Crossing the 50
BYU got to the 50-yard line in 4 drives with Heaps as the QB and managed 13 points. With Nelson at the reigns, BYU also had 4 possessions, and managed a whopping, well, 14 points. 8 possessions, 27 points. In 6 possessions against UCF, the offense managed 17 points. 8 possessions against Utah, 10 points. 6 possessions against Texas, 16 points. 6 possessions against Ole Miss, 7 points. With the exception of the Utah game, there has been steady improvement here. However, it is very slow, and very incremental.
This offense shouldn't feel so young anymore. The fact that they scored on 63% of their possessions against Utah State should seem better, especially considering how many possessions they had on the plus-side of the 50. But there are still too many turnovers, too many field goals, too many false starts, and too many negative plays. In 34 possessions, BYU has scored on 15 of them, 7 field goals and 8 TDs. The overall percentage is climbing, as is the TD percentage, but until it gets to about 60-65%, BYU will struggle to win, or win convincingly against lesser opponents. BYU can survive against San Jose State, Idaho State, New Mexico State, Idaho, and possibly even Oregon State with such a low percentage, but not TCU or Hawaii. BYU needs to continue to cross the 50 around 7 times a game, they need to score 5 times, with at least 4 TDs. I realize it's easier said than done.
Riley's Red Zone
Riley Nelson shot down his critics last week by putting on a display with his arm. Most people, including myself, do not believe he can succeed, long-term, as a Division I QB. But he is certainly improved from last season and maybe that assessment isn't as true now as it was before. His accuracy was good. His velocity was better than before. His two passes that traveled more than 20 yards in the air were both completed. Given that his arm is not as bad as we thought, I think it's time BYU employs him more, at least in the red zone. Jake Heaps has been in the red zone on 12 possessions and has only thrown 2 TDs (one each in the first two games). Clearly, the passing game isn't getting the job done in the red zone.
BYU also only has 3 rushing TDs in those 12 possessions. So the rushing attack isn't exactly lighting it up either. Doman said he played Riley Nelson in the second half just to mix it up a bit and try something different. The red zone offense could use a little "mixing" as well. This is operating under the assumption that Heaps is the starter, and Riley actually gets used more in the offense.
Other situations I would like to see Riley Nelson used: the first play after a turnover (while the defense is busy looking for their helmets and not paying attention to who comes in at QB), 2nd and short, and any down and distance lined up in the slot. How about you all? I know some of you want to see him as the full-time starter. So comment up!
I charted the passes from last game and it amazed me how often Heaps threw incomplete on 2nd and less than 5. I don't have it in front of me, but I think he was like 0-5. That's an area we need to improve on . . . not getting to third down, so if Nelson will help with that, I'm for it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that as a full time starter, he won't work out. We saw what happened last year when teams caught on to the running.
I fear you've given Nelson a little too much credit throwing the ball...let's remember that Jacobson's catch was nothing more than lucky on Nelson's part- I think I even heard him yell "five hundred!" when he threw it. And his game winning TD was a horrible pass, even if DiLuigi wasn't held (which I never really saw anyway). Nice TD pass to Hoffman, but that's not a terribly difficult throw for a college QB (heck, even Heaps has completed that pass). Heaps is the long term solution. I say you at least have to give him a chance against SJSU to get things rolling. If he doesn't, well then he is Matt Berry Jr- all hype. This is my suggestion to Doman- put Heaps in shotgun, flanked by Nelson and a RB. Either hand it off to RB, or give it to Nelson to either run it or possibly throw it, or let Heaps throw it himself. And our trick play can be the old skool flea flicker. Defenses, especially safeties, would have no idea. Defend THAT!
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