What to make of Jake Heaps

Two plays from the game made it very hard to properly evaluate his play. The pick six and KVN winning the game. There were some positive signs that Heaps is still progressing, and not regressing.



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I thought it was intersting, he was missing a lot of open recievers when he had time... and he was sitting in the pocket... when he was rushed, or had a PA bootleg and was on the run... he was money. Watch the game again if you dont believe me. He just needs to calm down, take a deep breath, and just throw the ball. He's got the arm, he was just trying to do too much I think. He was over throwing, and throwing too hard. Hopefully it was just the first game jitters and against texas he can throw it like he knows how

1. He's a sophomore

2. Played in a hostile environment

3. On the road

4. With a ton of pressure on his shoulders

5. Maybe a little arrogant after reading his press all off-season

6. Played better in the 2nd half than the first

7. Too many fans expected him to throw for 7 TD's on the road

8. And win the NC

9. And the Heisman

10. And the NFC West

11. All at the same time



Jake isn't the issue, it is the massively ridiculous expectations from fans who were expecting a 5th year sr performance in his first game, on the road, as a true sophomore.



He sucked in the first half after he got blindsided. He was much better in the 2nd half. I'll take his QB rating improvement and look forward to continued improvement all season.

northerncougar wrote:
1. He's a sophomore

2. Played in a hostile environment

3. On the road

4. With a ton of pressure on his shoulders

5. Maybe a little arrogant after reading his press all off-season

6. Played better in the 2nd half than the first

7. Too many fans expected him to throw for 7 TD's on the road

8. And win the NC

9. And the Heisman

10. And the NFC West

11. All at the same time



Jake isn't the issue, it is the massively ridiculous expectations from fans who were expecting a 5th year sr performance in his first game, on the road, as a true sophomore.



He sucked in the first half after he got blindsided. He was much better in the 2nd half. I'll take his QB rating improvement and look forward to continued improvement all season.

amen! We seem to have some really fickle fans (not that everyone else doesn't). He's a sophomore who had a below average first half against an SEC team on the road but pulled it together in the second half despite the pick 6. We were all over him as being 'THE' guy and now that he struggled for the tiniest amount of time we're over analyzing. Give him this week and saturday and we'll see where he's at. I'm not expecting 5 TD's against UT, but I do believe he is capable of doing enough to get the win and that will be enough for me.

He is still young. Still learning to read defenses. Will be great with time. Above average already as a young sophmore.

1. He's a sophomore

2. Played in a hostile environment

3. On the road

4. With a ton of pressure on his shoulders

5. Maybe a little arrogant after reading his press all off-season

6. Played better in the 2nd half than the first

7. Too many fans expected him to throw for 7 TD's on the road

8. And win the NC

9. And the Heisman

10. And the NFC West

11. All at the same time

12. And take care of his grandma with dementia

13. And date the coaches daughter

14. And work at the Alamo freeze



oh wait, are we talking about Saracen or Heaps?

ProV1 wrote:
1. He's a sophomore

2. Played in a hostile environment

3. On the road

4. With a ton of pressure on his shoulders

5. Maybe a little arrogant after reading his press all off-season

6. Played better in the 2nd half than the first

7. Too many fans expected him to throw for 7 TD's on the road

8. And win the NC

9. And the Heisman

10. And the NFC West

11. All at the same time

12. And take care of his grandma with dementia

13. And date the couches daughter

14. And work at the Alamo freeze



oh wait, are we talking about Saracen or Heaps?

BYU would be well suited to recruit Saracen, but I don't think fans would like him because of his perceived lack of arm strength.

I do find it somewhat humorous that those who are so vehemently defending Heaps are the same who were so fervently pimping him before he had even played a game. They were the ones clamoring for the keys of the offense be handed to him without competition.

I can accept this. Except, The only weakness in the point that you make is that Jake was beating all the competition--in spring ball while still supposed to be a Sr in HS, in Fall camp 2010, and in real games last year. NOw maybe he did not attend the CougarBib school of leadership, and didnt have the backing of the team early last year, but he did out-perform in most if not all statistical and categorical competitions, except of course for a mission, running ability, Leadership, sun-glass wearing, haircut and abdominals.

Are we really going here again?

SpiffCoug wrote:
I do find it somewhat humorous that those who are so vehemently defending Heaps are the same who were so fervently pimping him before he had even played a game. They were the ones clamoring for the keys of the offense be handed to him without competition.

Besides, its not Heaps' fault there was no competition. :whistle:

I don't think we need to go there. Personally, I'm not worried about Heaps. I think he has shown more than sufficient leadership. I think he has shown more than sufficient improvement and growth. He hasn't arrived yet, but I think he's clearly on his way. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him highly effective on Saturday and lead BYU to a win.



I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a PER around 170 against the Longhorns.

IF/When the snaps get better, his play will get a lot better.



