QB Controversy in 2012??

I am afraid that we might be headed that way. IF Riley has to sit for NMSU and Hawaii, and Jake takes the job and runs with it like he did vs. Idaho, I am afraid we may be headed for a crazy spring of football at BYU, a crazier summer, and a potential QB controversy for 2012.



I was actually coming around to Rileyball. I thought he could beat the bad teams, and give us a fighting chance in the others. The 2012 schedule looks tough, but doable with weak home schedule. I figured he could get us 8 wins, no problem, maybe 10 if things broke right.



Now, I am actually worried about it. I thought Jake red shirting would be a good thing, that he would probably come around to it. Not so sure how this new playing time changes that discussion, but it clearly could, and that is cause for concern. No one wants another QB controversy.

with our coaches and all the talented quarterback recruits we have in the pipeline we may have a qb controversy next year and beyond. it is easy for bronco and co. when there is someone like max hall and then the next best option is gaskins, but when you have a bunch of talent, we basically have to wait until someone gets eliminated by injury before any leadership or decision making is had.



I have little confidence in our coach's ability to make the hard personel decisions. maybe I am being a little pessimistic but the qb situation and watching the tight ends last year sucked most of my confidence in them away.

Coaches MUST make a decision coming out of spring ball.



They MUST sit the players down going into spring and tell them they WILL name a starter after spring ball.



If it is NOT Jake they MUST make it clear that he WILL redshirt and that the redshirt will NOT be pulled for an injury to the starter (most likely Nelson) and that they will go with the then backup (most likely Lark).



IMO, if they go with Riley, they MUST redshirt Jake. If they go with Jake, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try and convince Riley to simply walk away (Coach Rose has done this with multiple players over the years - most recently with James Anderson).



But I'm with Jonny, for two years it seems our coaches have struggled making the tough personnel decisions.

Jake will always out-perform in practice. In a controled environment he excels. I have no doubt come next Spring Heaps will, once again, look to be the better QB.



Come game time, though, he falls apart. It's my hope the coaches know this and when it comes time to select a 2012 QB they keep this mind and go full contact.

I agree. I think either the job is Jake's, or he red shirts. My only concern with naming RN as starter is that he has shown he is injury prone now, and his style of play will have to change, or that continues. Lark would be a fine back up for 1 year, though. But 2012 would not be an elite year for us. But we could still be very good.



Just do not want both playing QB in 2012.

I agree with spiff, but I'm a little more optimistic than he and jonnylingo are regarding our coaching staff. I think they made terrible decisions two years ago, specifically the QBs and the TEs jonnylingo mentioned. But I really can't fault them for any of the decisions they made this year.



Hopefully they learned enough from the 2009 fiasco that they'll be quick and decisive in whatever they do. If Heaps plays well, I'll support either choice as to who starts in 2012. I'd favor Riley, but this could end up being a really hard decision to make.

good problems to have.



much better than having Just nelson or just Jake. I vote for the redshirt year personally and that's a decision i don't need Spring practice to make.

Am I an idiot if I think that in a third year with both qbs it might be nice to have both. Make Riley the starter as he is going to be a senior, but plan on using both. I know it was a mistake last year, but that was in part due to the youth of the team and the qbs. I love the way Riley plays, but he is a serious injury risk. By the way, the fact that he completed his TD drive with two broken ribs and a pneumothorax is impressive. I would think that he would have been pretty short of breath. It must take a lot to rattle his cage.

Jake is great in practice, but coaches should also factor in play this year as well. It made sense last year going into the season to base the non-decision on practice only. It made sense to go with Heaps coming into this year. But both players play in all games and practices should factor in.

If Jake plays out this year like he did last year, including a great bowl game.................... ......FULL ON CONTRO going into spring! Count on it. Bronco will have his hands full.

Comparing Riley Anderson is comparing apples and sheet metal. Anderson was a near embarrassment for the team. he was a warm body to put in and get fouls with an ocassional good play. Riley is nothing close to that. He would not so easily be replaced by the next qb. If anything, the next qb's are the useless center (Munns?).

But never mind 2012. If Jake plays great vs NMSU, does he deserve to start vs UH? If not, if RN plays and cannot run and therefore is a diminished threat and is not getting the job done, should JH get a shot? And then again in the bowl game? Hold onto your hats! :-)

QB2 version 3.0. Or is that 2.1? :-)

Oh geez, the only way Heaps has gotten the nod either year is that Riley has been hurt. Put this to bed.

The key is to be upfront with the QBs. Tell them you want to make decision. Tell them you will make a decision. Tell them they may not like the decision. Tell them to be honest with themselves, their teammates and to the program if they won't be happy with a decision.



And then MAKE a decision. The worst thing to do would be to not make a decision.

Gunk wrote:
Jake will always out-perform in practice. In a controled environment he excels. I have no doubt come next Spring Heaps will, once again, look to be the better QB.



Come game time, though, he falls apart. It's my hope the coaches know this and when it comes time to select a 2012 QB they keep this mind and go full contact.

"Isn't the whole idea to control the enviroment, and if that happens, isn't it a good thing? This is a team thing, and when we control the line of scrimmage, we will not only win, but will look good doing it. Both QB's that have played, when they are pressured, have made some bad decisions. The OL needs to step it up no matter who is playing, to help either one perform the way they are supposed to."

SpiffCoug wrote:
Coaches MUST make a decision coming out of spring ball.



