Estimated read time: 9-10 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall would prefer that this Saturday's meeting with FCS visitor Idaho State be played a little earlier in the season, but independent scheduling challenges being what they were going to be in 2011, he's ready to make the best of the situation.
In BYU's case, the game offers the Cougars a chance to sharpen their new-look offense and make plays on pass defense, while allowing banged-up front-liners to recuperate--and yes, get in some preparation for next week's game at TCU.
*******
Not that the Cougars haven't already been working on a game plan for the Horned Frogs, who have won the last three games against BYU by a score of 101-17 (get used to those numbers; you'll be seeing them a lot over the next week). Back in the spring and early summer, coaches embarked on advanced preparation for the TCU game (and others), as is typical of staffs who want a little extra time for either an unfamiliar upcoming opponent or in TCU's case, a foe who has caused BYU particular problems over time.
Of course, months ago, BYU had a certain idea of the team it would be on offense; a team led by Jake Heaps at quarterback. Instead, after a four-and-a-half game run characterized by offensive malaise and declining performances at the QB spot, BYU has re-invented itself, with some impressive results.
The team that takes on TCU next Friday at Cowboys Stadium will not only be different than the one coaches expected to bring to Dallas, it will be sternest test yet of just how viable BYU's new-look is heading into the future--a future that includes both new starter Riley Nelson and Heaps, and soon enough, some high-profile newcomers in the quarterback mix.
*******
BYU's first month of the season was going to be a bit of a beast, with road games in SEC and Big 12 country to open the season, followed by the rivalry game, a UCF team that finished last year in the Top 25 and then a Utah State team that beat BYU last season and almost beat Auburn to start this season.
Since spring, everyone knew Jake Heaps would be the guy that led BYU into September, and there were few indications through spring and summer camps that the Cougars would do anything other than pick up where they left off at the end of last season.
After all, BYU was returning 100% of its passing yards, 99.1% of its rushing yards, 81.8% of its receiving yards, and 61.1% of its scoring. Why wouldn't the Cougars and their fans expect the team to hit the ground running (both literally and figuratively)--in addition to passing?
*******
Returning nine of 11 offensive starters, a quarterback who set all of BYU's freshman passing records and a new offensive coordinator who appeared primed for the position, BYU's sluggish start on offense mystified many.
Multiple factors working against BYU were quickly identified: Brandon Doman's inexperience as OC/conservative play-calling, Juice Quezada's pre-season ankle sprain and in-game headaches, injuries on the offensive line, turnovers, the strength of schedule--the list of items skirted the truth, which appears to be: BYU took too long to find out who it was and wanted to be. All the while, a prototypical pro-style signal caller failed to find any sort of rhythm.
*******
Why and how did this happen? Why did it take as long as it did for BYU to settle on its identity this season? Mendenhall hit on what might serve as the best answer during last night's coach's show.
"If I made any mistakes this fall camp, it was erring on the side of maybe not going against each other enough in live settings, in trying to protect to have as healthy a team as possible going into the opener, and sometimes execution suffers in live setting when you make that choice. I did make that choice, and there is a trade-off there."
If there was something that became evident early in the season, it was that Jake Heaps, for whatever reason, rarely looked totally comfortable in the pocket. The lack of a productive run game increased the pressure on Heaps both from a defensive, tactical standpoint, and from a mental standpoint; it appeared that he always felt hurried, as if the presence of nearby defenders meant doom was at hand, and a throw needed to be made at that precise moment, whether or not a receiver was open.
Heaps was missing short throws, easy throws, the kinds of check-down throws that while typically high-percentage in nature, indicated that his body clock was ticking too fast, just as his field of vision was narrowing. Heaps' completion percentage went down in every game he played. As a pure thrower who was simply not throwing well, Heaps forced BYU to re-assess what is was trying to do.
*******
When Mendenhall says he erred in not providing enough live opportunities for his team, I interpret him to be saying that perhaps his players (and QBs in particular) were probably not exposed to enough live fire, or enough full-team reps, or enough sheer intensity in camp. Had they been, perhaps coaches might have left August with a few different thoughts about their game plan.
Is this to say the green jerseys should go away, and that Bronco should risk losing a QB to a practice injury? No, but it is to say that Bronco regrets taking it too easy in camp, and when things got hard, he felt his guys weren't as ready as they should have been.
*******
On his team's seeming change of identity, Mendenhall said:
"I think it's who's taking the snaps at quarterback, but its also now who's starting to run the football. When you have a quarterback who can run the football for about 80 yards a game, not all with designed runs, you're talking now about 30-40 percent of the snaps he's taking back and just simply, there's nobody open, the defense can't get their hands on him, and he'll run it for 12, and pick up first downs and make it very difficult for a defense to stop that. That's adding grit and determination and a unique element for defenses to have to defend."
