[French Rage]

Though the numbers are small, Costello's play does seem to rise up to the level of his competition.  Last year, his best game was against #11 Notre Dame; his worst game was against Washington State.  This year his best game was against Oregon; his worst was against Davis.  Kind of fits descriptions of his personality as a "fiery competitor".

BC

I do think Costello seems to play big in big games (he also came up with some big plays in the pac-12 champ game). But I'm not sure I buy the Washington State half of this equation. At the time Stanford played Wazzu, the Coogs were up to #25 in the nation with a 7-2 record. I'd attribute the weak performance to Wazzu's strong defense.

And IIRC that was his first start, away, so you have to factor that in too.

[French Rage]

Though the numbers are small, Costello's play does seem to rise up to the level of his competition.  Last year, his best game was against #11 Notre Dame; his worst game was against Washington State.  This year his best game was against Oregon; his worst was against Davis.  Kind of fits descriptions of his personality as a "fiery competitor".

BC

I do think Costello seems to play big in big games (he also came up with some big plays in the pac-12 champ game). But I'm not sure I buy the Washington State half of this equation. At the time Stanford played Wazzu, the Coogs were up to #25 in the nation with a 7-2 record. I'd attribute the weak performance to Wazzu's strong defense.

And IIRC that was his first start, away, so you have to factor that in too.

[BostonCard]

Though the numbers are small, Costello's play does seem to rise up to the level of his competition.  Last year, his best game was against #11 Notre Dame; his worst game was against Washington State.  This year his best game was against Oregon; his worst was against Davis.  Kind of fits descriptions of his personality as a "fiery competitor".

BC

I do think Costello seems to play big in big games (he also came up with some big plays in the pac-12 champ game). But I'm not sure I buy the Washington State half of this equation. At the time Stanford played Wazzu, the Coogs were up to #25 in the nation with a 7-2 record. I'd attribute the weak performance to Wazzu's strong defense.

It was in relative terms.  His other games last year after being named the starter: Washington (front-runner in the Pac-12N at the time), Cal (the weakest team he played, but it's still the rivalry game for a chance to win the P12N), Notre Dame (9-2 and ranked), USC in the Pac-12 championship, and TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

Cal and Washington State were the only two teams that were not ranked.
If you add the games he played when Chryst was injured, ASU and Utah were worse teams.

BC

[BostonCard]

Though the numbers are small, Costello's play does seem to rise up to the level of his competition.  Last year, his best game was against #11 Notre Dame; his worst game was against Washington State.  This year his best game was against Oregon; his worst was against Davis.  Kind of fits descriptions of his personality as a "fiery competitor".

BC

I do think Costello seems to play big in big games (he also came up with some big plays in the pac-12 champ game). But I'm not sure I buy the Washington State half of this equation. At the time Stanford played Wazzu, the Coogs were up to #25 in the nation with a 7-2 record. I'd attribute the weak performance to Wazzu's strong defense.

It was in relative terms.  His other games last year after being named the starter: Washington (front-runner in the Pac-12N at the time), Cal (the weakest team he played, but it's still the rivalry game for a chance to win the P12N), Notre Dame (9-2 and ranked), USC in the Pac-12 championship, and TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

Cal and Washington State were the only two teams that were not ranked.
If you add the games he played when Chryst was injured, ASU and Utah were worse teams.

BC

[CTcard]

I do think Costello seems to play big in big games (he also came up with some big plays in the pac-12 champ game). But I'm not sure I buy the Washington State half of this equation. At the time Stanford played Wazzu, the Coogs were up to #25 in the nation with a 7-2 record. I'd attribute the weak performance to Wazzu's strong defense.

Wazzu had a very strong defense, no doubt.

In the game, Costello was 9-20, 105 yds, 5.3 yds/att, 0 TD, 1 INT, PER=79.
For a game he played the majority, that is his worst PER by just about 46 points.
What other game would you nominate for Costello's worst of 2017?

[CTcard]

I do think Costello seems to play big in big games (he also came up with some big plays in the pac-12 champ game). But I'm not sure I buy the Washington State half of this equation. At the time Stanford played Wazzu, the Coogs were up to #25 in the nation with a 7-2 record. I'd attribute the weak performance to Wazzu's strong defense.

Wazzu had a very strong defense, no doubt.

In the game, Costello was 9-20, 105 yds, 5.3 yds/att, 0 TD, 1 INT, PER=79.
For a game he played the majority, that is his worst PER by just about 46 points.
What other game would you nominate for Costello's worst of 2017?

