Jake Heaps fans, learn from Matt Barkley

[Ruby Soho]

There is a reason true freshman don't play much.

The QB stats at USC during the Pete Carroll era. (Note that Matt Barkley still has 2 more games...not sure if that is a good thing). Matt Barkley is having an awful year by SC standards....worst since Carson's last sucky year.

2009: Matt Barkley 12 TD and 11 INT
2008: Mark Sanchez 34 TD and 10 INT
2007: John David Booty 23 TD and 10 INT
2006: John David Booty 29 TD and 9 INT
2005: Matt Leinart 28 TD and 8 INT
2004: Matt Leinart 33 TD and 6 INT
2003: Matt Leinart 38 TD and 9 INT
2002: Carson Palmer 33 TD and 10 INT
2001: Carson Palmer 13 TD and 12 INT

Would Jake Heaps suffer a similar statistical fate if he were thrown directly into the fire next season...on the road vs Utah, TCU, and FSU?

I think it may be a LONG season next year in Provo....

I'm already planning on a 6-8 win season.

I'll gladly take a down 2010 with a tough schedule for the return that will come in 2011 and beyond.

[TheBYUGuy]

If Southern Kal can't just plug a guy in and have instant success, I don't know who can. I think BYU could win with Lark or Munns who have already seen some time in the system. I don't know that I would be a fan of them starting Nelson because they'd have to run a very different offense to be successful.

[Indy Coug]

Prior to the beginning of the 2010 season, fans will wisely recognize the issues this BYU team is going to have and proclaim modest win total expectations. By all outward signs, BYU fans will be reasonable and philosophically at peace with the expected dropoff.

Then, as the season progresses and the losses mount, they will wail and gnash and issue profane utterances as if BYU was still supposed to win at least 10 games because Bronco has had 6 years to have "his program" in place and once again they will place Anae's and Hill's heads on chopping blocks.

[TripletDaddy]

If Southern Kal can't just plug a guy in and have instant success, I don't know who can. I think BYU could win with Lark or Munns who have already seen some time in the system. I don't know that I would be a fan of them starting Nelson because they'd have to run a very different offense to be successful.

Well, keep in mind that SC can still have a 10-win season..in a year when they have experienced failure unseen in almost a decade, they can still win 10 games. So that isn't all that bad. Not great, admittedly, but not awful.

I would take 8-10 wins for BYU next year, in a heartbeat.

I am not opposed to seeing if BYU can mix it up a bit with Nelson, although they don't seem to have the right pieces to run the same spread option Oregon is running for Mazola.

[woot]

I'm not so sure we should be resigned to having a rebuilding year. The defense should be better overall, and perhaps greatly so, the special teams will be better, the offensive line will be better, and the receivers will be better. Are these drastically decreased expectations really just based on losing Hall, Pitta, and Tonga? If Unga comes back I expect 9 or 10 wins.

[Indy Coug]

I'm not so sure we should be resigned to having a rebuilding year. The defense should be better overall, and perhaps greatly so, the special teams will be better, the offensive line will be better, and the receivers will be better. Are these drastically decreased expectations really just based on losing Hall, Pitta, and Tonga? If Unga comes back I expect 9 or 10 wins.

We're losing 6 of our defensive front 7, so I'm not sure why we should be better on defense. Our offense will have a sharp drop off. Anything greater than 8 wins should be considered a great accomplishment.

[MarkGrace]

Personally I don't think Nelson is up to much. If the exchange is losing a game or two more with Heaps in order to get him more experience for the future, then I do it.

[woot]

We're losing 6 of our defensive front 7, so I'm not sure why we should be better on defense. Our offense will have a sharp drop off. Anything greater than 8 wins should be considered a great accomplishment.

I'm going by what I learned in Cougjunkie's thread about next year. The D-line loses a lot, but we get Manmaleuna back and it is seems probably So'oto as well, so the drop off might not be so severe. The LBs this year weren't very good as a unit, but next year there is a huge infusion of young talent. While inexperienced, it should be an upgrade.

As for our offense having a sharp drop off, I ask again whether you're basing that only on losing Hall, Pitta, and Tonga. Yes, that's significant, but it might not be as bad as we think based on improvement happening at every other position.

[MartyFunkhouser]

This is one reason, without knowing much about either player, it seems to make more sense for Riley Nelson to start. Not only does he have more time in the program, but his ability to run will take a lot of the pressure off the passing game.

Please start Corbin Louks II.

[cougjunkie]

Please start Corbin Louks II.

He is actually Corbin Louks without the speed.

[Hot Lunch]

We're losing 6 of our defensive front 7, so I'm not sure why we should be better on defense. Our offense will have a sharp drop off. Anything greater than 8 wins should be considered a great accomplishment.

8 or more wins will be a great accomplishment. I really think BYU is a 6 or 7 win team next year. 2011 will be a good year though.

[I.J. Reilly]

8 or more wins will be a great accomplishment. I really think BYU is a 6 or 7 win team next year. 2011 will be a good year though.

Didn't you pick BYU for 8 this year? Maybe this bodes well for next year and we can already peg the Y for 8-9 wins in the coming season.

[Hot Lunch]

The LBs this year weren't very good as a unit, but next year there is a huge infusion of young talent. While inexperienced, it should be an upgrade.

See Jordan Pendleton as an example of the first few games being hard on the inexperienced talented linebackers. Jordan struggled to start the year but by the end was playing great. I don't know if any of the young guys have his talent. They have some but look for them to struggle early.

[Hot Lunch]

Didn't you pick BYU for 8 this year? Maybe this bodes well for next year and we can already peg the Y for 8-9 wins in the coming season.

Yes I did. I am horrible at picking games. So this is a good sign.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

BYU will win all of its conference home games next year (SDSU, NM, Wyoming, UNLV) as well as its home game with Nevada. BYU will also handle Utah State and CSU on the road. That's 7 wins. As for the final five: @Utah, TCU, Air Force, FSU and home against Washington, BYU will probably beat Air Force. The UW game is a legitimate 50-50 game, I'm not sure where that one will go. I highly doubt BYU beats Utah, TCU or FSU on the road.

8 wins will be very solid and most people will be okay with it. I'd be thrilled with 9 wins though.