From what I saw in the preseason, Jimmy looked more solid than Jordan, Sure Clausen threw more interceptions, but he also had more completions, more yards, and more touchdown passes than Palmer. Moreover, Clausen looked a lot more mobile in the pocket, and he seems to have much more upside than Jordan.
Despite Clausen's arm strength being questioned in college, he was still expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and even though he fell to round 2 and struggled a lot in the pros (and also had some off-the-field issues), Clausen still has that raw talent, athleticism and potential, that the Bears front office and the fans failed to see in Jordan Palmer. Palmer never had that true athleticism, he has below-average arm strength, and he was less-effective overall behind center.
The fact that Palmer was the main backup (and not Clausen) to begin training camp, and that Clausen was able to play so well that he beat Palmer for the starting job is a nice sign for the future of Jay Cutler's backup. Because it's not like Palmer played badly or anything; both guys played well; it's just that Clausen played with much better quality. With Marc Trestman's Midas touch, his ability to bring out the best of his quarterbacks, and his hands-on techniques to consistently develop QBs into playing as well as they possibly can, Clausen can be a very formidable backup to Cutler. Clausen also has more overall NFL experience than Palmer.
And possibly the best part about choosing Clausen over Palmer (besides Clausen's potential) is the fact that Jimmy is 26. Jordan is 30.
What Clausen showed in the preseason was impressive to me, and I know the Bears were impressed as well.
Phil Emery, well done.
Despite Clausen's arm strength being questioned in college, he was still expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and even though he fell to round 2 and struggled a lot in the pros (and also had some off-the-field issues), Clausen still has that raw talent, athleticism and potential, that the Bears front office and the fans failed to see in Jordan Palmer. Palmer never had that true athleticism, he has below-average arm strength, and he was less-effective overall behind center.
The fact that Palmer was the main backup (and not Clausen) to begin training camp, and that Clausen was able to play so well that he beat Palmer for the starting job is a nice sign for the future of Jay Cutler's backup. Because it's not like Palmer played badly or anything; both guys played well; it's just that Clausen played with much better quality. With Marc Trestman's Midas touch, his ability to bring out the best of his quarterbacks, and his hands-on techniques to consistently develop QBs into playing as well as they possibly can, Clausen can be a very formidable backup to Cutler. Clausen also has more overall NFL experience than Palmer.
And possibly the best part about choosing Clausen over Palmer (besides Clausen's potential) is the fact that Jimmy is 26. Jordan is 30.
What Clausen showed in the preseason was impressive to me, and I know the Bears were impressed as well.
Phil Emery, well done.
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