Comments about ‘BYU football: Cougars looking for team effort’

This is a one horse race. Heaps has it in the bag.

BigYak14--you may be right...but on the other hand, who is anyone to ignore what Bronco just said????

If you know something, say it. If not, it's just another expression of "hope" not fact.

I think Heaps will likely win the job, but whether it's Heaps or Nelson, either guy will be inheriting a very talented, experienced offensive line to protect him and a very talented and experienced wide receiver corps.

As far as the running game, Unga's departure was a big loss obviously, but Brian Kariya and JJ Diluigi are no slouches. Remember, we beat Oklahoma with Kariya and DiLuigi. Also, Juice Quezada is a big-time talent.

The new QB will have plenty to work with!

In the first three games, BYU will be defending against two of the most highly regarded college QBs and the triple option of Air Force. Why are "all eyes" on the BYU QB? BYU has almost always been able to put enough points on the board to win. This year will be no different. The question in my mind is the defense's ability to slow down opponents and take away the long play.

I don't understand so many people saying that Heaps is the starter. What, are we trying to campaign and influence the coaches? Whoever is the best fit and the best leader will be the starter, as Coach Mendenhall said. Why not get behind the collective team and support whoever it is that takes the field. This is going to be a good team with a lot of talent that I think will surprise many people.

Having said that, I think it is foolish to overlook Nelson and forget how valuable game experience and having time in the program can be.

Go Cougs! Can't wait for the season to start!

I can see Heaps being the starter. With good receivers, you need a quarterback who throws strikes. On the other hand, Nelson coming in at times will add another burdon on a defense.

Levins is right. The BYU front-7 won the Oklahoma and Utah games single-handly last year. If you think starting 2 true freshman, and a transfer who has seen the field sparingly since high school, at the LB position is not a huge concern, you are an uneducated football fan. Quit worrying about Heaps. BYU always has good QB play. Worry about stopping Locker, Ponder and Air Force with 3 LB's who have never played D1 football.

We have an embarrassment of riches at QB, as they say, and that's a good thing, especially if one of them were to be injured. Bronco will mold these young men into a team and we'll do all right.

I agree with Levin that it's the defense that will make the difference. I think we may take our lumps early on, but the experience will carry us through the conference.

Looking forward to the season! Go Cougs!

Runner | 10:19 a.m. July 28, 2010

Having said that, I think it is foolish to overlook Nelson and forget how valuable game experience and having time in the program can be.

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Jim McMahon could've walked in off the street and started as a freshman if he hadn't had an experienced starter in front of him.

Ty Detmer should've started earlier in his Freshman year than he did.

Experience helps everyone, but that doesn't necessarily make a less-talented experienced person better than the guy who is inexperienced but more gifted mentally, physically and emotionally.

Heaps, who has been mentored for years at one of the best quarterback farms in the country, probably has years more quality coaching behind him right now than any of the other candidates. I say his chances are good.

And when I say McMahon had an experienced starter in front of him, I'm not talking redshirt. Nielsen was an All-American when McMahon arrived, and Wilson was the established number 2. Hard to beat out either with 3rd team reps.

Heaps would be fun to watch because it's always fun to watch your team throw deep down the field, but if Nelson can get the offense moving in the right direction and march them down the field more effectively, then I think that may yield more success on the field. I am a big Heaps fan already, but I haven't seen him play so I'm not entirely sold on starting him this year yet.

CWEB: You make a good point. Sorry but I do not have any inside info but the writing is on the wall. Bronco is a great coach and I'm not discrediting his words. I think he's just being very diplomatic (which he should).

Here is why the writing is on the wall.

1. If it truly were an even race as far as skill goes it would be nelson's job lose. He has more experience playing and with the program.

2. Heaps is a liability to lose. He's had offers from big schools. He can leave at any minute without losing eligibility.

3. In spring ball he did take majority of the reps.

4. He's brought in great recruits thus emphasizing #2 even more

5. He's in the national light. He's going to shed some real light on byu if he's successful as far as publicity goes. He'll get mentioned on espn.

6. He's a true freshman. If a true freshman has success, bronco's job becomes infinitely easier for the next three to four years as far as recruiting and organizing your team.

Thus the one horse race

Williary, I have to say it was The BYU Secondary did an amazing job against the Oklahoma team, They were able to limit the pass production and keep Broyles from being a key player in the Oklahoma offense. Though the front 7 did not always get the pressure on Bradford. The defense as a whole played really well.

As for agreeing with Levin, That is true. at BYU we love watching our team light up the score board with amazing Quarterbacks ... but lets get real, the thing that will determine whether we win games is going to be how well the new Front 7 on defense will be able to handle D1 football, with highly rated high school recruits that will most likely be able to play (Kaveinga, Van Noy, and Stout) + Pendleton we could do very well at the Linebacker spot, then again many high school players never seem to pan out at the next level.

Linebackers Plus the D-line units seem to be some of the biggest concerns for me right now, I feel like Kariya and Di Luigi will do fine at RB. and we will see good QB play

re: DanceManCougar

I'll agree they did a good job not giving up anything big in the first half while Bradford was in, but he still completed like 80% of this passes before getting hurt. The second half the secondary looked great against a kid taking his first D1 snaps at QB.

The front-7 slowed the run and once Bradford went down, that was all they needed to do.

Defense wins Championships plain and simple. I feel that the Offense will do there thing, no doubt. But what will this thin LB crew do ? Will they beable to get enough 3 & outs ? Will they, the defense, give there new offense a short field to play on ? These and alot more nervous questions about this untested defense remain to be answered. Yes the defense is a HUGE ??? this year.

Defense doesn't matter - We will stop our opponents with water balloons.

Cougar Cooldown!!!!

Re: Mr. Le Prof, "I think we may take our lumps early on, but the experience will carry us through the conference." This isn't basketball. That won't cut it.

Can you say Vegas Bowl- again??! (if you're lucky) ha!

Defense is always where it is at. Otherwise who ever has the ball last wins the game. As much as we love the "O" we must get stops and good field position from the "D" to win. We won't know how good our New guys on "D" are until we see them in a couple games. I hope the "D" surprised us and if so we will have a great year AGAIN. Go Cougs

Bronco will use a two QB system, it'll take a Total Team Effort to be somewhat successful this year, LBs are a potential shortfall for this team as well as DBs and team speed - lackluster! Hustle and total team effort can overcome some of these shortfalls. BYU is rich at QB! Average across the board in most other positions. I like TCU and Utah's team speed, Air Force can be a pain to play also. All other teams within league play are below
TCU, UTAH, BYU. Hope they all play well and improve the conference. Boise will be a good addition, Utah a big loss.

I am picking BYU to finish 4th or 5th in the MWC this year. Things are going to get really ugly for Y fans for a while. I am hoping the Y can have a winning season but don't count on it. I can easily see the Y only winning 2 or 3 games this year... maybe the worst year in a decade. No QB, no running backs, no tight ends and a predictably bad defense. YIKES!!