I know that many in here don’t like how ARod runs the offenses. Especially with him not using the Tight Ends like we have in the past. But, here is an interesting take on this from Mr. Gritty, Riley Nelson that I happen to agree with. This was on that hated biased BYUSN today…The entire interview is good. The usage of TE starts about the 27 minute mark.
Two homer BYU guys trying to hide their cul-de-sac, receding hairlines.
I don’t entirely agree with Mr. Gritty, specifically with regards to Pitta. He didn’t “emerge” the year after Collie left. He was there the previous year as a viable option, simply lacking experience. The QB doesn’t say “okay, this year it is going to be the TE I throw to”. The plays are called and the QB, if he can, tries to execute those plays. Retzlaff has not been a good executor of plays for a couple of reasons.
- The plays that he is asked to execute are not good calls a lot of the time.
- He is a scramble around, look for a big play, run if you can type QB who doesn’t really run the offense, if that is what you want to call it.
Those two reasons are the primary cause of why the offense is so scattered and dysfunctional, at times looking like it is for real but then immediately switching to something that looks terrible. I’ve said it lots of times… there is no rhythm or flow to the offense, it is haphazard and erratic. It worked frequently but that was because the defense and special teams helped alleviate the offensive problems and mask them during the games.
Nelson saying it’s on those guys to prove to Jake and Arod that they deserve to be part of the offense? Roberts MORE than did that and he just wasn’t used in key situations or when BYU desperately needed something. The hail mary he caught was two yards short of the goal line… so yeah, there is a slliver of truth to what he says but I don’t see it as having a resolution. Retzlaff is not Max Hall either.
Footnote: I just watched the part of the Nelson interview that shows Retzlaff making some plays and my point above is proven… broken plays, scrambling around, running if he can…
Last point I want to make. Bohannon was a completely wasted player this season. I guess he just never proved himself to Arod so there you have it.
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You missed the message Riley was saying. The plays called by the OC depends on whether the player has shown that he can make the plays if he designs and calls plays for guys like Pitta. The OC also has to know that the QB is up to the plays called. So, if TE want the ball, show the OC that he can design plays for the TE. From what I saw, the TE were slow and rarely were open. Hill looked really slow compared to last year when he was a WR.
When I coached, the plays that my teams ran were depended upon several factors: Experience, basketball knowledge, talent and coachability. Some teams I could get very complicated on both offense and defense. Others, I had to stay very basic. Some were talented kids with lack of coachability. Riley is saying to the player, you want the ball thrown to you, then show me you want the ball. Not in the games, but in practice. That’s what he is saying.
I disagree about Roberts as well. He was mostly the number one look for Retzlaff. But, he was mostly double teamed as well. What hurt us was our run game. We didn’t get better when LC and Ropati came back. We stayed the same. Other teams just got better as the season moved on and we lost 2 games we would have won had we played them earlier.
So why was that the case, assuming what you are saying is true (I don’t necessarily agree with that but am willing to entertain the idea for discussion sake) who is to blame for BYU not getting better while the two teams we lost to did get better, according to your hypothesis. That is what you are saying, correct?
When you reply, don’t forget that Kansas lost to Baylor 45-17 their last game. Let the wiggling begin.
Could be several reasons, couldn’t it. Players, coaches lost focus. Other teams simply didn’t and got better. QB’s got better. RB’s got better. Defenses got better. We simply didn’t win the close games like for the first 9 games.
I agree that a coach can only scheme with the talent they have. if the TE aren’t good receivers then you aren’t going to use them that way. but I don’t think that is the full story here. I don’t see Arod’s offense focusing on TEs. he will use them if they are exceptional i.e. Rex, but I don’t think he is specifically trying to develop that talent because it doesn’t fit into his offense. I see his offense as a mogpog of Grimes and what the U has done under Kyle. his use of TEs is more like the utes, first and formost you are blocking. what proof do I have of this. look at the stats of the TEs at the U while he coached there. there is only one TE that really stands out Jake Murphy 33rec for 349yrds. another proof of this is getting rid of the TE coach from last year that developed Rex.
so Hopper when you say
you are correct there are plenty that can transfer in because we just want them for blocking.
got the stats from here
FYI hopper the faxes are coming in the mail to be emailed to you later.
I agree with much of your assessment. We do use them more for blocking. This is true for most NFL teams as well. We only hear about a handful at that level who are used as main receivers like Kelcy.
However, when ARod decided to make Hill a TE, Im sure he is hoping to use him more as a receiver. Putting the extra weight on him seemed to slow him down and it didn’t work so well. He looked slow and wasn’t open from what we could see on TV.
I think Riley Nelson has the credentials and credibility to say what he did. Certainly more than that guy from Ojai, Jimbo Hawks. Why practice if you don’t want to show the coaches they need to use you as a tight end? I also agree with Riley that we will see more depth in play calling because Retzlaff has a full year under his belt. Just like Pitta had a full year more under his belt and proved to the coaches he can handle more.
yes, but the teams that do have a good receiver at TE for the most part do better then the ones that don’t. that is why I say it’s better to work hard to develop that talent then it is to hope for one to come along. also I have only seen once where a WR move to a TE be successful.
the reason everyone has a hard time with what you said below, is because it assumes that there are a tun of TEs that can block and catch but as you pointed out above there isn’t. so you need to find them out of high school and start developing them as soon as you get them not hope to find them in the portal.
