The Heaps Reclamation Project

[Goatnapper'96]

Exactly the one tough D we play the rest of the year, Nelson will get a pass for, I don't know if we will be able to get any kind of read on how he will do next year against Utah on the road, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame on the road, Boise State, etc..

I think TCU will give you a good read on how Nelson will do against good defenses next year. I don't know about this pass stuff it might just be the reality that some teams are better than BYU, and that is ok. But I still think that BYU should be able to compete in that game and I will be very frustrated it it resembles the last 3 TCU games.

[Cougarmandias]

One thing I've noticed since the Heaps benching is that you almost hear nothing of the bad OLine play all year anymore, the poor RB play, the poor secondary play, all of our ills have been thrown at Heaps feet. It is now just, "Heaps sucked, and its his fault only that he sucks and why our offense has sucked".

Two of these are really the coaches fault. The poor-ish RB play is partly just about not having the talent and partly about O-line issues.

But our perennially underperforming O-line and our secondary are on the coaching staff. Well, the secondary may also partly be about recruiting problems, but I'm starting to believe that there's a schematic element to it too, and some hard-to-explain decisions about who gets the nod and who doesn't.

[Goatnapper'96]

Don't sleep on Hawaii. They could rip us at home.

They could, but I think BYU will find a way to win that game. But I am an admitted homer!

[jay santos]

Two of these are really the coaches fault. The poor-ish RB play is partly just about not having the talent and partly about O-line issues.

But our perennially underperforming O-line and our secondary are on the coaching staff. Well, the secondary may also partly be about recruiting problems, but I'm starting to believe that there's a schematic element to it too, and some hard-to-explain stuff about who gets the nod and who doesn't.

Our OL and protection schemes are built around protecting the QB in the passing game. Under Anae, we had a ridiculously good sack and holding rate for the level that we passed. We ran the ball pretty well with Harvey. We're not protecting the QB as well this year. I'm not sure why. I blame our running game primarily on the RB's not the OL or coaching. And for those whining about RB's not being benched, coaches have tried everything. They did bench Kariya for a couple games but have come back to him as Quezada and Alisa didn't pick up the slack.

[Goatnapper'96]

I think if they go the Nelson route, we're going to see smash mouth the rest of the season. Like Goat says: this team can be about a #50 team in the nation with Riley QB'ing and going smashmouth and relying on our D. It doesn't really excite me, but yeah sure we can grind out wins against shitty teams with Riley as QB and pounding the crap out of defenses with our hogs up front and Kariya and Quezada running right at them, with JJ as change up and Nelson completing enough passes and running around like a wild man keeping drives alive.

Is it better than Heaps throwing ground balls on 3rd and 6? Yeah. Does it get us any closer to where we want to be? Dunno, probably not.

This is my exact perspective. Last year I was happy with Heaps blundering until he got it figured out. This year I think Jake needs to be forced to dig deep. Sitting might be the only thing that really forces him to realize things are not going to come easy for him for the first time in his life. Either he develops into a superstar or he ends up surfing nekkid off of Zuma Beach. There is no try only do or do not! But it is a dilemma for the coaches as if they go with Heaps for the higher payoff down the road, the kid better deliver. Last year the staff had the capital, that was used up so they better make the righ decisions going forward - or at least the ones that will result in victories. Especially given that next year they will no longer be able to hide behind shitty schedules.

[Green Monstah]

One thing I've noticed since the Heaps benching is that you almost hear nothing of the bad OLine play all year anymore, the poor RB play, the poor secondary play, all of our ills have been thrown at Heaps feet. It is now just, "Heaps sucked, and its his fault only that he sucks and why our offense has sucked".

There's some merit to this. Our O-line has underperformed. That being said, if you read closely, the O-line and RBs have taken a beating in all of these Heaps-Nelson threads.

OTOH, the O-line doesn't make ugly passes that leave everyone scratching their head. That's also the nature of being a QB at a QB University. I think heaps knew this when he signed on.

[byu71]

I will predict something if Nelson starts. We will handle San Jose St. Oregon St will get their first win of the year. We will come home and beat Idaho or Idaho St, whichever team we are playing. Then we go to TCU and get beat up.