They MUST sit the players down going into spring and tell them they WILL name a starter after spring ball.



If it is NOT Jake they MUST make it clear that he WILL redshirt and that the redshirt will NOT be pulled for an injury to the starter (most likely Nelson) and that they will go with the then backup (most likely Lark).



IMO, if they go with Riley, they MUST redshirt Jake. If they go with Jake, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try and convince Riley to simply walk away (Coach Rose has done this with multiple players over the years - most recently with James Anderson).



But I'm with Jonny, for two years it seems our coaches have struggled making the tough personnel decisions.

Spiff



Have you gone nuts. Why would you have Nelson walk away. Hint: like Nelson, Heaps is an injury waiting to happen. In fact, he had injured ribs last year. That could easily have been Jake if he ever learns to stand in and not rush throws. BTW - UW may be starting Joe Montana's son Saturday after 4th injury to Price. UH practicing two QBs this week to replace their starter. USU. Utah. Texas. Etc. Etc. Stuff happens. Or - what if Heaps looks great in practice and helpless and hopeless Vs good defenses and loses confidence and loses to U and USU - what if Nelson had walked away this year. Did I miss the TIC symbol. Have you gone nuts?



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Lawboy wrote:
I agree. I think either the job is Jake's, or he red shirts. My only concern with naming RN as starter is that he has shown he is injury prone now, and his style of play will have to change, or that continues. Lark would be a fine back up for 1 year, though. But 2012 would not be an elite year for us. But we could still be very good.



Just do not want both playing QB in 2012.

As mentioned above. Heaps had an injury obtained in a similar manner last year. Stuff happens at QB. Name 3 BYU opponents this year that did not have to swap QBs. I agree that Lark may be a good back-up to Nelson to allow Jake to Redshirt. Depending on circumstances - maybe u pull that Redshirt. Depends on how good Lark is and when the injury happens. Week 1 or 2 or 3 - pull the Redshirt for sure.



If Jake wins the Job next year - Nelson is 2 and Lark 3.



This is why I have been calling for PT for Lark last year and this year. He may be needed and we need to know how good he is or isn't.



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Cougarbib2 wrote:

Coaches MUST make a decision coming out of spring ball.



They MUST sit the players down going into spring and tell them they WILL name a starter after spring ball.



If it is NOT Jake they MUST make it clear that he WILL redshirt and that the redshirt will NOT be pulled for an injury to the starter (most likely Nelson) and that they will go with the then backup (most likely Lark).



IMO, if they go with Riley, they MUST redshirt Jake. If they go with Jake, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try and convince Riley to simply walk away (Coach Rose has done this with multiple players over the years - most recently with James Anderson).



But I'm with Jonny, for two years it seems our coaches have struggled making the tough personnel decisions.

Spiff



Have you gone nuts. Why would you have Nelson walk away. Hint: like Nelson, Heaps is an injury waiting to happen. In fact, he had injured ribs last year. That could easily have been Jake if he ever learns to stand in and not rush throws. BTW - UW may be starting Joe Montana's son Saturday after 4th injury to Price. UH practicing two QBs this week to replace their starter. USU. Utah. Texas. Etc. Etc. Stuff happens. Or - what if Heaps looks great in practice and helpless and hopeless Vs good defenses and loses confidence and loses to U and USU - what if Nelson had walked away this year. Did I miss the TIC symbol. Have you gone nuts?



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"Or - what if Nelson looks great in practice and helpless and hopeless Vs good defenses and loses confidence and loses to U and USU"



Riley vs. TCU defense?? He did not look great in the TCU game. So much speculation, and hopefully we can just find a way to win. Both QB's will need to step it up against good teams. They have already proved that they can beat the little guys, but what about the teams in the BIG12, SEC, etc. BIG ?

Dwight wrote:
Am I an idiot if I think that in a third year with both qbs it might be nice to have both. Make Riley the starter as he is going to be a senior, but plan on using both. I know it was a mistake last year, but that was in part due to the youth of the team and the qbs. I love the way Riley plays, but he is a serious injury risk. By the way, the fact that he completed his TD drive with two broken ribs and a pneumothorax is impressive. I would think that he would have been pretty short of breath. It must take a lot to rattle his cage.

Yeah, he's an extremely tough guy.

SpiffCoug wrote:
The key is to be upfront with the QBs. Tell them you want to make decision. Tell them you will make a decision. Tell them they may not like the decision. Tell them to be honest with themselves, their teammates and to the program if they won't be happy with a decision.



And then MAKE a decision. The worst thing to do would be to not make a decision.

Perfect example: Washington, 2010. I don't remember who it was, but one of our coaches was quoted saying that the worst thing that could have happened to this program last year was to win our first game with a qb controversy battle, showing that it should be able to work.

I still say Jake should redshirt. Lark should get some time for being here. Also, I've heard that Riley just wants to have fun playing ball...if James wants to play well (although not much chance at Pros) he might beat Riley for no. 1. If that happens, you've got two good/great passers, each who can run well, one who can pass better than the other, but has less experience.



In the meantime, Jake keeps learning. He grows in confidence and chemistry, learns to put more air under it, use his arm strength, not under- or over-throw anybody, and just gets plain good. Then, he might have a Junior breakout year much like Beck's Senior year. :)



It's possible that we could get 10+ wins with Riley and Lark as no.s 1 and 2, and Jake could lead us to a BCS game as a Junior if things work out right. :D