[OutsiderFan]

First of all, what is the point of ever continuing with anything if you can’t be optimistic about some kind of future in some way? Second, there is a big difference between stomping on any shred of optimism and allowing some reasons for it.

Yes, Mills has had an injury history. Yes, it may continue. But look at a guy like Frank Gore. He had two ACL surgeries in college and has been one of the most durable RBs in NFL history. It should be far easier for a QB to return to more consistent knee health than just about any position in sports.

Mills is an exceptionally talented QB who can do more things than Costello. And McKee is a physical talent on par with Trevor Lawrence. It’s possible Shaw doesn’t cultivate an offensive approach that allows them to flourish, but the recruiting of more versatile RBs, more OL, and more WRs in the last two classes provides some reason to believe a more productive and dare I say entertaining offense might be if the offing.

I’d like to be optimistic this is the case until I see it isn’t. I’m on record as saying I believe Shaw should divest himself from offensive coordinating and play-calling responsibilities and ideally bring in a guy from outside Stanford to run the offense. So I won’t be very patient this coming season. But even I can give Shaw the benefit of the doubt coming off a year with never before seen OL and QB injuries, with more versatile offensive personnel than he has ever had, before going all chicken little about 2020.

[OutsiderFan]

First of all, what is the point of ever continuing with anything if you can’t be optimistic about some kind of future in some way? Second, there is a big difference between stomping on any shred of optimism and allowing some reasons for it.

Yes, Mills has had an injury history. Yes, it may continue. But look at a guy like Frank Gore. He had two ACL surgeries in college and has been one of the most durable RBs in NFL history. It should be far easier for a QB to return to more consistent knee health than just about any position in sports.

Mills is an exceptionally talented QB who can do more things than Costello. And McKee is a physical talent on par with Trevor Lawrence. It’s possible Shaw doesn’t cultivate an offensive approach that allows them to flourish, but the recruiting of more versatile RBs, more OL, and more WRs in the last two classes provides some reason to believe a more productive and dare I say entertaining offense might be if the offing.

I’d like to be optimistic this is the case until I see it isn’t. I’m on record as saying I believe Shaw should divest himself from offensive coordinating and play-calling responsibilities and ideally bring in a guy from outside Stanford to run the offense. So I won’t be very patient this coming season. But even I can give Shaw the benefit of the doubt coming off a year with never before seen OL and QB injuries, with more versatile offensive personnel than he has ever had, before going all chicken little about 2020.