I really hope we can find someone in that can block and catch, because it will help us add some depth what our offense can do and we are going to need that next year.
Let me say this, Wilson, Hall and now Retzlaff all took upon themselves to seek outside help to improve their talent and abilities. To get more knowledge as well. We never hear about receivers doing the same things including TE. Are WRs, RBs and TE doing these things to show that they can do more for the coaches to explain their play callings?
Blaine Fowler is on BYUSN explaining the same thing. He said it like this, “If Dennis Pita was on this year’s team, he would have gotten 60 catches. It’s all about the talent for the coaches to design an offense using the TE.” Not completely the way he said it but you get the idea. Same as Riley Nelson. If TE get open the QB will throw them the ball. Pita was that good his senior year.
there are camps for every position. the QB gets talked about the most because its considered the most technical and important position.
Dennis Pitta was a wide receiver in high school. How did he end up as a tight end?
Just another example of an idea that didn’t work… again. Please explain what you mean by this as well…
There is no “depth in play calling” that is going to take place next season. Just because you post some inane idea doesn’t mean it is even real or that it is going to happen. The offense can’t even run most of the plays that are called. So much of the time Retzlaff waits too long to throw and ends up scrambling around… so it’s more of the “broken play” variety that we see. That is why the offense is so ineffective a lot of the time. When a team runs the plays and those plays are good play calls, they develop a rhythm and flow to the offense that is very hard to stop or control. That scenario rarely took place this season when it came to BYU’s offense. Explain why that is.
I appreciate your enthusiasm and positivity but you belong on Sports Nation wearing blue goggles, not here trying to make legitimate analyses of what is going on.
Also, one last request. Please stop using my name and where you think I am from in your posts. It isn’t necessary and I would rather maintain some anonymity, okay grasshopper?
Do we care what Mr Gritty says?
Great teams use Tight Ends. BYU has not used the TEs right for years. We should be putting TEs in the NFL, Utah has been doing that and they don’t even throw the ball.
You make everything sound like we are 2 - 10. I certainly am going to take the words of real analysts over your negative comments. Especially those who have played the game at a high level. Riley knows what the coaches are looking for. And, the two main announcers are by far more knowledgeable than you are by a wide margin. They actually look and study film of games as well. They talk to the sources, not Thawk on CougarFan…
As far as Retzlaff scrambling when the defense is going to get him for a loss, I’m good with his scrambling. He was much better this year staying in the pocket and checking down his receivers.
Maybe you need a pair of blue goggles to change your stinkin thinkin 
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hopper - blah, blah, blah…
jcoug - realilstic, accurate comments is what I provide hopper!
hopper - blah, blah, blah…
jcoug - Yep, that’s pretty much what I read in your posts.
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And there’s the proof that h and his idol “Gritty, Gritty Bang, Bang” are just plain wrong.
Thanks for making the point so simple fish: It’s been done very successfully before - and just 45 minutes up north
Jcoug- droon, froom, droon, froom
Hopper - perfect sport’s analysis every time
Jcoug - drool, fart, drool, fart
Hopper - high sports analyst
And WE used to put TEs in the pros
That’s the Second proof.
The notion by Gritty and Gritty Jr, that the coach is just waiting for someone to “step up” is flawed.
It suggests the player is either not talented enough and/or is not trying hard enough (h’s go to is blame the player, never the coach you’ll note)
Either way, didn’t the coach recruit the player?
Didn’t the coach train and coach the player?
The only reason Gritty suggests you got to get noticed is because that is what he did with marginal talent. It can happen but not the norm.
Grit only takes you so far. Talent almost always wins out given requisite effort.
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Or, they are using the TE for the running game all the fans want to see. The fact is, Hill is slow. So are the other TE this year. They don’t get open. So, let’s see some TE willing to work harder to get open. Until then, they will be used for pass blocking. Riley is right, not all you armchair QBs.
Do you know how silly this comment is?
Keanu Hill In 45 games had 73 receptions for 1,212 yards and 11 touchdowns, with the 2022-23 year being his best (36 catches, 572 yards, 7 TDs) AS A WIDE RECIVER!
The only reason he was moved to Tight End was because he struggled to maintain the weight that they wanted the WR’s to have. So Kalani moved him to Tight End, so it was not so much a struggle to maintain the weight.
Hill is anything BUT SLOW!,
As a comparison:
Keanu Hill, a tight end for BYU, has a 40-yard dash time of 4.68 seconds
Chase Roberts, a wide receiver for BYU, has a 40-yard dash time of 4.56 seconds
Keelan Marion, a wide receiver for BYU, has a 40-yard dash time of 4.52 seconds
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It’s not relevant when you report facts Floyd, it doesn’t support the Hopper’s flawed theory. HAHA… But thanks anyway, I think I’ll go with your facts, especially when they support my perspectives and opinions.
The problem with Hopper is that he can’t formulate or create his own ideas. He has to rely on others (sports nation homers, gritty nelson who by the way made the most of his talent and was actually a very good player) and then try and use those ideas to fit something he creates out of nothing. It is a very flawed approach and full of contradiction, but that is how he does it and it isn’t going to change. The rest of us just have to accept it because it is an identity he has created here on cougarfan. Not the person I know in real life, just the Jekyl and Hyde thing.
Particularly revealing is his attempt to put someone else down by using their post and twisting it into his own material. It just doesn’t look good… no originality, no creativity and most importantly no facts or evidence to support it.
Thanks for providing factual evidence to prove something wrong.
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