I don't like Riley Nelson

[Indy Coug]

I remember distinctly Heaps being criticized for a PER of 145 against New Mexico St, which is actually an FBS team, albeit crappy. And now 137 against a below .500 FCS team last year is now "good".

Heaps was criticized because he got off to a very slow 5 for 15 start vs NMSU. Meanwhile, I have seen plenty of criticism about Riley's performance vs Weber, which is why too many BYU fans have tucked up in the fetal in preparation for Saturday.

[Shaka]

Heaps was criticized because he got off to a very slow 5 for 15 start vs NMSU. Meanwhile, I have seen plenty of criticism about Riley's performance vs Weber, which is why too many BYU fans have tucked up in the fetal in preparation for Saturday.

Let's also consider the NMSU would probably get the crapped kicked out of them by a number of FCS schools.

[Moliere]

I can't say whether or not he held onto the ball too long because I watched the game on tv. Unless you were at the game and saw the coverage I don't think you can make that assessment either. Riley has definitely reached his potential, which admittedly isn't as high as most BYU starting QBs, but I'll take him over probably 75% of other QBs I've seen on tv during the first two weeks.

And I sti think the 500 balls are not bad passes. When you have two tall and athletic receivers you give them a chance to get the ball. It worked fine on the Hoffman td today. I just hate when he throws across his body as he doesn't have the arm to make those throws.

Because he's not Detmer or Bosco or McMahon or some other QB that played two decades ago and we've forgotten how many stupid mistakes they all made. Detmer was an interception machine compared to Riley.

Right, I get that. But he's the best that we have right now. I understand people wanting more, but when someone starts a thread like this, after Riley has a good game, just makes them looked like spoiled brats.

I'm not talking about you. Riley had a good game. It wasn't a great game. He threw for a lot of yards in just one half and was missing his #2 receiver.

I spent years in the south stands and every week I'd hear the same people complaining about the QB. It didn't matter who won or by how much, but any incompletion, sack, or interception always led to people wanting the QB to be pulled. Some people (not you) just can't accept someone for what they are and just enjoy the ride.

But he doesn't throw a pretty ball like Jake Heaps. Now that guy could throw a pretty pass....10 yards over the receivers head.

At some point my strawmen will be right, I just need to keep trying

How about this: Riley Nelson was #17 in passer rating last year. Honestly, I'd take him over 75% of other starting QBs in the FBS.

When you say the bolded, it makes me assume you are comparing Nelson to past QBs at BYU (otherwise you can't really set a standard right?). With that being said, I found that as far as career goes (I haven't looked at senior year), Nelson's passer efficiency rating is in the same ballpark (+/- 3 points) of Young, Walsh, Neilsen, and Bosco). The only guys significantly higher are Detmer and McMahon with Hall being higher (but not by much).

We'll see if he can keep up when the competition gets tougher, but honestly the previous QBs didn't face a schedule any tougher than what Nelson will see this year.

This is very true, but to Riley's defense he's been hitting those guys in stride and helping them get YAC. Even his quick sideline throws were on against WEber State. I think he's settling down and getting more comfortable. hopefully we do go long against Utah and hopefully he gives hoffman a shot to get a ball or two out of the air.

This poster must feel like a jackass after the way Riley has played over the past two games.

[jay santos]

This poster must feel like a jackass after the way Riley has played over the past two games.

I'm definitely rethinking my support for Riley. Then again, I've never been that much of a Riley guy. More of a Heaps hater.

[ewth8tr]

[YOhio]

GoMo dropping some truth bombs.

But Nelson’s problem, even before the pain, is this: He cannot throw the football. Not the way a BYU quarterback has to throw it — with precision, with purpose, with accuracy.

[BigPiney]

to respond to the thread title:

I do now.

[Hsaru]

Shaka is this Utah defense really the nasty force of nature that no BYU qb has hopes of doing well against? They have pathetic safeties, Mo Lee has zero corner instincts. Awful LBers. Max Hall and John Beck would have feasted all over this defense.

[The_Douger]

We didn't have much of a game plan to exploit the parts of Utah's defense that are vulnerable.

That option is cute though. I love how we don't pass to the RBs at all.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Earlier in the thread he said "he's the best we have right now." I took that to mean that he agreed Riley wasn't good enough. He's just what we got.

That sums up my feelings on Riley exactly over the last two years. However I am starting to flip flop, he can't be the best BYU has, he just can't.