[martyup]

[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=17425.msg201308#msg201308 date=1505740462]
In general, when things are going bad, in-season Shaw is pretty defensive -- typically refuses even to acknowledge the premise to the question. Out-of-season Shaw is more expansive. So I'm not surprised he went to great lengths to evade the question. Frankly, I don't even really care what he says; I care what he actually thinks and does. And we'll have to see on that point. (For what it's worth, the guy we saw on Saturday -- see "Shaw's mood" -- was almost uniquely, in my memory, pissed-off. I don't know what that means.)

I keep thinking of this every time you point out the thing about Shaw's mood, so I'll finally write it down . . . The thing that struck me though, was that several times through the documentary Belichick said something like "I just can't win with these guys," or "I just can't coach these guys." He seemed to think that the team just didn't have it . . .

And I'm wondering if that's something we had and just lost, and Shaw knows it and is reacting (in his way) like Belichick did. I guess we'll see if we have really lost that, and what this team is made of next week.
[/quote]

Yes.  That is what I was saying in another thread.  We have been mostly an over achieving team in Shaw's era.  But, every team has its own group personality and culture.  Some teams come together as a group and outplay their talent.  Some teams do the opposite.  We've watched many SC teams in recent years under achieve.

Perhaps Shaw's frustration lies in this team not playing up to its' potential given our talent level.  In the past, we've had team leaders that seemed to rally the boys to excellence.  I think Skov was an example of such leader.  Who is the rally leader of this team?

As I write this, I recall during the Rice game seeing Costello on the sideline firing up his teammates.  Perhaps the best reason to play him is not his ability as a QB, but as a leader.

[martyup]

[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=17425.msg201308#msg201308 date=1505740462]
In general, when things are going bad, in-season Shaw is pretty defensive -- typically refuses even to acknowledge the premise to the question. Out-of-season Shaw is more expansive. So I'm not surprised he went to great lengths to evade the question. Frankly, I don't even really care what he says; I care what he actually thinks and does. And we'll have to see on that point. (For what it's worth, the guy we saw on Saturday -- see "Shaw's mood" -- was almost uniquely, in my memory, pissed-off. I don't know what that means.)

I keep thinking of this every time you point out the thing about Shaw's mood, so I'll finally write it down . . . The thing that struck me though, was that several times through the documentary Belichick said something like "I just can't win with these guys," or "I just can't coach these guys." He seemed to think that the team just didn't have it . . .

And I'm wondering if that's something we had and just lost, and Shaw knows it and is reacting (in his way) like Belichick did. I guess we'll see if we have really lost that, and what this team is made of next week.
[/quote]

Yes.  That is what I was saying in another thread.  We have been mostly an over achieving team in Shaw's era.  But, every team has its own group personality and culture.  Some teams come together as a group and outplay their talent.  Some teams do the opposite.  We've watched many SC teams in recent years under achieve.

Perhaps Shaw's frustration lies in this team not playing up to its' potential given our talent level.  In the past, we've had team leaders that seemed to rally the boys to excellence.  I think Skov was an example of such leader.  Who is the rally leader of this team?

As I write this, I recall during the Rice game seeing Costello on the sideline firing up his teammates.  Perhaps the best reason to play him is not his ability as a QB, but as a leader.