure very well, and he still needs to learn to read defenses, and make better decisions. He said when JC gets flustered, he reverts back to HS, and locks on his primary target and makes the decision to throw it to him no matter what.

 

He also mentioned that when JC plays a team and knows he is going to get pressured, he seems to play like he is always under pressure. Even on plays where the is little to no rush, he will start rushing his throws and running out of the pocket (basically, he creates his own pressure too).

 

The scout said our OL is horrible, and that he is surprised JC has not been sacked 50 times again this year.

I listened to a college football recap show last night, and they had a few quotes from an NFL scout on ND. The scout said (in a nutshell) JC is everything his hype said he was going to be. He said he had the best combination of Accuracy, Arm Strength, and Touch he has seen in one guy in a long time (maybe ever)...but he doesn't handle pressure very well, and he still needs to learn to read defenses, and make better decisions. He said when JC gets flustered, he reverts back to HS, and locks on his primary target and makes the decision to throw it to him no matter what.

 

He also mentioned that when JC plays a team and knows he is going to get pressured, he seems to play like he is always under pressure. Even on plays where the is little to no rush, he will start rushing his throws and running out of the pocket (basically, he creates his own pressure too).

 

The scout said our OL is horrible, and that he is surprised JC has not been sacked 50 times again this year.

I wish we could get some ND fans to admit that our line still blows too.

 

As for JC, I said in another thread that I think his confidence has been rocked.

Especially after the BC game.

I don't know if he was hurt, or sick, or just rattled, but the fact that Charlie hardly had him going downfield at all yesterday was pretty surprising.

I think CW realized something wasn't there, be it mental or physical.

 

What isn't surprising is that we sucked AGAIN against an undersized speed rush.

I can't blame Charlie for taking advantage of that fact by running all day long.

This is something that should have happened against BC, but Haywood obviously didn't see it that way.

Jimmys two biggest problems so far this year.

 

1. Over-confidence: He is not aware of what he is not capable of. This is the most important part of the maturation process.

 

2. He has a long memory: he cant make mistakes and shake them off right away. It takes an incredible throw after a bad play to wash the taste out of his mouth. Sometimes this spills over into the next game and it shows when he is gun-shy or locks onto his comfort receiver.

Jimmy is one of few guys on the team I would have patience with if I was the coach. He is a sophomore with a ton riding on his shoulders. A lot of his job is a head game just like with kickers and pitchers. He is capable of doing everything we expect. He's just a little off right now. I bet he'll have a huge game against Syracuse.

I listened to a college football recap show last night, and they had a few quotes from an NFL scout on ND. The scout said (in a nutshell) JC is everything his hype said he was going to be. He said he had the best combination of Accuracy, Arm Strength, and Touch he has seen in one guy in a long time (maybe ever)...but he doesn't handle pressure very well, and he still needs to learn to read defenses, and make better decisions. He said when JC gets flustered, he reverts back to HS, and locks on his primary target and makes the decision to throw it to him no matter what.

 

He also mentioned that when JC plays a team and knows he is going to get pressured, he seems to play like he is always under pressure. Even on plays where the is little to no rush, he will start rushing his throws and running out of the pocket (basically, he creates his own pressure too).

 

The scout said our OL is horrible, and that he is surprised JC has not been sacked 50 times again this year.

 

the scout was right on everything except the line being horrible. they're not that bad. its tough for a LT or RT who weighs 300+ to block a speedy CB or LB on a rush. I dont trust every scouts word as gospel since many of those tards do a bad job and eventually get fired. Jimmy's young and getting better all the time. there's always a few speed bumps along the journey.

I'm not calling for Jimmy to hit the bench but keep this in mind...

 

Although probably ill prepared to lead the team today... (even though we believed Clausen was last year) Dayne Crist played in an incomparably more difficult division in HS and against top tier competition. He looks like a man standing next to a boy when next to Clausen and he has exceptional athletic ability (aka scramble ability). I see Clausen throwing the ball up for grabs waaay too much and hoping his guys will make the play for him, just like in HS where they beat everyone they played 70-7 because the competition was so inferior and he only played the 1st half. Now in the big leagues Clausen still hasnt adjusted and you can tell he cant deal with the pressure and he OBVIOUSLY is zero threat to take the ball and run for a big gain so defenses have no respect for that and drop into coverage as needed.

This year is almost over and no sense in wasting a year of eligibility but I believe Crist will be biting at Clausen's heels and in the long run will end up being a much more successful Irish QB.

Ok I'll say it... our OL is not where it should be... some may it sucks, but I will say it lacks discipline and toughness.

