I'm officially worried about Heaps' accuracy

[Indy Coug]

What would you covenant if we instead had gone with a jr. QB who was just as bad? (Riley)

Or a redshirt sophomore or freshman who was as bad or worse? (Lark, Munns?)

We have no reason to think that any of the other options would have produced better results.

I guess it's a question of whether or not you believe a true freshman QB is in danger of long-term PTSD or not.

[Jacob]

Since BYU is already full invested into this effort to assimilate Heaps, it needs to figure out which is more important...winning a few more games this season or developing Heaps.

This Saturday proved that Jake can hand the ball off most of the game. But is there merit to the idea that Bronco should sacrifice this season and let Heaps air it out more? If we lose the remaining games, does it really matter? And if Heaps has shown no signs of improvement after getting his number called all game long for the rest of the season, isnt it time to re-evaluate?

I was a proponent of running the ball through Wyoming's line. The first quarter showed that BYU is capable of running against crappy defenses. However, I wanted to see the run because I wanted BYU to win games. I am now of the opinion that since this season is shot anyway, let's get Heaps the chances he needs to develop. If it results in 150 yards and 3 picks, so be it. At least then there will be fewer excuses to make regarding the QB play.

Im still a fan of Heaps, btw. I want him to roll into next season with full confidence and with some better decision making skills.

Running the ball a lot and getting around 20 pass attempts per game, like against WYO, seems like the best of both worlds. Jake gets to progress and the team wins, which gives Heaps a feeling that he contributed to the win.

Let's just keep winning and keep Jake as the starter. I really don't see how throwing the ball 40 times per game in this offense is going to benefit Jake more than throwing less, but winning.

[Indy Coug]

Running the ball a lot and getting around 20 pass attempts per game, like against WYO, seems like the best of both worlds. Jake gets to progress and the team wins, which gives Heaps a feeling that he contributed to the win.

Let's just keep winning and keep Jake as the starter. I really don't see how throwing the ball 40 times per game in this offense is going to benefit Jake more than throwing less, but winning.

Do you think the Wyoming game represented progress for Jake?

[Portland Ute]

Since BYU is already full invested into this effort to assimilate Heaps, it needs to figure out which is more important...winning a few more games this season or developing Heaps.

This Saturday proved that Jake can hand the ball off most of the game. But is there merit to the idea that Bronco should sacrifice this season and let Heaps air it out more? If we lose the remaining games, does it really matter? And if Heaps has shown no signs of improvement after getting his number called all game long for the rest of the season, isnt it time to re-evaluate?

I was a proponent of running the ball through Wyoming's line. The first quarter showed that BYU is capable of running against crappy defenses. However, I wanted to see the run because I wanted BYU to win games. I am now of the opinion that since this season is shot anyway, let's get Heaps the chances he needs to develop. If it results in 150 yards and 3 picks, so be it. At least then there will be fewer excuses to make regarding the QB play.

Im still a fan of Heaps, btw. I want him to roll into next season with full confidence and with some better decision making skills.

It is definitely most important for BYU to win three more games and get bowl eligible. Utah's BCS prospects would be greatly helped by that.

[Jacob]

Do you think the Wyoming game represented progress for Jake?

Sure. But I have no idea if what you mean by progress is similar to what I mean by it. Jake was the QB, he threw a TD, we won. That's progress. Do I think he performed especially well? No. I thought he played better in some games we lost. Including games where he had a worse eff rating.

But I don't see how throwing 40 or so times in a losing effort would have benefited him more.

[Goatnapper'96]

What would you covenant if we instead had gone with a jr. QB who was just as bad? (Riley)

Or a redshirt sophomore or freshman who was as bad or worse? (Lark, Munns?)

We have no reason to think that any of the other options would have produced better results.

Given the circumstances I think the coaches are going with the kid who gives them the best chance to win. I am not criticizing the coaching decision to use Heaps, or even how he has been used. If I were to criticize the coaching staff, which given their historical performance to date I do very little, it would be that the position, and a few others on offense, have been mismanaged resulting in having no choice but to use too many innexperienced players at once. I still maintain many of these kids are really talented and I think BYU will be very good again on offense in 2012. I think next year's offense will be miles ahead of this year but still not really good.

[TripletDaddy]

Sure. But I have no idea if what you mean by progress is similar to what I mean by it. Jake was the QB, he threw a TD, we won. That's progress. Do I think he performed especially well? No. I thought he played better in some games we lost. Including games where he had a worse eff rating.

But I don't see how throwing 40 or so times in a losing effort would have benefited him more.

Let me clarify. I'm not talking about abandoning the run and wearing out Heaps's arm throwing those fugly fades into the end zone.

I'm just saying trust the kid more to make throws instead of running the ball on 3rd and long....after having run the ball on first down and second down, both for little or no gains. Also, if it is a 3rd a long, call a play that requires your receivers to run a route PAST the first down marker, not short of it. Little things like that where you put the kid in a position to succeed, esp given the lack of talent in our receiving core (and no great playmaking from our TE). True, that is a function of Anae's bizarre play calling (esp in the red zone), but BYU could give Heaps more chances than it is doing now. It is obvious that the coaches don't trust Jake, and Jake has made mistakes...but he needs more in-game repitition than what he received against Wyoming.

We are into the easiest stretch of the schedule...Wyoming, UNLV, New Mexico. If you don't trust the kid's raw talent now, when do you want the kid to learn...next season in Austin? Im just opining here, not really asking you directly.

[Goatnapper'96]

Since BYU is already full invested into this effort to assimilate Heaps, it needs to figure out which is more important...winning a few more games this season or developing Heaps.

