Clausen, Tate have the skills, but they have drawbacks, too. Wes Bunting
On Monday, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and wide receiver Golden Tate made it official. Both will forego their senior seasons and enter the 2010 NFL Draft. Here’s a breakdown of the two prospects and what their futures look like:
QB Jimmy Clausen: No. 7, 6-3, 223
2009 stats: 289 of 425 passing, 3,722 yards, 68.0 completion percentage, 28 TDs, 4 INTs
What we like:
• Three-year starter at Notre Dame who has seen his play improve significantly over that span.
• Has been groomed by the likes of former NFL offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and knows how to operate in a pro-style offense.
• Is accurate with the football, showcases the ability to get the ball out of his hands on time and anticipate throws.
• Possesses good balance and footwork from under center, does a nice job recognizing coverages during his pre-snap reads and can audible his offense out of a play.
• Understands coverages and looks comfortable going through his progressions and being decisive with the football.
• Takes care of the football; threw only four interceptions this season.
• Was able to handle the pressure of being a former five-star recruit and continued to improve and be productive in spite of it.
What we don’t like:
• His physical stature. Doesn’t look nearly as big as his listed height (6-3) and at times struggles to find throwing lanes in the pocket.
• Possesses only average arm strength. Relies on his timing and anticipation in the pass game (which is fine), but when he’s asked to spin the football from one side of the field to the opposite hash mark, his throws float on him. Doesn’t have the arm to be late with a read down the field.
• Needs to do a better job stepping up in the face of pressure and not drifting away from the pocket.
• Is he a guy his teammates will trust and rally around in the fourth quarter? Finished the season with four consecutive losses, all by seven points or less.
• Is he mature enough at this stage to command the respect of his NFL teammates?
Overall:
With the coaching staff at Notre Dame currently in limbo, paired with the weak senior quarterback class, this looks to be the right decision for Clausen. He quickly becomes one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft, and with the need for signal callers across the NFL, he looks destined to be selected somewhere in the first round.
However, I’d be very cautious about drafting Clausen based on the level of competition he faced this season. Looking at Notre Dame’s opponents, the best pass defense it played was Purdue, which currently ranks 40th in the country, while also facing Nevada (119th), Washington State (116th), Stanford (105th), Michigan State (103rd), Connecticut (94th) and Washington (90th). That’s far from NFL-caliber.
Plus, his inability to win close games at home and on the road with the cast of talent he had around him sends up red flags for me.
He’s still an accurate passer with a good feel for the pass game and has the ability to start in more of a West Coast scheme at the next level. But I think he’s going to need more time to mature physically and mentally to efficiently handle the pressures of the NFL game.
Grade: 6.4
Has one deficient area of his playing skills or his physical attributes, but should be able to overcome it and contribute to a team. Has the potential to become a starter based on his abilities.
WR Golden Tate: No. 23, 5-11, 195
2009 stats: 93 receptions, 1,496 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns
What we like:
• His production. Has gone over 1,000 yards receiving each of the past two seasons and was even more productive this year in the absence of fellow starting wideout Michael Floyd.
• Possesses the ability to get up to speed quickly off the line while displaying the body control to snap off routes and remain balanced out of his breaks
• Exhibits a second gear to his game when asked to track the football down the field and run under the throw.
• Possesses good short-area quickness in the open field, has the ability to make a man miss initially and gets back up to speed quickly after the catch.
• Awareness. Does a great job finding the football down the field and demonstrates the coordination to consistently adjust to the throw and attack the ball.
What we don’t like:
• Size/strength/power. Can be bullied off the line and/or down the field when trying to fight his way through contact and separate.
• Isn’t a natural plucker. Has a tendency to let passes get into his body and will put the ball on the ground. You will have to live with his drops.
• Level of competition. Hasn’t been asked to beat/face many NFL-caliber prospects at the college level and has been able to overwhelm opposing defenders with his pure athletic ability. Will need to adjust to NFL corners who aren’t afraid to get up in his face and are just as athletic as he is.
