Rookie starting quarterbacks in the NFL usually have to take a number of licks before they can really get a chance to make headway with their teams. The Carolina Panthers are hoping that QB Jimmy Clausen is an exception
nfl
The
Panthers made it a point to snare Clausen in the second round of the NFL Draft after everyone passed on him the first time around. Though the rookie from
Notre Dame has already appeared in both games this season, he certainly hasn't been anything to write home about.
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Clausen has just a 29.6 quarterback rating so far on the season, and his 46.7 completion percentage and 0/1 TD/INT ratio are nothing to be proud of either.
The news isn't all bad for Clausen, though. He has one of the best wide receivers in the league to throw the ball to in Steve Smith, who has eight grabs for 141 yards and a pair of TDs on the season (the only two offensive scores for Carolina all season long). Clausen can also turn around and hand the ball to both RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Both of these backs rushed for 1,100+ yards a year ago, and though neither has gotten off to a great start this year (combined 46 carries, 171 yards), both can explode at any given moment.
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The bad news for Clausen is that this is a Cincinnati defense which can be just downright brutal at times to play against. Just ask QB Joe Flacco and the Ravens how much fun it is to play against the Bengals.
Cincinnati's defensive numbers are made to look a lot worse than they actually are this year due to the fact that two of the TDs the team allowed against the New England Patriots in Week 1 were non-offensive. In actuality, allowing the Pats and Ravens to muster just an average of 317.5 YPG isn't all that bad, especially considering the fact that the 'D' has turned over its foes four times in two games.
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Offensively, it has clearly been a tale of two games for the Bengals. Last week, they only managed five field goals and a total of 253 yards of offense. The week before, on the road, Cincy accounted for three TDs in the second half alone and totaled 428 yards of offense.
The play of QB Carson Palmer must improve, and this is a good week to get going. He is completing just 58.8 percent of his passes for 512 yards with two scores and an INT on the year. He is going a good job keeping all of his receivers happy, as Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley, and Jermaine Gresham each have at least nine grabs on the year.
The running game needs some work as well, as RB Cedric Benson is only averaging 3.2 yards per carry and has just one TD on the season.
The last time the Bengals played on Tobacco Road was in 2002, and it certainly wasn't a game to remember. A 52-31 defeat at the hands of the Panthers marked the worst defensive performance in team history.
Carolina is 3-0 SU and 2-0-1 ATS all-time in this series. The Panthers have home wins of 52-31 and 27-3 in their only two visits from the Bengals.
The Panthers are 3 1/2 point home underdogs on Sunday due to the fact that Clausen is going to be under center. The football odds 'total' has been set at 37 1/2.
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