Quarterbacks and Oregon State

It has been a long week of midterms for me.  I escaped doing all right for myself.  But now that those are over, I can return to focusing on more important things: Our Matchup with Oregon State, QB issues for both teams in this game, and BYU’s top 5 defense.

BYU QB’s

Taysom Hill scrambling against Hawaii
last week (photo: KSL.com)

First, let us talk about Taysom’s injury and get that out of the way.  On the last first down of the game this past weekend, Taysom had a QB draw and was hit hard on the knee as he went down.  In my seat I did the math before that play and was expecting a kneel-down.  But they didn’t.  They decided for whatever reason to run another play.   Fine.  Taysom got hurt.  That sucks, yeah, but it isn’t the end of the world.  People are complaining about Brandon Doman making a stupid choice by not kneeling it.  The chances of your QB getting hurt on a run up the middle are very minimal.  It was bad luck. A fluke.  You are practically just as likely to get hurt kneeling it down.  People will question the choice, but I don’t think it is worth dwelling on.  Also, it is important to note that Taysom turned away from the signal caller before the signal to knee it came in.  Then when Bronco realized what had happened, he tried to call a timeout but didn't get it in before the ball was snapped.

Riley Nelson keeps his Eyes downfield while
scrambling against OSU last season (photo: ESPN.com)

Although it sucks for Taysom to have to deal with a potential surgery and nursing that injury, it does not stink for the team.  Bronco has made it very clear that this is Riley’s job when he returns to full strength.  I love Taysom Hill.  I think he is the future of BYU football and the next Cougar QB who will have a decent NFL career.  I think he did a great job filling in for Riley while he was injured.  But he is obviously young.  I would say that Taysom is a better athlete, better runner, and stronger guy than Riley.  But Riley’s decision making is better.  (yeah, I know you just chuckled. Wait for it…)  How many times has Riley scrambled and made a play out of nothing? Instantly coming to mind are the Bowl play last season when Matt Reynolds made the huge hit without his helmet, and 2 different plays against Hawaii last year on the island.  Yes, He throws errant interceptions frequently, but I think the trade off is worth it.  For every stupid in the throws, there are dozen plays made out of nothing.  Although I think Taysom is a better athlete and player than Riley, I think that right now A riley led team is better than a Taysom-led team.

Watching the USU game last weekend from high above LES, I saw so many open receivers missed.  Soft coverage on the outside, but it did not matter, because Taysom was already tucking out of the play and running the ball like a running back.  He puts the ball away.  It reminds me of a guy named (Drum Roll) Riley Nelson!  In 2010, when he shared the job with Jake Heaps (possibly the last time I mention him by name), I was always so frustrated with Riley getting the snap, then giving up on an obvious pass play before it developed and tucking and running.  Taysom is staying with the play longer, but he lacks the confidence and experience to stay in there for another half second and make the throw.  That will come with experience.  I am not worried about that long term.

I think Riley will bring to the table an exciting offense like we haven’t seen in four weeks.  Think back before The Utah game.  Our offense was efficient. Granted, it was Washington State and Weber State, but still.   Riley is on the same page as his receivers.  In Utah and Boise State, Riley was hurt (especially BSU) and we could see that in his game play.  Yet we still lost by a combined four points- to our rival and to a team that is still in the top 25.  Not too shabby- but more on that, later.

Riley will bring this team back to life on the offensive side of the ball.  Yeah, expect a few turnovers, but also expect a play or two where it looks like nothing will happen, but riley scrambles out and finds Cody Hoffman over the top of the defense. It will happen. And you will say I was right.

OREGON STATE GAME

I have seen a grand total of about 5 minutes worth of Oregon State football this year.  I do not know their team.  With that being said, I know they are a top 10 team.  I know they have lost their starting QB for the year.  I know they just played the same Washing state team we played and did not perform that well.  And I know that we beat them pretty soundly last year with a weaker version of the team we have now.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how our team is not as bad as people make them out to be.  We are 4 points short of being undefeated (and not just any 4 points; 3 points against our arch-rival, and 1 point against a top-25 team, in a flat-out horrible BYU offensive performance).  I will briefly rehash this 4-point perception issue:

-The last offensive play in the Utah game was ours for the taking, if not for a defender hitting Riley’s arm.  (giggles again from the Utah fans….)  Yeah, it didn’t play out that way.  I know.  BUT, that arm is not hit and Hoffman is wide open in the end zone for the win with no time on the clock.

- In Boise, Riley should not have played.  I think if Taysom started that game, we would have won.  He was thrown into the middle of a big, close game. Deer in the headlights (or was it a cow, Boise State football truck?).  Boom.  But, instead you give him a week to prepare mentally and with the first unit and we win. He might not come out perfect, but he puts together a few TD drives.  We win.

Those are two small changes resulting in one big difference: WE ARE UNDEFEATED! We are top 10! BYU-OSU is a top 10 match-up going down, college game day is here, and everyone is stoked because it will be a well-fought game going down to the end.  Instead though, I hear grumblings of how we have no chance, we can’t beat a top-10 team, will blow it, etc.  We are the EXACT same team that we would be if we won those two earlier games.  But the perception is so different.  It drives me crazy.  These two teams are so evenly matched.  I was expecting the upset even before I found out that OSU’s QB was out.  Now I am sure of it.  If nothing else, our defense will keep it a close game.

With Riley Nelson returning, I foresee our offense getting its swag back and the defense putting up endless big stops.  Saturday will be a good day to be a Cougar and the Cougars will re enter the top-25 before heading to South Bend for another top-10 upset.  Get stoked.