This Saturday proved that Jake can hand the ball off most of the game. But is there merit to the idea that Bronco should sacrifice this season and let Heaps air it out more? If we lose the remaining games, does it really matter? And if Heaps has shown no signs of improvement after getting his number called all game long for the rest of the season, isnt it time to re-evaluate?

I was a proponent of running the ball through Wyoming's line. The first quarter showed that BYU is capable of running against crappy defenses. However, I wanted to see the run because I wanted BYU to win games. I am now of the opinion that since this season is shot anyway, let's get Heaps the chances he needs to develop. If it results in 150 yards and 3 picks, so be it. At least then there will be fewer excuses to make regarding the QB play.

Im still a fan of Heaps, btw. I want him to roll into next season with full confidence and with some better decision making skills.

I think it is a good rule for coaches to always play to win. I actually think that if BYU gets to a bowl game this year that will be a minor victory for the mindset of the team and Jake Heaps. It shows that the team rallied a bit when the chips were down and that Bronco coagulated. I think it will help Jake's confidence and give the team momentum going into next year - especially if they win the bowl game. Further, the bowl practice season is essentially another spring ball. Given Jake's experience against many teams I think that practice is becoming more meaningful for his development as compared to what it was before he had faced college defenses. If BYU takes the approach to ride Jake in the bowl game, that would not bother me too much as he should be very well prepared for that opponent by that time.

I really think that 2003 and 2004 really negatively impacted Beck and the program's confidence. I think it really important to avoid not making a bowl game if they can.

[Art Vandelay]

Jake's best and worst throws of the season were last Saturday.

As I said above I honestly can't think of a worse INT, let alone pick-6 than the one Jake through before halftime. I'm not talking its effect on the game, ala Max's day in SLC, but just an overall horrific throw.

Jake's touchdown is one of the few times this season I saw him put some touch on a pass and drop it in the receiver's hands. He has made more impressive throws from an NFL scout's point of view (his 30 yards frozen ropes are a thing of beauty), but it was nice to see him take a little off the velocity without sacrificing accuracy.

I may have downsized my Heaps Kool-Aid from the 44oz Double Gulp, to the 32oz Super Gulp, but I'm still drinking... for now.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Jake's best and worst throws of the season were last Saturday.

As I said above I honestly can't think of a worse INT, let alone pick-6 than the one Jake through before halftime. I'm not talking its effect on the game, ala Max's day in SLC, but just an overall horrific throw.

Jake's touchdown is one of the few times this season I saw him put some touch on a pass and drop it in the receiver's hands. He has made more impressive throws from an NFL scout's point of view (his 30 yards frozen ropes are a thing of beauty), but it was nice to see him take a little off the velocity without sacrificing accuracy.

I may have downsized my Heaps Kool-Aid from the 44oz Double Gulp, to the 32oz Super Gulp, but I'm still drinking... for now.

I think the one in Logan was worse.

[Jacob]

Let me clarify. I'm not talking about abandoning the run and wearing out Heaps's arm throwing those fugly fades into the end zone.

I'm just saying trust the kid more to make throws instead of running the ball on 3rd and long....after having run the ball on first down and second down, both for little or no gains. Also, if it is a 3rd a long, call a play that requires your receivers to run a route PAST the first down marker, not short of it. Little things like that where you put the kid in a position to succeed, esp given the lack of talent in our receiving core (and no great playmaking from our TE). True, that is a function of Anae's bizarre play calling (esp in the red zone), but BYU could give Heaps more chances than it is doing now. It is obvious that the coaches don't trust Jake, and Jake has made mistakes...but he needs more in-game repitition than what he received against Wyoming.

We are into the easiest stretch of the schedule...Wyoming, UNLV, New Mexico. If you don't trust the kid's raw talent now, when do you want the kid to learn...next season in Austin? Im just opining here, not really asking you directly.

OK. I agree with that. But that's also because I think that will give us the best chance to win. We heard a lot of boos on Saturday when we ran 3 plays in a row, including 3rd and very long that wasn't even close to to being converted.

I don't want to see only runs and Jake throwing very short passes. I was actually encouraged on the early deep ball off the play action that Hoffman couldn't quite get under. I was disappointed we didn't see at least another attempt at something like that.

[Flystripper]

If we lose the remaining games, does it really matter? And if Heaps has shown no signs of improvement after getting his number called all game long for the rest of the season, isnt it time to re-evaluate?

I think getting bowl eligible is important for Heaps. If Bronco decides to use all the practice time, (as he should and if he doesn't I think he is really selfish) three additional weeks of practice and one more game is a good thing for a troubled young QB. The additional time will also give our other true freshman at TE and WR more reps. These guys need as many reps as they can get.

A 6-6 BYU probably still goes to a bowl game and as shocking as that sounds it is still quite possible and it is still a good goal for this team.

[Flystripper]

I guess it's a question of whether or not you believe a true freshman QB is in danger of long-term PTSD or not.

I don't believe much in this. Good coaching and any player worth a damn over comes any sort of trauma caused by a losing season. I guess you have to ask yourself if BYU has good coaches and if Jake has it in him to be a good player. This notion of "PTSD" is just an excuse.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I think the one in Logan was worse.

The reason the INT against WYO was worse was that anyone on CUF could have thrown a better pass. That was among the worst INTs I have ever seen thrown.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The reason the INT against WYO was worse was that anyone on CUF could have thrown a better pass. That was among the worst INTs I have ever seen thrown.

Ditto for the one in Logan. Had I been in Logan with my shotgun, I would have blasted the ball right out of the air.