Is BYU in a Heap of Trouble?
by Prettyman on Sep 14, 2010 12:32 AM PDT
Email
PrintWhen I woke up this past Sunday morning I recalled a dream, make that nightmare, I had the night before. I dreamed that a BYU team had given up over 400 yards rushing and they themselves had gained less than 100 yards through the air. My first thought was, "why did I sign up for this 40 family/40 day missionary fast...it's wreaking havoc on my dreams." But then common sense took over and I realized that since that particular BYU scenario hasn't happened since Brigham crossed the Mississippi, it truly must have been just that, a bad, bad dream....or was it?!!
I still don't think I've fully recovered from that game, errr dream...and I hope Bronco realizes that trying to keep two quarterbacks happy is a lot like trying to date two girls at once...it might be fun for awhile but it never ends well. And by the way, why hasn't Gordon Monson thrown out the obligatory "two-quarterback/polygamy" analogy yet? He's lost a step.
Turning our thoughts to FSU. Last week, Oklahoma passed the ball against FSU like a politician passes blame...early and often. The Sooners scorched the Seminoles. I can't help but think that FSU fan is sending up a prayer to Joseph Smith for BYU to start Nelson against them this Saturday. FSU would love to see a white running QB (not that there's anything wrong with that) trying to beat them to the outside corner, instead of possibly living through an instant replay of the Oklahoma game and having a team pass on them for more yards than a Ute has jobs.
So Bronco, we're pleading with you, please play Heaps. He's our only hope. We know he'll get beaten and bloodied for awhile but lets start laying the foundation for the future now. We all accept the fact that there will be significant up-front-costs to playing Heaps, but we're willing to endure it for the long term pay-off. So pull down that blast-shield and trust your instincts.
Either way, Bronco is hedging and hinting but what is he trying to tell us? Do we want answers? We want the truth, and I think we can handle it. Bottom line: Put Heaps in already...and let the magic happen.
36 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Not Joseph Smith
Mormons don’t pray to Joseph Smith, they pray to God.
Amen
That was just a joke, playing on the perception of non-Mormons that Mormons worship Joseph Smith.
same as
the Touchdown Joseph crack from the Fort Worth Star
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
by Jeremy Mauss on Sep 14, 2010 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Heaps?
He threw for 15 yards and an INT. Let him play backup and get his head together this year because he’ll just get eaten up by TCU anyway. Why damage him beyond repair? Make this a break in year, not a “Share the Duties” year.
FSU will be in no mood, at home, for BYU. I’m pulling for the Y, but I’m ill at ease about the game.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
Nelson is ready now
Heaps will be great someday but isn’t ready for prime time yet. Unless Nelson is completely ineffective against FSU, Bronco should let Nelson take the majority of the snaps with Heaps coming on as a change of pace. This is a rebuilding year, but I think it will be better for all if Nelson takes the lumps this year while Heaps learns the offense and gains the respect of the team and coaches by paying his dues.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 14, 2010 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Really?
Okay, so what happens next year? Nelson will be a senior and Heaps a sophmore. You really think Heaps will be more prepared to take over during Nelson’s senior year? By the time Heaps takes over, he will only have two years left. Is BYU really going to go anywhere with Nelson? I think 99% of Cougar fans know the answer to that question. Heaps presents much more opportunity during the 2nd half of this year and the years ahead. We’ve all seen what Nelson can (I mean can’t) do, now the right move is to go with Heaps and to go with him as soon as possible.
Yes Really
Did you see Heaps in the Air Force game? Air Force ran stunts and blitzes that caused his head to actually complete a triple axel-double toe-loop combination. He had phenomenal upside but right now he can very easily be flustered.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 14, 2010 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
No...