Overall:
Golden Tate is only one of many talented junior wideouts who will enter the draft, but as of now, he instantly moves up there with the nation’s top senior receivers. However, as I wrote last Wednesday, with prospects like Dez Bryant, Damian Williams, Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe, Mike Williams and Demaryius Thomas all possibly coming out early as well, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Tate get lost somewhere in the middle of all of them on draft day.
I’ve heard the comparisons with DeSean Jackson, Percy Harvin and even Lee Evans, but honestly, I don’t think Tate is quite the same type of dynamic athlete. I see him being more of a Mark Clayton type of wideout who has the ability to make plays down the field, but his physical skill set looks more ideally suited for the slot. Like Clayton, I think Tate will also disappear from games vs. physical corners at the next level and have a tendency to drop the ball in traffic. The team that drafts him will likely see him as a potential starting receiver on the outside, but I think he’s going to have a tough time overcoming his lack of size/physicality in order to consistently separate vs. NFL-caliber corners.
Grade: 6.3
Has one deficient area of his playing skills or his physical attributes that will be difficult to overcome, but will find a way to contribute in spite of it. Has the potential to become a starter based on his abilities.
Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting
What's the grade scale?
Is it 6.4/10?!?
its out of an 8.0 scale....
It is the scale the NFP will be using all draft season, this is just a little teaser to get everyone use to it, but the scale will be available for everyone to see soon.
Wes, what about grading Briscoe now that he's announced his plans to enter the draft as well?
Fair comments re Clausen, with two exceptions:
Most importantly, questioning his ability to rally his team and to make plays in the 4th quarter suggests you failed to look closely enough into the games he played. ND rallied repeatedly in the 4th quarter of each game, with repeated clutch throws by Clausen, often under duress. Games weren't lost due to Clausen but usually only because he drove the team to a game leading score only to have the porous defense yield yet another score with no real time remaining. Moreover, he suffered a turf toe injury to his plant foot in the 3rd game of the season, yet still played every remaining game and continued to be accurate - not a small accomplishment. Too many people still allow his immature commitment announcement 4 years ago to color their view of Clausen - under Weis's tutelage he has significantly grown as a person and as a leader. He was elected as a team captain this year also.
Second, while ND indeed played a number of teams with poor pass defenses, you failed to list USC (52), BC (54), Pitt (55) and Navy (60), which moderates the stats somewhat.
Tate is an exciting player with mad skills once he gets the ball in his hands, but he has only played receiver for 3 years (RB in HS), and is still very, very raw when running routes, often making sloppy cuts, and relying too much on speed rather than guile in his routes. On the other hand, he is a gamer, and he improved each week this year. As his play against Taylor Mays showed, he is also not one to be intimidated or bullied. He should become a very good slot receiver.
Great point about the pass defenses Clausen has faced. His decision-making definitely has improved this year, but he's benefited from most teams playing very soft coverage to avoid getting beat over the top by Floyd and Tate.
When coverage has been tighter and the windows smaller, we've seen a less impressive quarterback. The first half of the Pitt game and the UConn game were examples of that: Clausen both forced throws that should have been picked and too conservatively threw others at the feet of his receivers.
I'll be interested to see how he does when things aren't as wide open for him in the NFL. I don't think he'll return to being the 4 pick guy we saw against BC last year, but we could see more of the guy who completed less than 50% of his red zone passes this year.
Great point about the pass defenses Clausen has faced. His decision-making definitely has improved this year, but he's benefited from most teams playing very soft coverage to avoid getting beat over the top by Floyd and Tate.
When coverage has been tighter and the windows smaller, we've seen a less impressive quarterback. The first half of the Pitt game and the UConn game were examples of that: Clausen both forced throws that should have been picked and too conservatively threw others at the feet of his receivers.
I'll be interested to see how he does when things aren't as wide open for him in the NFL. I don't think he'll return to being the 4 pick guy we saw against BC last year, but we could see more of the guy who completed less than 50% of his red zone passes this year.
Does Clausen remind you of a Joey Harrington from Lions/Oregon fame? To me he has the same mold.
