Video & Analysis: Jim Harbaugh Praises Penn State Quarterback Sean Clifford
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford has Penn State off to a 6-0 start and is a big reason why the Nittany Lions are No. 7 in the country. The 6-2, 216-pounder has thrown for more than 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He's also proven to be pretty good with his legs, rushing for an additional 252 yards and two more scores.
Jim Harbaugh was asked about Clifford as a first-year starter and, as you might expect, he was pretty complimentary.
Brown's Breakdown
I talked to Dustin Hockensmith from PennLive.com and he too had some good things to say about Clifford.
Sean Clifford has some moxie to him and is talented as well.
"He has his 40 time down into the 4.5s… He has the ideal quarterback temperament and has a reputation as a hard worker and preparer. He's a very mobile kid, more mobile than most expected. He shows good touch on short, intermediate and deep balls, though deep connections haven’t quite been there this year. He shows plenty of arm strength and accuracy and is a true dual threat, especially when in rhythm. He has his 40 time down into the 4.5s. He’s a captain and somebody James Franklin said guys follow."
Hockensmith also pointed out some areas that Clifford is still working on.
"On the flip side, he was very antsy at Iowa last week and in his debut against Idaho, rushing throws because he had happy feet. He also stepped into, by my count, two sacks against Iowa that he probably shouldn’t have taken. He had a couple clumsy moments last week, where he was caught between running and throwing when the pocket broke down. It will be worth watching if he can adequately protect himself on scrambles, an area in which he’s improved from the start of the year to now."
I'm really interested to see how Clifford does against Michigan's fast, chaos-creating defense. If the Iowa defense rattled him a few times, I expect Michigan to take that to another level. He's a fiery kid, which could be trouble given the atmosphere he'll be playing in. Michigan needs to get to him early and often and try to play with a lead. That seems like the best recipe for success for the maize and blue.
How do you think Clifford will do against Michigan's defense? What does the defense need to do to limit Clifford's success and help the team win? Comment below!!!