No, I didn’t really see Heaps in the Air Force game. He didn’t get much of a shot. If he was even remotely flustered, he didn’t even get a chance to show his ability to recover. He got pulled. But if you’re saying Heaps got flustered, how do you explain Nelson’s performance (or lack of) during the entire 2nd half? Robert Anae went as far as saying that they felt three and outs would be disasterous in that game so they felt more comfortable with Nelson. How many three and outs did he have? Pretty much every possession. Yet Anae says that looking back on it, he’d make the same decision. Are you kidding me?
If he isn't this year . . .
And he isn’t next year, then he might be as a junior. If not then, then he isn’t as good as we all thought he could be.
Jake Heaps would not be the first great recriti to fall flat at the college level, if that is what occurs. But I think the chance sof him failing are greater if he is over used. Some guys are ready for college or the stress/failures don’t bother them as freshmen, some can’t handle it yet. Why risk it with the kid? He is potential, not a proven commodity. Maybe as the year progresses he’ll take off, but he isn’t showing it all right now.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
Not quite...
Heaps hasn’t had near the chances that Riley has had…and Riley has only shown everyone what he can’t do. You want to give him credit for that first drive??? I just watched the first drive over again and Riley hit more AF players with his passes than he did BYU receivers. In some cases, you couldn’t even logically tell who he was trying to throw the ball to. BYU needs to quit trying to protect Heaps with Nelson and just play the kid. Nelson is not, and will not work.
BYU as a team though
Is not as cohesive or talented as they were last year. I wouldn’t put all failures on Riley. I am betting by the end of the year they are very good, but they have to gel as a team. They really didn’t look that good against Washington either. They may have ot try another QB, Heaps or soemone else, but Bronco is no dolt, if he hasn’t had Heaps in there, I am sure he sees soemthing that informs his decision.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
Yes Heaps!
I’m actually excited for the FSU game and that Nelson will get the start. Because when the same thing happens (and it will since FSU is much bigger and faster than AF), the few pro-Nelson fans will be silenced. He’s not going to gain an arm over night and he will look like he’s running in slow motion compared to FSU’s speed. I can’t wait to see it. This will be Nelson’s last game, and I can’t wait for that to happen.
Don't psychoanalyze a man named Bronco
I wouldn’t read too much into Bronco’s comments. Heaps is clearly the better QB from a raw tools standpoint, so the only reasons he isn’t the guy are that Nelson (a) has more time in the program and therefore knows the offense and the personnel better and (b) has more experience and is less-likely to make poor decisions (see Heaps’ interception last week).
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 14, 2010 3:47 PM PDT reply actions
Disagree
I disagree with you (a) because BYU can’t run their normal offense with Nelson at QB so knowing the offense and running the offense are two different things, and (b) I consider keeping and running the ball yourself more times than you pass the ball a very poor decision when your offense is not built that way. Interceptions happen and you can’t yank a player every time that happens. Nelson fumbled the ball a couple of times on his various “keepers” and somehow that isn’t a mistake? Prettyman is dead on, Heaps needs to start!
Offensive system is not playcalling
Adding designed QB runs is not changing BYU’s base offense. The biggest change has been to add half a dozen option runs. While the playcalls may be different for Nelson, the overall system is exactly the same.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 14, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
What?
How on earth can you say it is exactly the same? How many times did Jacobsen touch the ball? I just read a stat that Riley is now the 4th leading rushing QB in BYU history. And you’re trying to convince me that their offense hasn’t changed? 88 yards of passing in a game doesn’t seem different to you? How many false starts occurred when Riley was in? Come on now.
BYU has an offensive system
where a large number of plays are generated from a small number of formations and personnel groups. These plays share common concepts, terminology, and assignments. One common example that almost all offensive systems use is a passing play combined with a play-action pass – the plays are essentially identical for everyone except the QB and RB. Good offensive systems try to use a few concepts in a wide number of plays either to simplify things for the players or to confuse the defense (e.g., getting 5 receivers in a pattern from the I-formation). BYU’s playcalling is clearly different with Nelson than it is with Heaps, however the overall offensive system is the same. When I say Nelson knows the offense better, what I mean is he understands the concepts, terminology, and assignments better than Heaps.
