Mike Sorensen: Fans always think the backup quarterback is better than the starter
For another, why would a coach use a player who he didn’t feel was as good as another? Coaches get paid exorbitant salaries to win ball games. They’re not about to risk losing their million-dollar contracts by playing the wrong quarterback.
Here’s what I say about the local quarterback situations:
If he’s healthy, let Riley Nelson play the next two weeks. He should be able to lead the Cougars past a lousy Hawaii team and then he’ll get a chance to beat his old Utah State team from the start of the game rather than just the second half. If he can’t beat the Aggies when healthy, perhaps it’s time for a QB change in Provo.
As for the Utes, Hays is clearly the best quarterback they’ve got right now, even though he may not be a Pac-12-caliber quarterback. If the Utes get on a losing streak, they should start playing Wilson more. But unless they’re out of bowl consideration, it may not be a good idea to hand the reins over to Wilson.
Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener — or bluer.
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— About comments
Mike Sorensen has covered sports at the Deseret News since 1979. He has covered golf his entire career and nearly every sport you can think of, but for the past 15 years his main beats have been college football and more ..
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Mike, I understand your point about Riley Nelson but I challenge you to name one game against a legitimate opponent where he performed well. He has a flown record because he beat up on the weakest part of BYU's schedule last year but the only More..
"No matter that Nelson has played with a sore back the past two games, close Cougar losses by a grand total of four points."
Actually, the point is that it does matter. You say Nelson should play if he's healthy. The coaches More..
Somewhere in Kansas, Jake Heaps is shaking his head saying, "I told you so..." He's totally been vindicated...and I didn't think it would happen this fast. Clearly this coaching staff is incapable of making the correct decisions More..