"Now between the emergence of Mike Alisa, there's a complement to J.J. (DiLuigi)... and Josh Quezada, who's coming along...with Mike running over people and running through people and running for about five yards a carry, plus Riley, and then you add play-action to that, with Cody Hoffman catching about every ball you could possibly throw...the tight ends starting to contribute, with McKay (Jacobson) and then Ross (Apo) beginning to develop, you feel like it's just about ready to break out, and I think you've seen the signs of momentum the last couple of weeks."
*******
I asked Mendenhall about the schedule component, combined with Doman learning to his job more effectively with each passing game, and whether those factors might have combined to results in a harsher judgement of Heaps' performance, and this was his answer:
"It could very well be...however, when a team does gain momentum, and as Coach Doman feels more comfortable, and as Riley basically gets us out of bad plays through running the football, that makes up a ton for an offensive coordinator learning the craft, a play that's not blocked perfectly, and all of a sudden, a play that didn't look so good, is a 12 yard gain--that is buying time and momentum."
"So, you have to credit Riley's ability and Riley's leadership for being able to do that, not discounting the other components."
*******
Regardless of whether certain fans feel Heaps got the short end of the schedule stick, or whether Nelson benefits from more competent play-calling, Mendenhall hits on the most salient point: with Heaps struggling, pass plays had a limited number of chances for success. With Nelson's specific skill set, and the emergence of a back Heaps did not have at his disposal, BYU's chances for success on every play have gone up considerably.
The statistics are stark, and opponents' strength cannot solely account for the changes in proficiency since the insertion of Nelson and Alisa into the offense.
In the fourth quarter of the Utah State game, after Nelson entered the game, BYU had its most productive offensive quarter of the season to that point, with 198 of the team's 451 yards on the night (44% of BYU's production came in the final 25% of the game).
In Nelson's two starts, BYU has averaged 473 yards per game, and converted on 76% of third downs. In BYU's first five games, the Cougars converted 39% of third downs, while averaging 291 yards in offense.
Heaps had 3rd-and-3 or shorter on 21 of his 70 3rd down attempts (30% of attempts). Nelson has seen 3rd-and-3 or shorter on 15 of 32 3rd down attempts (47%).
On those third-and-short downs, BYU with Heaps converted 13/21 (62%; 8/10 run, 5/11 pass). With Nelson, BYU has converted 14/15 (93%; 11/12 run, 3/3 pass). Passing isn't as frequently a preferred or chosen option with Nelson under center.
Many of those short runs BYU is turning into first downs are plays Nelson is making with his feet; he is 7-for-7 in converting third downs when rushing. It is a tool Doman could not utilize with Heaps, and it is changing how he calls the game.
Connected to the above numbers, BYU has more manageable third down distances, thanks in part to the fact that Nelson is often on the move when a play breaks down or a receiver is not open. With Heaps, a receiver not open often meant a throw-away, incompletion or worse. Not that Nelson hasn't thrown a few unwise balls, but he will many times gain yards on plays that aren't working just right.
Since entering the game v. Utah State, Nelson has exactly 70 rushing yards on first down (5.4 yards per carry), 70 rushing yards on second down (8.8 yards per carry), and 70 rushing yards on third down (7.0 yards per carry). He is the main reason BYU is converting 76% of third downs in the last two game, in which BYU's average third down distance-to-gain has been 4.9 yards. In the first four games, that number averaged 7.1 yards.
*******
As a thrower, Nelson has been more than efficient, if less than spectacular. He has completed 44/72 passes for 618 yards and eight touchdowns (to seven different receivers), with three interceptions. His pass efficiency rating of 161.5 would be 13th nationally, had he 35 more attempts on the season.
As a chain-mover, Nelson is certainly getting the job done. BYU has yet to go three-downs-and-punt since he took over at quarterback, two and a half games ago. In 25 drives as the number one QB, Nelson has led BYU to 13 scores (10 TDs, 3 FGs), six turnovers, three missed field goals, two end-of-game knees, and a single punt.
*******
Nelson is a gamer, a runner, and a risk-taker. Bronco Mendenhall knows that a QB with his style of play rolls the dice on making it through the season (last year, Nelson's season ended in his fourth game). As long as Nelson is healthy and making plays, BYU is clearly on a productive path.
With Idaho State safely out of the way after Saturday, the Cougars will see if their off-season planning, and their in-season identity change, can put up the numbers to challenge a team that has had BYU's number, next week in Dallas.
*******
