The Role of Riley Nelson in Y Offense

I am freely admitting that when we got Riley after the mission I was pretty happy. I had heard all about his incredible stats in high school, but never did I once see him play. Do I believe that Nelson is a pretty good athlete, yes. Do I believe that he is a D-1 QB, absolutely not. I do not believe that Nelson would start on any team north of Provo, including Weber State. It is not a requisite to throw the ball over a 1/4 mile to be a college Quarterback. But the fact that Riley makes Kevin Feterik look like he's had a John Elway cannon shows how weak his arm is. I believe according to everything that I've read and seen, Lark should be the back up. I know I am going to get killed for that, but if Lark truly is the athletic freak we keep hearing about, then I fully believe he can run just as well as Riley, but he will be able to throw more routes than Riley can. I know Anae is gone, but Bronco still loves the underdog story and I believe that is what is keeping Riley running with the two's. It wont be long before his inability to run the offense from under center will lead to his demise. But who cares we committed Hinds!

Pretty sure I would start riley over Wynn. Just sayin.



What exactly has been said or you have read that leads you to believe that Lark should be backup. I mean, he did far less in garbage time than Riley did starting.



And apparently you know Bronco well enough that it's only his love of "the underdog" that keeps him in the #2 QB spot? Really?



:roll: :P

I'd start Riley over Wynn too. I listened to part of a Wynn interview on the way in to work today. The guy just doesn't sound like some one who has "it." I don't think Wynn is a winner and I think the Utes will struggle this year and next with him at the helm. He may be successful, but he'll be another quickly forgotten Utah QB.

Riley has already started at one school North of Provo and is a better talent than the new kid they have.

Declocoug I truly believe that. Because even as much as Bronco said it was up to the offensive coaches last year to decide who the QB was, when push came to shove Bronco stepped in and made some changes on offense. Yes I know Riley got hurt, but come on, a non-throwing shoulder injury kept a QB out? It's obvious that Riley doesn't have it, but everyone on this site can attest to how loyal Bronco is to players who he feels work hard. So I believe that Riley is where he is because he's well liked by Bronco and the other coaches. I know didn't see every pass of fall camp last year, spring camp, or summer this year. I did see several, and there is no way that Lark should be behind Nelson as far a throwing QB is concerned, I never saw lark run it So I will give Nelson the edge but in a vertical system like were trying to run (although everyone keeps saying vertical but WCO is about a lot of shorter option routes, so who knows what our offense really is). I would not start Riley over Wynn in Utah's new offense. Years past with the spread option I would have started Nelson over Wynn, but with their pro-style (or byu style) offense Wynn will be better than Nelson. I just dislike this whole thread, Riley Nelson's role in the offense is at best a 2nd string QB. That is his role.

Heaps is number one for a reason. riley is two for a reason and lark is 3 for a reason. i would not be surprised to see lark takeover the 2 spot though. He looks the part and may have enough time back that things start clicking for him again. Given his physical abilities I could easily see him passing riley if he started playing well. You can't argue that riley has outplayed him to this point though.

jonnylingo wrote:
Heaps is number one for a reason. riley is two for a reason and lark is 3 for a reason. i would not be surprised to see lark takeover the 2 spot though. He looks the part and may have enough time back that things start clicking for him again. Given his physical abilities I could easily see him passing riley if he started playing well. You can't argue that riley has outplayed him to this point though.

+9

Per people who saw summer workouts and Day 1, Lark has caught and passed Riley. It is all over TBS chat, where many BYU players parents post as well. And it is not personal to say so. Obviously, Doman and Bronco will decide. But I suspect that within the next 2-3 weeks we will see Lark at #2 on the depth chart, and if we don't, it means Riley is killing it.

Lawboy wrote:
Per people who saw summer workouts and Day 1, Lark has caught and passed Riley. It is all over TBS chat, where many BYU players parents post as well. And it is not personal to say so. Obviously, Doman and Bronco will decide. But I suspect that within the next 2-3 weeks we will see Lark at #2 on the depth chart, and if we don't, it means Riley is killing it.

Excellent. Then it means Lark is really killing it as well to have finally caught and passed Riley.

