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Irish Are Now Clausen's Team - June 15th, 2008

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis’ reputation as an offensive and quarterback guru took a major hit last season as the Irish bumbled their way to a 3-9 record an offensive ineptitude. He yanked touted freshman Jimmy Clausen in and out of the lineup, and Clausen was clearly overmatch behind a porous offensive line and running attack.

However, from spring indications, Clausen is much more at ease and, perhaps more important, healthy. He spent much of last season still dealing with the effects of elbow surgery and looking over his shoulder. Reports are his arm strength is much better this season, he has added muscle, and there’s no question he is the starter.

“Last spring, each and every day was a new install and you had to remember the stuff from the other day. It was just piling on top of each other," said Clausen, who completed 138 of 245 passes for 1,254 yards with seven TDs and six interceptions last year. "This spring, it was a lot easier. You were just trying to get the little bits and pieces down."

 

Clausen actually did show signs at the end of last year, when the Irish won two of their final three games (albeit against Duke and Stanford). 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.

That brought some much-needed confidence.

“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.”

And Weis has confidence in him now, as evidenced by Clausen’s full-time work with the first team.

“Jimmy’s getting all the reps,” Weis said. “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.”

Notre Dame was obliterated in its first five games last year, losing all five by a total of 120 points. However, the Irish open with four home games (San Diego State, a rebuilding Michigan, Purdue, Stanford) in their first five of 2008, so 3-4 wins out of the gate and a good start from Clausen is a very real possibility.

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