QB Competition Update

Honestly: How much of a difference in our season will having Riley at the head make? Will it win us more games?



Let's keep in mind that - despite his "seniority" - Riley's experience is next to nothing.

Forget the fact that Riley isn't a prospect to be the top QB in the country in 2-3 years... Riley won't even be ON the team in 2-3 years.



So keeping in mind that it's pretty unlikely that Riley is the difference between a BCS bowl run or the lack of one, you have to ask yourself: is it worth it to rob Heaps of one more year of conditioning? There are great things in store for Heaps. Riley Nelson: not so much. In his time at BYU, he has not stacked up to be starting QB material, and now we are talking about starting him over the #1 QB recruit in the country, one that can actually THROW the ball. IT'S INSANITY!!!

Italics wrote:
Honestly:

Let's keep in mind that - despite his "seniority" - Riley's experience is next to nothing.

Whaaaaa?? What happened to the starting QB experience @ Utah St. as a true Freshman? What about 1 full year as a backup #2 QB to Max Hall w/ some game time last year?? I don't think that's nothing. That's significant experience. Especially for getting the nod to start in game #1 against UW.



I went to a fireside last year & heard Bronco speak. He said his decision about who starts is not about who is the fastest or even the most talented - it's about who he trusts the most. I think that will be SIGNIFICANT in picking the starting QB for game #1 this Fall.



That said: Is Jake more talented as a QB? Yes. Does Jake have more upside? Yes. Is Jake the future of Cougar Football - certainly.



Will Bronco be more comfortable with & trust Riley more that Jake for game #1? Probably. Because of his Div. 1 experience & time in the Y program. Will Jake earn the starting QB spot as the season progresses & earns Bronco's trust? Highly likely. A good bet.

8)

Italics wrote:
Honestly: How much of a difference in our season will having Riley at the head make? Will it win us more games?



Let's keep in mind that - despite his "seniority" - Riley's experience is next to nothing.

Forget the fact that Riley isn't a prospect to be the top QB in the country in 2-3 years... Riley won't even be ON the team in 2-3 years.



So keeping in mind that it's pretty unlikely that Riley is the difference between a BCS bowl run or the lack of one, you have to ask yourself: is it worth it to rob Heaps of one more year of conditioning? There are great things in store for Heaps. Riley Nelson: not so much. In his time at BYU, he has not stacked up to be starting QB material, and now we are talking about starting him over the #1 QB recruit in the country, one that can actually THROW the ball. IT'S INSANITY!!!

The best thing that Bronco can do to help Heaps develop into the type of Quarterback that he can become is to allow him time to adjust to the speed of play in Div 1. Nelson has had time to develop. If he is capable of leading the team, he needs to be the starter. Throwing a true freshman into the starting quarterback role in his first game as a college quarterback is asking for trouble. The only way that he will start the first game is if Bronco determines that Nelson is not capable of leading the team. Starting 4 games in is more likely depending on how Nelson performs in his first few games. The role of the Quarterback is more than just the ability to throw the football. Decision making is vital. It requires a certain mental toughness. In high school, the decisions need to be made quickly. In College, they need to be made at in half the time. In the pros, cut the time in half again. Beck had all of the tools to be a great NFL quarterback when he left BYU. Miami started him too soon rather than letting him develop and it very well might have destroyed his career. We had several good quarterbacks under Crowton who were put into situations they were unprepared for and fortunately, he is no longer here to screw with our quarterbacks' psyche. Bottom line, in most cases where you rush starting a good (or great) quarterback without giving him time to develop, you negatively impact all future starts by that quarterback.

I for one would not be upset to see Riley start out the season at QB. Our last "running" qb had one heck of a season. The only negative is that WA will be used to a running QB so it probably won't be an advantage in that game.

I don't think UW would be "used" to or at least prepared for a running QB in BYU. I just hope that whoever starts for BYU, it isn't announced publicly until that guy steps onto the field to lead the first drive. That would be a significant advantage to throw away. Make your decision the week leading up to the game, and then just close practice that whole week so the media wouldn't get wind of it. There might be some leaks but a warning should be put out that anybody reporting who is "going to start", whether they are right or wrong, would have their media credentials and access privileges taken away.



I also agree that the decision will come down to who Bronco trust the most. If it ends up being Riley, I kind of hope that they redshirt Jake and let Lark back up Riley this year. I think we'll see a nice jump forward from Lark between the spring and fall after having a full 6 months to work back from the mission. Plus, if Jake's not starting or getting significant reps in games, it would probably be better experience for him to run the scout team than to get back up reps in practice and not see much/any gameday action.



