Caution Cougar fans: Curb your enthusiasm for Critchlow

BYU QB Joe Critchlow (Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo)

BYU Cougars quarterback Joe Critchlow became just the third true freshman in school history to win his first start, and there are plenty of reasons to be excited about his future. He is the first freshman to win his first start on the road. He made good reads and delivered accurate passes, even while under pressure. Yes, Critchlow appears to have all the tools to be a great quarterback, someday.

One of the great mysteries of 2017 will be why it was so hard to find good quarterback play. Due to the struggles the Cougars have had at that position, it can be easy for fans to get over exuberant about what they saw from Critchlow last Friday. Some are already anointing him the starter for 2018. The comparisons to Tanner Mangum, and why Critchlow is better have already begun.

No one is saying fans can't bask in the moment. Certianly, anybody who has stuck by this team this long deserves to enjoy it all week. However, this is exactly that: a moment. If blown out of proportion, it could lead to huge heartache and disappointment. Therefore, while enjoying what was just witnessed, please curb future expectations.

Critchlow finished the game with the following stat line: 14 of 22 for 160 yards, 1 TD, 0 Int. Those numbers are reminiscent of another true freshman who played for BYU: Drew Miller. Although not in a starting role, Miller posted the stat line 16 of 26 for 180 yards, 3 TDs, 0 Int. against TCU in the middle of the 1997 season.

Miller did start the following week at UTEP. Against the Miners, he completed 17 of 32 passes for 226 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. BYU lost 14-3 to a UTEP team that would finish the season 4-7.

The next time a true freshman saw serious playing time for BYU was Jake Heaps in 2010. In his very first collegiate game, Heaps completed 13 of 23 passes for 131 yards. The next week, he completed just two of six passes for 15 yards and had one interceptions. After Riley Nelson was injured three games into the season, Heaps became the full-time quarterback. The next five games were rough for Heaps. However, he finished the season with five strong showings, and was poised to be the next great Cougar quarterback.

Five games into his sophomore season, Heaps was benched for ineffective play. He ended up transferring after his sophomore season, just like Miller.

Then, there was Mangum. The very guy Critchlow is replacing was spectacular as a freshman in 2015. Mangum had five 300-yard passing games, and finished the season with 3,377 yards, 23 touchdowns, and a 136.0 pass efficiency rating. He was named the national freshman of the year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.

These three examples demonstrate just how hard it is to determine whether a freshman quarterback will sustain his success over an entire career. It doesn't seem to matter whether that success was one game, a series of games, or even an entire season. Freshman results don't promise future success.

The first challenge Critchlow will face is starting a game where the opposition is prepared for him. BYU coaches knew pretty early last week that Critchlow would be the starter against UNLV, but kept that news undisclosed until minutes before kickoff. Not only will UMass know that he is the starting quarterback, the Minutemen have game footage to use to scout him and scheme for him.

Critchlow may also face the same challenge that Heaps and Mangum faced follow their freshman seasons: coaching change. Although BYU has won two of the last three games, there is still a possibility that there is a coaching change in Provo this offseason. Whether it is replacing just the offensive staff, or everyone from Head Coach Kalani Sitake on down, either one would disrupt Critchlow's development and could have a negative impact. Heaps had his offensive coordinator leave, and Mangum underwent an entire change in the coaching staff.

While what happens this week, and beyond, is unknown, no one can take away what Critchlow did in Las Vegas last week. There is nothing wrong with celebrating that. Furthermore, just because these previous three freshmen quarterbacks failed to build on their early success that doesn't mean Critchlow won't. However, given the history, Cougar fans would be wise to curb their enthusiasm for the future.

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com