[winflop]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=17902.msg210724#msg210724 date=1509846628]Given that we lost by 3, it is not that hard to imagine that better QB play could have won us this game.  The game was very similar to two years ago, when Hogan won it for us with his running as WSU bottled McCaffrey up.

Yeah, I'm not going to argue that, but I don't think it's clear that Costello played particularly poorly given the circumstances. Obviously he could've made a few better throws or whatever, but it's not obvious that he was missing because he's bad vs because there was consistently someone barreling down on him. No QB is all that great under pressure.

Yeah, a lot of people seem to be taking this as some sort of existential crisis. Which is weird to me. Depending on when you put money down, Stanford was either favored by two or a three point dog. IIRC Bill Connelly's system thought WSU was about 54% to win, and ESPN's FPI was a bit more bullish on the Cougs. It's just not terribly shocking or disturbing that Stanford lost in this situation.

Right. I feel "better" about this game vs last game, even though it's still pretty annoying that we couldn't manage to pull it out.
[/quote]

Costello's play, while not good, is not why they lost. Among players, the OL is the main reason they lost. They were as bad today as they were against U$¢. But more than anything, the offensive coaching was as bad as it's been. It reminded me of the Rose Bowl loss to MSU and a couple others since. The problem I see is that Shawgren are repeating the same mistakes and not learning from them.

I would really like to see four things happen this offseason - I'd be happy if we got one or two:
1. Replace Bloomgren at OC
2. Give the new OC the offensive playcalling duties
3. Replace Pritchard
4. Use the new additional coach slot to hire a full time OL coach

The biggest problem today was not running play action when WSU was putting 8 & 9 players up on the line. Not sure if that was a coaching issue or that Costello wasn't (or couldn't) check into play action. Probably some of both. But FFS when defenses do that you have to punish them.

Based on the last two games, this team finishes 7-5 at best and goes to the I-Don't-Give-A-Hoot Bowl

[winflop]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=17902.msg210724#msg210724 date=1509846628]Given that we lost by 3, it is not that hard to imagine that better QB play could have won us this game.  The game was very similar to two years ago, when Hogan won it for us with his running as WSU bottled McCaffrey up.

Yeah, I'm not going to argue that, but I don't think it's clear that Costello played particularly poorly given the circumstances. Obviously he could've made a few better throws or whatever, but it's not obvious that he was missing because he's bad vs because there was consistently someone barreling down on him. No QB is all that great under pressure.

Yeah, a lot of people seem to be taking this as some sort of existential crisis. Which is weird to me. Depending on when you put money down, Stanford was either favored by two or a three point dog. IIRC Bill Connelly's system thought WSU was about 54% to win, and ESPN's FPI was a bit more bullish on the Cougs. It's just not terribly shocking or disturbing that Stanford lost in this situation.

Right. I feel "better" about this game vs last game, even though it's still pretty annoying that we couldn't manage to pull it out.
[/quote]

Costello's play, while not good, is not why they lost. Among players, the OL is the main reason they lost. They were as bad today as they were against U$¢. But more than anything, the offensive coaching was as bad as it's been. It reminded me of the Rose Bowl loss to MSU and a couple others since. The problem I see is that Shawgren are repeating the same mistakes and not learning from them.

I would really like to see four things happen this offseason - I'd be happy if we got one or two:
1. Replace Bloomgren at OC
2. Give the new OC the offensive playcalling duties
3. Replace Pritchard
4. Use the new additional coach slot to hire a full time OL coach

The biggest problem today was not running play action when WSU was putting 8 & 9 players up on the line. Not sure if that was a coaching issue or that Costello wasn't (or couldn't) check into play action. Probably some of both. But FFS when defenses do that you have to punish them.

Based on the last two games, this team finishes 7-5 at best and goes to the I-Don't-Give-A-Hoot Bowl