BYU-Washington

[myboynoah]

On another note, I am now a huge husky fan. I may adopted them as my second team, much as BO adopted the Crimson Tide.

As I've mentioned before. Our seats are right in front of the corner of the visitors section. The husky fans right behind us were absolute studs. They had fun with my kids and were great to talk to. They shared their peanuts with my kids and were great to talk football with. We shook hands at the end of the game. They were a class act.

So I'm a huge Husky fan from here on out. Sorry HFNW. Just being honest.

At the UW game two years ago, we were right in the middle of a huge purple crowd. They were all super-cool, even after the crappy way it ended.

Sure they were great in the stands, but in the men's/women's rooms it was a different story.

F the Mormons!

[Surfah]

My observations:

The offensive and defensive lines were fantastic—BYU dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball.

The linebackers are suspect IMO and I think it's mostly due to inexperience. Unfortunately AFA is next up followed by FSU. Too bad we couldn't have a patsy schedule like Utah to allow for a little seasoning.

The defensive secondary was as good a group as I have seen, especially on the corners. Logan was fantastic.

It seemed to me BYU blitzed more last night than the last two seasons combined. I agree that they needed to get out of the base D a little more but maybe that will happen against better talent at FSU?

The RB's by committee are serviceable. We have been spoiled the last couple of seasons with Unga and Tonga etc. Welcome back to reality.

The tight ends were a nice surprise. I really liked how they were used in the offense and I look forward to watching their progression this season.

And as for the signal callers ... Heaps is clearly the more talented QB. Wow is all I can say; his poise and abilities are as advertised. However, BYU does not win that game last night with him as the lone starter. The bottom line is BYU get's 9 wins with Nelson alone this season. With Heaps alone they get 7. Combined you might be looking at 10 plus. Playing them both is a gamble but the team and each athlete seems to be handling it the right way. That's why Bronco is the head coach and Anae or Doman are not.

How do you figure?

If Nelson is the lone starter every team would spy on him, stack the box to stop the run, and force Nelson to beat us with his arm.

[tooblue]

My observations:

The offensive and defensive lines were fantastic—BYU dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball.

The linebackers are suspect IMO and I think it's mostly due to inexperience. Unfortunately AFA is next up followed by FSU. Too bad we couldn't have a patsy schedule like Utah to allow for a little seasoning.

The defensive secondary was as good a group as I have seen, especially on the corners. Logan was fantastic.

It seemed to me BYU blitzed more last night than the last two seasons combined. I agree that they needed to get out of the base D a little more but maybe that will happen against better talent at FSU?

The RB's by committee are serviceable. We have been spoiled the last couple of seasons with Unga and Tonga etc. Welcome back to reality.

The tight ends were a nice surprise. I really liked how they were used in the offense and I look forward to watching their progression this season.

And as for the signal callers ... Heaps is clearly the more talented QB. Wow is all I can say; his poise and abilities are as advertised. However, BYU does not win that game last night with him as the lone starter. The bottom line is BYU get's 9 wins with Nelson alone this season. With Heaps alone they get 7. Combined you might be looking at 10 plus. Playing them both is a gamble but the team and each athlete seems to be handling it the right way. That's why Bronco is the head coach and Anae or Doman are not.

Also, while Jacobson had a bad drop, Ashworth was a big disappointment as the standard possession receiver. He dropped a couple of passes that he has to make.

[SCcoug]

How do you figure?

If Nelson is the lone starter every team would spy on him, stack the box to stop the run, and force Nelson to beat us with his arm.

I agree, I think Nelson's effectiveness as a starter will decrease as defenses learn how to play him. That said I think he will be key in easing Heaps into the starting roll and as a change up QB in certain situations.

[tooblue]

How do you figure?

If Nelson is the lone starter every team would spy on him, stack the box to stop the run, and force Nelson to beat us with his arm.

Despite the fact he's got a pus arm he threw the ball well enough to maintain a balanced offensive attack ... hades I even saw him check down. His experience and athletic ability coupled with a dominant O-line and a stout defense gives BYU 9 wins.

Heaps was shooting deer. Teams will stack the box on him, stuff the serviceable run game, pin their ears back, blitz, blitz, blitz and force him into throwing errors. Even with a stout D they only win 7 games with Heaps as a true frosh starter.

A season from now — ooo boy, the kid will be very good.

[CardiacCoug]

I do hate how BYU never goes nickel, they did at the very end of the first half after giving up the big play and getting UW in field goal range but other than that they stayed in base the whole game. We also blitzed more this game than we did all of last year.

Agreed. Washington's first TD came because we had Pendleton matched up on a WR on third and long -- nickel defense would make a difference in avoiding those matchups.

