The Heaps Reclamation Project

[ERCougar]

It's easy. You start Riley. He'll last a few games before he gets hurt. Heaps comes in, just like last year, and saves the season. Confidence-builder.

[Surfah]

I agree with what DDD has been saying. It's what I have been advocating in other threads. BYU should use the rest of this season like scrimmages. Work the offense and personnel because next season will be brutal if we don't. The Big 12 is a track meet. And we need someone who can air it out to compete. Jake IMO is the only guy that can do that. He just needs to be reigned in.

I am all for keeping him on the bench for another game or two if that will help get his head right. I'd like to see a QB coach hired that can mentor him. Preferably someone that can help Jake develop his presence in the pocket. But really this would help Doman by taking something else off of his plate so he can focus on game planning and play calling. Does Doman script his plays? If he does, I can't tell, or they're horrible. But I would like to see maybe 10-12 plays scripted that Jake and the offense can practice so they can come out run through that to get some rhythm going. These need to be easy, safe plays. We need confidence building plays. That's where I start with my rehab of Jake. I'll offer some more thoughts later if I have time.

[Hsaru]

Jake deserves atleast one more real shot this season, now that he is on notice that he won't get to keep playing if he doesn't get results, he should be given a half atleast to see what he can get going.

Garrett Gilbert knew from the get-go this year that he would be benched if he didn't perform as he had people riding his tail all offseason and he played awful from start to finish last year.

I severely doubt Heaps had been told by the coaches that if he doesn't perform soon he will be replaced, the Nelson thing probably came as a shock to him. He shouldn't go from completely entrenched starter to definite backup without even knowing he was on notice. He should get a half against SJSU, call a more up-tempo game no-huddle game with more spread formations and see what he can do before we give up on him until 2013.

[SeattleUte]

I started a new topic because I want this one to be very specific on how to help Jake fix what's ailing him. Lebowski if this is bad please fold it over into the regular Heaps thread.

Last night I was driving home from the game flipping stations. It was interesting to hear the differing opinions regarding who should start next week as well as what to do with Heaps. The 1280 guys (Hans and Jan in this case) were advocating that Nelson start. The 1320 guy (I'm not sure who it was but am thinking that it was possibly Riley Jensen) went to great lengths to diminish anything Nelson did and advocated for Heaps.

I figure that they next three games should be easy BYU wins no matter who starts. We could bring Jake back and let him try to work out the kinks against the patsies and hope he can fix things enough to beat TCU. Or we could give the start to Riley and force Jake to try and work things out in practice. I have a hunch Nelson will get the start so lets keep this focused on Heaps.


To me the problems with Jake are threefold:

1. He has become a wussy basket case. This leads him not go through progressions, have happy feet, throw into double and triple coverage, and screws up his footwork so he's not stepping into throws which is killing his accuracy.

2. He desperately needs to develop some touch on his throws. Number one is affecting this but I feel it's a separate issue. When Jake throws simple out routes short I almost feel like he's trying to hold back on the velocity but it isn't working. Also in the last couple of games he has been overthrowing everything deep. This is weird because he underthrew a number of deeper throws in the first two games.

3. Rehabilitate his relationship with his teammates and possibly coaches. CJ pointed out that the offense played harder for Nelson. This adds fuel to the dissension in the ranks fire. Why is it that the supporting cast picked things up with Nelson in the game? Is it because they do not respect Jake's attitude and crappy play or could it simply be that they thought a change was overdue?


Without having given the issue too much thought here's what I'd do:

1. Bring in a dedicated QB coach asap. Doman needs to be freed up to concentrate on his coordinator duties. Unfortunately this goal my have to wait until the offseason. If I were Bronco I'd pursue Detmer in a major way. If throwing money at Ty didn't work I'd spend whatever it took to get a reputable QB guru. Jake is so frazzled that he may have to be rebuilt from the ground up.

2. Jake must be made to take velocity off some of his throws and to get some air under the ball. I know how I do this with younger QB's but this approach is probably too simplistic for someone like Jake. A QB coach will help in this regard. Somehow Jake needs to pull this together. It may require developing a separate throwing mechanic for the shorter throws.