By the way, Chip Kelly at Oregon is a master at this – he uses the same concepts in so many different ways that I’m amazed defenders don’t commit ritual suicide at half-time.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 15, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Doh!
Obviously a play action pass is combined with a run, not a pass. 2 stupid points for me.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 15, 2010 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Let's play the QB this year that gives us the best chance of having the best year this year.
I don’t buy into the “take our lumps and we’ll end up ahead”. If we are likely to have an equally good year with Heaps and it will help him be more prepared for next year by playing this year… then play the kid this year. If he’s gives us a better chance against FSU, then play him the whole game! If Heap’s not ready for this year, then have him get prepared and be the better QB next year. How is it not a disservice to Riley Nelson to tell him that “you won the job, but we are trying to be good in 3 years.” If Riley has outplayed Heaps, but fails as a starter then Heaps may get a chance this year. Air Force was a fail by both. Neither earned an advantage from that hideous team performance.
by Blue2th on Sep 14, 2010 4:41 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
No one has won the job
I don’t recall Bronco telling Riley Nelson “you won the job.” Both quarterbacks are playing and, according to Bronco, neither has emerged. So there is no disservice to Riley Nelson by playing Heaps. Besides, how exactly has Nelson outplayed Heaps anyway? Heaps has not had a chance to gain any sort of rythum or build confidence. He’s getting half the reps he needs in practice and is play less possessions in game situations. The only thing we’ve seen from Nelson is that if his first man is covered, he will panic and take off running. Oh, and he has shown us that he can’t throw the ball more than 10 yards so opposing defenses know there is no deep threat. Give Heaps a chance now to gain some rythum, confidence, and experience.
Are you sure? How many snaps for Heaps in the 2nd half?
If you read my post, I made the same point that I don’t think Nelson exactly earned the position with his play at AF. Both QBs played poorly. Bronco is clearly giving the starts to Nelson and more snaps to Nelson. He obviously believes that Riley gives us a better chance to win now. Based on the 6 quarters we’ve seen of the platoon system, it’s hard to argue with Bronco.
by Blue2th on Sep 14, 2010 11:37 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
The whole offence had a bad day at Air Force
not just Nelson (or Heaps). On BYU’s final drive Nelson finally figured how to throw into the wind and hit a few receivers, who, offended at his audacity, courteously refused to be associated with something so undignified as a forward pass. Add on to that the pile of drive-killing penalties and the tricky mexican jumping ball being used and it was just a bad day for everybody on that side of the ball.
On a brighter note, the defense played decently considering that the longest break between Air Force drives in the second half was 2:35.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 15, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I just figured it out!
Bronco may know what he is doing afterall. He knows that FSU’s secondary had a horrible game against OU. He’s announcing that Nelson will get the start so that FSU will focus more on a running QB rather than work so hard to fix their mistakes in the secondary. I predict that Nelson will get the first few snaps (and will fail) and that Heaps will start to get the majority of the plays and will FINALLY get a chance to establish some rythum.
I know that Heaps
Was seen as the next great thing at BYU, but it’s not a system for most freshmen to jump into and while we all want to see the kid have a great career, give him some time.
It’s true that win or lose, you might as well get him some snaps as that is how he will learn, soemtimes anyway. But you look at soem of the Freshman QBs who have played around the nation, they don’t always pan out that way. Look at Chris Rix at FSU, he didn’t really improve in 4 years because he got by on poor decision making his first year as everyone blamed it on team rebuilding.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
Let's put something to rest...
If you watch the Air Force defense (go to the mtn and record the replay of the game) I promise you that you will see Air Force showing different alignment looks and zone blitzes with Heaps in and just dropping into coverage with Nelson in…Brilliant! Heaps was flustered, and no he did not get the chance to settle down, but you have to remember that we were on the road, playing a good team, and we were losing. If you want to win the game, that is not the best time to teach lessons.
