Colby Pearson = Offensive X-Factor?

This may or may not bear out with any statistics, but I've noticed over the course of the season that Colby Pearson seems to be the bellweather for when the offense is going to start clicking in any given game. The offense will sputter and stall (generally in the first halves) but then Colby Pearson will line up (generally at the beginning of the second halves) run a clean route and make a nifty grab for a crucial third down conversion, and suddenly the offense is running smoothly again. And it happens game after game.



I don't know where he is on the depth chart, but he seems to be the receiver who is most on the same page as Taysom on the pre-snap reads. The offense has been plagued from day one with receivers and QB making different reads--e.g. pre-snap Hill reads zone and anticipate the slot receiver breaking inside, but the receiver reads man-coverage and instead breaks outside, so the pass goes inside as the receiver breaks out, or vice-versa. I can't recall ever seeing that happen on Pearson route--he and Taysom are making the same reads, unlike Hifo and Kurtz, which gives Taysom extra confidence throwing his way.



Just making an observation out loud that I've made quietly in almost every game this season--the offense runs much better (at an eyeball test level) when they reach Pearson on the depth chart (usually second half).

Have noticed the same thing. Maybe being from Idaho I tend to cheer for the guys from there, but Pearson has a lot of untapped potential. Runs good routes, as mentioned by sno is on the same page with Hill, and has shown good hands through several years.

My complaint about Pearson is after the catch. Maybe statistics will prove me wrong, but in my mind, he makes bad running decisions ... spends too much time going east and west instead of north and south. Missed one 1st down when he went sideways and/or backwards rather than lowering his head and taking one more step toward the end-zone. He's sure-handed, but can offer the team more if he'll head upfield after grabbing the ball.

mtnradio wrote:
My complaint about Pearson is after the catch. Maybe statistics will prove me wrong, but in my mind, he makes bad running decisions ... spends too much time going east and west instead of north and south. Missed one 1st down when he went sideways and/or backwards rather than lowering his head and taking one more step toward the end-zone. He's sure-handed, but can offer the team more if he'll head upfield after grabbing the ball.

That's not just a Pearson issue, that is a BYU receiver issue. Pretty much every receiver went sideways after catching passes when if they turn and go straight they would get more yards.

In four BYU wins, Pearson has 13 catches on 17 targets for 129 yards and 2 TDs 0 INTs, .765 complete, 179.04 RER.



In three BYU losses, Pearson has 9 catches on 14 targets for 92 yards and 0 TDs 1 INT, .643 complete, 105.2 RER.

SpiffCoug wrote:
In four BYU wins, Pearson has 13 catches on 17 targets for 129 yards and 2 TDs 0 INTs, .765 complete, 179.04 RER.



In three BYU losses, Pearson has 9 catches on 14 targets for 92 yards and 0 TDs 1 INT, .643 complete, 105.2 RER.

OK, Spiff ... IF I follow correctly, there is a positive correlation between a good performance by Pearson and a win by BYU. I don't remember the RER formula, but I believe YAC is part of it. So my question is: in the wins, did OTHER receivers also have a higher RER, and were the other receivers also down in the losses. In other words, does this point to Pearson, or just the passing game in general?

RER is just the PER formula applied to receivers. I think it points more to the passing game in general than just Pearson.

mtnradio wrote:

In four BYU wins, Pearson has 13 catches on 17 targets for 129 yards and 2 TDs 0 INTs, .765 complete, 179.04 RER.



In three BYU losses, Pearson has 9 catches on 14 targets for 92 yards and 0 TDs 1 INT, .643 complete, 105.2 RER.

OK, Spiff ... IF I follow correctly, there is a positive correlation between a good performance by Pearson and a win by BYU. I don't remember the RER formula, but I believe YAC is part of it. So my question is: in the wins, did OTHER receivers also have a higher RER, and were the other receivers also down in the losses. In other words, does this point to Pearson, or just the passing game in general?

I think there is a positive correlation between the WRs catching the ball and wins in general. When we catch the ball, we win.

If the Pearson factor isn't about Pearson, it could actually be a correlation with offensive line play, i.e. if Taysom has enough time to check down or get on the same page with Pearson's well run routes, then BYU's line play is strong enough to win the game.



If on the other hand, it is actually a Pearson issue, then Taysom need to spend more chalk talk time with the entire receiving corp. I will add my observation that it seems like at least once a game you see a play where the ball goes to nowhere and the receiver has broken the opposite way Taysom threw.