[msqueri]

Taylor's third press availability:

* More of the same, very upbeat whenever asked about how practice is going ("good, really good, they did a good job" is how this one started). In the spring it often seemed like the coaches were managing expectations but in camp it's been unfailingly upbeat. There's of course mention of having more work to do but it's clear Taylor is more on the power of positive thinking/positive reinforcement/upbeat leadership side of the spectrum. One does have to wonder about what happens when we come into contact with reality and face adversity. I also wonder how much the vibes are trying to will confidence into being as opposed to having something to legitimately be confident about. We'll start to get real data points in a few weeks. Right now it just seems to be all positive thinking.

* It was interesting that in responding to the first question Taylor's mind went to learning how to be physical and aggressive without going to the ground and that he repeatedly talked about taking care of each other. This is the first time this camp he's started to sound like Shaw to me, clearly acutely feeling the risk of practice injuries. I suspect that in the second week of camp we probably had some injuries and near injuries. Taylor couched this in terms of learning how to stay off the ground and doing a much better job, but that could just be the instinct for positivity speaking. The notable thing here seems to be Taylor being attuned to risk and implying the physicality and aggression got people to the ground too often in the first half of camp. There's always a tension between practice physicality and injury avoidance and it sounds like Taylor is surfing that wave. I think the physicality is pretty important to what we're trying to establish, particularly on defense, and there's no easy answer on how to navigate this other than continuing to surf. We need to set a tone of physicality, aggression, and competition, but we also have limited depth. Not all sunshine and rainbows despite external appearances.

* As always, competitive and tough the first things out of Taylor's mouth in talking about Lamson, and accurate also got in there as usual. Making an appearance this time were picks things up quickly, intelligent, and good under pressure. No indication the injury rehab is an issue at this point. Taylor acknowledged that Lamson has had many fewer reps with him than Daniels and Patu and that it's hard to come in as the new guy and get a feel for your teammates. There may be an allusion here to initial chemistry issues on and/or off the field. Taylor seems somewhat protective (or maybe just proud) of Lamson, emphasizing that Lamson joined the team as early as he could and that he's led with his work ethic and made friends. Unsurprising but very interesting that the transition has been a process and not totally smooth. By the way, we've heard about Taylor's open door/family-oriented kind of atmosphere and of all the players one would expect him to communicate with about life on and off the field the scholarship QBs would be top of the list. I suspect Lamson has confided in Taylor with regard to acclimation issues, or Taylor can just pick things up.

* Confirmation (again) that Lamson, Patu, and Daniels are battling and that Jackson is out of the competition, though Jackson got praise as very accurate and Taylor said he thought he'd be a really good player, but by far the headline of the interview is that Taylor said separation among the three battling has definitely taken place. Taylor didn't need to say this if there was anything resembling an open competition still going on. This sounds like somebody who has made the decision or, at a minimum, was close to a decision between two guys. My guess is that it's Lamson and Taylor doesn't want to be too coy because he wants to pave the way for the eventual announcement but that there also may be value in letting the separation make itself totally clear on the field (especially among teammates who have known the other two longer). Another consideration is that Taylor would of course want to be thoughtful about how he broke the news to the room and how depth (and in this day and age considerations of transfer options) plays out. I'd expect an announcement this week most likely. Taylor did talk about being patient and letting it play out and how usually a starter would be clear before the first game, so we can't rule out a more up in the air competition, but that's not my guess. My guess is the "patience" is as much about not making any announcement prematurely or not navigating the various dynamics thoughtfully as it is not knowing who the guy would be. Taylor was forthright (in fact volunteered) when it came to "separation."

[msqueri]

Taylor's third press availability:

* More of the same, very upbeat whenever asked about how practice is going ("good, really good, they did a good job" is how this one started). In the spring it often seemed like the coaches were managing expectations but in camp it's been unfailingly upbeat. There's of course mention of having more work to do but it's clear Taylor is more on the power of positive thinking/positive reinforcement/upbeat leadership side of the spectrum. One does have to wonder about what happens when we come into contact with reality and face adversity. I also wonder how much the vibes are trying to will confidence into being as opposed to having something to legitimately be confident about. We'll start to get real data points in a few weeks. Right now it just seems to be all positive thinking.

* It was interesting that in responding to the first question Taylor's mind went to learning how to be physical and aggressive without going to the ground and that he repeatedly talked about taking care of each other. This is the first time this camp he's started to sound like Shaw to me, clearly acutely feeling the risk of practice injuries. I suspect that in the second week of camp we probably had some injuries and near injuries. Taylor couched this in terms of learning how to stay off the ground and doing a much better job, but that could just be the instinct for positivity speaking. The notable thing here seems to be Taylor being attuned to risk and implying the physicality and aggression got people to the ground too often in the first half of camp. There's always a tension between practice physicality and injury avoidance and it sounds like Taylor is surfing that wave. I think the physicality is pretty important to what we're trying to establish, particularly on defense, and there's no easy answer on how to navigate this other than continuing to surf. We need to set a tone of physicality, aggression, and competition, but we also have limited depth. Not all sunshine and rainbows despite external appearances.

* As always, competitive and tough the first things out of Taylor's mouth in talking about Lamson, and accurate also got in there as usual. Making an appearance this time were picks things up quickly, intelligent, and good under pressure. No indication the injury rehab is an issue at this point. Taylor acknowledged that Lamson has had many fewer reps with him than Daniels and Patu and that it's hard to come in as the new guy and get a feel for your teammates. There may be an allusion here to initial chemistry issues on and/or off the field. Taylor seems somewhat protective (or maybe just proud) of Lamson, emphasizing that Lamson joined the team as early as he could and that he's led with his work ethic and made friends. Unsurprising but very interesting that the transition has been a process and not totally smooth. By the way, we've heard about Taylor's open door/family-oriented kind of atmosphere and of all the players one would expect him to communicate with about life on and off the field the scholarship QBs would be top of the list. I suspect Lamson has confided in Taylor with regard to acclimation issues, or Taylor can just pick things up.

* Confirmation (again) that Lamson, Patu, and Daniels are battling and that Jackson is out of the competition, though Jackson got praise as very accurate and Taylor said he thought he'd be a really good player, but by far the headline of the interview is that Taylor said separation among the three battling has definitely taken place. Taylor didn't need to say this if there was anything resembling an open competition still going on. This sounds like somebody who has made the decision or, at a minimum, was close to a decision between two guys. My guess is that it's Lamson and Taylor doesn't want to be too coy because he wants to pave the way for the eventual announcement but that there also may be value in letting the separation make itself totally clear on the field (especially among teammates who have known the other two longer). Another consideration is that Taylor would of course want to be thoughtful about how he broke the news to the room and how depth (and in this day and age considerations of transfer options) plays out. I'd expect an announcement this week most likely. Taylor did talk about being patient and letting it play out and how usually a starter would be clear before the first game, so we can't rule out a more up in the air competition, but that's not my guess. My guess is the "patience" is as much about not making any announcement prematurely or not navigating the various dynamics thoughtfully as it is not knowing who the guy would be. Taylor was forthright (in fact volunteered) when it came to "separation."