CUrrent QB situation: A History

Fans are upset or at least disappointed that BYU has not reloaded this season. There are several reasons why this is the case, but the one not discussed very much is why we were left with Riley Nelson as our best veteran QB coming into this season.



Did BYU not recruit enough QBs in the past? Evidently not, but the facts are they lost 2 QBs that they recruited who would be upperclassmen now and did not land a recruit or two in the past.



Two QBs who left the program are Sam Doman and Jacob Bower. Neither was projected to be a star QB because of Hall being a 3 year starter, but had either of them stayed, they would have gotten a serious shot at being the MAN this season. Both are drop back passers and one would have been serviceable for one season.



BYU went after Kevin Prince, the current UCLA QB pretty aggressively, but he is a UCLA legacy essentially. A couple of other QBs BYU sought never signed and given the talent BYU had on missions and in the future in Heaps, BYU didn't push as hard as perhaps they should have.



Munns and Lark were two of the best QB recruits on the west coast and BYU got them. Unfortunately, Munns timing was poor as he didn't get back in time from his mission to compete this season. Lark had even worse luck in breaking his leg, which led to him waiting an extra year before he went on his mission. Had he gone after his frosh year, he'd have been in a strong position to start this season.



That leads us to Nelson. BYU saw that they needed a stop gap QB from the JC ranks once Hall graduated. Instead, they went after Nelson. Nelson was a perfect fit for BYU given he was a starter at the FCS level, was an RM, and wanted to be at BYU. All the better to recruit Nelson over a JC QB. Unfortunately, Nelson is not a prototypical BYU QB. Yet, he does have leadership ability and determination, just not enough talent to get the job done to the level Beck and Hall did the past 4 seasons.



So to blame the coaches for the problem is a bit unfair given that the circumstances really were out of their hand to a large extent in keeping those they recruited or bringing in a recruit who would be QB for a year at most.



Anae is a very competent OC and Doman is a fine QB coach. They will right the ship soon enough. I am disappointed that the team didn't reload, but it takes a quality QB to do that and as good as Heaps is, a redshirt year would have done wonders in his preparation.



So if you really want to blame someone, blame Sam Doman and Jacob Bower for the current situation instead. ;) (TFIC)

IMO, BYU would have much better play at QB right now if they had decided on a QB after spring ball. If BYU had named Riley or Jake the starter and gotten either one of them starter reps in fall camp, we'd be much better off.



I said from the beginning that I didn't think there was a bad decision when it came to picking a QB. But apparently not making a decision was the worst decision.

One last thought, the transfer of Ben Olsen started this whole thing. BYU did not recruit guys counting on him returning. Which started this whole QB mess. He led BYU staff to believe he was returning which caused them to not recruit some QB's in years when they could have. Having said that, our QB situation is what it is. We just have to move on from it and be patient with Heaps' development.

I agree with this post, as a similar post I put out outlines depth issues with early recruiting. Not signing a QB in 2005 hurt us, as did transfers, and the way missions broke. A JC QB could have been used, but BYU thought Riley would fill the gap. He did ok--not great--got hurt, and here we are. I expect Bronco to sign a QB in every class from now on, even if not a top* guy, and for a lessons to have been learned. I think this explains signing Alex Kuresa for 2011 as well. Of course, he has nice skills, but is short. Maybe BYU is hoping he grows tall like his brother, Jake.



But the point is, you can never have too much depth and talent. Ever. The TE group for 2010 proves that completely.

Actually it starts with Norm Chow! If he hadn't wasted Brandon Doman's redshirt in 1999 for 15 plays at WR he would have played in 2002. That means that Matt Berry wouldn't have had to play in 2002. That means that John Beck could have redshirted in 2003. That means James Lark wouldn't have been asked to delay his mission and play one more year - during which he broke his leg. So we could have James Lark as an RS JR right now playing QB for us allowing Jake an RS as well.

kitic77 wrote:
Actually it starts with Norm Chow! If he hadn't wasted Brandon Doman's redshirt in 1999 for 15 plays at WR he would have played in 2002. That means that Matt Berry wouldn't have had to play in 2002. That means that John Beck could have redshirted in 2003. That means James Lark wouldn't have been asked to delay his mission and play one more year - during which he broke his leg. So we could have James Lark as an RS JR right now playing QB for us allowing Jake an RS as well.

So really, it is Edwards' fault for hiring Chow? ;)

kitic77 wrote:
IMO, BYU would have much better play at QB right now if they had decided on a QB after spring ball. If BYU had named Riley or Jake the starter and gotten either one of them starter reps in fall camp, we'd be much better off.



