[washingtonismoney]

In other words, if the argument is "look how well Shaw has done without great QBs," then, well, shouldn't he be getting better QBs?  And wasn't the thought when Nunes/Nottingham/Burns/Chryst all committed that they could be great?  4-star guys, the lot of them. 

I think it's correct that if Petersen had a sustainable advantage of recruiting and developing great QBs, that would make discussions of his record without them irrelevant. But it's not at all clear to me that's the case. Petersen's had three years without great QBs...and Shaw's had, what, two and a half or so? (Presuming that Costello is a long-term answer at the position, which may be hasty.)

To your other point, that Shaw's great recruiting at the QB position should produce great results, I think that's again a fair idea but I'd quibble whether it's actually fairly applied here. Recruiting more touted prospects is helpful in shifting your odds, but it's still a gamble. The most recent survey I've seen indicates 21% of four-star pro-style QBs are drafting, meaning it's "only" a coin flip to produce one pro QB from two highly touted recruits. Consequently, I'd be very troubled if 2018 features poor QB play. (Barring major injury or other weird exogenous factor.)

[washingtonismoney]

In other words, if the argument is "look how well Shaw has done without great QBs," then, well, shouldn't he be getting better QBs?  And wasn't the thought when Nunes/Nottingham/Burns/Chryst all committed that they could be great?  4-star guys, the lot of them. 

I think it's correct that if Petersen had a sustainable advantage of recruiting and developing great QBs, that would make discussions of his record without them irrelevant. But it's not at all clear to me that's the case. Petersen's had three years without great QBs...and Shaw's had, what, two and a half or so? (Presuming that Costello is a long-term answer at the position, which may be hasty.)

To your other point, that Shaw's great recruiting at the QB position should produce great results, I think that's again a fair idea but I'd quibble whether it's actually fairly applied here. Recruiting more touted prospects is helpful in shifting your odds, but it's still a gamble. The most recent survey I've seen indicates 21% of four-star pro-style QBs are drafting, meaning it's "only" a coin flip to produce one pro QB from two highly touted recruits. Consequently, I'd be very troubled if 2018 features poor QB play. (Barring major injury or other weird exogenous factor.)