[terry]

It really is a game of inches. The winning TD to Parkinson was thrown behind him and he had to reach back with his right arm for it. Fortunately the tip came back to him.

I'm not sure "fortunately" is the right word. I think Parkinson did what he was trying to do. I think that play was skillful, not lucky.

[terry]

It really is a game of inches. The winning TD to Parkinson was thrown behind him and he had to reach back with his right arm for it. Fortunately the tip came back to him.

I'm not sure "fortunately" is the right word. I think Parkinson did what he was trying to do. I think that play was skillful, not lucky.

[cardcrimson]

Against UC Davis, prior to the start of the 3rd Quarter, I noticed KJ's long back swing with his throwing arm. David Mills was also warming up and his arm swing was more the prototypical QB style. It was a startling difference and one I imagine will be a topic of media discussion prior to NFL draft (s)

So, you're saying Kevin Hogan was his throwing coach?

I only started attending Stanford games last season so did not watch Hogan play. His throwing technique was similar to KJ's?

Hogan was rather famous in these parts for having a big windup and slow release - which caused many a-comment that at the least this would hurt his draft status and NFL career.

Juan Marichal had a quicker release than Hogan and Costello. . . .

[cardcrimson]

Against UC Davis, prior to the start of the 3rd Quarter, I noticed KJ's long back swing with his throwing arm. David Mills was also warming up and his arm swing was more the prototypical QB style. It was a startling difference and one I imagine will be a topic of media discussion prior to NFL draft (s)

So, you're saying Kevin Hogan was his throwing coach?

I only started attending Stanford games last season so did not watch Hogan play. His throwing technique was similar to KJ's?

Hogan was rather famous in these parts for having a big windup and slow release - which caused many a-comment that at the least this would hurt his draft status and NFL career.

Juan Marichal had a quicker release than Hogan and Costello. . . .

[washingtonismoney]

What other game would you nominate for Costello's worst of 2017?

I wouldn't nominate any other games; my point wasn't to dispute that aspect. It was the other (implicit) half of BC's argument -- that he plays his worst against the worst teams. Wazzu was, last year, somewhere between very good and solid. Struggling against the 59ers would validate his argument much more strongly, in my opinion.

[washingtonismoney]

What other game would you nominate for Costello's worst of 2017?

I wouldn't nominate any other games; my point wasn't to dispute that aspect. It was the other (implicit) half of BC's argument -- that he plays his worst against the worst teams. Wazzu was, last year, somewhere between very good and solid. Struggling against the 59ers would validate his argument much more strongly, in my opinion.

[CTcard]

What other game would you nominate for Costello's worst of 2017?

I wouldn't nominate any other games; my point wasn't to dispute that aspect. It was the other (implicit) half of BC's argument -- that he plays his worst against the worst teams. Wazzu was, last year, somewhere between very good and solid. Struggling against the 59ers would validate his argument much more strongly, in my opinion.

Aha. Obviously I didn't understand. 
I went looking for the weakest teams Costello played in 2017. I guess that would be UCLA, the game where he took over after Chryst's injury. 
But all in all Costello played decent teams. The only other non-bowl team he faced was cal. 
He also started versus 6 bowl teams and 4 top 25 teams.

[CTcard]

What other game would you nominate for Costello's worst of 2017?

I wouldn't nominate any other games; my point wasn't to dispute that aspect. It was the other (implicit) half of BC's argument -- that he plays his worst against the worst teams. Wazzu was, last year, somewhere between very good and solid. Struggling against the 59ers would validate his argument much more strongly, in my opinion.

Aha. Obviously I didn't understand. 
I went looking for the weakest teams Costello played in 2017. I guess that would be UCLA, the game where he took over after Chryst's injury. 
But all in all Costello played decent teams. The only other non-bowl team he faced was cal. 
He also started versus 6 bowl teams and 4 top 25 teams.

[Phogge]

Juan threw five pitches and he could throw them sidearm, three Q and over the top. The leg kick hid the ball and the screwball froze a ton of left handed hitters. One of a kind (with apologies to Tiant and Cueto).

[Phogge]

Juan threw five pitches and he could throw them sidearm, three Q and over the top. The leg kick hid the ball and the screwball froze a ton of left handed hitters. One of a kind (with apologies to Tiant and Cueto).

[SF_Cardinal_Fan]

I'm not sure "fortunately" is the right word. I think Parkinson did what he was trying to do. I think that play was skillful, not lucky.

That's a definite !

[SF_Cardinal_Fan]

I'm not sure "fortunately" is the right word. I think Parkinson did what he was trying to do. I think that play was skillful, not lucky.

That's a definite !