I said from the beginning that I didn't think there was a bad decision when it came to picking a QB. But apparently not making a decision was the worst decision.

AMEN. BIGGEST MISTAKE ever for Bronco. We would have a different record had he made that choice.

jonnylingo wrote:

IMO, BYU would have much better play at QB right now if they had decided on a QB after spring ball. If BYU had named Riley or Jake the starter and gotten either one of them starter reps in fall camp, we'd be much better off.



I said from the beginning that I didn't think there was a bad decision when it came to picking a QB. But apparently not making a decision was the worst decision.

AMEN. BIGGEST MISTAKE ever for Bronco. We would have a different record had he made that choice.

Yeah, we might be 2-2 with a win over Nevada. I doubt that we would have beat AFA or FSU, given those loses are squarely on the defense and we would have lost even if Heaps had been the full-time starter....

So if he went with Riley to start and play the entirety of the first 3 games, you think we are better than 1-3? Sorry, but no. If Riley gets all reps, we beat UW, we still lose at AFA, Riley goes down at FSU and we lose and Jake comes in now with fewer reps for the Nevada loss. Except this way, Jake is even less prepared than now. So unless Bronco chose Heaps to start day 1, we are not better off. And based upon what we have seen so far from Jake, how could Bronco have chose him? No way, no how.

Lawboy wrote:
So if he went with Riley to start and play the entirety of the first 3 games, you think we are better than 1-3? Sorry, but no. If Riley gets all reps, we beat UW, we still lose at AFA, Riley goes down at FSU and we lose and Jake comes in now with fewer reps for the Nevada loss. Except this way, Jake is even less prepared than now. So unless Bronco chose Heaps to start day 1, we are not better off. And based upon what we have seen so far from Jake, how could Bronco have chose him? No way, no how.

This is the most reasonable post I've seen on this subject for a long time.

Lawboy wrote:
So if he went with Riley to start and play the entirety of the first 3 games, you think we are better than 1-3? Sorry, but no. If Riley gets all reps, we beat UW, we still lose at AFA, Riley goes down at FSU and we lose and Jake comes in now with fewer reps for the Nevada loss. Except this way, Jake is even less prepared than now. So unless Bronco chose Heaps to start day 1, we are not better off. And based upon what we have seen so far from Jake, how could Bronco have chose him? No way, no how.

The only aspect of this post to which I would respond is the line that is in bold.



I think had Bronco selected Heaps by the end of Spring ball he would be further along than what we have seen thus far. The bottom line is, Heaps IS good enough to play this year. The coaches know that...I think they may have been to cautious because he is a freshman...not because of what they saw in practice or in camp.



To be honest, based upon what we have seen from Jake so far I think he is good enough to play and had he been given the reps in camp, during practice, and in each game...he would be playing better than he is right now - and I think we would probably be 1-3...but a better 1-3 than we are right now.

pjmuli wrote:

So if he went with Riley to start and play the entirety of the first 3 games, you think we are better than 1-3? Sorry, but no. If Riley gets all reps, we beat UW, we still lose at AFA, Riley goes down at FSU and we lose and Jake comes in now with fewer reps for the Nevada loss. Except this way, Jake is even less prepared than now. So unless Bronco chose Heaps to start day 1, we are not better off. And based upon what we have seen so far from Jake, how could Bronco have chose him? No way, no how.

The only aspect of this post to which I would respond is the line that is in bold.



I think had Bronco selected Heaps by the end of Spring ball he would be further along than what we have seen thus far. The bottom line is, Heaps IS good enough to play this year. The coaches know that...I think they may have been to cautious because he is a freshman...not because of what they saw in practice or in camp.



To be honest, based upon what we have seen from Jake so far I think he is good enough to play and had he been given the reps in camp, during practice, and in each game...he would be playing better than he is right now - and I think we would probably be 1-3...but a better 1-3 than we are right now.

I think that if we would have started Jake Heaps against WA we would be 0-4 right now. Washington would have blitzed the crap out of him and he would have been on his back all game. The fact that Riley took that pressure off of him was what got him comfortable. You might remember that he only had 1 good drive all game in the WA game. Heaps is a future star but he is only starting as a freshman because BYU doesn't have a better option right now. I think Riley was more prepared to be a starter initially but Heaps is the future. I think the coaches had hoped that Riley could take over the team so they could develop Heaps and that is why they never went away from rotating guys until they had too.

