Plenty of Blame

There is plenty of blame to go around. I chuckle at the people that are convinced that benching Heaps or firing Anae will solve all of our problems. Let's take a look at things from Saturday. I got this info from Greg Wrubell and you can read more here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=498&sid=12956291" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



1. 16-0 BYU is on the WY 37, 4th and 1. We decide to go for it, and get a false start. 4th and 6 and we punt. OLINE FAIL.



2. Jake throws an incredible INT. At least incredible if you look at how good of a pass it was to the WY LB. QB FAIL.



3. The next drive Quezada fumbles on 3rd and 8 (you might be able to put some blame on Anae for running the ball three plays in a row). RB FAIL.



4. 25-13 in the third quarter, BYU gets the ball on the WY 24 yard line after 8 yard punt. 3rd and 3 we get another false start and then incomplete pass on 3rd and 8. OLINE FAIL



5. Mitch Payne misses his first FG inside the 30 because of it being blocked. OLINE FAIL



6. 4th quarter, 3rd and 2, needing a first down to bleed the clock and we take Kariya out of the game. JJ gets 1 yard making him 25% for the year on 3rd and 2. Anae %$#@%#& FAIL!!!!!



If we get 3 pts on 1, 2, 4 and 5 the final score is 37-10. If we get a TD instead of a FG on 1 and 2 the final score is 45-10.



From my tally I see the following:



FAILURES:



OLINE 3

QB 1

RB 1

Anae 1



I don't know if Anae being replaced will fix all of these things, and I am not here to argue that. But those that think a simple change will fix everything are not seeing the big picture.



I think Anae needs to go for many reasons that don't have to do with just Saturday, but there are more problems than just play calling right now.

Did you also chuckle at the people who were convinced that Nelson and the 2 QB system were the problem? There's been negativity all season long, but people are taking notice now that some of it is directed at the God-send Heaps.

Schmoe wrote:
Did you also chuckle at the people who were convinced that Nelson and the 2 QB system were the problem? There's been negativity all season long, but people are taking notice now that some of it is directed at the God-send Heaps.

No and that just proves the point I am trying to make. Multiple things are going wrong right now that being a huge one.



Anae needs to go, but that doesn't solve all the very obvious and glaring problems.

+1



Amen - Ding Ding Ding - Halleluja - Spot on



Go Cougars



PS can't blame Anae for running it 3 times in a row in the series right after the pick 6 and especially in that spot on the field. But the Heaps lovers are also Juice lovers and will wince a ibt to see that playing the talented freshman has a downside - ie mistakes. And I love Juice. He is one of the freshmen that has actually earned his touches. But I just disagree when some people think he should be getting all of the touches. I am glad we are developing him and hopefully he is learning about ball control like JJ has had to do as well.

Wow!!!! No failures (drops) for the recievers in this game and no blame for them or their coach whatsoever for the entire season?????

I'm calling Bogus!!!!

IndiCoug wrote:
Wow!!!! No failures (drops) for the recievers in this game and no blame for them or their coach whatsoever for the entire season?????

I'm calling Bogus!!!!

The failure list was far from all inclusive. Feel free to add to the list that Wrubell started.

Good thread. Yes receivers were blatantly omitted from the analysis, but the point is very relevant.

I am very guilty of blaming Anae.

I was glad to see the Oline placed on the list.

What it is missing are the intangibles, which are harder to quantify.

BUt this team, particularly the offense, is severely deprived of player and coach-led leadership.

By virtue of the fact that there is so much blame to spread around, that would seem to suggest the ultimate problem is coaching. We can say it is a lack of talent, or lack of focus on the part of players, etc.



If so, how is it possible for Bronco to transform the defense from being one of the worst in nation practically overnight? Given that the players have not changed, the obvious answer is coaching.



Is Heaps capable of playing well right now? If so, why is he not playing well? If not, why is he playing?



Why is it that Ashworth sucked all year until MENDENHALL called him out and suddenly the receivers are practicing with more focus?



Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the Wyoming game, for me, was this...yes, the Heaps interception was bad...but anyone with half a brain would know that the worst thing you can do as a playcaller is to abandon the pass altogether as a knee jerk reaction to an interception. It damages the confidence of your quarterback and increases your offensive predictability.



When Heaps does finally throw passes again, he connects on two beautiful throws, one of them being a touchdown...finally developing a rhythm, something to build on. Then, when he takes the field again...he hands the ball off. On third and 8, we hand the ball off and kick a field goal...



I suppose there is something to be said for being wise in preserving the win...but the ultra-conservative playcalling is not only boring, but BYU is not going to be bowl eligible if they cannot throw the ball for more than 81 yards. This team REALLY needs to go to a bowl for the extra development it provides.



As always, I close with what I believe is the most tangible fruit requiring a change at BYU...



12 yards.

pjmuli wrote:
By virtue of the fact that there is so much blame to spread around, that would seem to suggest the ultimate problem is coaching. We can say it is a lack of talent, or lack of focus on the part of players, etc.



If so, how is it possible for Bronco to transform the defense from being one of the worst in nation practically overnight? Given that the players have not changed, the obvious answer is coaching.



Is Heaps capable of playing well right now? If so, why is he not playing well? If not, why is he playing?



Why is it that Ashworth sucked all year until MENDENHALL called him out and suddenly the receivers are practicing with more focus?



Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the Wyoming game, for me, was this...yes, the Heaps interception was bad...but anyone with half a brain would know that the worst thing you can do as a playcaller is to abandon the pass altogether as a knee jerk reaction to an interception. It damages the confidence of your quarterback and increases your offensive predictability.



When Heaps does finally throw passes again, he connects on two beautiful throws, one of them being a touchdown...finally developing a rhythm, something to build on. Then, when he takes the field again...he hands the ball off. On third and 8, we hand the ball off and kick a field goal...



I suppose there is something to be said for being wise in preserving the win...but the ultra-conservative playcalling is not only boring, but BYU is not going to be bowl eligible if they cannot throw the ball for more than 81 yards. This team REALLY needs to go to a bowl for the extra development it provides.



As always, I close with what I believe is the most tangible fruit requiring a change at BYU...



12 yards.

And just why is it that BYU had 12 yards? it couldn't have been the same team that produced 81 yards passing against WYOMING was facing probably the best defensive team in NCAA football. Almost everyone was calling for the run against TCU. It was the key to victory everyone was claiming. Now you (and I don't know if you were someone calling for more running game) are frustrated that Heaps doesn't throw more and that Anae runs the ball 3 times in a row.



Anae is boring but BYU should be able to pick up 10 yards against wyoming's miserable defense in 3 tries. My point is, Anae at this point is never going to be right in his play calling. He either throws more with a sub par QB and gets grilled, or flame broiled for running the ball too much when he doesn't get a first down on a running play.



I'm not defending Anae. I think he has been subpar in his ability to unify the offense and get them excited as the defense seems to be about playing football. I wouldn't mind a change at OC but a lot of people are putting way too much blame on Anae. I like this thread northerncougar.

The past few years I have been very impressed with the Missouri offense. Of course that was Dave Christiansen's offense, now the head coach at Wyoming. Wyo's offense on Saturday was better and more creative in many ways that was BYU's. If I had a vote, I would hire Christensen to be our next offensive coordinator. I think he has a big upside, but I don't know how he "fits" in at BYU.



BYU has had numerous non-LDS coaches over the years, they just need to be decent men who know what they're doing, and who are not foul mouthed or otherwise anathema to BYU standards.



