Heaps' Post-Game Comments

What are your thoughts about the pace of the offense?

I feel like our offense, you know, we did a pretty good job today as far as moving the football. I think we had some good stuff in there today as far as our game plan and our preparation.

But the bottom line is we can't turn the football over. We can't put our defense in situations like that, constantly throughout the football game.

And that is critical, especially in a game like that. We have to take care of the football. Whoever takes care of the football the best, wins the game.

Regardless of execution, in big games like this, if you don't turn the football over, then you win the game.

And our offense was able to move the football. Again, we were struggling to put the ball in the end zone. But most of that was turnovers.

Our opening drive, not a big deal, I try to make a heads-up play by throwing that ball out of bounds, so we [could] punt it off, but it slips out of my hand.

Then the next few, just costly, especially when we are down in the blue zone, and we are about to score. The momentum change there is so big, and quite frankly, I mean the true fact of the matter is, that this game could be much different, and that's the truth.

I don't care who wants to say what, you know, if we don't turn the football over in those critical situations, then this game is different."

Did the offense take a step backwards?

It depends on what aspect you want to look at. As far as taking care of the football and being the offense that our defense can count on, no, we didn't prove that today. Did we show that we can move the football, that we have talent? That we have the ability to be great and show potential in that? Yes.

And that's what I am going to hold onto, is the potential to be great. Because we can. And we will be great.

We are going to work our tails off this week. It is unexcusable, and as an offensive guy, our defense battled, and they played hard. But we put them in constant situations where they were pinned up within the 20-yard-line. But they held them to field goal after field goal.

Like I said earlier, if we take care of the football, this game is a different story. Because of the way our defense was playing, and our offense was moving the ball well.

Why are you struggling to run the football?

Not sure why it's the case. But we need the run game to be established. We need to be able to run the football, and it is not pound it until the cows come home and try and force it, it is something that we have to be able to have that can complement our pass game. And after a while, we came out swinging and our pass game did really well. We felt really confident in what we were doing. And really, we had them on their heels.

But when we don't have a run game established, and it is not effective in our play-calling, they can start keying on some things, and we don't become as balanced, and it makes it harder as a quarterback and as a receiver to get open and make those judgement calls of, OK, we are running the football. We have a pass play, but we are going to run the football because there are two safeties high.

So we really gotta figure that out. I love my offensive lineman. I love my running backs. I will stand behind them, no matter what.

I believe we have one of the best units in the country. We just gotta figure out how to get it going.

How did you feel when you heard the crowd cheer Riley Nelson when he entered the game?

Next question.

What are the keys to bouncing back against Central Florida?

If the guys aren't motivated to get this bad taste out of their mouth, then I don't know what is going to motivate anybody. You know, a loss like this, especially when we knew the game could be so much different, you walk away from this game and you are shaking your head, just because of the fact that we gave them the game, we gave them the opportunity to score points. We gave them the short field. Other than a drive or two that they had, our defense was stopping them.

Utah's offense didn't do anything special. Bottom line is you turn the football over, and especially in those critical situations like we did, we are going to lose games.

Bench the pansy.

Open tryout for all offensive positions. Not NECESSARILY to make changes, but to light a fire under their butts and create some individual accountability.

This kid just doesn't get it. His fumble that was recovered for a touchdown? A "heads-up play." The next two that resulted in zero points? "just costly."



Then he later acts as if he's just waiting on the rest of the team to elevate themselves to his level. "If the guys aren't motivated to get this bad taste out of their mouth, then I don't know what is going to motivate anybody."



What a complete ass-hat.

Fans would be a lot more patient with him if he ever owned up to his shortcomings and stopped emphasizing 'potential' over substance. He continues to exude this attitude that he is beyond reproach. He didn't have any remoarse, wasn't ticked off or disappointed with his performance at all--he seemed to relish the fact that he got his 300 (meaningless) yards while the rest of the team imploded around him.



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snoscythe wrote:
This kid just doesn't get it. His fumble that was recovered for a touchdown? A "heads-up play." The next two that resulted in zero points? "just costly."



Then he later acts as if he's just waiting on the rest of the team to elevate themselves to his level. "If the guys aren't motivated to get this bad taste out of their mouth, then I don't know what is going to motivate anybody."



What a complete ass-hat.

