You sir, are absolutely correct.

The only way you can fully and finally make a determination on the Clark trade isn't even at the end of 2019. It's probably nearer the end of 2022 if we're being completely fair.

The book is nowhere close to written on Frank Clark.

But we can absolutely address how he's played to this point and if you think that Clark will eventually compete for DPOY's and fuel championships - great, bully for you. I don't agree, but I understand that there's a long time to go.

But how in the hell can that convince anyone that he's playing well right now? So much so that some of the absolutely ridiculous arguments that KC is making seem rational when he types them. Why did they roll a righthanded quarterback...to his right. That got typed. As a gotchya.
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Dude had his best game as a Chief against the Ravens. He was underwhelming at best.
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No doubt. I am in no way saying he’s met expectations. I do however feel that Clark’s best games as a Chief are ahead of him.
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I've curled up into the fetal position at this point man.

I think it was Mellinger years ago who, after a penalty flag was picked up said "I'm as surprised by that call as I would be if I ordered a hamburger and the waiter brought me a new suit..."

I mean, you reach a level of perplexed where you just stare slack-jawed at the screen.

I mean...what is going on here?
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It's the lack of counter-moves that have me the most disappointed.

The 2-point conversion demonstrated the athleticism; great footwork and balance there. And at times you'll see the power. But where's the bend? I don't see hardly any. And where's the plan, man? Where's the 2nd move? I just never see it.

He reminds me of rookie year Justin Houston right now. Houston would occasionally show you something that made you think "alright, we might have something here..."

But all too often he'd blast upfield and then didn't know what to do with his momentum so the tackle would just ride him out. Or he'd get into a body, even get his arm extended....and then just ineffectively chop his feet. He'd flash a tool or two but not the know-how to put it to full use

Then suddenly he started using that straight-arm and then use a chop move to get the OL off balance and come inside. And once that started working he'd find a way to turn his strength into power and lean into the OL to get his bend to work (his technique there was second to none). He started finding ways to make all those tools work. Then the rip and swim moves came and he was just a force (even with guys chipping him - {gasp})

Did Clark just forget? Is he trying to put it all back together? Did he ever truly have some of that technique to begin with?

Because right now I'm seeing a guy who decides before the snap what he's gonna do and then dies with it. I'm not seeing a plan and I'm not seeing much in the way of real intuition. At times he'll be a scrapper in the Wistrom mold but that's not the bill I was sold.

I simply cannot believe that the team missed this badly. There has to be something there that he's just struggling to put together. Nobody put a gun to Veach's head and said "no, you can't sign Smith or Smith or Flowers - you HAVE to trade for Clark..."

A presumably bright NFL personnel staff chose this man for a reason. There HAS to be more here.

But it has been pretty poor thus far.
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Funny thing is - I feel exactly the same way but for the exact opposite reason.

We waited 35 years to draft a QB and ended up with possibly the best young QB EVER. The defense was awful last year and the only thing that prevented them from going to a Super Bowl.

They went out and spent a trillion dollars on the defense, overturned the entire starting lineup, overturned the entire coaching staff, scrapped the entire scheme and started over.

The team is 3-0 and just beat what many considered one of the contenders in the AFC and he we are discussing...

"Frank Clark fucking sucks"

I guess it's just too much to expect CP to undergo any kind of significant emotional growth. We're just too condition to pull everything apart and complain about it.
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I've pretty much said my piece in this thread, but I just wanted to add some facts to the conversation before I leave this one.

Frank Clark in his previous three seasons posted at least ten sacks a season. We are in Week 3.

FYI: Reggie White in his first season with the Packers when he came over from the Eagles recorded only 1.5 sacks in his first 4 games as a Packer. Later that season he didn't record a sack for 4 weeks in a row. Then went on to win a SB a year later. Charles Haley in his first season with the Cowboys recorded ONE (1) sack in his first 8 games as a Cowboy in his first season in Dallas. And that season he only recorded SIX sacks for the season. The following season I think he only recorded FOUR SACKS. The year after that he recorded 12. And they went on to win a SB.

No one now thinks that those were bad deals.

R E L A X. It's a long season. We aren't paying Clark 100M for this one season. Or for sacks this season. We're paying him to help us win in the AFCCG. Period.
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{checks first page}

I believe we're discussing more than that, sir.

What you're seeing is the heightened scrutiny that comes with real expectations. When the difference was 7-9 vs. 11-5 and a 1st round loss - who gives a shit?

But now the difference between say Clark or Smith+Ya Sin could genuinely be a SB championship.

You're damn right that brings with it added frustration. And why shouldn't it?

When it matters - it matters. That's when stuff like this SHOULD be subject to additional scrutiny. Otherwise you're just multiplying by zero - no?
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Wasn't that Clark that jumped on Jackson's back like a hungry lion to get a big sack when we needed it?
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Yup, Studley!
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Yeah, I didn't even start on the threads about Demarcus Robinson sucking or Mecole Hardman sucking or any of the other number of "suck" threads this place produces when guys have 1 or 2 bad games.

That's just the thing - it's WEEK FOUR. We have no idea how this season is going to play out yet. You said it yourself - when it matters, it matters. Right now, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

Reality is Frank Clark is a Chief and this team is ahead of where it was at this time last year. There's really no reason for said scrutiny, other than there's nothing else to talk about.
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And to be fair to you, DJ. You didn't start the thread.

And you've been plenty fair with your scrutiny of Clark as well.

I got involved in this thread to address certain people who want to say Frank Clark is garbage, which simply isn't true.

Those people have crawled back into their holes and left you holding the flaming bag of pooh. Shame on them, not you.
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Come on, man! Dude is 3 games into the season on a new team with new teammates and a new defensive scheme. He should have 11ntybillion sacks already!
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Personally I think once this defense has half a season under their belt, understand the defense better and have a chance to start building some chemistry we are going to see them start gelling at the right time....
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:-)

That was a pretty big play.

Clark will bust out for 3 sacks this week and this thread will be forgotten.
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