This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The question hangs over BYU football and likely will stay right where it is for the rest of the season: Why won't Ty Detmer make a change at quarterback? Or at least mix it up a bit?

It's not a wild-eyed question. It's not irresponsible. It's not a question for whiny fans never satisfied with what's happening on the field. It's reasonable and legitimate, and fair-minded people without any kind of angle on the issue have asked it.

One of the most obvious areas of deficiency on this iteration of the Cougars — and there are several — is that Taysom Hill is not a great quarterback. He moves well, relative to other QBs, although he's not as mobile as he once was. He's got a strong arm, but touch and accuracy are problems. He's said to be a strong leader, having admirably fought back from injury. But even his most ardent supporters would admit, he's not a sophisticated passer.

And there have been times this season when that's exactly what BYU has lacked and needed, a quarterback who can make good decisions, deliver the ball and move the chains. The fact that the Cougars are 4-4 against the toughest part of their schedule is satisfactory for some, and now, after a bye week, BYU supposedly will ease on through what's left: Cincinnati, Southern Utah, UMass and Utah State. But you have to wonder in close losses to Utah, UCLA, West Virginia and Boise State — BYU's total margin of loss in those games is eight points — whether a better thrower would have made the difference.

A thrower like … Tanner Mangum.

Whispers around the program are that Mangum hasn't looked as sharp in practice as Hill has in running Detmer's offense — in practices and games — thus far, trailing all the way back to fall camp. That sounds like propaganda, a line uttered and repeated to substantiate a decision made by coaches two months ago, a decision that will only be altered if Hill gets hurt. If that's really true, if Hill is clearly superior to Mangum, the Cougars' future at quarterback is nowhere near as promising as what's been presumed.

Mangum has been put in a tough spot. He stepped in for Hill, who was a senior, in the first game last year and played beyond what anyone could have expected coming as he was directly off an LDS mission. He took control of Hill's team because there was no other option. When Hill returned for an additional senior year, it was difficult/complicated for Mangum to wrangle the band away from its 26-year-old leader.

Mangum acquiesced.

Furthermore, if Ty Freaking Detmer determines that your place is on the bench, then that's where it is. Overcoming that mindset would be a challenge. Add in that the play of the offensive line is inconsistent and that the receivers have a tendency to drop catchable balls and the equation seems to equal Hill keeping his starting job.

But the numbers indicate Mangum could be the better choice. He's not just some former prep hotshot who was once named co-MVP of the Elite 11 camp alongside Jameis Winston. Last season's statistics, compared with Hill's stats now, provide some evidence for Mangum deserving a shot. He was running a different offense then, against a different schedule, but it's all we've got.

• In 2015, Mangum completed 267 of 446 passes for 3,377 yards with 23 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He hit 60 percent of his throws, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt. Overall efficiency rating: 136.00.

• In 2016, Hill has completed 157 of 267 passes for 1,607 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. He's hit 59 percent of his passes, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt. Overall efficiency rating: 115.24.

• Hill's most productive game this season in terms of yardage gained through the air came in a loss against UCLA, when he threw for 250 yards. His most efficient outing was against Toledo. He did just enough to help BYU beat Michigan State and Mississippi State. He was bad against Boise State.

• Mangum's most productive game in 2015 was against UConn, when he threw for 365 yards. His most efficient game, other than the Wagner win, came against East Carolina. He helped BYU beat Nebraska and Boise State. He was bad against Michigan.

• On the ground, Hill thus far this season has been sacked 18 times for a minus-94 yards. He's run 93 times for 372 yards and four touchdowns. He's fumbled six times and lost two of them.

• Mangum last season was sacked 29 times for a minus-184 yards. He ran a total of 63 times for a minus-96 yards and two touchdowns. He fumbled six times and lost three.

There are vagaries involved in looking at those numbers, and you can toss them around any which way you want, weighing them against varying levels of competition, personnel, and so on. For instance, Mangum's receivers were better and Hill this time has the advantage of being able to rely on a great running back — Jamaal Williams — who was unavailable to Mangum. Hill's numbers are bound to go up over the next few weeks based on a few of the opponents, and if they don't, you'd have to wonder some more.

Based off the eye test, it's fairly clear that Hill is the better runner, Mangum the better passer. How often that advanced passing would have helped — or made the difference for — the Cougars this season is anybody's guess, but it's easy to speculate that Mangum may have increased BYU's chances of beating a Boise State team that he beat last year.

It's curious that Detmer and Kalani Sitake won't give Mangum any kind of time. He's played in only one game, and … not really. He threw no passes and proved little more than this: At 23, he does not want to redshirt. As mentioned, the Cougars have been in a lot of close games, win or lose, and Mangum has never been called on, never been set free. Is he hurt? Is he disengaged? Is he content? Is he absent?

Those who say, the remaining schedule being what it is, Mangum should get time now as preparation for next season, that Hill's time is already far spent, have a point. Assuming BYU can beat Southern Utah and UMass, if not Cincinnati and Utah State, it will qualify for the Poinsettia Bowl.

There are traps to that, most of them centered in pride and paranoia: What if Mangum comes in and plays great? Will everyone second-guess Sitake and Detmer, questioning their judgment? Too late for that, they already do. Would Mangum's emergence divide the team, Hill being its designated leader? If the Cougars are that fragile, they probably don't deserve the possible positive results.

Sitake and Detmer are smart guys who are learning on the job. They're confident Mangum will get his time, will have his day. They may wonder whether he has the savvy to start right in and run their offense straightaway. But, then, their senior quarterback didn't show much savvy when he took a sack, costing BYU a final timeout late in the loss at Boise, a huge mental blunder.

Maybe they should move Mangum's time, his day up. Or at least give him some air to breathe. Let him see the field. At this point, another question emerges: What do they have to lose?

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Big Show" with Spence Checketts weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on the Zone Sports Network, 97.5 FM and 1280 AM. Twitter: @GordonMonson. —

Hill, Mangum by the numbers

Taysom Hill, through first eight games, in 2016 • Completed 157 of 267 passes for 1,607 yards, 9 TDs, 7 interceptions. Most passing yards in a single game: 250, UCLA. Biggest wins: Michigan State, Mississippi State. Worst loss: Boise State.

Tanner Mangum, though first eight games, in 2015 • Completed 156 of 245 passes for 1,905 yards, 14 TDs, 6 interceptions. Most passing yards in a single game: 365, UConn. Biggest wins: Nebraska, Boise State. Worst loss: Michigan.