Pop Quiz: Do These Quotes Describe David Greene, Alex Smith . . . or Rick Clausen?
Name this quarterback:
Has great intangibles, a good, high delivery with very good touch, a smart player and is an outstanding competitor. Good, but not great arm strength. He’s a very good player in a short passing game type of offense.
Before you answer, here’s another hint:
[He] has an average arm and isn’t very fast, but his desire and leadership skills are immeasurable.
Okay, go ahead. Rick Clausen, right?
Nope. Try David Greene. That’s right, David Greene.
Try again. Who’s this quarterback?
Doesn’t have an overpowering arm but is an accurate thrower who completed 66.4 percent of his passes, though he also played in an offense that emphasized short passes and screens.
Rick Clausen, right?
Nope. Try Alex Smith.
So why is Rick Clausen — who has the same style as SEC winner David Greene and first round NFL pick Alex Smith — so under-appreciated?
He executes to near-perfection a high-percentage passing attack that eats up clock and keeps the opposition’s offense the field. He’s an incredibly smart player with great intangibles. He’s an outstanding competitor with immeasurable desire and leadership ability to which the rest of the team responds.
So why is it that everyone’s complaining that that’s all he can do?
I’m just, you know, asking.
