There were a few things about BYU that we learned last night. I let my fandom show a lot in posts and rants the past week or two. But realistically, what can BYU fans really expect out of a program with an honor code as strict as BYU's? We have some great players. Bronco is putting as great of a group of personnel as I've ever seen at BYU.
BYU didn't lose the game b/c of the failed 2-point conversion. I don't like the call. I do like the fact that Bronco wanted to show his faith in the young QB, but I think he showed a lot of disrespect to his defense that kept BYU in the game with stand after stand. He robbed them of an opportunity to win the game. That's the real negative in my mind: taking the defense out of the game and putting it in the hands of an untested guy. But, like I said, that call didn't lose BYU the game: BYU's offense and the 5 turnovers lost BYU the game. Anyway, enough fluff, now to my 3 lessons.
1. Riley's leadership isn't universal. Rewind one year to the debacle that was BYU's first 5 games. Jake Heaps was turning it over in bunches. People said he had lost the team. In steps Riley Nelson and he leads the team to miraculous comebacks.
It's easy to "lead" when you aren't the one screwing up. Last night, it was Riley Nelson with his head down pacing the sideline. In steps Taysom Hill to clean up Riley's mess. It's easy to be the guy that comes in to fix someone else's mistakes, it's a lot harder to lead when you are the guy. Riley's leadership was absent in the 3rd quarters at Utah and Boise. He could not rally the troops around him because he was the problem, not the solution. Is Taysom now the solution?
I think there are probably a lot of BYU fans like me that feel that there is no reason not to play him. The goal this season had to be a BCS game with 29 seniors and one of the top D's in the country. Riley proved unworthy. Now they have to reshift focus and prepare for next year. That's just my personal opinion: if BYU goes 6-6 or 10-2 with Riley Nelson, they play in the Poinsettia Bowl and they have to rebuild next year. If BYU goes 6-6 or 10-2 with Taysom Hill, they play in the Poinsettia Bowl and they have an experienced QB heading into next season. Maybe that will be enough to keep Cody Hoffman and Kyle Van Noy for their senior seasons. Riley proved he can lead BYU to victories over teams BYU should beat. But he has yet to beat a team that BYU wasn't significantly better than. In the 50-50 games, he's 0-fer. Beat Utah State, San Jose State, Oregon State, Idaho State, Idaho, Hawaii, Tulsa, Washington State, Weber State. He lost to TCU (because of his turnovers), lost to Utah (because of his inability to calm/lead the O), and lost to Boise State (because of his turnovers).
2. It's unfortunate that Riley is not the guy. The pieces are there defensively. The defense is not a top 15 D like I stated before the game. That is one of the absolute top 5 defenses in the country. BYU is -5 in turnovers and the BYU D doesn't give up a point. The BYU offense manages 100 yards through 2.5 quarters and BYU only loses the Time of Possession battle essentially by the last possession where Boise ran out the clock. The special teams were solid too, at least on punts and punt returns. No opportunities to kick field goals or kick off, thanks to Riley's turnovers.
The defense is unreal.
3. Doman isn't ready for prime time yet either. BYU attempted just 3 passes over 15 yards the entire evening. I know BYU fans remember the "fade" days of Robert Anae, but at least it forced defenses to defend the entire field occasionally. It's just a touch throw. It's low risk but the odds are against you of completing it as well. BYU didn't even TRY to make Boise State for its steady diet of man coverage. I won't say the play calls were suspect, b/c he did reasonably well considering he has an incapable offensive line. But every once in a while you HAVE to go deep, even if it's just to show that you can. And who knows, with Cody Hoffman maybe you even get a big play or pass interference out of it.
It's just a shame that BYU didn't try it a single time. Who knows how the outcome might have changed...
I like when you show your "fandom" :)
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