[pefloresjr]

West won't figure it out and get better unless he has a chance to play.  We don't want our quarterbacks playing in fear that if they make a mistake or have a bad game, they will be replaced.  There have been situations where there are talented backups who have taken over for a starter but subbing in Richardson for West is not one of them.  Seeking the savior in the next qb is a very common feeling but that savior is almost never there even if he has a good game or two.  The same is true regarding changing a particular coach but fans always seem to behave with great self assurance that a new coach would fix everything they don't like about a team's performance.  

In seasons that are lost in terms of high achievement, I try my best to focus on hoping to see development by the younger players who provide the hope for future years.  West and the offensive line fall into that category.  I hope we see progress out of both on Saturday.

Cheers,
Pete F.

[pefloresjr]

West won't figure it out and get better unless he has a chance to play.  We don't want our quarterbacks playing in fear that if they make a mistake or have a bad game, they will be replaced.  There have been situations where there are talented backups who have taken over for a starter but subbing in Richardson for West is not one of them.  Seeking the savior in the next qb is a very common feeling but that savior is almost never there even if he has a good game or two.  The same is true regarding changing a particular coach but fans always seem to behave with great self assurance that a new coach would fix everything they don't like about a team's performance.  

In seasons that are lost in terms of high achievement, I try my best to focus on hoping to see development by the younger players who provide the hope for future years.  West and the offensive line fall into that category.  I hope we see progress out of both on Saturday.

Cheers,
Pete F.

[Goose]

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

The problem is who gets the reps in practice. If Richardson is going to start and is expected to be the primary choice, he needs to get most if not all of the reps. West may need those reps to "figure it out". This isn't to say that it is impossible for the QB who didn't get the reps to go in and play well. However, it is not wise to bet on that. To choose Richardson, you have to believe that he gives us the best chance to win this game. You also probably need to believe he will give us the best chance going forward this year, as it is totally unclear when or if we will get the other guys back. Apparently, Shawvita doesn't believe that.

[Goose]

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

The problem is who gets the reps in practice. If Richardson is going to start and is expected to be the primary choice, he needs to get most if not all of the reps. West may need those reps to "figure it out". This isn't to say that it is impossible for the QB who didn't get the reps to go in and play well. However, it is not wise to bet on that. To choose Richardson, you have to believe that he gives us the best chance to win this game. You also probably need to believe he will give us the best chance going forward this year, as it is totally unclear when or if we will get the other guys back. Apparently, Shawvita doesn't believe that.

[BostonCard]

There is no sense hoping for someone other than West. Shaw is, how to say this, deliberate in his QB decisions.

I'd be shocked if Mills plays.  But given that Costello was at least able to practice, I think there are better than even odds that if he is feeling fine after practicing, the starter on Saturday will be Costello.

BC

[BostonCard]

There is no sense hoping for someone other than West. Shaw is, how to say this, deliberate in his QB decisions.

I'd be shocked if Mills plays.  But given that Costello was at least able to practice, I think there are better than even odds that if he is feeling fine after practicing, the starter on Saturday will be Costello.

BC

[lex24]

Because Richardson is never going to have a chance to be a starter. West has perhaps a slight chance. In any event, this sucks. 

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

[lex24]

Because Richardson is never going to have a chance to be a starter. West has perhaps a slight chance. In any event, this sucks. 

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

[JohnR34231]

Because Richardson is never going to have a chance to be a starter. West has perhaps a slight chance. In any event, this sucks. 

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

Depends on what Costello decides to do. If he decides to leave, West has an excellent chance of being a starter, because there is no way Mills is going to make it through an entire season without getting injured.

[JohnR34231]

Because Richardson is never going to have a chance to be a starter. West has perhaps a slight chance. In any event, this sucks. 

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

Depends on what Costello decides to do. If he decides to leave, West has an excellent chance of being a starter, because there is no way Mills is going to make it through an entire season without getting injured.

