K
KingCougDear Bronco,
Well, on Monday it's going to come as sure as the sun will rise. Every talking head on local sports radio from Gordon Monson to David Locke will be singing the "I told you so" tune in regards to the 2-QB thing.
But let me say this. Up to this point, I still believe you were right to play both Heaps and Nelson for a number of reasons. First, while you could have chosen one or the other before the season began, you may have ended up having to do what Kyle did last year up north and make a switch more than half way through the season. Which meant Wynn really only got 5 1/2 games experience as a starter. Second, since Heaps and Nelson were both so close in pre-season, what better way to judge than to see them in live game action? Only fair to give them both a chance. Third, I know you are concerned about throwing Freshman in too fast and "ruining them," which you've said has happened in the past. You wanted Heaps to get a feel for the college game atmosphere, speed, etc. And fourth, we happened to be playing Heaps' home town team in the season opener. All good reasons. And since both did pretty well in the first game, the second game - the first away game/conference game - was needed to further gage their performance.
With that said, I think the time for choosing has come. And though I had moved from the Heaps camp to being undecided after the Washington game, because Nelson showed promise, I'm now firmly and finally in the Heaps camp for good. Not because Heaps has played better up to this point. He hasn't. The reason is because there is so much more potential in the future with Heaps, than with Nelson. Nelson has more experience than Heaps does at the moment, but not much. Nelson can run but he lacks throwing ability, which the BYU offense has always been built around. He can't spread the defense out like Heaps can and opposing teams will only pick up on this more and more, and take advantage of him being largely one-dimensional. This is not to say that we won't go through growing pains with Heaps. We already have and we still will. But much better to through it now, since we already are with much of the other players, and get Heaps the only thing he lacks - experience. Incredibly valuable experience which, coupled with his natural talent, will pay huge dividends in the years to come.
To reiterate, using both QB's up to this point made sense. Despite what many have said and are still saying. But no longer. Their diverse styles are hampering the offense and the ability of our receivers to get in a rythym. To continue with both QB's will be only a detriment from this point on. It's time to choose. And while Nelson has his place, Heaps is the man.
Make Heaps the starter and let his era begin.
Well, on Monday it's going to come as sure as the sun will rise. Every talking head on local sports radio from Gordon Monson to David Locke will be singing the "I told you so" tune in regards to the 2-QB thing.
But let me say this. Up to this point, I still believe you were right to play both Heaps and Nelson for a number of reasons. First, while you could have chosen one or the other before the season began, you may have ended up having to do what Kyle did last year up north and make a switch more than half way through the season. Which meant Wynn really only got 5 1/2 games experience as a starter. Second, since Heaps and Nelson were both so close in pre-season, what better way to judge than to see them in live game action? Only fair to give them both a chance. Third, I know you are concerned about throwing Freshman in too fast and "ruining them," which you've said has happened in the past. You wanted Heaps to get a feel for the college game atmosphere, speed, etc. And fourth, we happened to be playing Heaps' home town team in the season opener. All good reasons. And since both did pretty well in the first game, the second game - the first away game/conference game - was needed to further gage their performance.
With that said, I think the time for choosing has come. And though I had moved from the Heaps camp to being undecided after the Washington game, because Nelson showed promise, I'm now firmly and finally in the Heaps camp for good. Not because Heaps has played better up to this point. He hasn't. The reason is because there is so much more potential in the future with Heaps, than with Nelson. Nelson has more experience than Heaps does at the moment, but not much. Nelson can run but he lacks throwing ability, which the BYU offense has always been built around. He can't spread the defense out like Heaps can and opposing teams will only pick up on this more and more, and take advantage of him being largely one-dimensional. This is not to say that we won't go through growing pains with Heaps. We already have and we still will. But much better to through it now, since we already are with much of the other players, and get Heaps the only thing he lacks - experience. Incredibly valuable experience which, coupled with his natural talent, will pay huge dividends in the years to come.
To reiterate, using both QB's up to this point made sense. Despite what many have said and are still saying. But no longer. Their diverse styles are hampering the offense and the ability of our receivers to get in a rythym. To continue with both QB's will be only a detriment from this point on. It's time to choose. And while Nelson has his place, Heaps is the man.
Make Heaps the starter and let his era begin.