Clausen: a work progressing

The maturation of Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is suddenly moving at an accelerated pace as the Irish (2-9) conclude a mistake-filled 2007 season at Stanford (3-7) today.

Jimmy Clausen, last year's No. 1-rated high school quarterback, showed some signs of promise during a six-game stint in which the Irish won just once. But after a loss at home against Boston College in which he completed just 7-of-20 passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns, a banged-up Jimmy Clausen went to the sideline for three weeks while junior Evan Sharpley started.

A loss, a bye week and another loss later, Jimmy Clausen was back in the lineup and the improvement has been noticeable since his return Nov. 10 against Air Force.

Jimmy Clausen completed 16-of-32 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns last week against Duke, giving him six touchdown passes and no interceptions in two starts since returning to the lineup. Had it not been for an estimated 12 total dropped passes against Air Force and Duke, Jimmy Clausen's numbers -- 38-of-72 (52.7 percent) for 440 yards -- would have been more impressive.

"When he came off the field after a dropped ball or something to end the series, there was no finger-pointing or head down or those things," coach Charlie Weis said. "Those are very, very positive signs for a young quarterback."

The final test this season will be telling in terms of how far Jimmy Clausen and his offensive linemen have advanced. Weis called Stanford's defense under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh "a blitzathon." Notre Dame has given up a nation high 51 sacks.

That's one reason Weis wants Jimmy Clausen to dedicate himself in the weight room in the offseason. Weis doesn't have to look too far to find a role model for Jimmy Clausen: former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn.

"Brady Quinn was a rocked-up unit when I got here (his junior year)," Weis said. "Probably one of the greatest things Jimmy has to do -- and this isn't about throwing the football and execution -- is the offseason strength and conditioning program. Size and strength and bulk are going to be critical factors." Jimmy Clausen weighs 195. Weis wants him at 210.

Notre Dame's offensive improvement, though still relatively slight, has aided the overall psyche of the team. In the past two games, the Irish have had six scoring drives of longer than 50 yards. They had just eight drives of that length in the first nine games combined.

"The quarterback is ultimately the leader of the offense," tight end John Carlson said.

"If the quarterback goes out there and makes plays and is confident in his abilities, it's a trickle down effect. If he plays well, most likely the offense is going to play well." Said sophomore cornerback Darrin Walls: "Once Jimmy gets things going, the team's spirits are raised. After we get a stop, we believe the offense can get in the end zone." Jimmy Clausen's development has removed some of the doubt that has been so pervasive during this difficult season.

"Now the defensive players don't feel they have to get a shutout to win a game . . . because they get more confidence the quarterback's going to be able to make some plays," Weis said. "I think that's heading in the right direction."

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