He didn't call it "a heads up play" he said "I try to make a heads up play. throwing the ball out of bounds."



He didn't say he made a heads up play.



It was still a stupid play, but that is why we need a new center/snapper, and Jake now knows to fall on the ball (which he should have known in the first place)



He is just trying to do too much.

What he didn't say was that the only reason he was "trying" to make that certain heads up play was because he didn't want to take the hit if he jumped on the ball.



Blueisbetter, you've mentioned that it's the snaps that are causing the issues many times. I think the reverse is true. Heaps crappy QB play (especially when the snap not PERFECT) is putting tons of pressure on Brown.



A rising tide lifts all boats. Heaps performing well takes pressure off the entire offense. I'm not a QB cheerleader and don't give a darn who starts or plays, but I haven't liked what I've seen out of Heaps. He's not a leader on or off the field and still has an attitude that reeks of entitlement.

Heaps is the perfect example of the entitled generation. Grew up his entire life being told he was awesome. Had everything he ever needed/wanted and never had to "earn" anything. Of course it's somebody else fault and how dare someone try to hit him. Don't they know who he is!



He's the complete opposite of the type of football player Bronco looks for.

declocoug wrote:



Blueisbetter, you've mentioned that it's the snaps that are causing the issues many times. I think the reverse is true. Heaps crappy QB play (especially when the snap not PERFECT) is putting tons of pressure on Brown.

This makes absolutely no sense.

Wow. Criticizing his play and weaknesses on field is one thing. Assassinating the character of a 20 year old kid who is doing the best he knows how is another.



I would have no problem opening the qb position a bit and testing Lark or Munns (or even Riley to a greater extent), though I seriously doubt they would be an improvement by any measure. This offense's problems go deeper than the qb issues (O-line, rush game, play calling etc.) Is it a leadership issue? It very well may be, but that isn't exclusively a Jake issue. He tries to be a leader, but he doesn't necessarily know how yet. But let's all blame him for trying because NOBODY FREAKING ELSE IS STEPPING UP!



One final thought. I agree that Heaps needs to step down the talk. There were things Heaps said in his presser that didn't sit well with me. Much of that can probably be attributed to his youth and immaturity, so he must learn to appropriately deal with that. But, at the same time, you will never find a successful qb who isn't extremely confident, border-lining on cocky. The resilience required to be able to recover from stupid turnovers and mistakes and still play with the level of confidence required to have success would seem to be unfounded arrogance and stupidity to most people. Does Heaps need to step down the talk a notch? Probably. Does he sound a like he isn't accountable to himself? Yes, too often. But that confidence that is giving voice to these vices is the same confidence that is going to eventually enable him to throw a huge TD pass right after throwing a bad INT.



He's young. He feels immense pressure. He will get better. It pointless and classless to defame him as a person.

A pansy, an ass-hat? All of this criticism on what, a 19 year old kid who probably has more raw QB talent than any college qb out there.



Now I'm not saying his raw-talent makes him great or that he will ever become great, or that Heaps is never to blame because he's so talented or highly touted, but really, you guys sound ridiculous.



If you want to talk post-game comments, how about Bronco's? Wrubell asked him what kind of "whip-cracking" changes need to take place and Bronco essentially said none, and that he's a believer of consistency and execution of the same thing over an over again. I'm sorry, but if you don't think there's a couple of whips to crack after last night, you're ignorant. No, Bronco isn't ignorant though, he's just flat out stubborn. Just as you all are calling out Heaps for stubbornly refusing to take blame for his mistakes, Bronco is too stubborn to admit that changes need to be made. Heaps is 19, Bronco is a grown man, what's his excuse?



Yet, do you hear me calling to "bench" Bronco? No, that's not at all what I'm asking. He can be the best coach for us IF and only if he starts making serious changes to the way HE coaches. Likewise, Heaps can be a fantastic QB for us IF and only if he starts making some changes too.



I think the clock is running short on both Heaps and Bronco. Bronco needs to be the coach and Heaps needs to be the QB because the upside potential is phenomenal. But if the changes aren't made soon, Heaps and Bronco will need benched.

DarthMagnus wrote:
Wow. Criticizing his play and weaknesses on field is one thing. Assassinating the character of a 20 year old kid who is doing the best he knows how is another.



