The Limitations of Mendenhall's Core Philosophy

I really like Bronco Mendenhall...but the Riley Nelson situation really illustrates some of the limitations and problems with the core philosophy governing the program. I marvel at how SLOW our coaching staff is at identifying the talent that give us the competitive advantage.



Gordon Monson is spot on:



http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/54990314-88/mendenhall-nelson-byu-hill.html.csp?page=1

YEP

I think everyone needs to wait until Williams and Hill get the nod against a better than average defense before they start drawing conclusions from their performance against the worst defense in the nation.

In 2011 a healthy RN showed on the field of play that he was a better QB (per) against a better HI team in Honolulu than our FR phenom TH did last night against a less HI team in Provo. There is no conspiracy theory w/ Bronco.



U homer Gordon Monson has never been right about anything BYU football related. When I read that I threw up a little bit in my mouth.

Any time you agree with Gordon "Troll" Monson you must reevaluate your thoughts to determine how you came to the wrong conclusion.

Mesa, in all due respect, please explain why then, that Bronco started RN vs Utah and BSU with the same debilitating injury/condition, knowing full well, all week leading up to those games that Riely couldn't practice? It just does not add up. Start Lark vs Hill, I don't care, but a Riley at 65%? And let Riley back out there when he begged, for one more possession, er, turnover???

Riley was healthy last year vs Hawaii. We are talking this year. And Bronco most certainly has admitted favoritism for Riley.

hawkwing wrote:
Any time you agree with Gordon "Troll" Monson you must reevaluate your thoughts to determine how you came to the wrong conclusion.

Hawk, myself and many others this whole week made these same arguments prior to Monson. I detest Monson as well, but let's not Obfuscate the possibility it's true, ad argumentum, with an easy target like Monson.

I can't speak for Bronco. Riley was healthy enough to lead us to victory vs. U. In spite of our debilitating o-line, Riley nearly led / willed us to victory. 4th & 12 was a thing of beauty, and in my opinion, no other QB on our roster makes that throw. Also in my opinion, it was a better throw than 4th & 18 by Max.



If I remember correctly, RN's injury last year was ribs. This year it's his back.



Bronco has not admitted favoritism. He has stated that Riley has proven to him that he (Riley) gives us the best (total body of work) chance to win games, when healthy enough. I question Bronco's decision / timing during Boise State. In my observations, Riley didn't have it that night. I wouldn't have given Riley the ball to start the second half, but I don't know what went on at half-time. I doubt Bronco could be swayed by a "begging" player. If Bronco honestly felt he was putting the Cougs in the best possible position to beat the Broncos, then I support that.

snoscythe wrote:
I think everyone needs to wait until Williams and Hill get the nod against a better than average defense before they start drawing conclusions from their performance against the worst defense in the nation.

Disagree. Hill and Williams both have better moves and more speed by far than Nelson and Alisa and it's not close. Nelson could never take a TD to the house because he is slow and the same goes for Alisa. I also can't remember the last time we had an RB who seemingly effortlessly ran for well over 100 yards.



We watched both of the starters play vs Weber and they just don't have the same tools. I can't wait to see what these H+W can do vs. better teams but both pairs have played crap teams and I saw the young guns make moves and make plays that the older guys simply cannot.

pjmuli wrote:
I really like Bronco Mendenhall...but the Riley Nelson situation really illustrates some of the limitations and problems with the core philosophy governing the program. I marvel at how SLOW our coaching staff is at identifying the talent that give us the competitive advantage.



Gordon Monson is spot on:



http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/54990314-88/mendenhall-nelson-byu-hill.html.csp?page=1

Monson is right for once. What Nelson did to Heaps is now happening to Nelson--without the drama though I assume.



Hill is so much better than Nelson and there is no chance that he can play worse against any remaining opponent than Riley did vs. Utah and BSU.

I haven't read much of this guy but after reading this article the Irish in me says "bilarney". There isn't enough Irish to spell it right but how does he know all of this? I'm for seeing what the future brings rather than taking sides and prophesying what will be if my guy doesn't get to play. That probably should be Hill cause I'm within 50 miles of where he played high school ball and I belong to the same church he does to boot. Even with that I'm not against Nelson, we both go to the same church too and served the Lord as missionaries.

