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| BYU QBs Beau Hoge (7) and Tanner Mangum (12) (Photo Credit: Associated Press) |
With Tanner Mangum now out for the season with an achilles injury, the BYU Cougars need to find a new quarterback. Normally, that is an easy decision. The depth chart was set back at the end of fall camp, and the number two guy gets the call. Problem solved.
In case you haven't been paying much attention to BYU this year, nothing has been easy.
The Cougars' number two signal caller is Beau Hoge. When Mangum went down after game three this year, BYU moved Hoge into the starting spot, and keep going forward. He started the Wisconsin and Utah State games.
Hoge took a hit early in the Utah State game that left him limping, but he stayed in the game. He took another hit with about 10 minutes left in the second quarter that sent him to the sidelines. He didn't return.
"He hasn't been 100 percent, really, since before the Utah State game, so we want to make sure he's right," BYU offensive coordinator Ty Detmer said this week.
When Hoge filled in for Mangum at Fresno State, he was sacked in the second quarter, and had a noticeable limp afterwards. Hoge completed just three of 10 passes against the Bulldogs. How much of that had to do with his health? How much of that had to do with being rusty from a one month-plus layoff recovering post Utah State?
Detmer doesn't sound too worried about Hoge's performance last Saturday. Health is the only concern keeping Cougar coaches from anointing him the starter for UNLV.
"He is the guy," Detmer noted. "If he is feeling good enough to go, then he will probably be the guy."
Hoge is a redshirt sophomore and has much more game experience than freshman Joe Critchlow who saw action late in three games while Hoge was injured. It is logical that Hoge would give BYU the best chance to win, if he is indeed healthy, and winning right now is still the stated priority.
Detmer explained, "We've got to play the guy we feel is going to win the game for us. That's first and foremost, so we're evaluating that situation and see where it falls Friday night."
As was just witnessed last Saturday, a quarterback can't "win the game" if he is on the sideline. Mangum was managing the game well, and BYU was in a position to win in the fourth quarter. However, he got injured and couldn't finish the job.
Can Hoge stay on the field? Will he stay healthy enough to deliver a Cougar victory? This has to be the underlying question in Detmer and head coach Kalani Sitake's mind.
There isn't, really, any doubt that Hoge will be "feeling good enough to go" Friday night. He finished the game in Fresno. From Sunday to Friday night whatever was nagging him on the field is only going to feel better.
Hoge's health is larger in scope than these last three games. Mangum is probably out for the 2018 season, too. BYU needs a quarterback for next year. Hoge will be the ideal candidate: upperclassman with experience and with two more years of eligibility. The only drawback is his health.
Just like this year, BYU has a front loaded schedule again next year. The Cougars don't want to repeat the disastrous start that happened this year. Having Hoge get all the meaningful playing time the rest of this season, and then the majority of reps in Spring and Fall camps, only to be knocked out of service two or three games into the season does little for the program.
What if the coaches feel both Hoge and Critchlow can win the game on Friday? Hoge has been pretty fragile, thus far. In that case, maybe Critchlow is the better choice.
No, nothing has been easy for BYU this year.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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