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Former Rice Star Clement at least deserves tryout
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How does Chase Clement not get drafted or at least be given an opportunity to tryout with some NFL team? We picked today to bring this topic to a public forum.
As we reported late last week, according to an unnamed source, Clement has yet to be contacted by any NFL teams. However, there is a chance that the Canadian Football League could be the next destination for the former Rice star. We will keep you posted.
Meanwhile, I had a chance to chat with former NFL Coach, QB, and now QB tutor, Jerry Rhome, who briefly worked with Clement during the Rice Pro Day held one month prior to the draft---although, his specific responsibility was tight end James Casey.
However, since Rhome had a storied career as an All-American quarterback at Tulsa, a Heisman Trophy runner-up, and played quarterback for 4 NFL teams including the Houston Oilers, we thought he'd be a good person to ask. Post his playing career, Rhome spent 25 years of his life as an offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and wide receivers coach with 10 different NFL teams. In addition, the Washington Redskins and Doug Williams would defeat the Denver Broncos 42-10 in the 1987 Superbowl. At the time, Jerry Rhome was the Redskins Quarterbacks Coach. I wanted to know his thoughts about why Clement has been overlooked.
Rhome admitted that he hadn't seen much of Chase and felt that it would be unfair to comment on his talents although he made this initial observation---"you can only tell so much from being on the field with him--I thought he had a good arm---I thought he was very accurate." Rhome added that "he's, (Chase), a very talented kid and his credentials---his production was very high."
We can all agree! Take a look at the numbers. During the 2008 season, Chase ranked 5th in the nation in total passing yards with 4,119 behind Graham Harrell, formerly of Texas Tech, Case Keenum of UH, Sam Bradford of Oklahoma, and Chase Daniel, formerly of Missouri. Clement's passer efficiency rating was 164.6 right behind such notables as Bradford, David Johnson of Tulsa, Colt McCoy of Texas, Tim Tebow of Florida, Zac Robinson of Oklahoma State, and Mark Sanchez, formerly of USC taken with the 5th pick in the first round of this year's draft by the New York Jets.
"I can't say why someone didn't sign him. Couple of more guys I know---that's a mystery to me on them also. But, what happens is, if you do your job up there in
Again, we can agree and here's more. Clement, in 2008, was ranked 3rd in the nation in total offense with 4,812. Case Keenum of UH was number one with 5,241. Graham Harrell followed Keenum with 5,020. Clement shattered all career passing records at Rice by throwing for 9,785 yards. Former Rice and NFL Quarterback, Tommy Kramer, is now second on the Rice all-time passing list with 6,197 yards. Clement has the Rice career total touchdown mark of 99, while Randy Hertel, who played 'behind the hedges' from 1977 to 1980 has 38. Total touchdowns for Chase---125. Tommy Kramer is number two, (career), with 48. Finally, he holds the NCAA career record for most touchdown passes between the same passer and receiver, (Jarett Dillard), with 51.
If the numbers aren't enough to warrant a look, take a peek at the accomplishments---Conference USA Most Valuable Player as selected by conference coaches. Clement was the Texas Bowl Most Valuable Player and the Houston Chronicle's Offensive Player of the Year. He was voted All-Conference USA First Team by Sports Illustrated and selected as an All-America Honorable Mention. Clement was a Lowes Senior Class Award Finalist and a Johnny Unitas Award Semifinalist. In addition, he was added to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List and selected as the San Antonio Sportsman of the Year, an award he shared with former Rice star-turned Jacksonville Jaguars receiver, Jarett Dillard.
Based on the accomplishments and the fact that the numbers rank in the top 5, in some cases, top 10 of the best college quarterbacks in the land, isn't it safe to assume that Clement should have been given a shot by one of the 32 NFL teams? Rhome responded "I don't know, I don't know---how does Chase Daniel not get drafted? I know he got signed, but, I don't know."
I asked Rhome if he thought the NFL believes bigger and faster are better than being willing to take a chance on a quarterback like Chase, (6'1", 210). He's not quite as big as your prototypical NFL QB that stands at maybe, 6'3" or taller," but the same type or similar to Saints QB, Drew Brees. "I think the NFL---and I don't mean to be critical of the NFL because I was in it for years. But, the thing I always thought is that sometimes the people get caught up in measurements instead of production. I mean it's like---how good of a football player is this guy really? I mean I can go all the way back to Steve Largent. I coached Steve largent coming out of college (Tulsa). I just told everybody this guy is a number one pick. He gets drafted 4th,(4th round, 117th pick), by the Oilers and the Oilers cut him! We picked him up in Seattle---I mean my coach comes to me---he goes "hey they cut Steve Largent" I said you gotta be kiddin'. He, (my coach), asked me---"can he play for us?" (meaning Largent). I said---he'll start! He makes "Rookie of the Year" and goes on and he's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So, what can I say? "
Rhome has worked quite extensively with and has seen video on former Rice Tight End, James Casey and was able to share a very interesting view about his draft situation. "Let me use this as an example. Our tight end---James Casey---I thought would go in the 2nd round. I mean I was shocked when it got to the 5th round and he finally got drafted."
I asked Rhome why he thought that happened. "I don't know, I don't know--all I know is if I had seen him work out and I had been on that field watching him and I had spent any time with him---I mean somebody should have gone and worked him out individually---because if you work him out individually, it's amazing how good a player he is. I mean, I spent days with him on the field and just watching him run routes and catch the ball and just all the things he can do---all the different positions this guy can play---including the long snapper---and he didn't get drafted until the 5th round? That just blows me away! "
Rhome adds "the only thing I can say is that there's just not a lot of positions that are sittin' there open. They're, (NFL teams), just very limited in the number of players that they can take. And I know it's a heartache---I know it's an absolute heartache that they come down---and they'll be 6 guys on the board and the scouts and coaches and everybody will be sittin' there just fightin' over 'em. You know---just goin' "I just think he's the guy and another guy will say no--no--no...I think this guy is." It'll come down to a vote! And the one that doesn't get voted on, (the player), ---he's out! So, it's just like Hollywood---you wanna go be an actor? There's a whole lotta people who want to be actors! It's just tough out there ole buddy!" Jerry Rhome is right on the money!
But, in the case of Chase Clement, I think we can safely assume that he just wants a shot to play quarterback in the NFL---or anywhere for that matter. We'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, enjoy the video below and a big thanks to Karen Warren of the Houston Chronicle for the above photo.
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