[Hank 91]

Hank, how does your analysis take into account that Shaw was willing to pull Chryst when he was playing well against Utah and Oregon?  During those games, many were begging for him to just leave one of the QBs in the game and let them keep their momentum.  Is the Shaw rule that if you start and play well, you will be pulled, and if you start and play poorly, you will stay in the game?  I'm confused.

Nothing I saw in the Utah and Oregon games made me think that Chryst was better than Costello.  Of course I trust Shaw to make the right decision on which QB to start.  But, after making that decision you have to watch the QB's performance and keep weighing your options.  It was clear last night that Chryst was off.  It wasn't his OL and it wasn't his receivers and it wasn't that he was playing a tough defense.  He was performing poorly.  I can understand leaving him in the game until halftime, but after that it appears stubborn to keep him in the game.

Speaking of stubborn, if I was counting right, I think Shaw ran the jump ball in the corner play five times in a row (including the TD catch).  I'm not mad about it because I think it is a safe play with a high probability of success.  But, when we moved up half the distance to the goal line three times we might have just punched it in with an ogre formation.

I've actually been thinking about that this morning. I'd have to go back and look at the specific game situations, but I think Shaw typically goes to the backup on the third series because he's seen enough to have an opinion about the starter in that game. It feels like he doesn't want to make a change just because things aren't going well, but because it's part of the plan. (I realize this is the main criticism people level at him.)

Also, based on what we've heard from the quarterbacks, the backup quarterback gets essentially zero reps during practice. (Costello confirmed this after the UCLA game.) So when both quarterbacks played against Utah, my guess is it's because Chryst's uncertain status led to both players' taking reps during practice. (Remember the depth chart that week: Chryst or Costello.) After Chryst returned to the starting position last week, I'm guessing he also returned to starting reps, meaning that Costello was make to taking "mental reps." For last night's game plan, he might've had three plays, or maybe none at all.

Finally, I need to point this out again. Sometimes people give me much more credit than is due. I am NOT an insider. I have no more information than most fans. All of this is pure speculation.

[Hank 91]

Hank, how does your analysis take into account that Shaw was willing to pull Chryst when he was playing well against Utah and Oregon?  During those games, many were begging for him to just leave one of the QBs in the game and let them keep their momentum.  Is the Shaw rule that if you start and play well, you will be pulled, and if you start and play poorly, you will stay in the game?  I'm confused.

Nothing I saw in the Utah and Oregon games made me think that Chryst was better than Costello.  Of course I trust Shaw to make the right decision on which QB to start.  But, after making that decision you have to watch the QB's performance and keep weighing your options.  It was clear last night that Chryst was off.  It wasn't his OL and it wasn't his receivers and it wasn't that he was playing a tough defense.  He was performing poorly.  I can understand leaving him in the game until halftime, but after that it appears stubborn to keep him in the game.

Speaking of stubborn, if I was counting right, I think Shaw ran the jump ball in the corner play five times in a row (including the TD catch).  I'm not mad about it because I think it is a safe play with a high probability of success.  But, when we moved up half the distance to the goal line three times we might have just punched it in with an ogre formation.

I've actually been thinking about that this morning. I'd have to go back and look at the specific game situations, but I think Shaw typically goes to the backup on the third series because he's seen enough to have an opinion about the starter in that game. It feels like he doesn't want to make a change just because things aren't going well, but because it's part of the plan. (I realize this is the main criticism people level at him.)

Also, based on what we've heard from the quarterbacks, the backup quarterback gets essentially zero reps during practice. (Costello confirmed this after the UCLA game.) So when both quarterbacks played against Utah, my guess is it's because Chryst's uncertain status led to both players' taking reps during practice. (Remember the depth chart that week: Chryst or Costello.) After Chryst returned to the starting position last week, I'm guessing he also returned to starting reps, meaning that Costello was make to taking "mental reps." For last night's game plan, he might've had three plays, or maybe none at all.

Finally, I need to point this out again. Sometimes people give me much more credit than is due. I am NOT an insider. I have no more information than most fans. All of this is pure speculation.