I would have no problem opening the qb position a bit and testing Lark or Munns (or even Riley to a greater extent), though I seriously doubt they would be an improvement by any measure. This offense's problems go deeper than the qb issues (O-line, rush game, play calling etc.) Is it a leadership issue? It very well may be, but that isn't exclusively a Jake issue. He tries to be a leader, but he doesn't necessarily know how yet. But let's all blame him for trying because NOBODY FREAKING ELSE IS STEPPING UP!



One final thought. I agree that Heaps needs to step down the talk. There were things Heaps said in his presser that didn't sit well with me. Much of that can probably be attributed to his youth and immaturity, so he must learn to appropriately deal with that. But, at the same time, you will never find a successful qb who isn't extremely confident, border-lining on cocky. The resilience required to be able to recover from stupid turnovers and mistakes and still play with the level of confidence required to have success would seem to be unfounded arrogance and stupidity to most people. Does Heaps need to step down the talk a notch? Probably. Does he sound a like he isn't accountable to himself? Yes, too often. But that confidence that is giving voice to these vices is the same confidence that is going to eventually enable him to throw a huge TD pass right after throwing a bad INT.



He's young. He feels immense pressure. He will get better. It pointless and classless to defame him as a person.

One's character dictates the type of person they are, the type of decisions they make, and in the game of football the type of player they are. Heaps slides on the ground like he's a multi-million dollar franchise QB because he thinks more of self preservation than he does about making a play.



Heaps cowers like a little girl when a defender gets remotely close because, again, he's thinking more about himself and avoiding pain/injury than he is about his team. Team comes second. Self preservation comes first. That denotes selfishness.



Opting to throw it into traffic rather than run for ten yards and possibly get hit, again denotes fear and self preservation. When the coach is yelling and pointing at you to run and you opt to throw instead it denotes pride as you think you know better than the coach and choose not to follow. Heaps is a wuss and a coward. The good of the team takes a back seat to his priorities and it shows.



When asked what he thought about Nelson coming in and Nelson getting cheers, Heaps dodges the question, replying, "Next question." This denotes a lack of humility and accountability.

What needs to happen is Bronco needs to remove Heaps from the media for a while. Give Heaps a mental rest. I wouldn't allow Heaps to talk to the media for a few weeks. Let him focus soley on playing.



Oh and Heaps isn't 19. He's been 20 for three months.

Whoever asked the question about the cheer for Riley was just muckraking. It was a ridiculous question meant to incite stupid internet chatter. And lookie here...stupid internet chatter.



The game last night sucked, to be sure, but some of you really sound like you need to step away from the ledge and participate in reality like the rest of us.

SpiffCoug wrote:
What needs to happen is Bronco needs to remove Heaps from the media for a while. Give Heaps a mental rest. I wouldn't allow Heaps to talk to the media for a few weeks. Let him focus soley on playing.



Oh and Heaps isn't 19. He's been 20 for three months.

And he's not on a mission!!! ***GASP*** :)

CAFB_04-12 wrote:
Whoever asked the question about the cheer for Riley was just muckraking. It was a ridiculous question meant to incite stupid internet chatter. And lookie here...stupid internet chatter.



The game last night sucked, to be sure, but some of you really sound like you need to step away from the ledge and participate in reality like the rest of us.

+ ... A lot of make believe points. In fact, choose your own number.



What do people like Gunk want him to say?



"Next Question." Is about the only appropriate response there. If Heaps said "Well I hope he does well cause he's my teammate and blah blah blah" then I would definitely know he isn't the guy.

Gunk, how did you feel when that girl turned you down in front of your friends and they all laughed at you?

I thought the cheers for Nelson last night were mostly sarcastic in nature. It didn't come off to me as real cheering if that makes sense.

Were there really any BYU fans in the stands in the 4th anyway? Looked to me that most started leaving with 10 minutes left.

SpiffCoug wrote:
I thought the cheers for Nelson last night were mostly sarcastic in nature. It didn't come off to me as real cheering if that makes sense.

Were you there?



(Not singling you out, just trying to get the in game perspective of that)



I was laughing out loud every time we let them run 45 yards for a TD in the 4th. It was just so bad there was nothing else you could do.



Reminded me of the FSU and TCU games @LES a couple years ago.

I remember thinking, what if Utah sacks Nelson here and gets a fumble for TD...



I also remember thinking, that White guys is going to get a TD every time he touches the ball in this quarter.