MesaCougFan wrote:
In 2011 a healthy RN showed on the field of play that he was a better QB (per) against a better HI team in Honolulu than our FR phenom TH did last night against a less HI team in Provo. There is no conspiracy theory w/ Bronco.



U homer Gordon Monson has never been right about anything BYU football related. When I read that I threw up a little bit in my mouth.

And yet we scored more this year, and had more yards in about three quarters of play. Hill will be the better QB by far in short order. Mainly because he takes care of the ball when in his hands.

I'm excited about TH's future, but until he proves to me that he can throw a ball to one of our playmakers (w/ his arm) that they can make a play with, I'm not ready to crown him the superior QB. He is most definitely the most gifted athlete that we have on our roster at the QB position.



We won't win games against good teams that can tackle and scheme against the run, if we can't make plays through the air.

Dang, and I thought this thread was going to be about Bronco's stifling defense, limiting opponents to an average of 10 points per game and having the best red zone percentage in the nation.



I guess not. I'll have to start that thread.

This quote from last week is what scares me about Mendenhall: "Taysom is doing his part," Mendenhall said, "but there isn’t as much history between he and I like there is between Riley and I."



History? What? What in the world does that even mean??



I have played a lot of sports in my life, and I can see in about 30 seconds when someone has a lot more ability than another, even if there is no history between us.



The problem isn't playing Riley, the problem is playing Riley when he is so injured that he can hardly function, and still playing him anyway.



If Riley is healthy, I am all for playing him. He has the tools and the skills to win and the team is behind him. When injured he looks like me out there. He is just absolutely horrific!!



This weird bromance, man-crush that Bronco has with Riley is a little scary. I just don't get it...

And it ain't over! First, I Want to say, I hope Riley recovers completely and quickly. But my prediction is whether or not he is healthy, he will start again vs Notre Dame, because of this manCrush by Bronco. My only hope is that after several games of improvement and productivity from Hill, is that Riley gets yanked much quicker if he is not effective. But you are right, there is something more there than meets the eye. ;-)

hawkwing wrote:
Any time you agree with Gordon "Troll" Monson you must reevaluate your thoughts to determine how you came to the wrong conclusion.

Any time you know you agree with Gordon "Troll" Monson you must reevaluate your priorities and time management as you should never take the time to know Monson's thoughts are.





I fixed your post for you Hawk.

Rule 1 on Cougarcorner... Never EVER quote Gordon Monson!!! Seriously why is it that whenever somebody posts a GM article everyone discredits it. I have read GM as long as many and find the typical troll bait, but that doesn't mean that all his stuff is not true.



Gordon loves to stir the pot sure, but when there is an elephant in the room and most sports writers stay quiet, GM will put it out there.

Love him or hate him, I'm glad there is at least 1 out there that for better of worse writes what many fans are thinking.



Limitations wise it's clear that hard work pays off over natural talent in Bronco's philisophy. It has its place but not to the extent that BM has taken it. It is this reason why I believe Byu has hit it's ceiling.

stgeorgefan wrote:
Rule 1 on Cougarcorner... Never EVER quote Gordon Monson!!! Seriously why is it that whenever somebody posts a GM article everyone discredits it. I have read GM as long as many and find the typical troll bait, but that doesn't mean that all his stuff is not true.



Gordon loves to stir the pot sure, but when there is an elephant in the room and most sports writers stay quiet, GM will put it out there.

Love him or hate him, I'm glad there is at least 1 out there that for better of worse writes what many fans are thinking.



Limitations wise it's clear that hard work pays off over natural talent in Bronco's philisophy. It has its place but not to the extent that BM has taken it. It is this reason why I believe Byu has hit it's ceiling.

If you want to know the straw that broke the camels back for me look up the article he wrote about Jim Boylen after he was fired. (Yes, I realize the irony of me being turned off by an article the puts the Utes down.) He does make some insightful observations but my life has been much happier since I stopped giving Monson my time. His style is what turns the rivalry into a day of hate in Utah from a day of football.

Gordon Monson has fake opinions and positions. He doesn't care what he writes, he just wants you read/listen to him.