Saw*Kick Media

In what is the first of an expected four round war, super recruits Ryan Mallet and Jimmy Clausen are squaring off a year earlier than either fan base expected. This is the turning point for both teams this season, and this game is a definite “must win” game for both teams. These two storied teams are off to horrific 0-2 starts, which neither one of them are accustomed to. Never before will one game tell so much about the futures of two of the most important programs in college football.

This game is, in a sense, a Christmas morning of sorts for fans of both teams. This is a fresh start, the dawn of a new era. While Clausen is gearing up for his second career start on the road, Mallet is popping his cherry in front of a very distraught crowd at the Big House.

Clausen’s previous start against a hostile Penn State crowd cannot be underemphasized. As a brand new quarterback, if you get into the groove, and are able to block out over 100,000 fans, which it seems Clausen did fairly well, he can handle the homicidal Michigan fans on Saturday.

Describing the Michigan fans as “homicidal” right now is an insult to Jeffrey Dahmer and company. The looks of absolute disbelief on the faces of the Michigan fans as their beloved Wolverines took another dump on the field Oregon ran right past them. This was supposed to be THE year; the year with Henne, Hart, Super Mario and company. All that they have now are rebuilding plans, with Mallet at the center. The tall Texan better be ready, because the first time he skips a pass to a receiver, he’s going to hear over 111,000 fans calling for his head. Michael Hart did not do Mallet a favor by guaranteeing a victory.

Notre Dame Fans, well some of us at least, knew this would be a season of rebuilding. After attending the annual Spring Game, I turned to my father and said, “Here’s the tagline for the season, ‘Emerald Bowl or bust!’” I knew we weren’t that good. We are starting seven freshmen or sophomores on offense; and breaking in a new defensive scheme with players who aren’t built for the 3-4.

After the start, our hopes are endlessly tied to Clausen’s surgically repaired right arm.

So without further adieu, here is the tale of the tape for the best quarterback battle for the next four years.

Mallet	VS.	Clausen
6-7	Height	6-3
252 lbs.	Weight	207 lbs.
Texarkana, Texas	Hometown	Westlake Village, CA
Right	Hand	Right
2	Scout.com Rank	1
2	Rivals.com Rank	1
8,331	HS Career Passing Yards	10,764
76	HS Career Passing TD’s	144
0	College Career Starts	1

There are some other things that cannot be measured by statistics, and those things will tell us who has the upper hand in the contest.

Being Compared To:

Clausen – Joe Namath

Mallet – John Navare

Big Edge – Clausen

How are you feeling right now Michigan fans?

Offensive Line:

Notre Dame – I’ve seen more inspired play in a powder puff football game. As a former offensive line coach, I am embarrassed for the Fightin’ Irish linemen. When a fellow Irish fan, and close friend asked me what the solution for the offensive line was, I said, “Well, they should put them all in a bag and blow them up.” That’s the best solution I can come up with right now. Paul Duncan is an absolute abortion at left tackle, Sam Young has regressed, and we have a former walk-on as our back-up center. The only logical solution I can think of is to keep Will Yeatman in to help protect Duncan’s side while flexing out Carlson. I can’t type about this offensive line anymore without wanting to cut off my fingers.

Michigan – Jake Long is the best lineman on either side of the ball by leaps and bounds. At this time next year, Long will be making millions of dollars as a first-round draft pick in the NFL as the next Jon Jansen, minus the injuries. Michigan’s main problem along the line is a lack of consistency from the running game to the passing game. They are not blocking effectively in Michigan’s deep (5-7 step drop) passing game. With a quarterback like Mallet, this could be a death knell.

BIG Edge - Michigan

Weapons:

Notre Dame – We have John Carlson and the seven dwarfs as our receivers and no real backs for Clausen to hand the ball off to. If Clausen can continually find Carlson, and Robby Parris decides not to drop the ball, we will be in business. Duval Kamara also has to grow up quickly if Clausen is going to find any early success. D.J. Hord, David Grimes, and George West simply aren’t getting it done.

