10-27-2017, 06:57 AM
I've been debating for several hours about whether or not to include these thoughts in my recap, but I'll post them here. After watching David Shaw teams for seven years now and having only a handful of conversations with him during that time, I feel like I understand him completely. When things started looking really bad in the beginning of the second half, meaning that it became apparent we were just going to see more of what we saw in the first half, everyone (the announcers and virtually every tweet on my Twitter feed) seemed sure that we'd see Costello in for Chryst.
This was the moment when I knew we wouldn't. Actually, it was probably earlier than that.
Like it or not, David Shaw operates with a strict set of rules. He's the opposite of Les Miles, and I think Les Miles could be the key to understanding David Shaw. Miles was notorious for his unpredictable nature, both on the sidelines and in press conferences. All of that craziness got him two things -- a national championship and a pink slip. Unpredictability leads to inconsistency.
Shaw, meanwhile, has been predictably consistent. You can call that stubbornness, but I'm sure Shaw would describe it differently. His approach has produced the greatest stretch of success in program history. I could accept an argument that Les Miles might've found a national championship during that stretch, but I'm not sure he would've maintained the level of success Shaw has enjoyed.
But back to last night. I don't think Shaw was trying to prove a point, I think he was trying to win in the best way he knows how, the same as he does every week. He clearly believes in playing the quarterback he views as the best prepared. I guarantee that the believes that quarterback is Keller Chryst. When he has rotated quarterbacks in the past, it has never been about desperation, but always within the framework of the game plan, or so it appears from the outside looking in. When Costello didn't get the third series, I wondered if we'd see him at all. When he didn't get in at all in the first half, I knew we wouldn't see him. Even when Chryst was struggling in the second half, my opinion didn't change. Again, you can describe this as a weakness, but I don't think Shaw evaluates quarterbacks on a per play or per series basis. My guess is that his calculus takes into account the entire body of work, games and practices. He'll never make a gut decision. Les Miles would've pulled Chryst last night. Most coaches would've. Shaw didn't, and I wasn't surprised at all.
And just so we're clear -- I don't say any of this in an attempt to sway any of you. This is just my interpretation of the events last night.
This was the moment when I knew we wouldn't. Actually, it was probably earlier than that.
Like it or not, David Shaw operates with a strict set of rules. He's the opposite of Les Miles, and I think Les Miles could be the key to understanding David Shaw. Miles was notorious for his unpredictable nature, both on the sidelines and in press conferences. All of that craziness got him two things -- a national championship and a pink slip. Unpredictability leads to inconsistency.
Shaw, meanwhile, has been predictably consistent. You can call that stubbornness, but I'm sure Shaw would describe it differently. His approach has produced the greatest stretch of success in program history. I could accept an argument that Les Miles might've found a national championship during that stretch, but I'm not sure he would've maintained the level of success Shaw has enjoyed.
But back to last night. I don't think Shaw was trying to prove a point, I think he was trying to win in the best way he knows how, the same as he does every week. He clearly believes in playing the quarterback he views as the best prepared. I guarantee that the believes that quarterback is Keller Chryst. When he has rotated quarterbacks in the past, it has never been about desperation, but always within the framework of the game plan, or so it appears from the outside looking in. When Costello didn't get the third series, I wondered if we'd see him at all. When he didn't get in at all in the first half, I knew we wouldn't see him. Even when Chryst was struggling in the second half, my opinion didn't change. Again, you can describe this as a weakness, but I don't think Shaw evaluates quarterbacks on a per play or per series basis. My guess is that his calculus takes into account the entire body of work, games and practices. He'll never make a gut decision. Les Miles would've pulled Chryst last night. Most coaches would've. Shaw didn't, and I wasn't surprised at all.
And just so we're clear -- I don't say any of this in an attempt to sway any of you. This is just my interpretation of the events last night.
Please clear the field! The game is not over!