SOUTH BEND – The numbers are staggeringly similar.

Based solely on statistics entering their junior seasons, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and former starter Brady Quinn could be twins.

Clausen has just nine more passing yards (4,426 to 4,417) than Quinn at this stage of their careers, and the junior Irish quarterback has a six-touchdown edge (32 to 26).

Quinn played in one more game (24 to 23) after his sophomore season, but Clausen has one more start (22 to 21).

Oddly, they both have attempted the same number of passes (685) in their first two seasons, with Clausen completing 406 and Quinn connecting on 348.

Clausen has thrown two fewer interceptions (23) than Quinn (25) and has an edge in completion percentage (.593 to .508).

Clausen’s record as a starter is also similar. Clausen has gone 10-12 compared with Quinn’s 10-11 mark.

Notre Dame can only hope Clausen makes the same statistical jump that Quinn made from his sophomore to junior season.

In 2005, Quinn threw for 3,919 yards with 32 touchdowns in 12 games. He improved his completion percentage from 54.1 as a sophomore to 64.9 as a junior.

Quinn’s interception total fell from 10 in 2004 to seven in ’05, when he led the Irish to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl after Notre Dame went 6-6 the season before.

With all the statistical benchmarks to choose from, No. 23 Notre Dame is focusing on the team’s record to judge Clausen’s progress.

“We don’t say you should be like this guy. We don’t say you should have these numbers,” said Irish quarterback coach Ron Powlus, who was Notre Dame’s starting quarterback from 1994 to ’97. “Jimmy’s goal and our goal is to have double-digit wins.”

Clausen has the components needed to improve the team’s record.

From last season’s 7-6 team, the Irish return 10 offensive starters including Clausen and three big targets.

Receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd are back with their combined 1,799 yards and 17 touchdowns, and tight end Kyle Rudolph returns with his 340 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Plus, Clausen will be protected by a veteran offensive line, which has a combined 74 starts.

“(Clausen) has great difference makers in Floyd and Tate,” ESPN college football analysis Kirk Herbstreit said. “I expect Rudolph to have a big year. It has been three years, and it is time to find out if (Clausen) is worth the hype when he showed up at the College Football Hall of Fame, and if he can become the quarterback everyone expected.”

But Clausen is not sweating the heightened expectations.

“There is always going to be expectations and pressure,” said Clausen, who threw for 3,172 yards with 25 touchdowns and 17 interceptions last season. “There are always expectations to win. We are real excited to get to Sept. 5 and play the first game (at home against Nevada). We are ready to go.”

Clausen might not feel pressure, but he is handling defensive pressure better entering his junior year.

Coach Charlie Weis said the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Clausen has become more adept at staying with a play when defenders are coming after him than in his previous two seasons.

“Usually when you are less experienced and you get pressured, you flush out to the side of your throwing arm,” Weis said. “But guys who are more drop-back quarterbacks, the Tommy Bradys of the world or the Peyton Mannings of the world, what they do instead of flushing out to the right is they look to shuffle in the pocket to find that little window.

“(Clausen) has done a really good job of finding that window instead of bailing out when pressure is coming his way.”

Clausen is not just shedding defenders better; he is also shedding outside perceptions of himself.

After arriving in South Bend to announce his intentions to play for Notre Dame at a lavish news conference at the College Football Hall of Fame two years ago, Clausen appears to have mellowed.

He doesn’t try to draw attention to himself, and he has gained the respect of his teammates, being voted one of four captains this season.

“The past is what it is,” Powlus said. “I’ve seen Jimmy mature from the first time I met him. He has shown great leadership and a great level of maturity.”

tkrausz@jg.net