The backfield is an even more jumbled mess. Travis Thomas, who a year ago looked like a running back playing linebacker, looks like a linebacker playing running back this year. James Aldridge is not running with the same type of power that got Irish fans excited about the possibilities of him in the backfield. The lone bright spot has been freshman Armando Allen. Allen, in limited action, has done the most with his carries while showing flashes of dynamic play-making ability, something that has been lacking since Julius Jones left campus.

The problems here could be attributed to the offensive line; at least I am hoping so.

Michigan – Michael Hart is one of my favorite backs to watch on Saturday’s. It is a shame they have wasted two more typical Mike Hart games where he leaves it all out on the field and gets every possible yard on every carry. My buddy Shanny, a die-hard Michigan fan says that watching Hart play is all he can really cheer for at this point for his team. Michigan’s receiving corps is lead by Warren Harding product Mario Manningham. Manningham, who is coming off the heels of one of the best freshman seasons by a wide receiver in Michigan history, is poised for another big game against an improving Irish secondary. Mallet still struggles in checking down to his second and third options, so it’s going to be boom or bust for this. Thankfully for Mallet, he can actually have the threat of a running game, something Notre Dame does not currently have at the moment.

Big Edge – Michigan

Quarterback is Known For:

Clausen – Being the next product of the hype machine of The University of College Football In America aka Notre Dame (thank you Tony Kornheiser). Clausen didn’t do himself any favors by wearing all of his championship rings for his verbal commitment ceremony … held at the College Football Hall of Fame.

Here is a great article by the South-Bend Tribune detailing the events of the day.

As a Notre Dame fan, I’m embarrassed.

Mallet – Having a right arm that was manufactured by the United States Government as a weapon of mass completions. It has been reported by both players and staff that Mallet can throw a ball, accurately, 87 yards in the air. Also, at the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback camp, held annually every summer, Mallet’s arm strength was the best ever seen (by far) by Bob Johnson, the camps founder and coordinator for the eight years in its existence. Long story short, Mallet has an NFL arm today.

Edge - Mallet

Coaching Philosophy:

Notre Dame – Charlie Weis’s pro-style offense is a perfect fit for a budding cerebral assassin like Clausen. Clausen is beyond his years in his reads and progressions in the pocket. He makes most of the correct checks and seems to know the offense inside and out.

Michigan – Mike DeBord continues to think he’s back in 1997 and cannot put a cohesive offensive series together. Michigan’s offense really does not seem to have a rhyme or reason to it; they pass on short yardage, and are a lock for a draw on third and long.

Big Edge – Notre Dame

Intangibles:

Clausen –The Penn State loss was Clausen’s first known loss as a starter since grade school. He had two brothers start for the University of Tennessee and enjoyed cups of coffee in the NFL. Living with those football minds really cannot hurt you very much. He is technically sound and flawless from everything in his drops to his play-action fakes. He’s just about as polished as a freshman quarterback can be, but has he ever really been tested in a close game?

Mallet – Mallet has an arm as big as his home state (Texas) but as stated before, struggles with his checks. You will not find a more physically imposing or gifted quarterback in all of football, college or professional. He has that gunslinger mentality, and will try to force passes in due to his confidence in his arm. Mallet has that “it” factor, but his teammates, when speaking about him, don’t necessarily give him glowing reviews.

Edge - Clausen

My Pick:

Michigan 17

Notre Dame 10

I can see Michigan controlling the clock for close to 35 minutes in the game with Mike Hart. I can see Hart having one of those Tim Biakabutuka against Ohio State in 1995 (313 yards) efforts. Mike Hart is a better back than Tashard Choice; you will not convince me otherwise.

Notre Dame cannot force Clausen to throw the ball more than 30 times. That is the cap I am putting on it. If Clausen throws more than this, which means our running game is ineffective as it was the previous two weeks.

Until some offensive line improvement is shown, I cannot feel comfortable picking the Irish to win a game until Purdue.

Check back on Friday for the rest of my picks!

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.