Stanford Coach Shaw Calls A Lousy Game, Plays ‘The Gimp’ Chryst Instead Of Costello, Almost Loses Game To Utah

By Dave Levine

I’ve been calling for Coach David Shaw to be fired since he started “damaged goods” QB Keller Chryst instead of sophomore sensation K.J. Costello. He only used Costello when Chryst got knocked out of the UCLA game. Playing Chryst cost Stanford the USC and San Diego State games.

Coach Shaw played Costello for one series, then took him out. It’s musical QBs again at Stanford with no leader on the field and very inconsistent playing. Shaw should have given the offense to Costello, the team’s future and future leader.

I want to say that the play-calling in this game was “the worst I’ve ever seen” but I know there’ve been other games where Shaw’s play-calling was horrible. Running the “Wildcat” when you have 10 or 12 yards to go is foolish. Maybe you gain 2 yards.

Another example of poor decision-making was Shaw’s was the fact that playing Chryst meant that WR Donald Stewart (who caught a difficult pass and touch a vicious hit after running with it) would never receive another pass. Opponents know they can disregard Stewart even with Whiteside out with an injury.

Playing the “prevent defense” prevents your team from winning. Sure, they had 2 gift interceptions from Utah’s second-string QB but in the Utes final drive, Stanford had either defensive backs and no pass rush and guess what? Touchdown! It took a last-gasp save on the ensuing onside kick by Stanford’s Robinson to seal the narrow win.

Had Stanford been up against a good QB, they’d have lost this one.

Regarding the ejections of Stanford’s linebacker and NT Phillips in the final Utah drive, those were “bonehead plays” by obviously poorly-coached players. Their ejections will hurt the team next week against Oregon.

Next week, Coach Shaw will probably start Chryst again and Stanford will be lucky to win. Chryst isn’t the leader K.J. Costello is! Leadership is what has been missing since QB Kevin Hogan graduated.