Retzlaff clearly doesn't throw the ball as much as BYU QB's in the past, or quite as efficiently. But I think a lot of people are completely disregarding that he makes plays with his feet, as well.

I think yards per play is a pretty good indicator of how efficiently a QB moves the ball, which is the whole point, isn't it? We can excuse less mobile QB's who in some cases end the year with negative rushing yards, if they throw the ball with good effect. Likewise, with Jake, I think you have to take into account how much he really does with his legs - often at very timely times, for 1st downs and TD's. So why am I not as down on him even though his throwing accuracy isn't Steve Young-like?

I've been looking a little bit at yards per play by a QB - combined pass and rushing attempts, and combined passing and rushing yards. I went back through every QB (the one who had the most attempts in a season) for BYU back through Ty Detmer, did a little simple math, and I have some results. They're very interesting, and I'm not going to comment on them. Just the facts.

Okay, I'll add this: only two of these QB's played a Power 4 schedule. (edit: I left off Kedon Slovis).

Here's the season yards per play by all the QB's:

Retzlaff 2024: 7.24
Kedon Slovis 2023: 5.68
Jaren Hall 2022: 7.55
Jaren Hall 2021: 8.07
Zach Wilson 2020: 9.72
Zach Wilson 2019: 6.60
Zach Wilson 2018: 7.00
Tanner Mangum 2017: 5.29
Taysom Hill 2016: 5.75
Tanner Mangum 2015: 6.44
Christian Stewart 2014: 6.47
Taysom Hill 2013: 6.26
Riley Nelson 2012: 5.60
Riley Nelson 2011: 7.27
Jake Heaps 2010: 5.31
Max Hall 2009: 7.55
Max Hall 2008: 7.51
Max Hall 2007: 7.05
John Beck 2006: 8.30
John Beck 2005: 6.43
John Beck 2004: 5.84
Matt Berry 2003: 4.84
Brett Engemann 2002: 5.19
Brandon Doman 2001: 7.26
Charlie Peterson 2000: 5.19
Kevin Feterik 1999: 6.43
Kevin Feterik 1998: 5.89
Kevin Feterik 1997: 6.24
Steve Sarkisian 1996: 8.19
Steve Sarkisian 1995: 7.00
John Walsh 1994: 6.43
John Walsh 1993: 7.12
Ryan Hancock 1992: 8.05
Ty Detmer 1991: 8.37
Ty Detmer 1990: 7.90
Ty Detmer 1989: 8.91