I think I read similar negatives on Deion Branch when he came out of Louisville (Branch was smaller listed at 5-9 190). Like you, I just go off what I see (watched all ND games this year) and IMO Tate looked to be on another level than most other players on the field. Teams knew the ball was going to Tate (especially during critical points in the game and with Floyd going down for 5 or so games) yet weren't able to contain him (for the most part) or keep him out of the endzone. I think he'd be a perfect fit for NE, and here's why: A. he already has a working knowledge of and has shown to be productive in a Charlie Weis offense and B. they already have Moss and Welker on the roster so he won't be asked to come in and be the primary guy from day 1. They miss a consistent 3rd receiver this year and I think he's the guy who can fill the need. He may not have the ideal size that scouts prefer in an outside receiver, but I certainly don't think power is a weakness, afterall he came to ND as a RB and you seldom see him go down after initial contact, while picking up a ton of YAC.
I think I read similar negatives on Deion Branch when he came out of Louisville (Branch was smaller listed at 5-9 190). Like you, I just go off what I see (watched all ND games this year) and IMO Tate looked to be on another level than most other players on the field. Teams knew the ball was going to Tate (especially during critical points in the game and with Floyd going down for 5 or so games) yet weren't able to contain him (for the most part) or keep him out of the endzone. I think he'd be a perfect fit for NE, and here's why: A. he already has a working knowledge of and has shown to be productive in a Charlie Weis offense and B. they already have Moss and Welker on the roster so he won't be asked to come in and be the primary guy from day 1. They miss a consistent 3rd receiver this year and I think he's the guy who can fill the need. He may not have the ideal size that scouts prefer in an outside receiver, but I certainly don't think power is a weakness, afterall he came to ND as a RB and you seldom see him go down after initial contact, while picking up a ton of YAC.
Clausen will be a huge bust. Pick away, gentlemen.
Best player in this draft is the DT from Nebraska, #93, N.Suh. It's not even close.
LJ & Beauli7:
When talking about Tate's lack of physicality, I am talking about his ability to get off the line, beat press coverage and maintain his balance when trying to fight his way through NFL caliber corners. Having the strength to slip a tackle is completely different then having the strength fight you way through press coverage. And that is my biggest fear with Tate.
I actually think Tate is going to be a very productive NFL receiver.
I think Clausen will be a gigantic bust.
I think Tate could thrive in the slot, where he is more likely to draw a safety or linebacker in coverage. From what I drew from him watching ND a couple times this season was his hand strength. There were a couple of times where he flat out took the ball away from defenders and his natural playmaking ability like what Percy Harvin has is something you cant coach up. I would say he goes late 1st or 2nd round.
I have friends who work for Central Michigan and are friends with coach Butch Jones and were friendly with Brian Kelly, that Kelly has agreed in principle to become ND's coach and the news is being help up to allow U of C to figure out who they want to coach the bowl game.
Also, Coach Jones has renegotiated his contract making him the highest paid in the MAC.
I just lost a lot of respect for your opinions. Clausen was the reason ND won so many close games. If his defense would do anything, then he would have a lot more wins
i don't know what you have been watching all year,but it wasn't ND football.Clausen is by far,the most NFL ready QB coming out this year.HE CAN MAKE ALL THE THROWS,all over the field,with zip and accuracy.name a college QB who is better.i won't even comment on Tate,your completely wrong.Tate plays and catches like Anquan Boldin.no team in college stopped that offense,NONE.soon you will be talking about Michael Floyd,who is a carbon copy of L.Fitzgerald.a NFL team wouldn't draft a QB in the first round without trying to shore up their offensive line,something ND lacked and still took teams to the brink,along with their horrible defense.i find it amusing how many ND players are on NFL team rosters and yet ND gets no credit.take Ryan Grant for a simple example,at ND Grant rarely got more than 3 carries a game.
Mark Ingram is not draft eligible. That's why you don't see AJ Green, Julio Jones, Patrick Peterson, etc. All of them are sophomores and won't be draft eligible until next year.
Team's lease called for all games...
Former Chiefs head coach will...
But free agent is rehabbing from...
Vikings director of player personnel...
'SYNDER SUCKS' he wrote on Twitter
Dec 08, 2009
03:42 PM
Great stuff as always guys, love the straight shots at ND and not giving them only love....
I dont see either as being a elite prospect and glad you didn't buy the hype either like most of these media guys.
keep up the great work.