Bronco's Thoughts on QB Situation - Media Day 2

"Regarding the quarterback battle, Mendenhall said that if two quarterbacks are at the exact same level, there's a good chance that both are going to play. He said the fact that Riley Nelson has more game experience -- including his time as a freshman at Utah State -- will not play into the decision-making process regarding who will start."



"Mendenhall said not having Harvey Unga in the backfield this season will not effect the decision on the starting quarterback. He said the nature of plays that are called could change because of Unga's absence, but that "who is back there won't change" because a less-experienced back will be in Unga's place."



This isn't about QB game experience, this is about can best take advantage of inherent mis-matches/team weaknesses, can keep the chains moving and get us into the end zone (style points are not important). If they are neck-and-neck, Bronco will use whichever QB's skill sets can exploit what the defense is offering.



As for UW, they practice against a run first, pass second QB, so Heaps would be a logical starter, offering a good change of pace from what UW normally is used to. I can see Riley being used more again FS because of his elusivenss against their speed at the ends - keeping them honest with his runs up the middle, while Heaps could pick apart AF weak secondary.

Good points. While it was late in a blowout, Nelson did drive BYU down the field against FSU. Heaps' accuracy could play dividends against AF as well. Under Bronco, QBs have completed 33-45, 28-37, 23-33, 23-31 and 31-43 passes with 15 TDs and just 5 INTs.

byucougar1 wrote:

As for UW, they practice against a run first, pass second QB, so Heaps would be a logical starter, offering a good change of pace from what UW normally is used to.

I do not agree with this. I think Locker became more of a pocket guy, with running ability, last year, and will be even more so this year. The kid wants an NFL career and knows being a better pocket passer helps with that. Sark is schooling him with that, too. If he was run first and poor passer, no way he is projected as the top QB in next year's draft, which he is. He has skills and can really pressure a D, like Steve Young did. Steve was not run first, but he sure could. Locker is gonna be really good, and our D better be ready to corral him.

One thing I heard Bronco say that I absolutely hate is he mentioned it may take until game 3 into the season to pick a starting QB for the rest of the season. I hate QBing by committee, I guess I have too many nightmares of the Crowton years and don't want Bronco going down that same path.

blue42 wrote:
One thing I heard Bronco say that I absolutely hate is he mentioned it may take until game 3 into the season to pick a starting QB for the rest of the season. I hate QBing by committee, I guess I have too many nightmares of the Crowton years and don't want Bronco going down that same path.

As long he finally makes a decision and we aren't waiting until game 6 and then game 9 before naming a starter. Crowton never made the decision. I think Bronco is smart enough to realize that he will need to make one, and make it relatively early.



This my also pave the way for him to possibly RS Jake next year a la Jim McMahon in 1979.

kitic77 wrote:

One thing I heard Bronco say that I absolutely hate is he mentioned it may take until game 3 into the season to pick a starting QB for the rest of the season. I hate QBing by committee, I guess I have too many nightmares of the Crowton years and don't want Bronco going down that same path.

As long he finally makes a decision and we aren't waiting until game 6 and then game 9 before naming a starter. Crowton never made the decision. I think Bronco is smart enough to realize that he will need to make one, and make it relatively early.



This my also pave the way for him to possibly RS Jake next year a la Jim McMahon in 1979.

If, and that's a big if, they RS Heaps next year who plays? I don't think it will be Riley so it would have to be either Munns or Lark. How does that pan out for either of them? They just fill in until Heaps takes over in 2012? Not a great future for either of them. For Lark that means he would start his Jr year and then battle for #2. Even worse for Munns who I believe is a RS freshman who would play his soph year and be relegated to back up for the rest of his career. I don't think that would sound very appealing for either and I think would lead one or perhaps both to think about transferring to different schools. This is a bigger problem because 3 of 4 of BYU's QB's basically all have their eligibility ending at the same time with none to groom to take over.



If there is a redshirt in Heaps future I would be in favor of this year and then be a back up the following year, running the scout team both years then be ready to take BYU to astronomically levels to start as a RS Soph.

Also interesting, Munns is not on BYU's official roster on BYU's official site. Is that because he hasn't registered for school yet? I would have thought as soon as he came home he would have informed Bronco and the school of his intentions to play football and register for the upcoming semister.

He is home. But I don't think he's in Provo yet. He may not be on the roster because 1) fall camp hasn't started yet or 2) classes haven't started yet. I expect him to be on the roster at the start of camp.