88Coug wrote:

kitic77 wrote:
IMO, BYU would have much better play at QB right now if they had decided on a QB after spring ball. If BYU had named Riley or Jake the starter and gotten either one of them starter reps in fall camp, we'd be much better off.



I said from the beginning that I didn't think there was a bad decision when it came to picking a QB. But apparently not making a decision was the worst decision.

AMEN. BIGGEST MISTAKE ever for Bronco. We would have a different record had he made that choice.

Yeah, we might be 2-2 with a win over Nevada. I doubt that we would have beat AFA or FSU, given those loses are squarely on the defense and we would have lost even if Heaps had been the full-time starter....

False. Who knows what would have happened against AF, but with a more experienced O, we move the ball better, score more and take some of the pressure off our defense. We were on our way to a 21-7 lead until JJ fumbled and the wheel's came off. Who knows how a more experienced O would have handled that.



The FSU game was a 3 pt game at half. With a more experienced O, the second half would have been very different. I don't know if we win, but if we had last years offense I think we win the game. Our D struggled but were on the field the entirety of the 1st, 3rd and 4th quarters. They were completely gassed at the end.



We might have been 1-3, but we might have been 3-1 too. The D is not nearly as much at fault as some say they are.

frdbtr wrote:
One last thought, the transfer of Ben Olsen started this whole thing. BYU did not recruit guys counting on him returning. Which started this whole QB mess. He led BYU staff to believe he was returning which caused them to not recruit some QB's in years when they could have. Having said that, our QB situation is what it is. We just have to move on from it and be patient with Heaps' development.

Doesn't nabbing Hall from ASU after his mission correct for Ben Olson? Olson would have had 2005-2008 to play after his mission. Without Hall we would have needed a guy last year. (Maybe Bower or Doman would have stayed then.)



I think too much time has passed to bring Olson into this.

Lawboy wrote:
But the point is, you can never have too much depth and talent. Ever. The TE group for 2010 proves that completely.

Isn't too much depth actually what is hurting us at TE? We have so many to choose from we can't make a choice. Splitting all the reps between five guys, just like we are saying about the QB.

Y12 wrote:

One last thought, the transfer of Ben Olsen started this whole thing. BYU did not recruit guys counting on him returning. Which started this whole QB mess. He led BYU staff to believe he was returning which caused them to not recruit some QB's in years when they could have. Having said that, our QB situation is what it is. We just have to move on from it and be patient with Heaps' development.

Doesn't nabbing Hall from ASU after his mission correct for Ben Olson? Olson would have had 2005-2008 to play after his mission. Without Hall we would have needed a guy last year. (Maybe Bower or Doman would have stayed then.)



I think too much time has passed to bring Olson into this.

Hall was a great get, but we may have been able to recruit other guys that would be in the program right now if he hadn't have transferred. We didn't even recruit some QB's while he was on his mission because he said he was going to be back. They manage recruiting based on who we have in the program and who is on missions, when you are counting on someone to return and they don't it hurts.

The key is, make a decision after spring camp. That way the players go into workouts knowing who the guy is. Then give him all or the lion's share of the snaps to preapare for the season in fall camp. Jake clearly outplayed Riley during spring ball. Riley only came back the last week when he was playing with the 1's against the 3's. I'm not sure why the coaches wanted to make it look closer than it was, but I have my suspicions. Jake was head and shoulders above anyone in spring ball, to say there was no separation is to ignore the facts.

88Coug wrote:

kitic77 wrote:
IMO, BYU would have much better play at QB right now if they had decided on a QB after spring ball. If BYU had named Riley or Jake the starter and gotten either one of them starter reps in fall camp, we'd be much better off.



I said from the beginning that I didn't think there was a bad decision when it came to picking a QB. But apparently not making a decision was the worst decision.

AMEN. BIGGEST MISTAKE ever for Bronco. We would have a different record had he made that choice.

Yeah, we might be 2-2 with a win over Nevada. I doubt that we would have beat AFA or FSU, given those loses are squarely on the defense and we would have lost even if Heaps had been the full-time starter....

i don't put fsu or air force squarely on the defense. what was the fsu score at half? it was close. but when our o goes three an dout and keeps the d playing the whole game they get gassed. put the ball in the offense's hands and our d stays fresh, the other teams scores less, and the d performs better. i am not saying we win but it is not out of the realm of possibility. we will see in three weeks or so if our offense is really clicking. if it is then teh argument that this is correct is strengthened.