Two Quarterback System

Based on the tweets coming out of today's practice you have to really wonder if the coaches are at least toying with the idea of a two quarterback system a la Florida with Leak and Tebow. Heaps and Rilery are both really good at what they do and I wonder if the coaches are thinking of employing both QBs if neither blows the other out of the water. I don't know why else you would have Heaps running the vertical plays and Nelson running the short plays like they did today. You would think you would want them both running the same kind of plays to see who is better. If we do go with a two QB system, which I am not opposed to in situations like this, Heaps would be the "Starter" with Nelson coming in for third down/short yardage plays. Heaps doesn't have all the pressure on him but gets tons of experience. Nelson still gets to be a big contributor. Part of me says that is what they are gearing up for, but then again, part of me says pick a QB and stick with him. Is a two QB system too untraditional for Bronco? For a guy who ran the 3-3-5 and changed to the 3-4 to match his talent, I don't think so. If the talent you have dictates a two QB system, that is what you go with. And before someone quoes the "if you have two QBs you have no QBs" I think that is a different circumstance than when the two QBs have completely different skill sets that complement eachother and can both be utilized on the field. The only thing would be messing up the rhthym for Jake if he is the starter, but Leak seemed to do fine taking a few plays off every series. It makes you wonder anyway.

I'm fine with the 2 QB system--I draw many parallels between this year and 1978 with Wilson and McMahon. I think giving both QBs a fair chance this year could be beneficial to both them and the program. As for playing two QBs, I think there are 2 key issues:



1) You already hit on this, but will sharing time hurt the passing rhythm of Heaps or Nelson? Normally, you'd think it hurts the more passing QB, but I can see it hurting Nelson, because he would be throwing the ball even less.



2) Will Nelson be able to pass well enough (an will the play-calling support him) such that defense won't key on Nelson as a runner every time he's in the game? I remember in 1999, Doman got a little action as the running QB behind Feterik, but his plays rarely worked because everyone knew what was coming.

Totally agree. If Nelson doesn't at least pose a credible passing threat, there is no sense in brining him in. It sounds like he can pass, though it may not be his strongest suit.

Well, looking at Riley's stats from day to day, either they are putting run first plays in for him often, or he pulls it down really fast. today he had 6 pass attempts, and 6 runs. he seems to be in the 50/50 range, while Heaps threw it 7 times and ran 1 time. Those ratios are not even close to the same, and those guys pressure a defense in totally different ways. If both guys can handle a platoon, it helps BYU because it keeps a defense from getting a rhythm against us.

If we see a 2 quarterback system, I'd rather redshirt Heaps and let him have the reins a full four years and let Lark be the passing option. If Heaps can grow into his hype, we'd regret splitting snaps 3 years down the road.

snoscythe wrote:
If we see a 2 quarterback system, I'd rather redshirt Heaps and let him have the reins a full four years and let Lark be the passing option. If Heaps can grow into his hype, we'd regret splitting snaps 3 years down the road.

I've said this before, but for me, it's just like 1978-79: Two QB system this year allowing both to get game experience. If Nelson looks good enough to be a full-time starter, start him next year and redshirt Heaps telling him its in the best interest of the program. That way no one can say that BYU wouldn't give a true freshman his fair shake.

snoscythe wrote:
If we see a 2 quarterback system, I'd rather redshirt Heaps and let him have the reins a full four years and let Lark be the passing option. If Heaps can grow into his hype, we'd regret splitting snaps 3 years down the road.

But if Heaps redshirts this year and Nelson does well, then what next year? Sit your experienced senior QB while starting a redshirt freshman?



For this year, I think Nelson should start the first couple games, with Heaps taking a lot of snaps also. Not making Heaps the official starter will take a lot of pressure off him. Then after the FSU game they should just let Heaps start, bringing in Nelson occasionally on 3rd down short yardage plays and the like.



Nelson should have stayed at USU. I feel bad for him. I don't think he's going to be the guy for BYU in the long run.

snoscythe wrote:
If we see a 2 quarterback system, I'd rather redshirt Heaps and let him have the reins a full four years and let Lark be the passing option. If Heaps can grow into his hype, we'd regret splitting snaps 3 years down the road.

If Heaps lives up to the hype, he won't play for 4 years. He'll be gone before his senior season. So do we play him now and get a good year followed by 2 great years, or do we blueshirt him and get 3 great years out of him???? (possibly only 2 as he might forgo his last 2 years of eligibility if he is a 1st round lock after 2 years of playing after his blueshirt year.)

I'd rather we just settle on one qb and call it good. Heaps was a stud in high school, but that was high school, so if he needs a redshirt year and we've got a good qb in Nelson, then make that happen. If Heaps fills the shoes and is the number one guy, then make that happen, but don't start the qb carousel ala Crowton...

hypercoug wrote:

If we see a 2 quarterback system, I'd rather redshirt Heaps and let him have the reins a full four years and let Lark be the passing option. If Heaps can grow into his hype, we'd regret splitting snaps 3 years down the road.

But if Heaps redshirts this year and Nelson does well, then what next year? Sit your experienced senior QB while starting a redshirt freshman?

Bronco benched the incumbent Berry for a guy named Beck. He's done it before, so there's no reason to think he won't do it again.

CougarPeasant wrote:

If we see a 2 quarterback system, I'd rather redshirt Heaps and let him have the reins a full four years and let Lark be the passing option. If Heaps can grow into his hype, we'd regret splitting snaps 3 years down the road.

If Heaps lives up to the hype, he won't play for 4 years. He'll be gone before his senior season. So do we play him now and get a good year followed by 2 great years, or do we blueshirt him and get 3 great years out of him???? (possibly only 2 as he might forgo his last 2 years of eligibility if he is a 1st round lock after 2 years of playing after his blueshirt year.)

LOL. I love the idea of deciding whether to redshirt a kid who hasn't taken a D-I snap based on when he will decide to go pro. Maurice Clarrett would probably be a big fan of this concept.

snoscythe wrote:

snoscythe wrote:
If we see a 2 quarterback system, I'd rather redshirt Heaps and let him have the reins a full four years and let Lark be the passing option. If Heaps can grow into his hype, we'd regret splitting snaps 3 years down the road.

If Heaps lives up to the hype, he won't play for 4 years. He'll be gone before his senior season. So do we play him now and get a good year followed by 2 great years, or do we blueshirt him and get 3 great years out of him???? (possibly only 2 as he might forgo his last 2 years of eligibility if he is a 1st round lock after 2 years of playing after his blueshirt year.)

LOL. I love the idea of deciding whether to redshirt a kid who hasn't taken a D-I snap based on when he will decide to go pro. Maurice Clarrett would probably be a big fan of this concept.

I said if he lives up to the hype. ;)