Anyone else worried that Riley Nelson might be the QB next year?

[smokymountainrain]

Come on, SMR. Didn't you see that HORRIBLE pass against Wyoming!?

And he ran the ball so well that he obviously can't throw.

You're right. I just get carried away sometimes.

[MarkGrace]

I hope we find some way to get Riley on the field because he's an elusive runner and could help the offense. That said, I hope it's not at QB. His arm is just sad.

[Shaka]

I hope we find some way to get Riley on the field because he's an elusive runner and could help the offense. That said, I hope it's not at QB. His arm is just sad.

Mark I hope you're not basing that opinion on the INT last game. Arm strength had nothing to do with that crappy pass.

[SoCalCoug]

He also hasn't shown he can't be Ty Detmer quality passer. I love all the judgements people are making on this guy after seeing him throw all of 10 passes - 7 of which were complete, no less. It's so ridiculous it's almost comical.

So, were every one of his runs a called running play for him? Or is he not seeing open receivers and tucking and running?

I'm a little concerned that he doesn't have the confidence in his passing ability to actually throw the ball a few more times.

[SoCalCoug]

Mark I hope you're not basing that opinion on the INT last game. Arm strength had nothing to do with that crappy pass.

So he has a crappy arm AND makes bad decisions.

[woot]

I'm glad the tenor of this thread has shifted. I'm not expecting great things out of Nelson or Heaps or any other QB next year, but I don't think that Nelson would be terrible, especially if Unga stays. It might be fun to see what that combo could do.

Either way, I sure hope the defense is better next year, as any possible level of effectiveness from a first-year starter won't make for a winning season.

[Shaka]

So, were every one of his runs a called running play for him? Or is he not seeing open receivers and tucking and running?

I'm a little concerned that he doesn't have the confidence in his passing ability to actually throw the ball a few more times.

They were mostly running plays. You forget that Nelson has seen action before and wasn't shy about throwing the ball. You may also want to factor in that at that point in the game Nelson was playing with the 2nd and third string. The name of the game at that point was to run out the clock.

[Shaka]

So he has a crappy arm AND makes bad decisions.

Of course. After all Max, John, Sark, Ty, and Steve never threw a bad touch pass.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Nelson was really pretty effective for Utah State when he played. He may not have a great arm, but he brings a different dimension. If he is a stop gap he should at least have good time to throw as the line should be improved next year with more experience and depth than last year.

I'd like to see what he can do and think he will probably be better than someone who has never taken a collegiate snap at least in the short term.

If he doesn't work out is he athletic enough to play receiver or running back?

[SoCalCoug]

They were mostly running plays. You forget that Nelson has seen action before and wasn't shy about throwing the ball. You may also want to factor in that at that point in the game Nelson was playing with the 2nd and third string. The name of the game at that point was to run out the clock.

Here's what he did when he saw action with Utah State:

Passing Stats
YEAR TEAM CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT
2006 USU 77 139 55.4 925 6.7 6 60 7 115.47
Rushing Stats
YEAR TEAM ATT YDS AVG LNG TD FD FUM LOST
2006 USU 79 292 3.7 21 0 0 0 0


In the win against Fresno State, he was 9 of 19 for 120 yards and a 103.0 QB rating. In his best game, the next week against San Jose State, he was 21 of 24 for 145 yards, and a whopping 119.6 QB rating. In the loss at Nevada, he had an 8.3 QB rating - 6 of 15 for 45 yards - that's 3 yards per attempt! In his last game against New Mexico State, he was replaced in the 1st quarter because he had been ineffective.

I don't know that not being shy about throwing is a good thing in his case. I don't see the Riley Nelson love, and I see no reason to believe he's going to win the starting job next year. He's not a BYU-caliber starting QB. You must have seen something in him that didn't translate through his numbers. Because his numbers that year were horrible.

[Indy Coug]

Here's what he did when he saw action with Utah State:

Passing Stats
YEAR TEAM CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT
2006 USU 77 139 55.4 925 6.7 6 60 7 115.47
Rushing Stats
YEAR TEAM ATT YDS AVG LNG TD FD FUM LOST
2006 USU 79 292 3.7 21 0 0 0 0


In the win against Fresno State, he was 9 of 19 for 120 yards and a 103.0 QB rating. In his best game, the next week against San Jose State, he was 21 of 24 for 145 yards, and a whopping 119.6 QB rating. In the loss at Nevada, he had an 8.3 QB rating - 6 of 15 for 45 yards - that's 3 yards per attempt! In his last game against New Mexico State, he was replaced in the 1st quarter because he had been ineffective.

I don't know that not being shy about throwing is a good thing in his case. I don't see the Riley Nelson love, and I see no reason to believe he's going to win the starting job next year. He's not a BYU-caliber starting QB. You must have seen something in him that didn't translate through his numbers. Because his numbers that year were horrible.

That Utah State team was so atrocious (didn't they get shut out in their first 3 games that year?) that I just can't judge Riley based on 2006.

[SoCalCoug]

That Utah State team was so atrocious (didn't they get shut out in their first 3 games that year?) that I just can't judge Riley based on 2006.

Of course they were. They had no quarterback.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Here's what he did when he saw action with Utah State:

Passing Stats
YEAR TEAM CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT
2006 USU 77 139 55.4 925 6.7 6 60 7 115.47
Rushing Stats
YEAR TEAM ATT YDS AVG LNG TD FD FUM LOST
2006 USU 79 292 3.7 21 0 0 0 0


In the win against Fresno State, he was 9 of 19 for 120 yards and a 103.0 QB rating. In his best game, the next week against San Jose State, he was 21 of 24 for 145 yards, and a whopping 119.6 QB rating. In the loss at Nevada, he had an 8.3 QB rating - 6 of 15 for 45 yards - that's 3 yards per attempt! In his last game against New Mexico State, he was replaced in the 1st quarter because he had been ineffective.

I don't know that not being shy about throwing is a good thing in his case. I don't see the Riley Nelson love, and I see no reason to believe he's going to win the starting job next year. He's not a BYU-caliber starting QB. You must have seen something in him that didn't translate through his numbers. Because his numbers that year were horrible.

He was a true freshman on that team. Also, what were the stats of the other quarterbacks on that team? Leon Jackson's QB rating was 85.

[SoCalCoug]

That Utah State team was so atrocious (didn't they get shut out in their first 3 games that year?) that I just can't judge Riley based on 2006.

Then what are the people who think he's a potential starting BYU QB basing their evidence on? They're basing it on their opinions in spite of his actual performance.

Bottom line is, Riley Nelson is not BYU's next Great White Hope. I think Heaps gets the starting nod next year, and I think a lot of people on the Riley Nelson bandwagon are going to be surprised at how easy a decision it is for the coaches. Heaps is on a different planet from Nelson, ability-wise.

I also think all is not lost next year if BYU starts a true freshman at QB. Heaps has been preparing for this for four or five years.

[Shaka]

That Utah State team was so atrocious (didn't they get shut out in their first 3 games that year?) that I just can't judge Riley based on 2006.

Agreed.