The Heaps Reclamation Project

[MarkGrace]

Jakes other glaring weakness was his inability to throw a touch pass. With the exception of a couple of nice fade passes Jake has one throw working for him. That throw is medium range and the ball is thrown at high velocity on a rope at the target. He hit a few of these last game and they were great. However he struggles mightily on short and medium throws that require less heat but more precision. These throws do not work if he winds up and throws a fastball. Nelson is beating him at these throws right now because he throws them with less (but adequate) velocity so that if they aren't pinpoint the receiver can adjust. Plus, with the exception of the JJ throw at the end, he tends to throw them where the defender can't get them. This is illustrated by the out routes he threw against USU. They tended to be thrown out in front of the receiver but catchable. Also lets not forget a couple of catchable Nelson balls were dropped. I'm looking at you Kariya.

In this sense Jake has squandered his opportunity. These things could/should have been corrected over the offseason but the were not. Jake rested on his laurels figuring that he had kicked ass and this season would be a breeze just like it has been at every other point in his life. I'd wager this lack of commitment over the summer combined with the primadonna/entitlement issues has translated into him not being too popular with the team.

Question here. You seem to really be harping on the summer stuff, but is this just speculation on your part or do you actually have something definitive to go on? I know you would probably point to game performance, but I don't think that's a conclusive indicator of whether or not he worked on those things. When you've watched him in practice and what not, does he seem to struggle with these things? His completion %'s were very high through practice, and according to Bronco even the balls he wasn't completing were almost universally on target. So maybe it's just a question of getting them to translate to a game situation? I don't know, just asking, but game results alone wouldn't necessarily indicate a lack of offseason work to me.

[jay santos]

Question here. You seem to really be harping on the summer stuff, but is this just speculation on your part or do you actually have something definitive to go on? I know you would probably point to game performance, but I don't think that's a conclusive indicator of whether or not he worked on those things. When you've watched him in practice and what not, does he seem to struggle with these things? His completion %'s were very high through practice, and according to Bronco even the balls he wasn't completing were almost universally on target. So maybe it's just a question of getting them to translate to a game situation? I don't know, just asking, but game results alone wouldn't necessarily indicate a lack of offseason work to me.

I have no inside info, but I tend to discount the stuff about Heaps being lazy. This is also why I'm not too optimistic he's going to come around. I don't see it as a matter of work ethic and all of a sudden he's going to start working hard and therefore get better and be ready to start.

[pelagius]

For what is worth ... a tweet from Jay Drew:

Someone who watched #BYU football practice tonight just texted me: "Looks like it will be Nelson to start."

http://twitter.com/#!/drewjay/status/121018516580212736

[TripletDaddy]

I have no inside info, but I tend to discount the stuff about Heaps being lazy. This is also why I'm not too optimistic he's going to come around. I don't see it as a matter of work ethic and all of a sudden he's going to start working hard and therefore get better and be ready to start.

This is my concern. At this point, we should all hope that Heaps truly is a lazy self-entitled brat. Because all of tha is coachable. The worst scenario is to come to find out that Heaps has been watching film and practicing hard all this time.

[Shaka]

Question here. You seem to really be harping on the summer stuff, but is this just speculation on your part or do you actually have something definitive to go on? I know you would probably point to game performance, but I don't think that's a conclusive indicator of whether or not he worked on those things. When you've watched him in practice and what not, does he seem to struggle with these things? His completion %'s were very high through practice, and according to Bronco even the balls he wasn't completing were almost universally on target. So maybe it's just a question of getting them to translate to a game situation? I don't know, just asking, but game results alone wouldn't necessarily indicate a lack of offseason work to me.

It's not purely speculation. I've heard some things about Jake that lead me to speculate on his offseason work ethic. There is also some speculation involved. Also summer and practice workouts aren't the same. Summer is all pitch and catch I'm guessing in mostly 7 on 7 situations. There usually aren't lineman to throw over and there isn't pressure other than a four second clock. Summer is the time to work on this kind of stuff.

I haven't had as many opportunities to attend practices as some on this board have but I've attended more than a few. A lot of offensive work occurs against scout teams that simulates but can't quite perfect the execution of the competition. Jake eats this stuff up. Part of the problem is he doesn't have the pressure of getting destroyed by pressure. It's easy to stand and deliver in practice when there's no chance of getting hit.

Part of my guessing comes from experience with primadonna type players that I've played with and coached. Sometimes these players are all they are cracked up to be plus a bag of chips. However some of these players struggle and become a real pain in the bum. Usually their parents are a pain as well.