[martyup]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

[martyup]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

[CardinalSagehen]

There is no sense hoping for someone other than West. Shaw is, how to say this, deliberate in his QB decisions.

I'd be shocked if Mills plays.  But given that Costello was at least able to practice, I think there are better than even odds that if he is feeling fine after practicing, the starter on Saturday will be Costello.

BC

Costello was a "limited participant" in practice.  To me, that might mean he's running around but not throwing or taking snaps, or not throwing very much.

I'm also suspecting (as others have suggested, and without any proof) that the problem could be more than the thumb. He missed the offseason due to an undisclosed injury.  I can't recall, but wasn't it reportedly a bum shoulder? Something like that would sound a lot worse to everyone, read NFL scouts, than a fractured thumb, so they'd have an interest in downplaying it for him.  

Either way, I'm less hopeful for a Costello start, even though I'd love to see it happen...

[CardinalSagehen]

There is no sense hoping for someone other than West. Shaw is, how to say this, deliberate in his QB decisions.

I'd be shocked if Mills plays.  But given that Costello was at least able to practice, I think there are better than even odds that if he is feeling fine after practicing, the starter on Saturday will be Costello.

BC

Costello was a "limited participant" in practice.  To me, that might mean he's running around but not throwing or taking snaps, or not throwing very much.

I'm also suspecting (as others have suggested, and without any proof) that the problem could be more than the thumb. He missed the offseason due to an undisclosed injury.  I can't recall, but wasn't it reportedly a bum shoulder? Something like that would sound a lot worse to everyone, read NFL scouts, than a fractured thumb, so they'd have an interest in downplaying it for him.  

Either way, I'm less hopeful for a Costello start, even though I'd love to see it happen...

[Row80Critic]

Because Richardson is never going to have a chance to be a starter. West has perhaps a slight chance. In any event, this sucks. 

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

Ruuudy...Ruuudy...Ruuudy….

[Row80Critic]

Because Richardson is never going to have a chance to be a starter. West has perhaps a slight chance. In any event, this sucks. 

Why not give Richardson a start if it comes to that?  He looked pretty darn good to me in spring ball and he most certainly earned his Rudy moment.  Hopefully West will continue to develop and have a successful go at it, but until he sorts things out, is there any downside in trying Richardson really?

Ruuudy...Ruuudy...Ruuudy….

[winflop]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

[winflop]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

[qwerty49]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

[qwerty49]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

[Spiny_Norman]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

San Diego State last year. Gave up trying to run into a 9 man box and started throwing downfield to great effect.

[Spiny_Norman]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

San Diego State last year. Gave up trying to run into a 9 man box and started throwing downfield to great effect.

[Austroturf]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

San Diego State last year. Gave up trying to run into a 9 man box and started throwing downfield to great effect.

Yes, that's the one example that immediately came to mind.  I am looking for a second example.

[Austroturf]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

San Diego State last year. Gave up trying to run into a 9 man box and started throwing downfield to great effect.

Yes, that's the one example that immediately came to mind.  I am looking for a second example.

[Goose]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.

They will. They tend to play that way normally, so it will just be more so.

I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope we are working on a running game. We are going to need something to slow down the rush. Arizona is pretty athletic on defense. They swarm to the ball, so dump-offs probably won't go anywhere. They can be had deep, but it takes time. They are not real big, but move well. Very much like UCLA. The good news is that we have seen that movie. The bad news is how it came out.  Hopefully, we can execute better on the OL. If we do, we should be able to run on these guys.

Their defense is ranked 118 in the country, but UCLA is 114, so that isn't very reassuring. Our defense is 75th, for comparison. They are 127 (out of 130) in passing yardage allowed. We should be able to do something.

[Goose]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.

They will. They tend to play that way normally, so it will just be more so.

I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope we are working on a running game. We are going to need something to slow down the rush. Arizona is pretty athletic on defense. They swarm to the ball, so dump-offs probably won't go anywhere. They can be had deep, but it takes time. They are not real big, but move well. Very much like UCLA. The good news is that we have seen that movie. The bad news is how it came out.  Hopefully, we can execute better on the OL. If we do, we should be able to run on these guys.