The good news is I am not that good a prognosticator.

[Goatnapper'96]

I will predict something if Nelson starts. We will handle San Jose St. Oregon St will get their first win of the year. We will come home and beat Idaho or Idaho St, whichever team we are playing. Then we go to TCU and get beat up.

The good news is I am not that good a prognosticator.

The perfect situation for our current circumstances is that if Heaps can come off the bench for an injured or underperforming Riley against OSU and actually play to his potential and lead BYU to a win. Then it is back in his court and all are behind him. If he leads BYU to at least competing against TCU and puts at least 20 offensive points on the board - I get hopeful again that BYU could have a good team the next two years and I stop wondering if I am going to pay the Cougar Club enough to buy good season tickets next year. Right now I am relatively well aligned with your perspective. TV might just do real fine as watching BYU get beat by Iowa State or getting stomped by OU or Texas does not sound real fun - it is a long damn drive down and back.

[TripletDaddy]

Has bronchitis done his interview show today? Isn't it on Mondays?

[mr_thekid]

One thing I've noticed since the Heaps benching is that you almost hear nothing of the bad OLine play all year anymore, the poor RB play, the poor secondary play, all of our ills have been thrown at Heaps feet. It is now just, "Heaps sucked, and its his fault only that he sucks and why our offense has sucked".

Look, we're all disappointed about how things have turned out with Jake, especially after all the Hype at the beginning of the year, but there's no need to be such an apologist. Heaps has under-performed, there's no question about it. For whatever reason, when Nelson came in, everyone started performing better. Now I don't think anyone here is arguing that Nelson is going to be the Savior of this season. The question of whether to start Nelson or Heaps on Saturday has very little to do with who is actually the better qb. I am in the Heaps should sit camp (Shaka and anyone else who has read my other posts can go ahead and tell me to eat crow) because I think he needs some time on the bench to get his crap together, and perhaps more importantly earn the respect of his teammates. If the coaches feel his keeping the starting position is the best route then that's fine, but I hope they do something this week to help him get over his happy feet and fear of getting hit. More of the same performance will not be acceptable.

Has bronchitis done his interview show today? Isn't it on Mondays?

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=17507343&nid=294

He said some strange things.

[jay santos]

Just listened to Bronco's post game comments. I think Nelson will start. When talking about how he hoped Jake would react, he seemed to imply it was going to be an enduring situation.

[TripletDaddy]

Interesting. Sounds like more coachspeak to me. I didnt think he would name a starter until right before the game. make SJSU prep for two QBs instead of one.

It certainly sounds like he is still backing Jake with his comments, allowing for the possibility of starting Riley, of course.

[Goatnapper'96]

Just listened to Bronco's post game comments. I think Nelson will start. When talking about how he hoped Jake would react, he seemed to imply it was going to be an enduring situation.

It could go through next year and Jake might have to RS. It is going to really define Jake Heaps' career. I am a homer so I will assume when the dust settles it will be to his benefit. In fact, I see a fireside in 3 years featuring Jake Heaps emotional about Mendenhall being like a 2nd father and how the experience has made him a better person, husband, father, qb and spokesmen for the LDS Church. He will then choke in his final game, a BCS bowl and '71 will whine about it!

[byu71]

He will then choke in his final game, a BCS bowl and '71 will whine about it!

How utterly unfair. I would be so greatful for that outcome, I would be dancing in the streets. Sure I would want to win, but I wouldn't be amongst those whining about the loss.

I hope you are right about the Bronco/Heaps story and how Bronco and the gospel gave Heaps new life and that he shares it in each city the pro team he is on travels too.

I know people don't realize this, I am am quite touched by all of the reclamation stories.

[cougjunkie]

Interesting. Sounds like more coachspeak to me. I didnt think he would name a starter until right before the game. make SJSU prep for two QBs instead of one.

It certainly sounds like he is still backing Jake with his comments, allowing for the possibility of starting Riley, of course.

I could see Bronco starting Heaps because clearly the fans want Riley. I also think Doman and Bronco see what most of us see and realize Riley is not a long term solution and you have a better chance of figuring out how to heal Jakes bruised vagina and ego than you are turning this in to a triple option team which is the only way Riley would be truly effective.