As far as Riley running goes, the wind was incredible and gave everyone fits. Luckily for Air Force, they are a running team anyway. But BYUs option look was the only thing that was working on a day where everything went wrong.
Just because Riley starts this year doesn’t mean Bronco wouldn’t sit him his senior year. Trust me when I say that the player who gives us the BEST CHANCE TO WIN THAT WEEK will play the game. I played with upper-classmen who were starters who sat specific games due to this principle. I don’t see why this would be any different.
by Staffieri on Sep 15, 2010 8:00 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
The wind
was a huge factor. I was at the game and it was gusting and swirling like mad in the stadium, making every pass a risk – especially the downfield stuff BYU needs to stretch defenses. As good as Air Force’s defense played and as many mistakes as BYU made, I’d still give the defensive MVP award to the atmosphere over Colorado Springs.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 15, 2010 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
They can't be one dimensional
They have to be able to run as well. A running quarterback gives the team another dimension on the ground when needed. Sounds like Bronco made the right call, it simply wasn’t enough.
Air Force is a very good team. It isn’t as if this year with this BYU team they could simply swap out QBs and win. Air Force was the only team in the league last year to give TCU any trouble.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
Let's Review
“It isn’t as if this year with this BYU team they could simply swap out QBs and win.” (emphasis added)
Hall was also a much more talented QB than Nelson and had 2 years of experience in college programs before playing and BYU still started the season 2-1.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 15, 2010 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah
Hall was a different guy. That’s the wholepoint. A lot of folks are saying that because Heaps was highly considered out of high school that translates into immediate college ctredentials and ability to start in the system.
Not true. True freshmen at impact positions usually are running backs, sometimes a WR or linebacker (Manti Teo has turned out ot be a beast).
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
Rec'd
For this gem:
“…why hasn’t Gordon Monson thrown out the obligatory ‘two-quarterback/polygamy’ analogy yet? He’s lost a step.”
88 yards passing the WHOLE GAME
that’s what the cougars get in one drive!!!!!!!!
Nelson is not the answer he should be the one playing situational. Heaps gives this team a better chance to win. Throw him in to the fire so we can see what he is made of especially against FSU. Our line is built to pass protect not have someone stand back there take one read see his not open and try to scramble. That put’s alot of pressure on our Line.
and what were they thinking trying to run option plays against a defense that see’s that everday COME ON MANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
Let's check the stats
Heaps: 33% completion percentage, 21.0 QB rating, 2.5 yards per touch (passes + runs)
Nelson: 42% completion percentage, 74.4 QB rating, 4.3 yards per touch
I’m not saying that Nelson played well, but I am saying that by every quantifiable metric Nelson played much better than Heaps. In fact Nelson’s running was on average the most productive thing either QB did all game.
by Mendenhall4Pres on Sep 15, 2010 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tossing in heaps
Isn’t the answer. People think he’s Jim McMahon already, he isn’t and that’s obvious if you watch him.
Know who he reminds me of? Jake Locker. Some obvious tools but seems uncomfotable at times and never really wows you but has more hype than any other player in the nation.
"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football."--John Heisman
Since you started it...
“…instead of possibly living through an instant replay of the Oklahoma game and having a team pass on them for more yards than a Ute has jobs.”
I don’t know what’s more pathetic — a random Utah slam that is completely off-topic and pointless, or how lame your attempted Utah slam was. “More yards than a Ute has jobs”? How many jobs can a person have? I don’t think I’ve ever known a person having more than 3 jobs at a time, and I’d say it’s unlikely that somebody could reach the double digits for number of jobs held. Anybody who can keep passing yards into double digits would be pretty happy!
I don’t usually stoop to cheap shots, but since you started it…
Oklahoma had more turnovers (1) than a Cougar has jobs.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Vanquish The Foe
Related FanShots on Vanquish The Foe
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
