I am a glass half full fan, but the glass was 90 percent full up until a few games ago and now it is about one quarter full. I’m sorry if that doesn’t sit well with you but that is the reality of the situation currently. There are lots of reasons for it and things that could change to make it more full again. We will see.
Now, for the first time I can call you Thawk. This post has my complete support. It takes time for teams coming from weaker leagues to usually make an impact. That’s why last year’s basketball team was such a head scratcher for most analysts. The way BYU ended the season without their starting QB was predictable. For some reason, experience of both coaches and players, we win the close league games. I expect some improvement next year. Will we win 9 or 10 games? Not sure yet. We will have that capability.
As for our plateauing. I see the fact other teams still have more elite players that get better and coaches who can utilize the players better. And this in all phases of the game. And yet, we could have still win both losses while plateauing. You have more to add but we have to realize other teams are improving that looked terrible early on. And we are a couple of years away. Would changing offenses now help for next year with Retzlaff going to be an experienced D1 senior. That’s another thing about attacking him that he’s had 2 years in Jr. College. LOL.
You then don’t understand that in this league, the other teams still have more players that are better athletes and some with experience. Although, Sitaki got some to come here and some to stay which made a huge difference. Thawk is correct that we are a couple of years out before we can do some things other teams can do effectively at the end of the season. So, enjoy the ride. It’s been a great year. I just hope basketball can do the same. It may take a couple of years as well to be in the national championship talk. These are good days to be a BYU fan. Oh, cross country men and women again won national championships.
Here are the scenarios of who will play for the Championships.
Scenario 1: Arizona State, BYU, Colorado and Iowa State all win and finish 7-2 in Big 12 play.
Arizona State vs. Iowa State in the Big 12 championship.
Scenario 2: Two of the four teams win and finish 7-2, while the other two lose and finish 6-3.
The two teams who finish 7-2 will play in the Big 12 championship.
Scenario 3: Arizona State, BYU and Iowa State win (7-2 in Big 12 play), Colorado loses (6-3).
Arizona State vs. Iowa State in the Big 12 championship.
Scenario 4: BYU, Colorado and Iowa State win (7-2 in Big 12 play), Arizona State loses (6-3).
BYU vs. Iowa State in the Big 12 championship.
Scenario 5: Arizona State, BYU and Colorado win (7-2 in Big 12 play), Iowa State loses (6-3).
Arizona State vs. BYU in the Big 12 championship.
Big 12 updates Week 14 football championship tiebreaking scenarios – Deseret News
1 Like
Well you all knew ASU was hot and having BYU at home, most sane people thought ASU had a good shot at winning. That BYU had a shot at winning this game after a lackluster effort and poor decisions in the first half was a sign that this team doesn’t quit. If I had to grade this team on their season it would be-DL-B, LB-B+, SEC A-, OL-B-, REC-B+, RB-B, QB-B. Puts them at right about 10-2 or 9-3. QB with an A grade and BYU is right now unbeaten. Sorry Jake-too many critical interceptions and too many overthrows. One note *BYU always claims great TE’s-if so, they don’t use them enough. As JCoug noted-The Kansas game probably put BYU out of contention
1 Like
LB- I heard Harrison Taggart got hurt, left the game. He was the hard hitter on the front line, his replacement was someone with less experience.
If you want to watch something interesting, watch BYUTV postgame show. According to David Nixon, he said on the last play (“Hail Mary”), that the nose tackle for ASU came around the edge to get Retzlaff and that kind of rushed Jake throw.
His opinion is that on that play the QB is supposed to slide to the outside to give time for the WR’s to get downfield, the closer to the LOS, the better chance of getting the ball in the endzone. There is “NO REASON” that the nose tackle should have not been blocked out that late. “If” Jake was able to get another 3-5 yards up, the better the chance the ball would end up in the endzone and not 2 yards short.
I don’t know if it would have caught or not, but it interesting thought non the less.
They also blasted the O-Line for not hitting the defensive front guys to keep the hands down to prevent tipped passes. Harvey Langi made the point.
You have it right. Much better than last season for sure!
Basically why I gave the OL the worst grade B-. If you remember ASU only rushed 3 on the last play. I don’t know if Robert’s would have made the catch 2 yards farther, but no chance throwing it short with ASU dropping 8
I agree Jim!
BYU 112th in 3rd down conversion %. That’s embarrassing.
Retzlaff has a 58% completion %.
Our 3rd down % is bad for several reasons (Arod’s stupidly over conservative play calling being exhibit A). Why do we run hopeless jet sweeps so often on 3rd and long when everyone else in the world throws downfield? That’s on ARod. But bottom line our QB just hasn’t consistently complete passes downfield on 3rd down.
Jake has the worst % this year (his career % is even worse) for a BYU QB since Christian Stewart checked in with 57% in 2014. Jake is BARELY IN THE 100 in D1 completion %.
Add to that just toooo many—and totally avoidable—interceptions in key situations.
My point is we love Jake as a person and the media loves the story, but he just is inaccurate and seems to stop thinking in the clutch. 58% is really bad, and seems like half his completions are off target, behind guys or low, significantly reducing our YAC. Is he terrible? No. But is he better than average? I say no. So I give the QB play a C-.
Two weeks ago we sat at 9-0 with a CUSHION in league play—a virtual lock to win the league. Now the only way to even make the CG is to back in. Not impressive. That’s why I have mixed feelings—of course I want BYU to beat Houston, for K State to beat ISU, and BYU to beat ASU in a rematch. But what I’ve seen the last two weeks is an offense that scored TDs on 2 of 29 drives before out of sheer desperation—not coaching, just desperation—opened up the playbook and looked great. But my guess is ARod goes back to what made him go 2 for 29, and THAT team certainly doesn’t deserve anything but what it earned in the last two games: losses.
3 Likes
Blah, blah, blah… more blah, blah, blah trash Retzlaff… more blah, blah, blah Arod… Getting old.
You got me. I just made up all the stats. I didn’t really get them from the official NCAA site. Riiiigggghhht.
1 Like
You are spot on. How dare you present factual irrefutable evidence!
1 Like
This sounds like the voice of a frustrated fan who doesn’t want to acknowledge or accept the factual evidence presented. It’s all true and it explains what we are seeing. It’s okay to accept the truth, you did it all those years ago while a student at the school, so why not now?
1 Like
lol I’m trying to be generous here with a B-. Jake has also made some plays that saved BYU’s bacon, especially running the ball. I’ll throw this out there since there was a controversy earlier. With Zach Wilson at qb, BYU would still be unbeaten. I know, fantasy, but Wilson was a much better passer
Never underestimate rivalry games. Everything is out the window, and ASU is at UofA in Tucson. ASU could also lose on Saturday.
Since you love Sport Nation so much, go listen to the Post game comments that they made about Retzlaff and his passing… Tom is pretty in line with Blaine Fowler (who, unlike you played the position).
David Nixon, Brain Logan and Fowler all said that Retzlaff inconsistency cost them the game. Are you going to argue with the very people who say are experts?
The only way for BYU to get into the Championship is if either ASU or Iowa State loses. If they both win, “Game over”!
1 Like
Floyd…
Stop presenting facts, it compels some fans here to start making excuses and go into denial mode.
1 Like
Tom and Fish
Again, please stop with facts. Your memories are so short. Remember, you all, especially fish, just got eviscerated in the Second Shooter back and forth. Acting the fool like you knew anything about guns, bullets, ballistics. The opposite opinion presented opinions based on science. So you all must love to be humiliated as you go down the path again. Way to embarrass yourselves. Have you no shame?