One thing to consider is Jake didn't start his first year in high school either but started in year two over other upperclassmen as I recall. Some might say not starting Jake now in favor or Nelson just entrenches Riley at the position through his senior year. Even if that were the case, Jake could still start for 2-3 years. But I think that Jake is the type of guy that if he weren't named the starter this year, he'd work his tail off and give Riley a run for his money next year. We all know Jake has the higher ceiling.

Bronco definitely won't keep the starting qb a secret just for the sake of surprising the other team. That isn't him at all. Instead, I'd bet he wants to name the starter asap to get him most of the reps in fall camp.

To start Heaps or not to start Heaps? That is a tough question. I took a detailed look at the three most popular scenarios (start immediately, redshirt and start 3 years after Nelson graduates, or redshirt and go on a mission) a few months ago on my blog: http://byufootballtalk.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-to-do-with-heaps.html



Check it out, if you are interested.



This was before Jake exceeded everyone's best expectations in spring practices, so I am kind of a fence sitter now. When the coaches make a decision I will trust that it is best, until the chosen starter proves otherwise.

CFN has Heaps as the MWC's #7 QB without having even played a snap of DI football. Riley checks in at #10.



http://cfn.scout.com/2/971770.html



I think I can buy Dalton and Lindley as #1 and #2, but I'd probably put #6 Carta-Samuels and #5 Jefferson (good at what is expected of him) ahead of #3 Wynne and especially #4 Clayton.

The receivers favor Heaps - what does that tell you?



Really - the LAST thing I want in a BYU quarterback is one who isn't accurate, and often opts for running the ball rather than passing it. The only good running QB's are the ones who can pass as well (see: Ponder).



And as much as I hope Heaps gets the starting position, I REALLY hope we don't see TWO QB's getting a shot at Washington. The ONLY situation I'd want to see that happen is if after 3 quarters we are blowing Washington out of the water (which isn't gonna happen). Washington will be one of our toughest games of the season, and will set the tone for the rest of the reason. You don't throw out two different QB's in big games, especially when they're close. If Riley steps onto the field, I want him to stay out there. But I'd rather see Heaps.

I haven't seen much to show that Nelson isn't accurate. Just that Heaps is proving to be extremely accurate.

I would love to see Jake slaughter the Huskies after the way the school and fans treated him and his family. That said, I just want the win and don't care who gets it for us or by how many points it comes. Playing against your hometown university not only in your freshman year, but in your very first collegiate game would be hard for anybody and would require maturity beyond any freshman's years. Jake just might have that maturity (certainly he has more than most but does he have enough to cope with that situation?) but unless it's obvious to the coaches that he's mentally ready for the game regardless of how much better he looks than Nelson or Lark, I think I'd rather have Riley start. There's just too much scarring that could take place from a bad start in that game.

Mars wrote:

I haven't seen much to show that Nelson isn't accurate. Just that Heaps is proving to be extremely accurate.

Except for that horribly thrown interception (that was called back) in very limited playing time last year... :whistle:

Yeah, because we totally count interceptions the defense has to commit fouls to get....



Even if you do count the phantom interception in his PER ranking or 186.16 for last year, it dropped his rating to a sucky 166.16.

I'm still not sold that Heaps is the best QB right now. I think he has the most talent and will wind up being the best of the bunch currently in the program.



The question to me is, how much can Heaps improve given time (i.e. a redshirt season). If the answer is not much then it strengthens the case to have him play. But to me, if he is that talented but being given time to develop wouldn't improve his game seems counter-intuitive. That would suggest his ceiling isn't much higher than where he is right now.



If the answer is he would definitely improve, then it would seem waiting for him would be most beneficial for both BYU and Heaps.



That's what I can't get past. I think Heaps is going to be absolute stud and is going to be a great QB for BYU. But I don't see what he brings to BYU next year that we don't already have.



I don't think Heaps is the difference between 7 wins or 11 wins next year. I don't think our win total changes with Nelson or Heaps. If I thought we could win more games with Heaps, my opinion would be we go with him. But I just don't see him winning any more games as a true freshman than Nelson will.



So, my opinion is one of patience. Let Heaps develop. Let him learn. Let him prepare. Let him be a team player. Let him get familiar with BYU and D1 football.

Not sure Heaps can really be classified as a true freshman for 2010. He registered in January, had spring ball with the team, and summer workouts as well. He is more like a redshirt freshman right now as it is. And because of this, I think he will be ready to play. especially with the chance to go after our secondary in practice often. that will help him acclimate quickly. I think he will be ready for UW.