I just refuse to accept that BYU's problem is the players, or lack of talent. We are now 8 games into the season and our experienced offensive line continues to kill drives with false starts. Good grief, is no coach able to fix that? I'll bet running wind sprints until all the linemen throw up would help. And it doesn't matter if running backs and receivers are freshmen or seniors, they must be made to protect the ball, especially in certain situations--if they don't do that in practice, they don't play, if they don't do that in games, they don't play. Sheesh, this stuff is frustrating.

pjmuli wrote:
By virtue of the fact that there is so much blame to spread around, that would seem to suggest the ultimate problem is coaching..

Put me in this category.

declocoug wrote:

By virtue of the fact that there is so much blame to spread around, that would seem to suggest the ultimate problem is coaching. We can say it is a lack of talent, or lack of focus on the part of players, etc.



If so, how is it possible for Bronco to transform the defense from being one of the worst in nation practically overnight? Given that the players have not changed, the obvious answer is coaching.



Is Heaps capable of playing well right now? If so, why is he not playing well? If not, why is he playing?



Why is it that Ashworth sucked all year until MENDENHALL called him out and suddenly the receivers are practicing with more focus?



Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the Wyoming game, for me, was this...yes, the Heaps interception was bad...but anyone with half a brain would know that the worst thing you can do as a playcaller is to abandon the pass altogether as a knee jerk reaction to an interception. It damages the confidence of your quarterback and increases your offensive predictability.



When Heaps does finally throw passes again, he connects on two beautiful throws, one of them being a touchdown...finally developing a rhythm, something to build on. Then, when he takes the field again...he hands the ball off. On third and 8, we hand the ball off and kick a field goal...



I suppose there is something to be said for being wise in preserving the win...but the ultra-conservative playcalling is not only boring, but BYU is not going to be bowl eligible if they cannot throw the ball for more than 81 yards. This team REALLY needs to go to a bowl for the extra development it provides.



As always, I close with what I believe is the most tangible fruit requiring a change at BYU...



12 yards.

And just why is it that BYU had 12 yards? it couldn't have been the same team that produced 81 yards passing against WYOMING was facing probably the best defensive team in NCAA football.

...and so how is it that powerful Tennessee Tech amassed more than 12 yards in the first half against this vaunted, vaunted defense? Does anyone really think that CSU has better offensive talent than BYU? Or Wyoming?



Get real.



This is coaching.



12 yards.

pjmuli wrote:

pjmuli wrote:
By virtue of the fact that there is so much blame to spread around, that would seem to suggest the ultimate problem is coaching. We can say it is a lack of talent, or lack of focus on the part of players, etc.



If so, how is it possible for Bronco to transform the defense from being one of the worst in nation practically overnight? Given that the players have not changed, the obvious answer is coaching.



Is Heaps capable of playing well right now? If so, why is he not playing well? If not, why is he playing?



Why is it that Ashworth sucked all year until MENDENHALL called him out and suddenly the receivers are practicing with more focus?



Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the Wyoming game, for me, was this...yes, the Heaps interception was bad...but anyone with half a brain would know that the worst thing you can do as a playcaller is to abandon the pass altogether as a knee jerk reaction to an interception. It damages the confidence of your quarterback and increases your offensive predictability.



When Heaps does finally throw passes again, he connects on two beautiful throws, one of them being a touchdown...finally developing a rhythm, something to build on. Then, when he takes the field again...he hands the ball off. On third and 8, we hand the ball off and kick a field goal...



I suppose there is something to be said for being wise in preserving the win...but the ultra-conservative playcalling is not only boring, but BYU is not going to be bowl eligible if they cannot throw the ball for more than 81 yards. This team REALLY needs to go to a bowl for the extra development it provides.



As always, I close with what I believe is the most tangible fruit requiring a change at BYU...



12 yards.

And just why is it that BYU had 12 yards? it couldn't have been the same team that produced 81 yards passing against WYOMING was facing probably the best defensive team in NCAA football.

...and so how is it that powerful Tennessee Tech amassed more than 12 yards in the first half against this vaunted, vaunted defense? Does anyone really think that CSU has better offensive talent than BYU? Or Wyoming?



Get real.



This is coaching.



12 yards.

eh, maybe.