The Hybrid: Alright, Iowa -- I'm in. I'm Totally In. We Die Together.

Zero stars, Iowa sucks and you like little boys.

I love Mel Kiper, Jr. I think he's excellent at a very difficult and scrutinized job. But Jimmy Clausen as the No. 9 pro prospect in this year's NFL draft?! When it comes to drafting and coaching, I try not to get too authoritative -- in general -- because, I mean, who the hell knows anything about anything? But Jimmy Clausen is not ready to go pro or be pro. Not in any way.

I'm guessing you haven't watched many ND games this year. Jimmy is insanely polished. He has had a personal NFL-style QB coach since he was 12. His accuracy, arm strength and new found ability to create plays with his feet (pocket presence) make him ready NOW. I do not want to see him go as a ND fan, but I would argue he is more NFL ready than Colt, just because of style played at each school.

But no, you're right about him being readier than Colt. But I don't think that's saying a whole lot. I mean, Kiper has him ahead of Colt (19th) anyway.

Bobby, you are just setting yourself up for disappointment. Just last week you were talking about how Iowa has three win-able games coming up, but because they're Iowa, they are all going to be tough, with a loss likely.

I'm rooting for everybody winning out: Iowa, Cincy, Texas, TCU, Boise, Bama/Florida, and Oregon topping USC this week. Maybe the computers will combust? No second SEC team? No USC? All the while a three-loss ACC school gets a big game. Hell will break loose.

As for Jimmy Clausen, I am going to have to agree with Dubs for the same reasons.

Nice post though. One star guy is out of his mind.

"How good is Jimmy Clauson?" has easily been my most debated topic of the college football season.

I don't know, I think he's good. First rounder this year, top 10 (maybe No. 1?) if he comes back and tears it up his senior year. But, like you said, nobody knows anything, especially not me. There was a time when I actually thought I knew stuff, but those days are long gone.

The one guy who really looks like he could be an elite NFL player to me on ND is Michael Floyd. Is it too much to think he could be in that Andre Johnson/Larry Fitzgerald/Brandon Marshall mold? I'm not saying he's as good of a player as those guys (or even as good of a prospect for the first two), but he's big and fast and strong and seems somewhat tenacious. If Clauson comes back, I think Floyd could be a darkhorse Heisman guy in 2010. The only thing holding him back is that a) he's not a quarterback, b) he's not white. Since white quarterbacks always win the Heisman (which is why it's stupid). But the ND angle may be enough to trump his non-whiteness. But I guess if he's as good as I think he could potentially be, that means Clauson is good, so they'd just give it to him.

There's a reason college football is my least favorite sport. Many of them.

/And, yes, I realize there's a 98% chance I'm going to read this 14 months from now and wonder if I was on drugs while I wrote it.

Ricky,
Before we start singing Michael Floyd's praises, let's see if he can stay on the field for more than 5 games a season.
And Zach, there is no way at all that the guy who predicted four national championships at his press conference is even close to ready for the NFL next year. Any team that would spend anything higher than a 3rd or 4th round pick on Clausen are idiots. And if Clausen leaves early to go pro this year with Floyd, Golden Tate (who is a much much much better reciever than Floyd), Armando Allen, and Kyle Rudoplh all coming back next year, he's an absolute idiot. I mean, it's not like the guy or his family are hurting for money.
Sorry for my ranting I just have a very strong opinion on ND football. By the way, the new site looks great Ricky, well done.

Also...

Is it safe to assume this is the most you'll ever be into a non-Chicago World Series? For the rest of your life? I can only imagine living in NJ it's impossible not to kind of get swept up in that thing.

The odds are still 200/1 that you know who Matt LaPorta is before Opening Day 2010, though.

Good shit Stompy. Don't sleep on Houston though, Case Keenum's arm is awesome. Minus that one slip up against UTEP and they would be in the TOP 10 still. They fell from 12th to out of the polls with that one loss. They have beat Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Mississippi State. I'd say they are 2 Legit...2 legit to quit

@Danny You're comments about Clausen are hilarious for various reasons. First off, a month ago you told me it was ludicrous to think he was better than a fifth-round pick. That has since been dropped to a third. Secondly, you have yet to give me an argument as to why he isn't a first-round pick other than "he isn't good." You have a "strong opinion for ND football," yet your opinion is far from strong because you have nothing backing it up other than he would be an idiot to leave school with all the talent around him.

Why is he not a first-round pick? Please inform me. Is he not ready? (Please tell me that is not your argument, because I will tell you to look at his sick numbers- without his number 1 receiver). Is he dumb? (You're saying he'd be dumb to leave Notre Dame with all that talent, yet at worst he would be the second quarterback taken, probably a top 5 pick. You instead prefer he wait out for his senior year, where he could improve four spots, possibly be the Number 1 pick. Or he could possibly take the third snap of the year, roll out a little to his right, throw the ball and then get tackled by a 300-pound man who puts all his weight on his shoulder, which immediately separates, putting his first round in jeopardy. If you ask me, it'd be dumb to not take the Number 5 pick money). I will cease on this argument when you give me a legitimate reason as to why he is no better than a fifth, no wait, fourth, no wait third-yeah, third-round pick. "He isn't good" isn't going to cut it.

I'm not done. Danny, you continuously talk about how Allen, Tate, Rudolph and Floyd will be back. But you are acting as the ignorant fan I know you're not and totally forgetting the fact that four of five guys on the line are seniors. In college it all starts with the line. Look at 2007 Notre Dame, or 2008 Notre Dame if you need examples.

Is this the weekend where all Big 10 fans need to become Oregon Ducks fans? I know USC is not anywhere close to as good as they were last year, but their big game preparation is second to none and I don't think the Big 10 can take another pounding a-la Illinois a couple years ago. Plus, if Iowa keeps doing whatever the hell they are doing and Penn State wins out the Big 10 could be looking at two BCS bowl games. Maybe Iowa is what the Big 10 needed to turn the conference image around?
Personally I don't believe this because I think Iowa won a game based on the weather and Daryl Clark having his worst performance ever, college or below probably. It is also hard to argue how good their strength of schedule really is. Yeah they have lots of opponents with above .500 winning percentages, but when some of those teams are Big 10 teams and the main knock against them is that they play no one out of conference it is hard to make a case for how good they really are. Who would have thought Arizona would turn out to be such a quality victory when it happened?

I wonder about Clausen. The advantage of him being under a Pro-style coach was the same argument used against guys like Colt Brennan, Graham Harrell, etc. with the this guy is just a system QB.

I'm not saying those guys have as much potential as Clausen, but I look at their body of work in college and have to ask what Clausen is bringing to the table that some of those "system" guys aren't/weren't/didn't.

Great article, I think you covered everything there. . . I would say freelancing is quite hard especially if you are not used to working on your own, can be quite hard to motivate yourself also. . . we all know what it is like to stare at the monitor.