[Surfah]

Despite the fact he's got a pus arm he threw the ball well enough to maintain a balanced offensive attack ... hades I even saw him check down. His experience and athletic ability coupled with a dominant O-line and a stout defense gives BYU 9 wins.

Heaps was shooting deer. Teams will stack the box on him, stuff the serviceable run game, pin their ears back, blitz, blitz, blitz and force him into throwing errors. Even with a stout D they only win 7 games with Heaps as a true frosh starter.

A season from now — ooo boy, the kid will be very good.

Uh, I disagree.

[smokymountainrain]

We also blitzed more this game than we did all of last year.

I agree with this comment. However, I think they did that as they figured it was their best chance at keeping Locker in check. At least I think that was the best way to contain Locker. You rush 3 or 4 and drop everybody into coverage, you are basically giving Locker first downs.

And FWIW I think they need to play Ponder the same way - he isn't the runner/athlete Locker is, but he is very good on the ground and I think they need to respect his mobility the same way. Use the blitz to neutralize the run and hope it flusters Ponder into some mistakes in the pass game as well.

[tooblue]

Uh, I disagree.

We'll see as the season plays out but for this game the proof is in the pudding. Nelson lead the offense for two touchdowns and a two point conversion. While Heaps played well in spots he never got the offense into the end zone. The Cougs would've sputtered all night with Heaps as the lone QB.

The next game will be very telling IMO. AFA has the discipline to do what you suggest against Nelson, but I don't think they will be successful, especially if Nelson continues to make good decisions like he did this week.

Don't get me wrong, Heaps is a special talent. But as for right now the 2 QB system was the right decision.

[jay santos]

Despite the fact he's got a pus arm he threw the ball well enough to maintain a balanced offensive attack ... hades I even saw him check down. His experience and athletic ability coupled with a dominant O-line and a stout defense gives BYU 9 wins.

Heaps was shooting deer. Teams will stack the box on him, stuff the serviceable run game, pin their ears back, blitz, blitz, blitz and force him into throwing errors. Even with a stout D they only win 7 games with Heaps as a true frosh starter.

A season from now — ooo boy, the kid will be very good.

I agree with this. Nelson wins you one more game than Heaps. Combined gives you a couple more. Eg this game. Heaps loses it alone. Nelson might win it maybe not. Together they combine to win.

I think they keep going like this through the FSU game. Heaps is named starter after that and Nelson is reduced to two series per game.

[Shaka]

I agree, I think Nelson's effectiveness as a starter will decrease as defenses learn how to play him. That said I think he will be key in easing Heaps into the starting roll and as a change up QB in certain situations.

UW played a 4-4 stack quite a bit against Nelson. Didn't matter.

[MarkGrace]

We'll see as the season plays out but for this game the proof is in the pudding. Nelson lead the offense for two touchdowns and a two point conversion. While Heaps played well in spots he never got the offense into the end zone. The Cougs would've sputtered all night with Heaps as the lone QB.

Why do you say that? He did lead the two longest drives of the game, and both resulted in points. The only way the offense would have kept sputtering and stayed out of the endzone is if the receivers kept dropping balls and Anae kept deciding that it was a good idea to slam the ball between the tackles around the goaline with a guy who's not very good slamming the ball between the tackles.

But given how unimpressed I was with our receivers last night, maybe you're right.

[Shaka]

I have to agree with MarkGrace. Heaps moved the offense and conservative play calling probably kept him out of the end zone.

[tooblue]

Why do you say that? He did lead the two longest drives of the game, and both resulted in points. The only way the offense would have kept sputtering and stayed out of the endzone is if the receivers kept dropping balls and Anae kept deciding that it was a good idea to slam the ball between the tackles around the goaline with a guy who's not very good slamming the ball between the tackles.

But given how unimpressed I was with our receivers last night, maybe you're right.

Because they did sputter and failed to get in the end zone.

To be honest the receivers were disappointing, especially Ashworth, but Jacobson had a bad drop and did Chambers do anything other than run back kicks and flip people off?

The tight ends were a surprise and maybe it was mostly play calling but Heaps was shooting at deer and Nelson got it done. What a blessing to have a kid of Nelson's caliber to bring the frosh along slowly.

[Sizzle]

I agree with this comment. However, I think they did that as they figured it was their best chance at keeping Locker in check. At least I think that was the best way to contain Locker. You rush 3 or 4 and drop everybody into coverage, you are basically giving Locker first downs.

And FWIW I think they need to play Ponder the same way - he isn't the runner/athlete Locker is, but he is very good on the ground and I think they need to respect his mobility the same way. Use the blitz to neutralize the run and hope it flusters Ponder into some mistakes in the pass game as well.

Except that Ponder is a much more accurate passer and has a better feel for the position than Locker, IMO. Locker absolutely has more upside am athletic ability, but he is so inaccurate I can't take him seriously as a QB at the next level.