Their defense is ranked 118 in the country, but UCLA is 114, so that isn't very reassuring. Our defense is 75th, for comparison. They are 127 (out of 130) in passing yardage allowed. We should be able to do something.

[Brickcity]

There is no sense hoping for someone other than West. Shaw is, how to say this, deliberate in his QB decisions.

I'd be shocked if Mills plays.  But given that Costello was at least able to practice, I think there are better than even odds that if he is feeling fine after practicing, the starter on Saturday will be Costello.

BC

Costello was a "limited participant" in practice.  To me, that might mean he's running around but not throwing or taking snaps, or not throwing very much.

I'm also suspecting (as others have suggested, and without any proof) that the problem could be more than the thumb. He missed the offseason due to an undisclosed injury.  I can't recall, but wasn't it reportedly a bum shoulder? Something like that would sound a lot worse to everyone, read NFL scouts, than a fractured thumb, so they'd have an interest in downplaying it for him.  

Either way, I'm less hopeful for a Costello start, even though I'd love to see it happen...

Funny, just a few days ago, I would have guessed that Costello would probably do a grad transfer after this season. But, I think it's now clear that Mills is a lot like fine china: nice to watch but very, very brittle. If I'm Costello, I surely know this too and realize that Mills probably won't be available for any stretch the rest of his college career. So, I'm now going to guess that he returns to Stanford.

[Brickcity]

There is no sense hoping for someone other than West. Shaw is, how to say this, deliberate in his QB decisions.

I'd be shocked if Mills plays.  But given that Costello was at least able to practice, I think there are better than even odds that if he is feeling fine after practicing, the starter on Saturday will be Costello.

BC

Costello was a "limited participant" in practice.  To me, that might mean he's running around but not throwing or taking snaps, or not throwing very much.

I'm also suspecting (as others have suggested, and without any proof) that the problem could be more than the thumb. He missed the offseason due to an undisclosed injury.  I can't recall, but wasn't it reportedly a bum shoulder? Something like that would sound a lot worse to everyone, read NFL scouts, than a fractured thumb, so they'd have an interest in downplaying it for him.  

Either way, I'm less hopeful for a Costello start, even though I'd love to see it happen...

Funny, just a few days ago, I would have guessed that Costello would probably do a grad transfer after this season. But, I think it's now clear that Mills is a lot like fine china: nice to watch but very, very brittle. If I'm Costello, I surely know this too and realize that Mills probably won't be available for any stretch the rest of his college career. So, I'm now going to guess that he returns to Stanford.

[winflop]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

San Diego State last year. Gave up trying to run into a 9 man box and started throwing downfield to great effect.

Since that one at the beginning of last year, none come to mind. And this is one of the core issues that is both Shaw and Pritchard's faults. Unfortunately Pritchard needs to be the fall guy here because Shaw's not going anywhere

[winflop]

If I was the DC for Arizona, I would be bringing the house at West.  I hope West is working on some quick dump passes to punish the D for vacating the short pass area.

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

Can someone point out an example of a halftime adjustment we’ve made on either O or D under Shawvita?

San Diego State last year. Gave up trying to run into a 9 man box and started throwing downfield to great effect.

Since that one at the beginning of last year, none come to mind. And this is one of the core issues that is both Shaw and Pritchard's faults. Unfortunately Pritchard needs to be the fall guy here because Shaw's not going anywhere

[Goose]

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

If you listen to what the players have said, they HAD a gameplan designed against what UCLA actually did. I think you would agree that it didn't take a genius to know they were going to pressure the rookie QB. UCLA also normally jumps around a lot on defense, so that wasn't a surprise at all. What probably was a bit of a surprise was that UCLA played so aggressively in the secondary, although nobody has said that AFAIK. The gameplan was to run  into the less than effective UCLA run defense and throw short combination patterns. The press man disrupted the patterns pretty badly, and UCLA also messed up the throwing lanes. The killer was that we couldn't run the ball at all. If we could have run, it may have forced UCLA out of press man, although they played with only one high safety basically all night as it was.

