Nelson or Heaps? That is the Question

I'll never forget sitting in my 45-yard line seat in the East stands at a BYU football game trying to endure one of the grueling 4-8 Crowton years (2004) by cheering on the Cougars the best I could.  It was only after the offense sulked off the field after a quick "Three-and-out" in the middle of the 3rd quarter against a lowly MWC conference foe that the Cougar fan behind me yelled, "Fire, Norm!", as in fire Norm Chow who was last the BYU Offensive Coordinator 5 years prior in 1999.

Then there was last Friday night when I witnessed one of the more exciting BYU wins I can remember when backup quarterback Riley Nelson led the Cougars 96 yards to a game-winning touchdown over a hard-luck Utah State team in the closing seconds of the game.  After a failed Utah State attempt at a Hail Mary pass down the field to try and pull off an even greater miracle than what Riley Nelson had pulled off, the Cougars had been led to victory by their backup quarterback (and his hair...see the semi-hilarious "Ode to Riley Nelson's Hair" here).  Then they stormed the field.  Really?  I know it was exciting, but approximately 2,000 Cougar fans stormed the field chanting, "Ri-ley Nel-son!  Ri-ley Nel-son!"  Really? Against a middle-of-the-pack WAC team?  The cheers were well deserved as Nelson pulled victory from a slow, agonizing defeat on national television, but true Cougar fans would be wise to change the jeers back to cheers towards Jake Heaps if they want to have any chance at long-term success this season or through the next few years as BYU tries to make its pitch for national prominence and a potential spot in the BCS picture.

A quarterback controversy has surfaced in Provo as Nelson carried the
Cougars to an emotional victory past the in-state rival last Friday night.

Don't get me wrong, Riley Nelson is a key component of the BYU football team both this year and next year.  He is a leader that the team rallies behind and supports.  I love watching him on special teams and can't wait until he lays a hit on a punt returner a la Matt Payne back in the day. There is a ton of value in having a change of pace quarterback such as Nelson to keep opposing defenses from keying in on what can be a predictable BYU offense until Brandon Doman gets his feet underneath him as the Offensive Coordinator.  But Heaps has the NFL-ready arm (granted, he has looked like Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite throwing the football at times this year) and the talent to lead BYU football through the 2013 season.  John Beck had his growing pains before he was great.  Heaps is going through his.  His mental and physical toughness just need to catch up with that cannon of an arm.

I'm also not saying that BYU should implement a consistent two quarterback system like they tried to do at the beginning of the 2010 season.  Rotating quarterbacks every series is not good for either quarterback or for the team's success.  Heaps is the starter.  Go with the gun that does require some assembly, then teach it, coach it, and watch it carry the Cougars to a BCS game before Heaps is done at BYU.  Riley is most effective as the secret weapon ready to come out for key offensive plays when the offense needs a jolt.  But if Riley comes into a game as the starter, defenses will not respect BYU's passing game and will cram the line with 8 or 9 defenders making it even more difficult for BYU's running backs to run the ball effectively.  Ross Apo and Cody Hoffman, two of the most talented and sizable receivers BYU has ever had, would be ineffective for the next three years as they would not be able to hope that every key pass play is tipped into their hands (like what happened at the end of the Utah State game).

Tebow and Leak gave BYU's coaches a path to success
for Nelson and Heaps during this year and next year.

Remember when Tim Tebow burst onto the scene in 2006?  Chris Leak was Florida's drop-back passer who had struggled at times throughout his first 3 years at Florida, but when coupled with Tebow's ability to make plays and lead the team, it made Leak step up his effort and his concentration level and led Florida to a much more successful offensive output.  By the way, the well-coached dual-quarterback approach carried Florida to the National Championship.

After Heaps came into 2011 with so many expectations after such a positive end to the 2010 season, it is easy to see why many Cougar fans are disappointed in his Uncle Rico-like results so far this year.  But BYU should stay the course with Heaps and let him develop into the quarterback he has the potential to be.  BYU does not have a difficult schedule coming up so it shouldn't matter whether Heaps or Nelson plays, so why not stick with Heaps, mix in a little Riley, and build the offense into a potent powerhouse for years to come?

Stay the course.  Continue to shoot the cannon.