 

I don't expect Tackles to stop every speedy blitzing CB or LB, but we should be able to stand-up a three-man rush... even four-man, but we don't

 

the line gets pushed back way too often.

 

I also agree with Ray Herring's assessment on Jimmy... he has a long memory... he'll mature, gain confidence, and be able to shake off the bad play.

I didn't get to watch the navy game, but i did listen to it on Sirius radio. The announcer said that he spoke with a pro scout, and that scout said that Jimmy is everything they are looking for in size, accuracy, etc, he said all of the problems he has encountered are based around the o line.

 

I totally agree. The line is still the problem of this team, not Charlie, not Jimmy, and not as much Haywood. When you can't open up holes to run in, and you get beat pass blocking it is hard to move the ball or get into a flow. Yes Jimmy is making mistakes, but lets face it, how much did he learn last year being on his back every game, this is practically his first year of playing time. This year will help us next year , provided the line gets better.

I didn't get to watch the navy game, but i did listen to it on Sirius radio. The announcer said that he spoke with a pro scout, and that scout said that Jimmy is everything they are looking for in size, accuracy, etc, he said all of the problems he has encountered are based around the o line.

 

I totally agree. The line is still the problem of this team, not Charlie, not Jimmy, and not as much Haywood. When you can't open up holes to run in, and you get beat pass blocking it is hard to move the ball or get into a flow. Yes Jimmy is making mistakes, but lets face it, how much did he learn last year being on his back every game, this is practically his first year of playing time. This year will help us next year , provided the line gets better.

 

I disagree...the vast majority of JC's picks in the last 5 games have been because of HIS deficiencies and NOT because he was rushed. Must we make excuses for everyone?

 

You guys can blame it on whatever you want, but that doesn't change the fact that, right now, JC is just not getting the job done. That's not a "fickle fan" mentality. Rather, it is a statement of fact from somebody that is sick and tired of there constantly being an excuse for the failures of this team.

 

I fully expect to see Sharpley see the field this saturday.

I disagree...the vast majority of JC's picks in the last 5 games have been because of HIS deficiencies and NOT because he was rushed. Must we make excuses for everyone?

 

You guys can blame it on whatever you want, but that doesn't change the fact that, right now, JC is just not getting the job done. That's not a "fickle fan" mentality. Rather, it is a statement of fact from somebody that is sick and tired of there constantly being an excuse for the failures of this team.

 

I fully expect to see Sharpley see the field this saturday.

 

STRONGLY agree. I like Jimmy. As a few others here, I have seen him play in high school. We've got to put feelings aside on this one guy's. He is simply pressing.

Jimmy has definitely regressed, and I agree with whoever said it started during the UNC game. To me, it's looked more like a lack of focus than anything (when you're not focusing, your throws are errant, you lock onto receivers, etc.).

 

I think he did start to get almost too confident heading into that UNC game, and while I liked that he had confidence, he seems like the kind of player that can get too confident. He's also relying too much on his receivers to make plays for him (which someone else noted), which can be a good thing, but not all the time.

 

I think the fact he was 15-18 for 110 yards in the last game was no accident. Something tells me Charlie was stressing that he not just keep chucking up fade routes (someone please correct me if I'm off here, I didn't get to watch the game, was covering loooooow division high school football. Hooray!).

 

But benching him for Sharpley for any reason other than injury at this point is counter-productive. These last three games are all about the future, that's it. They'll beat Syracuse even if Jimmy doesn't play well. They'll lose to USC even if he plays out of his mind. He just needs to get back on track with his receivers, his line and his backs, and he needs real game situations to do it.

they mentioned it in the last game that he said he reverted back to his high school days in trying to make a play instead of taking what the defense gave him. once he learns that check downs to the backs will eventually open up the other passes the more he will continue to progress.

Jimmy has definitely regressed, and I agree with whoever said it started during the UNC game. To me, it's looked more like a lack of focus than anything (when you're not focusing, your throws are errant, you lock onto receivers, etc.).

 

I think he did start to get almost too confident heading into that UNC game, and while I liked that he had confidence, he seems like the kind of player that can get too confident. He's also relying too much on his receivers to make plays for him (which someone else noted), which can be a good thing, but not all the time.

 

I think the fact he was 15-18 for 110 yards in the last game was no accident. Something tells me Charlie was stressing that he not just keep chucking up fade routes (someone please correct me if I'm off here, I didn't get to watch the game, was covering loooooow division high school football. Hooray!).

