A couple of observations:
1) Heaps throws a very hard ball, just about always. He probably should take a little off some of those passes, like the swing pass to a back, or short pass over the middle; those throws don't need to be 100 mph fastballs.
2) Heaps must, and does, throw a very hard ball on out routes, longer passes, and when he's squeezing it in between defensive players (like his TD pass on Saturday), and the receivers had better start catching these balls. Heaps "heat" is one way he avoids interceptions, and if the receivers will catch the ball, these should translate into yardage, first downs, and touchdowns.
3) If the offense could have sustained drives in either of the last two games, then the defense doesn't have to spend the entire game on the field, and if the offense drives the field and scores a couple of times, and AFA and FSU have a few fewer offensive possessions, then the defense doesn't give up nearly so many yards, BYU is in the game, and has a chance to win. But with the offense spending so little time on the field, the defense gets worn down, tired, and naturally gives up more yards.
4) If the receivers drop only half the balls (they shouldn't drop any), BYU gets more first downs, sustains some drives, scores more, the defense looks better, and BYU is competitive and in a position to win. I put the poor offensive performance squarely on the shoulders of the receivers.
5) Heaps must learn to get rid of the ball, into the stands if nobody is open. He cannot expect the Oline to hold forever (though I thought their pass protection against FSU was awful), but he's a competitor, he wants yards out of every play.
6) It appeared that receivers were rarely open in the FSU game. I find this hard to believe, and totally unacceptable. It's either poor routes or poor schemes. The reason Heaps got sacked six times was he had nobody to throw to. BYU has never had the all-world, speedster receivers, not ever, but we've always gotten people open--against anybody, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, anybody. So whatever is wrong here needs to get fixed immediately. I don't think Heaps is the problem, he's looking at all his receivers and nobody is open.
Finally, if the coaches don't start Heaps against Nevada (and everybody else), I'm not sure we have a winning season this year. I simply don't believe we can win with Nelson. BYU is not an option team. If receivers don't drop any balls this year, Heaps passing percentage is in the 60s, which is not bad for a freshman.