SpiffCoug wrote:

Per people who saw summer workouts and Day 1, Lark has caught and passed Riley. It is all over TBS chat, where many BYU players parents post as well. And it is not personal to say so. Obviously, Doman and Bronco will decide. But I suspect that within the next 2-3 weeks we will see Lark at #2 on the depth chart, and if we don't, it means Riley is killing it.

Excellent. Then it means Lark is really killing it as well to have finally caught and passed Riley.

Sheesh. Was that so hard? ;-)

dmcougar wrote:

Lawboy wrote:
Per people who saw summer workouts and Day 1, Lark has caught and passed Riley. It is all over TBS chat, where many BYU players parents post as well. And it is not personal to say so. Obviously, Doman and Bronco will decide. But I suspect that within the next 2-3 weeks we will see Lark at #2 on the depth chart, and if we don't, it means Riley is killing it.

Excellent. Then it means Lark is really killing it as well to have finally caught and passed Riley.

Sheesh. Was that so hard? ;-)

wow, I see the TIC emoticoug but is it really so hard to admit that Nelson is far from the worst QB BYU has seen. I don't think anyone that defends Nelson would rather see him play over Heaps, but are just tired of the bashing the guy takes. I'm thrilled that Lark might actually be playing at a higher level than Nelson. Just confused as to why there is so much animosity around here for any positive comment about Nelson.

Although it does sound like Lark completely tore up the team session today.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Although it does sound like Lark completely tore up the team session today.

Which is great. If Lark is better than Nelson BYU is that much better as a team. Why people feel the need to completely sell out Nelson to make their favorite QB seem better is just dumb. I'm more than happy to let the coaches sort it out.

Back-up spot not settled at all, per Bronco. Not sure how stating Lark might get the back up spot is selling anyone out, though. Nor is talking about a players obvious limitations. But you are right--the coaches get to decide, and we get to enjoy reading about what takes place.



"Star of the day was third-string QB James Lark, who led a touchdown drive. Mendenhall said battle for No. 2 QB spot is not settled at all."



http://twitter.com/#!/drewjay/statuses/100733101117931520" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is mainly for the Riley-Lark debate, but could go for other position/depth chart battles as well.



How many days do you need to out perform the guy in front of you on the depth chart before you move up? One? Two? Five? Do they need to be consecutive?

Lawboy wrote:
Back-up spot not settled at all, per Bronco. Not sure how stating Lark might get the back up spot is selling anyone out, though. Nor is talking about a players obvious limitations. But you are right--the coaches get to decide, and we get to enjoy reading about what takes place.



"Star of the day was third-string QB James Lark, who led a touchdown drive. Mendenhall said battle for No. 2 QB spot is not settled at all."



http://twitter.com/#!/drewjay/statuses/100733101117931520" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm fine with a decision to make someone a #2 (I don't really care if Nelson is #2 or #3) and with pointing out weaknesses in someone's game. But when people start posting that player X is not qualified to be a D1 QB or can't throw the ball over the line or farther than 15 years, that same poster starts to look a bit unqualified as an armchair QB. That's all.



But everyone's entitled to an opinion I guess.

OK, I admit. Nelson is far from the worst byu qb.

Question: Whose stock is falling faster? The DOW or the Nelson?

dmcougar wrote:

Don't be fooled, Lark is a freak-of-nature as far as athletic QBs are concerned. Just because he doesn't have all the throws and the polish that some of the other guys do, doesn't mean he's not athletic. He has the highest bench press of any BYU QB ever.

LArk will be #2 by mid-season. Nelson's game just will not fit this offense as well. Admittedly, it will be nice to have Riley very well prepared to "run" the offense, considerably modified, of course. Because he cannot make all the throws and will resort to "tuck, duck and run" until he gets leveled a couple of times and gets injured. Riley may have won the state high school battle with lark, but it will be different by season end.

OOPS. Looks like I was wrong. It may not take until mid-season for lark to attain #2. See, I was speaking positively of RIley, giving him more credit than he probably was deserving.

Schmoe wrote:
Don't be fooled, Lark is a freak-of-nature as far as athletic QBs are concerned. Just because he doesn't have all the throws and the polish that some of the other guys do, doesn't mean he's not athletic. He has the highest bench press of any BYU QB ever.

No kidding? What does Lark bench? I've never heard. Thx!