3. Jake needs to get the team behind him again. If I'm him I address the team prior to Monday's practice stating that I'm willing to support whatever the coaches decide regarding the QB situation even if it means I don't play a down for the rest of the season. I would also offer congrats to Riley and pledge to support him in any way possible should he be chosen to start. Then I would state clearly that I will work even harder in practice, rededicate myself to film study, and try to have a better demeanor at all times. Jake needs to appear humble and earn back that trust. It wouldn't hurt of news of Jake's pre-practice speech leaked to the media so the fans could perceive the change in attitude and start lining up behind him again.

4. Take off the green jersey. He needs to get used to being hit.

This thread should be folded into the Heaps thread. Lebowski?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Jake deserves atleast one more real shot this season, now that he is on notice that he won't get to keep playing if he doesn't get results, he should be given a half atleast to see what he can get going.

Garrett Gilbert knew from the get-go this year that he would be benched if he didn't perform as he had people riding his tail all offseason and he played awful from start to finish last year.

I severely doubt Heaps had been told by the coaches that if he doesn't perform soon he will be replaced, the Nelson thing probably came as a shock to him. He shouldn't go from completely entrenched starter to definite backup without even knowing he was on notice. He should get a half against SJSU, call a more up-tempo game no-huddle game with more spread formations and see what he can do before we give up on him until 2013.

Oh please, a player needs to be given formal notice before they get yanked? That's nuts. And how do you know what the coaches have and have not been telling him?

As for the Gilbert/Heaps comparison:

Garrett Gilbert 2010 rating: 111
Jake Heaps 2010 rating: 116
Jake Heaps 2011 rating: 97 (good enough for 113 out of 119)

Answer the question I asked earlier. Exactly how poorly would he have to play before you think he earns some bench time? Or are you going to stick with your theory that this is all the result of poor coaching and dropped passes?

[Jeff Lebowski]

This thread should be folded into the Heaps thread. Lebowski?

What, so you can gloat? No way, Jose.

[thewaterpuma]

Agreed

Give the kid some time to grow. Good post.

[CardiacCoug]

I severely doubt Heaps had been told by the coaches that if he doesn't perform soon he will be replaced, the Nelson thing probably came as a shock to him. He shouldn't go from completely entrenched starter to definite backup without even knowing he was on notice.

This is one of the stupidest things anybody has written on this board in a long time.

[Shaka]

Jake deserves atleast one more real shot this season, now that he is on notice that he won't get to keep playing if he doesn't get results, he should be given a half atleast to see what he can get going.

Garrett Gilbert knew from the get-go this year that he would be benched if he didn't perform as he had people riding his tail all offseason and he played awful from start to finish last year.

I severely doubt Heaps had been told by the coaches that if he doesn't perform soon he will be replaced, the Nelson thing probably came as a shock to him. He shouldn't go from completely entrenched starter to definite backup without even knowing he was on notice. He should get a half against SJSU, call a more up-tempo game no-huddle game with more spread formations and see what he can do before we give up on him until 2013.

I have been privately questioning whether or not you have a clue about football and after this statement I wonder whether you have a clue about team sports in general.

Jake has obviously squandered a spring and summer. He rested on his laurels and the hype and it's now bit him in the ass. If he truly has as much potential as we want to believe then his work ethic has been exposed. He has underperformed to an alarming degree and as of right now all he deserves is to stand on the sideline and support his team.

This notice thing you speak of is utter crap. Anyone who has coached any sport will tell you so. If a player has a poor attitude and is under-performing he deserves to get yanked without any notice whatsoever. Also how do you know that Jake hasn't been on notice? He's played horribly, the coaches know it, and I doubt they were willing to live with it much longer.

One of the major problems with Jake is entitlement. The coaches may choose to start him this week and I will support them and Jake if they do. With that said at this point the only thing Jake is entitled to is the bench. He needs to change his attitude, earn back the trust of his teammates, and then demonstrate in practice that he has improved his accuracy, will go through his progressions, and get the crapped knocked out of him without turning into a headcase.

[Shaka]

It's easy. You start Riley. He'll last a few games before he gets hurt. Heaps comes in, just like last year, and saves the season. Confidence-builder.

This. I mentioned it earlier. If Nelson gets hurt or sucks we have Jake to fall back on. Only this time Jake has received his wakeup call and maybe has his head straight.

[YOhio]

Jake deserves atleast one more real shot this season, now that he is on notice that he won't get to keep playing if he doesn't get results, he should be given a half atleast to see what he can get going.

