[washingtonismoney]

Given the evidence it seems fairly clear at this point that, in practice, you get Good Chryst. There's nothing on the line, he can play loose, etc. But when there are problems (at SDSU where the line was bad, at U$C when we got down early, at Oregon State where we didn't have Love) he stops playing loose and we see Bad Chryst. As you've said the coaches mostly see Good Chryst. They know he can be good, better than Hogan even, and can't force themselves to see that he can also be the worst QB we've fielded since 2007.

Right -- and making it more seductive for them is that we occasionally see Good Chryst on the field. We even see Good Chryst when all logic dictates he should be crushed by pressure.

Consider the Utah game. Tough rough environment -- way tougher than half-empty Reser Stadium. Good team, good defense. Well-coached opposition. First game back from a concussion. Fans want your backup to play. To me, seems like a pressure-packed situation! Yet the consensus from fans is that Chryst either played even with Costello or actually outplayed him. (Certainly statistically Chryst did.) So why no pressure there, but plenty of pressure against lowly Oregon State?

The mind's a crazy thing, and training it is tough. Sometimes players mature and grow past inconsistency -- Josh Garnett is one guy I remember being very inconsistent early in his career and maturing (obviously) into a dominant guard. So it's not as if it never happens. It's just that Chryst is old in college-player terms and very unlikely to see it happen. Might still happen, but then sometimes your roulette number comes up too.

[washingtonismoney]

Given the evidence it seems fairly clear at this point that, in practice, you get Good Chryst. There's nothing on the line, he can play loose, etc. But when there are problems (at SDSU where the line was bad, at U$C when we got down early, at Oregon State where we didn't have Love) he stops playing loose and we see Bad Chryst. As you've said the coaches mostly see Good Chryst. They know he can be good, better than Hogan even, and can't force themselves to see that he can also be the worst QB we've fielded since 2007.

Right -- and making it more seductive for them is that we occasionally see Good Chryst on the field. We even see Good Chryst when all logic dictates he should be crushed by pressure.

Consider the Utah game. Tough rough environment -- way tougher than half-empty Reser Stadium. Good team, good defense. Well-coached opposition. First game back from a concussion. Fans want your backup to play. To me, seems like a pressure-packed situation! Yet the consensus from fans is that Chryst either played even with Costello or actually outplayed him. (Certainly statistically Chryst did.) So why no pressure there, but plenty of pressure against lowly Oregon State?

The mind's a crazy thing, and training it is tough. Sometimes players mature and grow past inconsistency -- Josh Garnett is one guy I remember being very inconsistent early in his career and maturing (obviously) into a dominant guard. So it's not as if it never happens. It's just that Chryst is old in college-player terms and very unlikely to see it happen. Might still happen, but then sometimes your roulette number comes up too.