I think a lot of people who create mock drafts make the assumption that there are at least 1 or 2 “franchise” quartebacks available in each draft class.  That’s a mistake.  Some have none.  Yet these guys who create these mock drafts end up trying to fit square pegs into round holes.  Listing Jimmy Clausen as a top 10 draft pick is a blatent example.

Anyone who knows anything about football knows that you cannot have a good football game without good quarterbacks.  And there ain’t enough good QBs to go around in the league right now.  That’s why I’m always anxious to see the new QB prospects, hoping for an infusion of talent into the NFL.  When I heard that Notre Dame was getting a highly touted QB out of Southern California I was anxious to give him a look see - to see if he had an NFL future.  The first time I saw him when he was an underclassman I was terribly dissappointed.  I thought, “well, he may have been a great high school QB and he may be o.k. in college, but he’s not the pro prospect I am hoping for.”

And that’s why early this football season when perusing the mock draft websites (just to give me some names to watch for during college games) I was flabergasted to see Jimmy Clausen listed as the top pick on more than one site.  This is idiocy and I must go on a rant.

Clausen is NOT a can’t miss franchise QB.  He’s not even close.  I re-evaluated him after seeing these shocking predictions and tried to get past the fact that he doesn’t even pass my “eye” test.  I don’t know what his exact height is, but he certainly doesn’t play to it.  He looks like a boy among men.  And I’m not talking about his baby face either.  I’m talking about his physical stature.  But I tried to get beyond the fact that he looks like he is physically overwhelmed and concentrated on his throws.  Unfortunately, it seemed every time I tuned in, Charlie Weiss had called for quick outs.  In a clean pocket, Claussen is able to get good velocity on the ball thrown to the sideline.  I was able to see his game winning drive against Washington but I’d like all the Claussen touters go back and look at that tape and ask yourself if any of the passes he completed would have been different if he were playing against air.  I mean really.  There was absolutely no pass rush and all of his receivers were at least 5 yards in the clear.  And speaking of receivers.  I wonder just how productive would Claussen have been had he not a true blue chip prospect in Golden Tate to throw the ball to.

I’m not trying to bash the guy unfairly.  Like with Brady Quinn who I hoped would turn into a productive NFL starter, I wish good things for Claussen.  The NFL can use more good arms.  But I’ve got to go with what my eyes are telling me.  He’s not a can’t miss prospect.  He’s only a prospect, no where close to being the stud I’m using my top 10 pick on.  He’s got some of the tools needed and if he’s got the instincts and work ethic the possibility for development is there.  But at this point it’s only a possibility.  It’s a big stretch to say that it’s a probability.  Heck, he hasn’t even been able to dominate at the college level, what makes anyone think he’d do more than just get by as a pro?

He’s a stretch but I don’t blame any team for wanting to give him a shot.  But you don’t use a top 10 pick on him.  Late 2nd or 3rd round is where he belongs. 

I wonder if the mock draft creators just look at the big name at the big school and just plug the name in without any analysis.  That’s what seems to be happening in my opinion.  I wonder if Claussen played for a MAC school if he’d be getting as much attention or would he be down on draft boards like Dan LeFevor of Central Michigan.  I think LeFevor is at least as good a prospect as Claussen.  But he’s being valued where he should be in the 2nd or 3rd round.  Why Claussen is being lionized I just don’t see.

 The one thing that comforts me is to know that the mock drafts, especially the early ones, seldomly look like how the draft actually comes out.  At least I know most NFL organizations are not being so foolish.  I will find it very interesting to see if any team with a high first round draft choice rolls the dice and takes Claussen.  If so, I will be shaking my head.