Critchlow shows coaches have no plan!!

[cougarapologist]

I'm disturbed on several levels right now with BYU's coaching staff. They are now making decisions that have no basis in logic or the long-term health of the program. That is dangerous and needs to stop immediately.

The burning of Critchlow's redshirt is the most telling of several examples. With a few minutes left in a game you are guaranteed to lose, you burn the redshirt of a freshman returned missionary QB. Why? The season is already lost. Are you really benching Tanner Mangum permanently? If not, then why burn a redshirt when you will be getting Beau Hoge back in a few weeks? Also, this shows definitively that you are not willing to let Koy Detmer play anymore. There is no logic to this move.

The only explanation is a group of coaches who are afraid that at season with 4 or fewer wins will get them fired, and so they are desperately burning any asset they may have to save their jobs, even though it is not what is best for the program. If that is the case, they need to be fired immediately, before they can do more damage.

I am not advocating firing Sitake, Detmer or other coaches. BYU doesn't have that luxury. What should be done is to recommit to Tanner Mangum. He is still the guy who won all those games as a freshman and is only a junior! Let him work through these issues as the schedule gets easier. If you need to let him off for another week or two, let Koy Detmer and Kafentzis play. They can hardly do worse. Hoge will return relatively soon as well.

This decision shows very poor judgment from these men. Not characteristic for them, but significantly disturbing. This season is lost. Start playing for next year, and you may just find a way to a bowl game.

[YNot]

I am thrilled that Critchlow got some snaps against Boise St. Critchlow is the #2 guy on the QB depth chart right now. If Mangum goes down or continues to struggle with health or decision-making, the #2 guy needs to be ready to go! Beau Hoge was not on the field for warm-ups and unable to go with multiple concussions. Who knows how long he is out. Koy Detmer showed that he is not capable. The coaches were getting the back-up QB some much needed real-game playing time.

With regards to the redshirt, would Critchlow prefer to sit out this year with a redshirt or play?! The answer is easy - Critchlow wants to get in the game! Would Wilstead prefer to get the late-game garbage-time snaps instead of Critchlow? You bet he would! You want a leg up on your competition. Critchlow is hoping to be the guy in 2019, if not sooner. Critchlow will be competing with Hoge and Detmer for playing time next year and in 2019.

With the redshirt, we're talking about the *possibility* of having Critchlow available for the 2021 season. Wilstead and a bunch of other QBs will be ready to go. Note that we have a 3-star non-LDS QB (Dinkelmann) coming in for sure next year - he would be a redshirt junior for 2021 season. Jaren Hall (3-star QB) returns from his mission for next year. He will be a redshirt junior for the 2021 season. We also have hopes of 4-star QB (McKee) selecting BYU. He would be a RM sophomore in 2021. Critchlow and the coaches aren't worried about the 2021 season right now.

PS - I like Kafentzis in there to mix things up. But, he's a wildcat option, not the #2 QB to lead the offense - I don't think Kafentzis can make the throws required in the pro style offense and is better suited as a wildcat and running back/slot back option.

[cougarapologist]

Dont forget that Mangum is only a junior! He is not going to the NFL. Only if the coaches are totally giving up on both Mangum and Koy Detmer does it make sense to burn Critchlow's redshirt.

Does anyone else feel that they are done with Mangum?

[BroncoBot]

Mangum showed that he is still not ready physically. He could go down at any point. I think Ty reaffirmed that they are committed to Mangum for the time and Critchlow #2. Doesn't seem too out of this world. Allow Mangum to test the waters, if he's not playing/showing well enough to give the offense a shot, and Beau is still hurt - why not play Critchlow?

[Fido]

Mangum has not played worthy of the #1 option this year. He has a 3 to 1 INT to TD ratio--and that can't happen. Hoge looked like he was finally putting things together before his injury--but at this point we have no idea when he will be available again. Detmer made many mistakes including a slew of INTs himself. My hope is that Critchlow comes in and plays well--either forcing Mangum to pick up his play or move aside for one who is playing better. After the way this season has gone, no way is Mangum the "default" QB this year and next year. He will need to earn it--as it should be.

[mtnradio]

My understanding is the Detmer looked as bad as he did because he isn't and hasn't been getting reps. Pull a guy in cold who hasn't run a single snap with the first team, put him in and you'll usually get what Detmer gave ... a great effort with significant mistakes. Detmer probably isn't as good as Critchlow, but burn a red-shirt ... it bothered me too. I will default to the fact that I don't know as much as many of you, and certainly less than the coaches ... but for me it was a head scratcher.

[hawkwing]

My understanding is the Detmer looked as bad as he did because he isn't and hasn't been getting reps. Pull a guy in cold who hasn't run a single snap with the first team, put him in and you'll usually get what Detmer gave ... a great effort with significant mistakes. Detmer probably isn't as good as Critchlow, but burn a red-shirt ... it bothered me too. I will default to the fact that I don't know as much as many of you, and certainly less than the coaches ... but for me it was a head scratcher.

This is actually one of my frustrations with the coaching, BYU had a bye week, and they knew that their concussion prone kid had already suffered a concussion, instead of using the bye week to get the 3rd string QB any reps they decided to take the entire week off of football.

[mtnradio]

My understanding is the Detmer looked as bad as he did because he isn't and hasn't been getting reps. Pull a guy in cold who hasn't run a single snap with the first team, put him in and you'll usually get what Detmer gave ... a great effort with significant mistakes. Detmer probably isn't as good as Critchlow, but burn a red-shirt ... it bothered me too. I will default to the fact that I don't know as much as many of you, and certainly less than the coaches ... but for me it was a head scratcher.

This is actually one of my frustrations with the coaching, BYU had a bye week, and they knew that their concussion prone kid had already suffered a concussion, instead of using the bye week to get the 3rd string QB any reps they decided to take the entire week off of football.

I agree, Hawk. I understand taking an easy week on a bye week to heal up, when injuries and getting banged up are an issue. But when your team has just lost badly and has no team ID, and no offensive ID, and are looking lost on the field ... that doesn't seem to me to be a great time to take a week off. Another head scratcher.

[byufan4ever]

I don't mind burning Critchlow's redshirt as long as he gets significant playing time here on out. I don't want him starting against Mississippi St. because that could just ruin his confidence for life. But after that, we might as well start the rest of the games to see what he's got and start preparing for next season. If he does not get a significant amount of snaps in the coming games then burning his redshirt may be the worst of many blunders this season.

[ABYUFAN]

Dont forget that Mangum is only a junior! He is not going to the NFL. Only if the coaches are totally giving up on both Mangum and Koy Detmer does it make sense to burn Critchlow's redshirt.

Does anyone else feel that they are done with Mangum?

This actually plays into why it was a good move to play Critchlow when they did. Mangum is not playing well because of his ankle issue. He looked great at the beginning of the game and then fell off of a cliff when his physical limitations proved his early effectiveness unsustainable. Mangum will be back next year. Why cannot Critchlow redshirt next year if he wants to? If he's our best option now use him. It's not like he can never redshirt again. And if he plays four straight years great! We should have more QB options down the road right?