Also, good points on RSing Heaps after this year. If you are going to RS him, it does make the most sense for it to be this year.



I still think that the coaches would love to be patient with Heaps and be able to work with him and develop him without the pressure of winning right now. But I'm not sure Heaps will allow that to happen, because I don't think he's going to enough reason that he can't be the man.

byucougar1 wrote:
"Regarding the quarterback battle, Mendenhall said that if two quarterbacks are at the exact same level, there's a good chance that both are going to play. He said the fact that Riley Nelson has more game experience -- including his time as a freshman at Utah State -- will not play into the decision-making process regarding who will start."



"Mendenhall said not having Harvey Unga in the backfield this season will not effect the decision on the starting quarterback. He said the nature of plays that are called could change because of Unga's absence, but that "who is back there won't change" because a less-experienced back will be in Unga's place."



This isn't about QB game experience, this is about can best take advantage of inherent mis-matches/team weaknesses, can keep the chains moving and get us into the end zone (style points are not important). If they are neck-and-neck, Bronco will use whichever QB's skill sets can exploit what the defense is offering.



As for UW, they practice against a run first, pass second QB, so Heaps would be a logical starter, offering a good change of pace from what UW normally is used to. I can see Riley being used more again FS because of his elusivenss against their speed at the ends - keeping them honest with his runs up the middle, while Heaps could pick apart AF weak secondary.

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kitic77 wrote:
Good points. While it was late in a blowout, Nelson did drive BYU down the field against FSU. Heaps' accuracy could play dividends against AF as well. Under Bronco, QBs have completed 33-45, 28-37, 23-33, 23-31 and 31-43 passes with 15 TDs and just 5 INTs.

I'm not sure that was a drive. It was one or two plays and he threw a short wobbly slant that went for 40 yards or so...IIRC.

QuarterbackU wrote:

Good points. While it was late in a blowout, Nelson did drive BYU down the field against FSU. Heaps' accuracy could play dividends against AF as well. Under Bronco, QBs have completed 33-45, 28-37, 23-33, 23-31 and 31-43 passes with 15 TDs and just 5 INTs.

I'm not sure that was a drive. It was one or two plays and he threw a short wobbly slant that went for 40 yards or so...IIRC.

Here's the PBP of that drive:

B 1-10 B24 BYU drive start at 04:51.

B 1-10 B24 KARIYA, Bryan rush for 5 yards to the BY29 (Harris, M).

B 2-5 B29 NELSON, Riley pass complete to PITTA, Dennis for 31 yards to the FSU40,

1ST DOWN BY (Allen, D;Parks, T).

B 1-10 J40 PENALTY BY false start 4 yards to the FSU44.

B 1-14 J44 NELSON, Riley pass complete to CHAMBERS, O. for loss of 1 yard to the

FSU45 (Reed, B), PENALTY FSU unsportsmanlike conduct 16 yards to the

FSU29, 1ST DOWN BY.

B 1-10 J29 1st and 10.

B 1-10 J29 NELSON, Riley pass complete to DI LUIGI, JJ for 29 yards to the FSU0,

1ST DOWN BY, TOUCHDOWN, clock 03:13.

PAYNE, Mitch kick attempt good.



The yards and completions still count. Whether the pass was wobbly and it went for a long distance are irrelevant. I've heard this argument against Riley several times. Yeah, but that drive in spring ball was only two plays. Yeah, but the receiver broke a tackle and ran a long, long way. Yeah, but the pass wasn't a perfect spiral. Who cares? The play was made. The yards count. They don't mark a player down at the spot of the broken tackle. I don't get the argument. And please don't point out any holes in my arguments! I won't stand for it! ;)

Prediction 1: Riley starts first 2-4 games with Jake coming in to get some experience. Riley becomes the sacrificial lamb and Jake takes over for remainder of season.

Prediction 2: (I have issued this prediction previously) Jake starts against UW and and Riley intermittently comes into to give Jake a breather and some in-game coaching and chance to slow things down for him.

Prediction 3: Jonny and Sno set aside their differences by game 3 and meet at The Creamery for some ice cream.

kitic77 wrote:

B 1-10 J40 PENALTY BY false start 4 yards to the FSU44.

And please don't point out any holes in my arguments! I won't stand for it! ;)

When did a false start penatly become only 4 yards? :D