There is no "adjustment" one can make to overcome an OL that is getting it's head handed to it. Football isn't chess where each piece has deterministic properties and you can scheme your way to success. If your line is getting beat like a drum, you can't pass block and you can't run block, you will lose, no matter what plays you call. Changing to a different page in the playbook isn't going to help that. There are no "magic plays". You have to block someone. Our problem was that we had nothing to build on. We weren't being successful anywhere, so "doing more of that" wasn't an option.

If you want to fault the coaches for something, I would suggest you do so for not having the OL and the receivers ready to play. You could also say they didn't regroup and play better after halftime. That is what really surprised me. I though we would see some real fire in the second half, and we didn't.

[Goose]

I hope that ShawVita are designing an actual gameplan to counter this likely approach. Something that should've happened at halftime against UCLA...

If you listen to what the players have said, they HAD a gameplan designed against what UCLA actually did. I think you would agree that it didn't take a genius to know they were going to pressure the rookie QB. UCLA also normally jumps around a lot on defense, so that wasn't a surprise at all. What probably was a bit of a surprise was that UCLA played so aggressively in the secondary, although nobody has said that AFAIK. The gameplan was to run  into the less than effective UCLA run defense and throw short combination patterns. The press man disrupted the patterns pretty badly, and UCLA also messed up the throwing lanes. The killer was that we couldn't run the ball at all. If we could have run, it may have forced UCLA out of press man, although they played with only one high safety basically all night as it was.

There is no "adjustment" one can make to overcome an OL that is getting it's head handed to it. Football isn't chess where each piece has deterministic properties and you can scheme your way to success. If your line is getting beat like a drum, you can't pass block and you can't run block, you will lose, no matter what plays you call. Changing to a different page in the playbook isn't going to help that. There are no "magic plays". You have to block someone. Our problem was that we had nothing to build on. We weren't being successful anywhere, so "doing more of that" wasn't an option.

If you want to fault the coaches for something, I would suggest you do so for not having the OL and the receivers ready to play. You could also say they didn't regroup and play better after halftime. That is what really surprised me. I though we would see some real fire in the second half, and we didn't.

[Row80Critic]

So I guess at this point, is it safe to assume we won't know who will start until the game begins?

[Row80Critic]

So I guess at this point, is it safe to assume we won't know who will start until the game begins?

[qwerty49]

So I guess at this point, is it safe to assume we won't know who will start until the game begins?

I’m assuming it won’t be Mills and that West will start unless K.J. looks and feels right in practice today and tomorrow.

Unless Luck’s Indy career was all a bad dream and his last year of eligibility is about to start.

[qwerty49]

So I guess at this point, is it safe to assume we won't know who will start until the game begins?

I’m assuming it won’t be Mills and that West will start unless K.J. looks and feels right in practice today and tomorrow.

Unless Luck’s Indy career was all a bad dream and his last year of eligibility is about to start.

[CornFed]

So I guess at this point, is it safe to assume we won't know who will start until the game begins?

The way our injuries are mounting, we may not know who our starter is even AFTER the game starts.

[CornFed]

So I guess at this point, is it safe to assume we won't know who will start until the game begins?

The way our injuries are mounting, we may not know who our starter is even AFTER the game starts.

[CardinalSagehen]

Unless Luck’s Indy career was all a bad dream and his last year of eligibility is about to start.

Unlikely. But I’m waiting for the day that Luck serves as honorary captain and makes his triumphant return to Stanford Stadium, now that he has more time. I will give him a standing ovation on that day.

[CardinalSagehen]

Unless Luck’s Indy career was all a bad dream and his last year of eligibility is about to start.

Unlikely. But I’m waiting for the day that Luck serves as honorary captain and makes his triumphant return to Stanford Stadium, now that he has more time. I will give him a standing ovation on that day.