Riley is not barely a division one QB and he clearly has the arm strength to make the throws-- if you've watched enough games you know he can do it. I'm not saying he has a rocket, but I've seen him make all of the throws. THE problem is simply that he does not perform close to where he needs to be and where the team needs to be. His performance is subpar.

Just based on my observations, I think there are three throws Riley definitely can't make--corner routes, comeback routes, and 12+ yard outs to the field side. He not much of a threat on streak and post patterns over 30 yards.

Since there's little worry about being beat over the top, a lot of BYU opponents cheat their coverage up in order to crowd field within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage resulting in less space for receivers and running backs. If I trusted Riley's ability to put a ball where only his receiver can possibly get it, I would say BYU needs to attempt a least one long throw a half just to keep the defense honest. Unfortunately, Riley underthrows most deep balls, to I'm nervous about even attempting them.

I remember on one of the out throws Riley attempted this game, the commentator said he was surprised Riley didn't zip it in--I was shouting at the TV that Riley's standards, he was zipping it in...

Riley is not barely a division one QB and he clearly has the arm strength to make the throws-- if you've watched enough games you know he can do it. I'm not saying he has a rocket, but I've seen him make all of the throws. THE problem is simply that he does not perform close to where he needs to be and where the team needs to be. His performance is subpar.

I would pay cash money to see a football throwing contest between airwolf and Riley Nelson.

Airwolf


challanges

Riley Nelson

You really should run for office because you have a knack for answering what you want and not responding to what is pending. YOU said he cannot make all the throws.

I did... when? Where? I have maintained the position that he has a weak arm - only an idiot would think he cannot make all the throws... good heavens, he threw for over 300 yards vs. Oregon State, but how many of those were pass plays beyond 20 yards in the air? I can still remember when John Beck had 300+ yards passing against Boston College back in 2005 (Bronco's first season and game as HC) in the Cougs' 20-3 loss where he threw something like 55 passes to get there. Riley is averaging something like 7 yards per completion, so at that rate, it would take him 43 pass attempts to hit 300 yards.

By the way how far can YOU throw a football?

Over them mountains to the east! OK, seriously... a standard-size college football... about 50 yards (through the air). A slightly smaller ball (mainly used in Jr. High and High School)... about 60 yards and a nerf ... 75 yards.

Riley is not barely a division one QB and he clearly has the arm strength to make the throws-- if you've watched enough games you know he can do it. I'm not saying he has a rocket, but I've seen him make all of the throws. THE problem is simply that he does not perform close to where he needs to be and where the team needs to be. His performance is subpar.

I can throw a football farther than Riley because I can put velocity on a pigskin... and I am smaller than he is with undoubtedly smaller hands. Nelson has a weak arm as QB's go - this is a fact - any throws beyond 25 yards are up for grabs.

The fact that you believe you can throw a football farther than Riley does not supportyour argument that he can't make all the throws. The fact that Riley has in your view a weak arm also does not support your argument that Riley cannot make the throws needed. My observation is that he has made all of the throws required. For whatever reason, for me though, the problem is simply that he has NOT made the throws we need. His PERFORMANCE has not been acceptable. It is not that BYU is putting out on the field a player who cannot physically do what is required but that he has not DONE what BYU needs him to do to succeed. I will put off the problem of whether BYU put Riley out there, injured, and in his injured status, could not do what we needed for us to succeed. So how far can you throw a football?

What do you think contributes to that poor performance? It is not my opinion or view that Riley has a weak arm... it is a fact! When was the last time a Nelson pass beyond about 25 yards wasn't up for grabs? Why do you think you never see post patterns, flies or bombs called with Riley as QB??? Can Riley scramble? Yup. Can he run? Yup. Can he pass? Nope. Problem!... especially at BYU.

Riley is not barely a division one QB and he clearly has the arm strength to make the throws-- if you've watched enough games you know he can do it. I'm not saying he has a rocket, but I've seen him make all of the throws. THE problem is simply that he does not perform close to where he needs to be and where the team needs to be. His performance is subpar.

I can throw a football farther than Riley because I can put velocity on a pigskin... and I am smaller than he is with undoubtedly smaller hands. Nelson has a weak arm as QB's go - this is a fact - any throws beyond 25 yards are up for grabs.

I bet I could throw a football over those mountains. If coach would have put me in, we would have won State. I'd have gone pro.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Riley is not barely a division one QB and he clearly has the arm strength to make the throws-- if you've watched enough games you know he can do it. I'm not saying he has a rocket, but I've seen him make all of the throws. THE problem is simply that he does not perform close to where he needs to be and where the team needs to be. His performance is subpar.

I can throw a football farther than Riley because I can put velocity on a pigskin... and I am smaller than he is with undoubtedly smaller hands. Nelson has a weak arm as QB's go - this is a fact - any throws beyond 25 yards are up for grabs.

The fact that you believe you can throw a football farther than Riley does not supportyour argument that he can't make all the throws. The fact that Riley has in your view a weak arm also does not support your argument that Riley cannot make the throws needed. My observation is that he has made all of the throws required. For whatever reason, for me though, the problem is simply that he has NOT made the throws we need. His PERFORMANCE has not been acceptable. It is not that BYU is putting out on the field a player who cannot physically do what is required but that he has not DONE what BYU needs him to do to succeed. I will put off the problem of whether BYU put Riley out there, injured, and in his injured status, could not do what we needed for us to succeed. So how far can you throw a football?

Riley has shown the ability to make all the throws we need. Unfortunately, most of the times he's shown that was in 2011.

He's been very inconsistent in doing so in 2012. And he's shown very little of it in the last four games.