The reason he looked so good in bootlegs, is because it is under center, and he didn't have to deal with horrific snaps.



I'm not saying that is the only reason, but if factors in a ton. More than people think.

ProV1 wrote:

13. And date the couches daughter

So, does this mean dating the love seat or what?

BlueIsBetter wrote:
IF/When the snaps get better, his play will get a lot better.



The reason he looked so good in bootlegs, is because it is under center, and he didn't have to deal with horrific snaps.



I'm not saying that is the only reason, but if factors in a ton. More than people think.

Really? The snaps? That's a huge factor? Sorry, but that's a huge cop-out.



Heaps' play will get better as he settles down. As he looks off safeties. As he gets better at recognizing disguised blitzes. In short, as he gets more experience. The snaps are such a minor issue, that it's almost laughable to attribute any failures to that.



Being more comfortable with pre-snap reads will allow him to be ready for what he'll see after the snap so that a just-off snap won't throw off the entire play.



Heaps is responsible for Heaps play. Can we please stop blaming other factors (bad snaps, not enough reps, coaches didn't like him, the longhorns burnt orange color distracted him)?

SpiffCoug wrote:

IF/When the snaps get better, his play will get a lot better.



The reason he looked so good in bootlegs, is because it is under center, and he didn't have to deal with horrific snaps.



I'm not saying that is the only reason, but if factors in a ton. More than people think.

Really? The snaps? That's a huge factor? Sorry, but that's a huge cop-out.



Heaps' play will get better as he settles down. As he looks off safeties. As he gets better at recognizing disguised blitzes. In short, as he gets more experience. The snaps are such a minor issue, that it's almost laughable to attribute any failures to that.



Being more comfortable with pre-snap reads will allow him to be ready for what he'll see after the snap so that a just-off snap won't throw off the entire play.

That. It is just experience. he has the mental and physical skills to be great. now he just needs experience. once he can read defenses better he will settle down and feel more comfortable making big plays.

SpiffCoug wrote:

IF/When the snaps get better, his play will get a lot better.



The reason he looked so good in bootlegs, is because it is under center, and he didn't have to deal with horrific snaps.



I'm not saying that is the only reason, but if factors in a ton. More than people think.

Really? The snaps? That's a huge factor? Sorry, but that's a huge cop-out.



Heaps' play will get better as he settles down. As he looks off safeties. As he gets better at recognizing disguised blitzes. In short, as he gets more experience. The snaps are such a minor issue, that it's almost laughable to attribute any failures to that.



Being more comfortable with pre-snap reads will allow him to be ready for what he'll see after the snap so that a just-off snap won't throw off the entire play.



Heaps is responsible for Heaps play. Can we please stop blaming other factors (bad snaps, not enough reps, coaches didn't like him, the longhorns burnt orange color distracted him)?

Did you even watch the game Spiff?



Do yourself a favor, and watch it again (if you watched it the first time). It is near IMPOSSIBLE to get into a rhythm when you are getting snaps that are floating in to different areas, at different velocities.



AGAIN, I'm not saying that is the only reason. But when you can call a snap "good" (only like 10-20 total snaps) we had much better results. Same as under center.



To say the snaps didn't affect game flow and rhythm is just being ignorant.

Snaps need to be improved, but they were a minor issue and I would say the amount of effect they had on Heaps performance account to approximately 0-5% of his struggles.

I'm just pleased he did not fumble when he got blindsided!

BlueIsBetter wrote:
Did you even watch the game Spiff?



Do yourself a favor, and watch it again (if you watched it the first time). It is near IMPOSSIBLE to get into a rhythm when you are getting snaps that are floating in to different areas, at different velocities.



AGAIN, I'm not saying that is the only reason. But when you can call a snap "good" (only like 10-20 total snaps) we had much better results. Same as under center.



To say the snaps didn't affect game flow and rhythm is just being ignorant.

Yes I did watch the game. And I'm willing to bet that Jake Heaps would reject any snaps excuse. He would put the onus on himself to make plays. He wouldn't be looking for excuses. Heaps was better when he was settled and made good reads and good throws - NOT when he got good snaps.



The snaps are an irrelevant part of the play and I highly doubt Heaps would allow it to be an excuse for poor play/execution in any way, shape or form.

SpiffCoug wrote:

IF/When the snaps get better, his play will get a lot better.



The reason he looked so good in bootlegs, is because it is under center, and he didn't have to deal with horrific snaps.



I'm not saying that is the only reason, but if factors in a ton. More than people think.

Really? The snaps? That's a huge factor? Sorry, but that's a huge cop-out.



Heaps' play will get better as he settles down. As he looks off safeties. As he gets better at recognizing disguised blitzes. In short, as he gets more experience. The snaps are such a minor issue, that it's almost laughable to attribute any failures to that.

I missed the game, but I swear Ole Miss would argue you on that OR was that Auburn?



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