Garrett Gilbert knew from the get-go this year that he would be benched if he didn't perform as he had people riding his tail all offseason and he played awful from start to finish last year.

I severely doubt Heaps had been told by the coaches that if he doesn't perform soon he will be replaced, the Nelson thing probably came as a shock to him. He shouldn't go from completely entrenched starter to definite backup without even knowing he was on notice. He should get a half against SJSU, call a more up-tempo game no-huddle game with more spread formations and see what he can do before we give up on him until 2013.

This isn't the first time this season Jake was benched.

[Cougarmandias]

It's easy. You start Riley. He'll last a few games before he gets hurt. Heaps comes in, just like last year, and saves the season. Confidence-builder.

What's the difference from the confidence builder Heaps had last year?

[Green Monstah]

Jake deserves atleast one more real shot this season, now that he is on notice that he won't get to keep playing if he doesn't get results, he should be given a half atleast to see what he can get going.

Garrett Gilbert knew from the get-go this year that he would be benched if he didn't perform as he had people riding his tail all offseason and he played awful from start to finish last year.

I severely doubt Heaps had been told by the coaches that if he doesn't perform soon he will be replaced, the Nelson thing probably came as a shock to him. He shouldn't go from completely entrenched starter to definite backup without even knowing he was on notice. He should get a half against SJSU, call a more up-tempo game no-huddle game with more spread formations and see what he can do before we give up on him until 2013.

Unless you have serious entitlement issues, it's usually just assumed that being one of the worst QBs in the nation means you'll have to sit; no notice required.

I don't think Jake can handle the no huddle.

[byu71]

Until this coaching staff gets their heads straight, they aren't going to be able to get Jakes head straight.

We have these "band of brothers", but one of the brothers is an outcast because he feels he is "entitled". His position coach and OC seems almost giddy that he was able to replace him and the scrambling, daring, throw it up in the air and see what happens guy comes through.

Meanwhile you have two very talented, at least they were touted to be, QB's who are far in the background.

I personally am tired of all the slogans. I am tired of all the "teaching moments". However, I better just get used to it.

After the next few games we will be back in the "we have fixed it" mode. We will beat some pretty shitty teams and be excited about how the "band of brothers" have put it together. Getting our butts kicked by TCU will be just another teachable moment.

[Goatnapper'96]

Until this coaching staff gets their heads straight, they aren't going to be able to get Jakes head straight.

We have these "band of brothers", but one of the brothers is an outcast because he feels he is "entitled". His position coach and OC seems almost giddy that he was able to replace him and the scrambling, daring, throw it up in the air and see what happens guy comes through.

Meanwhile you have two very talented, at least they were touted to be, QB's who are far in the background.

I personally am tired of all the slogans. I am tired of all the "teaching moments". However, I better just get used to it.

After the next few games we will be back in the "we have fixed it" mode. We will beat some pretty shitty teams and be excited about how the "band of brothers" have put it together. Getting our butts kicked by TCU will be just another teachable moment.

I think Brandon Doman is still young a fiery competitor. I am worried that he might be another who is the first one dressed at the temple. Pity the fool close to him, i.e. within reaching distance of the slippers, who is pushing him for that distinction as he might find his footgear missing on occassion.

For the record aren't you one who bitches when highly talented players sit? Now they give one a shot early and he flops and you are bitching about it as well. I could be wrong but I think you just might like to bitch.

My opinion is that BYU made a huge youth movement in coaching, above and beyond Doman. You have a brand new OC, who really isn't that experienced a college coach, along with a relatively young RB coach who is brand new to BYU and a brand new WR coach who played the last 12 years in a league that only puts 10 players on the field. Some of the issues are their collective innexperience. Time will give them experience but time might not make them good at their jobs. This issue compounds Heaps' issues, which I think boils down to things in his life coming way too easy until this point. Jake is going to have to rise up and mature and earn his way. I agree with Mendenhall that the team sees his potential, but Jake has to realize it and fulfill it. It will not surprise me if the coaching staff and Jake both improve significantly over the next couple of years and improve significantly against even the good teams. I still think the kid is uberly talented and I think Doman will be good a OC in time. I am not sure how to proceed and I am not convinced the decisions made will be the best, but I do believe that over time both Jake and Brandon will do very well in their roles at BYU.

I also think that the Big-12 issue is going to disallow BYU from hiding behind a weak schedule. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.