Jake should be able to correct his throwing problems with practice. It might require altering his delivery for some throws. Right now I'm working with an 8th grader who has a problem with one kind of throw. He's fine with the deep ball and the short range stuff. However he has really struggled throwing a decent flag route. His inclination is to rocket the ball out there (as much as an 8th grader can rocket it) towards the sideline side of the receiver much like you'd throw a quick out. The problem is this route, as run by this team, is it's a timing route. It has to be an arcing throw over the outside shoulder of the receiver where the defender simply can't reach it. If he throws a rope the it is easily jumped by a DB with any kind of instinct. The throw requires some strength but it requires some touch to place it correctly. This QB has made quite a bit of improvement over the course of the season but it has required a lot of throws and some tired receivers at practice. I was proud of him last week as he threw a flag almost perfectly. Unfortunately the receiver dropped it.

Anyway, I think Jake's throwing issues can be fixed but it's going to require work and maybe a QB coach he trusts enough to dismantle and rebuild his technique on certain types of throws. Obviously his happy feet in the pocket are part of the problem. I hope that Santos is wrong because if he's right we are screwed.

[Sizzle]

Jake Heaps freshman stats:
219/383 (57%) 2,316 yrds 15 TDs 9 INTs

John Beck sophomore stats:
192/343 (56%) 2,563 yrds 15 TDs 8 INTs

Jake Heaps sophomore stats (through 5 games):
100/185 (54%) 962 yrds 3 TDs 5 INTs

(expanded to 13 game season):
260/481 (54%) 2,501 yrds 8 TDs 13 INTs

Let's be honest, we aren't facing much tougher competition. Those numbers, particularly the TD/INT ratio is going to improve. Basically right in line with Beck's sophomore season, and not far from his overall numbers from last year.

The biggest issue IMO is Heaps has been hurt by the hype surrounding the offense coming into the season. He is about in line with where you would expect a Soph QB to be.

[Shaka]

This is my concern. At this point, we should all hope that Heaps truly is a lazy self-entitled brat. Because all of tha is coachable. The worst scenario is to come to find out that Heaps has been watching film and practicing hard all this time.

A-freaking-men

We need a humbled and coachable Jake so we can find out what he's capable of.

[Shaka]

Jake Heaps freshman stats:
219/383 (57%) 2,316 yrds 15 TDs 9 INTs

John Beck sophomore stats:
192/343 (56%) 2,563 yrds 15 TDs 8 INTs

Jake Heaps sophomore stats (through 5 games):
100/185 (54%) 962 yrds 3 TDs 5 INTs

(expanded to 13 game season):
260/481 (54%) 2,501 yrds 8 TDs 13 INTs

Let's be honest, we aren't facing much tougher competition. Those numbers, particularly the TD/INT ratio is going to improve. Basically right in line with Beck's sophomore season, and not far from his overall numbers from last year.

The biggest issue IMO is Heaps has been hurt by the hype surrounding the offense coming into the season. He is about in line with where you would expect a Soph QB to be.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Beck dealing with Crowton during this time? That alone makes the situations different enough that comparing the two may be apples and oranges. Jake has a much more stable situation in spite of some of Doman's supposed flaws.

[USUC]

Jake Heaps freshman stats:
219/383 (57%) 2,316 yrds 15 TDs 9 INTs

John Beck sophomore stats:
192/343 (56%) 2,563 yrds 15 TDs 8 INTs

Jake Heaps sophomore stats (through 5 games):
100/185 (54%) 962 yrds 3 TDs 5 INTs

(expanded to 13 game season):
260/481 (54%) 2,501 yrds 8 TDs 13 INTs

Let's be honest, we aren't facing much tougher competition. Those numbers, particularly the TD/INT ratio is going to improve. Basically right in line with Beck's sophomore season, and not far from his overall numbers from last year.

The biggest issue IMO is Heaps has been hurt by the hype surrounding the offense coming into the season. He is about in line with where you would expect a Soph QB to be.

You mentioned this in another thread in regards to the poor performance of the O-line

I think that is one of the bigger reasons Riley was able to succeed over Jake, he was able to buy extra time to make throws with his feet, and also was able to open up the ground game being an extra player on the field and making the defense account for all 11 instead of being able to play 11 on 10 in terms of the ground game.

Has this been the situation for Heaps all season or just his game?

[MarkGrace]

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Beck dealing with Crowton during this time? That alone makes the situations different enough that comparing the two may be apples and oranges. Jake has a much more stable situation in spite of some of Doman's supposed flaws.

