The Notre Dame football team is coming off the worst season-opening loss in the program's storied history, so it's apparently already time for the Irish to look to the future. Coach Charlie Weis announced Tuesday that heralded freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen will get his first college start when Notre Dame visits Penn State on Saturday.
Clausen was considered the top recruit in the country last season, but he was the third quarterback in during the Irish's 33-3 shocking loss in South Bend last week to Georgia Tech.
"I think he gives us the best chance of winning," Weis said Tuesday. "I think he's ready to run the offense. If I didn't think he was ready I wouldn't do this," Weis said. "I'm not going to play musical chairs with our quarterbacks."
Weis said Clausen was the best quarterback following spring practice but that he was unable to start the opener because he was still not 100 percent coming off arthroscopic surgery in his throwing elbow.
Demetrius Jones started against the Yellow Jackets and was ineffective, going 1-of-3 passing for 4 yards, and running the ball 12 times for 28 yards. Four of the six drives Jones led ended in three-and-outs, and he fumbled the ball away on the other two possessions. Evan Sharpley replaced Jones and was 10-of-13 passing for 92 yards, but he was sacked seven times.
Clausen entered for Notre Dame's final two series and was 4-for-6 for 34 yards passing. Notre Dame was held to 130 yards through the air against Georgia Tech, and the Irish rank last in the country in rushing offense with minus-8 yards, mainly because their QBs were sacked nine times for minus-69 yards against Georgia Tech.
Penn State, meanwhile, is coming a 59-0 rout of overmatched Florida International in which the Nittany Lions held FIU to minus-3 yards rushing and only seven first downs. QB Anthony Morelli threw a school-record 231 yards in the first half on the way to a 295-yard, 3-TD day.
So after looking at the numbers, it would appear there is a good reason Penn State is a WagerWeb.com 17.5-point early week favorite. However, look for Weis to have his team
NCAA football betting odds at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook
motivated and the Irish passing offense to improve with Clausen under center. Don't expect a Notre Dame victory, but look for the Irish to show some pride and keep it close.
No comments:
Post a Comment