Last Saturday's loss to the Air Force Academy, 35-14, was one of the worst performances by a Bronco Mendenhall led BYU team.  You could make an argument it was the worst.

The loss to the Academy marked the first time BYU lost a Mountain West Conference game to a team not named TCU or Utah since 2005.  The last team outside of those two to get the Cougars in conference play was San Diego State.  That game against the Aztecs was a pivotal crossroads for the Bronco Mendenhall era.

Many Cougar fans believe after that game was the turning point in the program.  BYU went away from the Texas Tech air raid offense that had put up big-time statistics in the first four games of that '05 season, but little results.

Two conference championships, and one of the winningest programs over the last four seasons, its safe to say BYU made the right moves to turn the ship in the right direction after that loss on Montezuma Mesa.

Flash forward again to last Saturday, many question marks have popped up in the program after that abysmal performance.  How will Bronco handle it this go-around?

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BYU is a very unique place.  No other place can really compare to the unique situation that BYU has.  So as a BYU fan, it wasn't a total shocker when I heard the news that BYU was going rogue and likely becoming Independent, and blazing its own trail to gain more national exposure.

For years, BYU has thought of Independence and Cougar faithful have always posed hypothetical's wondering what that could be like for BYU if they ever did in fact pull the trigger and become the Notre Dame of the West.  I always felt it would be the death of BYU athletics.  Never sounded like a situation where BYU could thrive and getter better in.  It's been on the minds of Cougar brass since the formation of the MWC in 1999, and really started to heat up in 2005 when The mtn. deal was struck.

Flash forward to today, as more information continues to come out about the situation my tone is changing and it feels like Independence is the route BYU needs to pursue, going forward.

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Can BYU produce their fifth straight 10+ win season in 2010?  Or does the youth of the Cougars get the best of BYU this year, and they take a step back as one of the MWC's best?

OFFENSE

When a school loses its winningest Quarterback in school history, the school's all-time leading Running Back in career rushing yards, and one of the programs best Tight End tandems, many would assume there would be a significant drop-off the following year in production.  But that's not how things go in Cougar Town, where Offense is always expected amongst Cougar fans to execute at a high level.

The talk through one week in Fall Camp, continues to be the Quarterback controversy.  But as the practices go by it looks more clearer than ever that Jake Heaps is going to be under center for that first offensive series against Washington on September 4^th.

Heaps has thrown for nearly 300 more yards than Riley in the first week of practices.  Nelson makes up for some of those yards with his rushing, but still the Cougar offense moves more consistently down the field with Heaps on the field.   And that was how I strongly felt after watching the Saturday scrimmage.  Heaps is a natural out there and he gives his receivers passes that allow them to make plays in full stride.   I think the QB derby is all but over as far as I'm concerned.  Its Heaps' job to lose at this point.

With Heaps as the starter, still would like to see BYU incorporate Nelson in packages.  Similar to what Florida did in 2006 with Chris Leak and true Freshman Tim Tebow.  BYU tends to be too prideful to ever fathom the thought of having one of their Quarterbacks run out of the pocket.  With the running abilities of Nelson, Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae would be foolish to not use him.

Regardless of who lines up at QB for BYU, that guy will have one of the nation's best Offensive Lines protecting them.

Left Tackle Matt Reynolds is one of the nation's top Offensive Line prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft.  Reynolds who is only a Junior is likely to leave after this season.  He's served a mission and has redshirted in his time at BYU so he is of course older than many of the other Draft prospects.

Along with Reynolds is a star studded unit that really took big strides last season, despite numerous injuries to the unit.  Many players saw playing time allowing for a bevy of experience going into 2010.

Coaches and fans are really excited for Right Tackle Braden Brown.  Brown came to BYU as a heralded Tight End.  He was an odd man out in the position with Dennis Pitta and Andrew George there.  So Brown tried his hand at Fullback, didn't last there.  Then last season went to Offensive Tackle, and he did a great job despite being a bit underweight for the position (265).  Bulked up to 300 this off-season and only has 11% body fat.  A very agile player and is ready to take his game to a new level.