But he's also changing systems from year one to two (at least in theory).

[pellegrino]

I have no inside info, but I tend to discount the stuff about Heaps being lazy. This is also why I'm not too optimistic he's going to come around. I don't see it as a matter of work ethic and all of a sudden he's going to start working hard and therefore get better and be ready to start.

My dad is convinced that some kids max out their potential at an earlier age than others and therefore they are awesome and dominate in HS but their game never translates to the college level because their peers essentially outgrow them. He cites Burgess (of Roger Reid fame) and a few other athletes whom I can't remember as primary examples. He is beginning to think that Heaps falls into this category. For the sake of the program I hope he is wrong.

[Shaka]

But he's also changing systems from year one to two (at least in theory).

It's true. Stat geeks will take great comfort in this. Me? It's up in the air.

[Sizzle]

You mentioned this in another thread in regards to the poor performance of the O-line

Has this been the situation for Heaps all season or just his game?

IMO it has been an issue all season long. You look at the lack of push/holes that we've seen in the ground game from an OLine that is one of the most experienced in the country, we should be blowing most teams off the ball and getting at least 4-yards a carry. We're not. It definitely effects pass protection as well. Instead of being able to feel comfortable in the pocket and deliver the ball like most have seen Jake do in practice, he gets rushed, gets happy feet and doesn't deliver the ball where it should be. It starts to effect plays where you have time as well, because instead of just worrying about throwing the ball, you feel like you're rushed and you don't set your feet to throw the ball.

Jake deserves a lot of the blame, but these are things you come to expect a little bit with a young QB. There are also things that I think we could be doing on offense to make his life a little bit easier. Things like a rolling pocket, calling screen passes, keeping TEs in to protect instead of releasing 4 or 5 guys into routes, etc. At the same time, Heaps needs to stand tall in the pocket and know that he's probably going to get hit. He needs to throw downfield with confidence.

Go back and watch Riley in the game. The pass to McKay he avoids what, 3 defenders in the pocket? He doesn't have a ton of time making most of his throws either, but he is able to buy more time with his feet. It also is a lot more difficult to rush a mobile QB because you have to be more disciplined in staying in your rush lanes because you don't want him to break contain, so you can't just pin your ears back and go, you have to rush disciplined.

A lot of these issues IMO are because we are dealing with a new offense/offensive coordinator as well. I think you'd see these issues if we brought in an experienced coach, so I don't think it is Domans fault, and I'm not sure that bringing in a specific QB coach is going to fix most of these issues either. It just takes time.

[MarkGrace]

I haven't had as many opportunities to attend practices as some on this board have but I've attended more than a few. A lot of offensive work occurs against scout teams that simulates but can't quite perfect the execution of the competition. Jake eats this stuff up. Part of the problem is he doesn't have the pressure of getting destroyed by pressure. It's easy to stand and deliver in practice when there's no chance of getting hit.

And this is exactly why I raise the question. According to our coaches and nearly everyone who attended practices throughout the spring/fall (media, boarders, etc.), he was hitting every throw under the sun. That doesn't take me to the conclusion that he wasn't working on these things during the summer, it takes me to the conclusion that he hasn't figured out how to execute these things in a game. You can't really work on that over the summer.

But the biggest problem is I don't remember these being issues during the second half of last year. I certainly remember the accuracy stuff from the first half, but by the second half he was hitting nearly everything and has regressed in a major way. And I don't buy the inferior competition angle. As Jay stated previously, he's whiffing on basic throws with almost no pressure (or, as you said, the equivalent of a free throw). That's not competition, that's a kid who's gone mental.

[jay santos]

Jake Heaps freshman stats:
219/383 (57%) 2,316 yrds 15 TDs 9 INTs

John Beck sophomore stats:
192/343 (56%) 2,563 yrds 15 TDs 8 INTs

Jake Heaps sophomore stats (through 5 games):
100/185 (54%) 962 yrds 3 TDs 5 INTs

(expanded to 13 game season):
260/481 (54%) 2,501 yrds 8 TDs 13 INTs

Let's be honest, we aren't facing much tougher competition. Those numbers, particularly the TD/INT ratio is going to improve. Basically right in line with Beck's sophomore season, and not far from his overall numbers from last year.

The biggest issue IMO is Heaps has been hurt by the hype surrounding the offense coming into the season. He is about in line with where you would expect a Soph QB to be.

Soph Beck vs Heaps pass rating: 129 to 98. Big difference.