 

But benching him for Sharpley for any reason other than injury at this point is counter-productive. These last three games are all about the future, that's it. They'll beat Syracuse even if Jimmy doesn't play well. They'll lose to USC even if he plays out of his mind. He just needs to get back on track with his receivers, his line and his backs, and he needs real game situations to do it.

 

 

All fair points Ital. I wasn't so much thinking that JC should be benched in the Syracuse game but was more or less trying to convey that if we go up 28 nothing, he should take a seat and let Sharpley take some reps.

 

Now the BC was a totally different story. I absolutely think that JC should have been benched for the entire 4th quarter. It was clear that he was in over his head and wasn't going to be able to put us in a position to win. The mere fact that CW didn't pull him exacerbates the problems that JC is having now because it emphatically states that he is the man period. In reality, he should only be the man if he is getting the job done.

 

In the NHL, if the starting goalie gives up 4 goals in the 1st period you can bet your back side that the back up is coming in.

All fair points Ital. I wasn't so much thinking that JC should be benched in the Syracuse game but was more or less trying to convey that if we go up 28 nothing, he should take a seat and let Sharpley take some reps.

 

Now the BC was a totally different story. I absolutely think that JC should have been benched for the entire 4th quarter. It was clear that he was in over his head and wasn't going to be able to put us in a position to win. The mere fact that CW didn't pull him exacerbates the problems that JC is having now because it emphatically states that he is the man period. In reality, he should only be the man if he is getting the job done.

 

In the NHL, if the starting goalie gives up 4 goals in the 1st period you can bet your back side that the back up is coming in.

 

 

This either doesn't say much about Sharpley, or about the coaching decision. I'm still not sure of which one yet.

i dont want to upset the applecart but with all due respect- this thread seems ridiculous to me-- jimmys regressing-- bench jimmy--- its dumbfounding------ how about some facts--- 3 straight career high games continuing to NORTH CAROLINA--275 yards then 347 yards then 383 yards -- jimmy was on fire at north carolina away-- 65 % almost 4 hundred yards --- and pitt a horrible game for the team true but geez 23 of 44 --3 touchdowns no picks---- navy he completed almost every pass albeit two were to navy--- 15 out of 18 but two bad picks thats been a problem all year not regression - ---- your all talking BOSTON COLLEGE_____ geez can a sophomore thats not feeling too great have a bad game please!!!--- dont tell me about picks-- hes a soph-- you all say his line sucks-- --- the idea that boston college -- navy represent some profound regression is in my view-- RIDICULOUS-- next year expect picks to drop by half just as you would expect-----yes jimmy will stare down his reciever more then he should---thats not a common problem or anything-- QBs are often still learning how not to do that in the NFL--i just think regression is unfair criticism------ if jimmy throws 3 touchdowns and no picks against syracuse can we have a jimmy has UNREGRESSED THREAD !

i dont want to upset the applecart but with all due respect- this thread seems ridiculous to me-- jimmys regressing-- bench jimmy--- its dumbfounding------ how about some facts--- 3 straight career high games continuing to NORTH CAROLINA--275 yards then 347 yards then 383 yards -- jimmy was on fire at north carolina away-- 65 % almost 4 hundred yards --- and pitt a horrible game for the team true but geez 23 of 44 --3 touchdowns no picks---- navy he completed almost every pass albeit two were to navy--- 15 out of 18 but two bad picks thats been a problem all year not regression - ---- your all talking BOSTON COLLEGE_____ geez can a sophomore thats not feeling too great have a bad game please!!!--- dont tell me about picks-- hes a soph-- you all say his line sucks-- --- the idea that boston college -- navy represent some profound regression is in my view-- RIDICULOUS-- next year expect picks to drop by half just as you would expect-----yes jimmy will stare down his reciever more then he should---thats not a common problem or anything-- QBs are often still learning how not to do that in the NFL--i just think regression is unfair criticism------ if jimmy throws 3 touchdowns and no picks against syracuse can we have a jimmy has UNREGRESSED THREAD !

 

 

Great post hawaii! I agree 100%

I can understand where you're coming from Hawaii, and I've told my father several times "he's just a sophomore." That's why I'm not incredibly worried. I just think it's fair to say that Jimmy isn't playing as well as he was earlier in the season. It's a tad disheartening, because I think a lot of us were expecting this team to be rolling along pretty well at this point instead of faltering a little (which isn't all Jimmy's fault, that's for sure).

 

He'll figure it out and I fully expect him to put up Quinn-like numbers over the next two years.

 

PS -- Nothing on my Syracuse thread? I mean, I'm willing to just stand in the middle of the parking lot and drink beers. And perhaps break up children's passes and laugh menancingly in their face.