The rest of the O-Line is Braden Hansen at LG who many in the program feel like he could be a future NFL player along with Reynolds and Brown.  At Center, Terence Brown is switching from Right Guard to fill the vacancy left by the lone departure from last year's O-Line, RJ Willing.  Then at Right Guard there is a heated battle between Nick Alletto and Jason Speredon to see who gets the final starter spot.

The Offensive Line will be opening up holes for a young and inexperienced group at Running Back, but there is a lot of talent.  Each player brings a special set of talents so it's definitely going to be a Running Back by committee backfield this off-season.  Not nearly the same as the past three years having a workhorse like Harvey Unga.

Junior J.J. DiLuigi looks to be the guy that is quietly emerging as the starter after one week of camp.  DiLugi came to BYU with a lot of buzz out of Canyon HS in California.  Petros Papadakis of Fox Sports Net coined DiLuigi as the next LaDainian Tomlinson.  So needless to say, many BYU fans were thrilled about this guys talents coming to town.  Hasn't nearly lived up to all the hype, but this season looks primed for a big season.  DiLuigi's biggest strength is he is a great receiver out of the backfield.

Behind DiLuigi is Bryan Kariya a blue-collar Junior who had a breakout performance against Oklahoma last season in replace of the injured Harvey Unga.  Kariya is a Mendenhall favorite with how Kariya knows the offense inside-and-out and how Kariya is a former walk-on.  Mendenhall of course was a walk-on when he started his college career at Snow so Bronco always holds those kind of players in very high regard.

True Freshman Joshua Quezada who was an early enrollee in Spring has been solid, still adjusting to the speed of the D-1 game.  Quezada has a similar build to that of Maurice Jones-Drew on the Jacksonville Jaguars.  A smaller back, but massive legs, very strong, and a knack for busting loose after contact.  Quezada will see reps but he has much to learn still.  DiLuigi and Kariya will be the key cogs this year in the backfield.

At Tight End or as BYU likes to call them "Inside Receivers"; there is no shortage of talent to try and replace Dennis Pitta and Andrew George.  BYU has seven players right now at TE.  Four of those seven very well could end up the starter and wouldn't be shocked if they become an All-MWC performer in Year 1 with how well BYU always utilizes the Tight End position.

Mike Muehlmann looks to have the inside track because he was around the program last year, and had this past spring under his belt.  But highly touted recruit Devin Mahina who came back from a mission is not far off from Muehlmann.  Mahina has the best hands in the unit.   Then Austin Holt who was one of the nation's top TE recruits in the class of 2008 is back from a mission where he served in St. Louis, Missouri.  Holt is in the build of a Dennis Pitta, but he's still gaining his "mission legs" back.  Then Richard Wilson who coaches have switched a few times between TE and LB; Wilson is set on staying at TE.

With the "Outside Receivers" or Wide Receivers, this is arguably the most talented WR unit in the program's history.   Headlined by O'Neill Chambers who is due to have a big year.  Chambers came into BYU making some waves with some of his comments as a Freshman saying there is no talent right now and he should start right away.  Needless to say, it's been a bit tougher for O'Neill than he envisioned.  He's matured and looks ready to take his game to another level.  Which BYU is going to need in order to be successful this season.

Along with Chambers, Junior McKay Jacobson is back and with a full year now back in the program looks primed for a great year.  BYU is leaning in the direction of bringing back the slot receiver something the program hasn't seen since 2006.  McKay looks to fill that spot very well as he is great out in the open field, and is sure handed across the middle.

Other receivers include Senior Luke Ashworth, Senior Spencer Hafoka, redshirt Freshman Cody Hoffman, and true Freshman Ross Apo.  All of which are expected to see a lot of time this season.

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On June 4^th 2009, is when you could say talk of who would become BYU's Quarterback in 2010 was heating up.  Why?  That was when Jake Heaps, one of the nation's top QB recruits in the 2010 class made his very public decision to announce he was going to take his talents to Provo.   A commitment that led to loud roars amongst the hundreds of BYU fans who crammed into a Salt Lake City Iggy's Sports Bar & Grill to witness Heaps' version of "The Decision".

