Good luck, KJ

I was wishing he’d stick around — Davis has been hurt a lot, and KJ was a decent starter for us — but I can’t blame him for wanting to play in the Air Raid. That really features a qb and makes a talented one look good. I wonder if he can revive his NFL prospects…

By g8tgod on 02.03.20 10:24pm

This makes sense

Especially since he was rumored to have been looking into WSU. The prospect of a year with Leach’s system, given what it was able to do for the career of Gardner Minshew in a similar situation, is understandably appealing. At least he won’t be going against our shaky defense next year.

By Brendan Ross on 02.04.20 7:18am

Concurring...

Costello got an inadvertent raw deal. That targeting in the Northwestern game, called or not, quashed a promising start in a season when K.J. has attained valid game manager stature, virtually on par with the Luck-Hogan standard. By some indications, he was finally adding a running component to his repertoire, which is what had been missing in previous seasons, and which had seemingly elevated him to the Luck-Hogan standard. That vicous targeting on a nice scramble had sidetracked a lot more of the Stanford season than many fans recognize.

Costello’s bad luck continued when he returned for the Oregon game. On Stanford’s first possession, Costello showed his command of the offense and seemed to own the Ducks’ defense on the way to the red zone, but on one pass attempt under pressure, he’d slammed his throwing hand on a helmet and was never the same for the rest of the game—and the season. Costello deserves some kind of mulligan opportunity. Hopefully, Mike Leach can provide that opportunity.

Davis Mills wasn’t on Costello’s game manager level but he didn’t play poorly. Mills got hurt too and unlucky Jack West got his unseemly baptism by fire. Davis Mills has had fragile knees. While he’ll probably attain a solid level of game manager skill for next season, regardless of whether he’d be a better QB than Costello, who else is ready to be a successful backup? Jack West may have benefited from being thrown to the wolves (Bruins) too early, but Jack Richardson, who was probably the better QB backup when Mills got hurt, has entered the Transfer Portal too. Is Dylan Plautz better prepared than Jack West? But that’s only a 3-deep QB roster, with no incoming frosh alternative. Mills needs to be carefull and resilient.

By Candid One on 02.04.20 4:30pm

There is an incoming freshman QB - Tanner McKee.

By Jack Blanchat on 02.05.20 9:02am

And He Is Probably The Best Of The Current Back-Ups

But he can’t register and practice until the Fall, and is coming off of his LDS mission. I really hope Shaw throws caution to the wind and tries to get him up to speed really fast – maybe even (just saying) working on a more simplified playbook for when Mills goes down (and he will). Not planning for that would be poor coaching, IMHO.

By hoyaparanoia on 02.05.20 3:42pm

Agree with your observation

Costello got an inadvertent raw deal.

Unlucky is, for me, a more accurate description. The targeting and the busted thumb totally derailed what could have been an excellent year for Costello. It’s possible the oddball play calling (See UCLA) might have also wreaked havoc with the W/L totals, but as you point out, that Oregon game, the offense was running the ball and we looked on schedule that opening drive. Then it all fell apart.

This is reality of our existence. As individuals, we are victims of small numbers.

By Blackjoy on 02.06.20 11:16am

So glad he didn't got to UW.

*

By Blackjoy on 02.06.20 11:17am

And That Mike Leach Is Gone From WSU

They were a tough out for us while he was there.

By hoyaparanoia on 02.07.20 6:47am