Ever since that day all of Cougar fandom has had water cooler talks of who they think the next Cougar QB will be.  It seemed like Cougar fans were already looking past the exceptional career of Max Hall, and wanting to focus on what 2010 will offer.

Now Cougar fans have got their wish.  The school's all-time winner at the Quarterback position (Hall) is now gone, and the time has come for a new Quarterback to take over the reigns at Quarterback U., with BYU's Fall Camp firing up this Saturday.

Here's the players that will be competing to become BYU's starting Quarterback this season, and some background information on each of them.

Jake Heaps

Height:  6-2

Weight:  205

Year:  True Freshman (Skyline High School (WA))

What You Should Know:  Heaps has become a fan favorite amongst BYU fans already.  Not necessarily because of his highly touted status in recruiting circles, but the way he approached the recruiting process was a breath of fresh air to many Cougar fans, who had time and time again been left at the alter by the elite LDS recruits on Signing Day.

Heaps, not only decided to make a commitment early but was also working on landing top-flight players to join him.  Something never seen at BYU, and I would argue not many recruits around the country did what Heaps was doing.  And at end of the day, Heaps was a very key part in BYU signing one of the school's best classes in their history, at least on paper.

In Heaps' three years as the starter at Skyline High School in Washington.  Heaps led the Spartans to three state championships and a 40-2 record as the starter.

Heaps was an MVP of the Elite 11 QB Camp which invites the nation's top High School Quarterbacks to participate in a week long camp.  Heaps came away with the top honors, and was labeled the most "College Ready" Quarterback in the group.

Enrolled at BYU in winter semester and participated in Spring practices, and did nothing to hurt the hype he was receiving.

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The Mountain West Conference finally got their act together and released the 2010 conference schedule.

We can now finally see how the schedule shapes up for the upcoming year. 

Thing of note, is that The Mtn. will now have 100% of their games in High-Definition this year.  Hooray!  No more squinting your eyes at the television trying to see what the score is.

Here’s my instant analysis of BYU’s 2010 schedule.  As a bonus, I’m going to guess the broadcasting crews for the games. Why?  Because I’m into weird garbage such as this.  So as the 2010 season goes along, we can look back and see how good I am at randomly guessing broadcast teams.

Saturday, September 4th:  Washington @ BYU, 5 P.M. (CBS College Sports HD)

The rivalry between Washington and BYU resumes in the season-opener of the 2010 season.  BYU is 6-2 in season-opening games at home against "BCS" opponents since 1990.

There will be no love loss when the Huskies travel to town.  Former BYU Quarterback Steve Sarkisian is the Huskies Head Coach, but he won’t be receiving a warm welcome from this Cougar after trying to steal recruits away from Bronco and staff.

The last meeting between these two teams was epic up in Seattle back in 2008.  This one should be no different.  Also, throw in the possibility that Jake Heaps could be starting in his first game against his hometown school, and the program that finished #2 in the running for his services.  Should be a great one.

Predicted announcers:  Tom Hart and Aaron Taylor.

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BYU Football in the past 10 years has been an interesting ride.  Saw the end of a career for a coaching legend in LaVell Edwards, the first losing season in 30+ years, and the most wins in a four-year period in program history.

In that time, there have been countless talented players to come through Cougar Town. Here's my take on who the best-of-the-best have been for BYU football in the past 10 years.

Quarterback

Max Hall (2006-2009)

Hall was a heralded transfer from Arizona State when he arrived at BYU in 2006.  He was expected to see mop-up duty behind John Beck in 2006, but that didn't pan out due to an NCAA regulation involving his mission getting shortened.

In Spring of 2007, Hall won the starting quarterback job over JUCO transfer, Cade Cooper, and Brenden Gaskins.  The rest, you could say, is history.

In his illustrious three-year career at BYU, Hall won 32 games--a school-record, and finished 2^nd in school history for passing yards with 11,365.

Hall, from the first snaps he took against Arizona in 2007 to his last one against Oregon State in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, was an outstanding competitor and always did what he could to win ball games.  In my book, Hall goes on the Mt. Rushmore of BYU football quarterbacks; and when talking about BYU football's history with QBs, that says a lot. 

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