[doug]

Based on watching Shaw's teams play, Shaw is relentlessly risk-averse. I don't think there is a credible opposing view as to that point. He demonstrates this in almost every game, most recently foregoing a potentially game-winning FG to instead punt from Utah's 34-yard line with less than 2 minutes remaining.

My fear now, admittedly based mostly on speculation combined with that established fact, is that Shaw inherited a team whose culture had been completely transformed by Harbaugh. Those were the guys (many not highly regarded as recruits) that took us to 4 straight BCS games. However, now the guys who embodied Harbaugh's culture have largely left the system. This year's team has only the last remnants of that culture, and the consequences are evident in our record and play. Our guys don't make key plays like they used to, and I think that is a reflection of Shaw's priorities. They play with a "negative" motivation, fearing the consequences of making a mistake more than positive rewards (credit/promotions/props) they might get from making a play. In addition to ending in a lot more losses, this play-not-to-lose style is intolerably boring to me. I don't enjoy watching our games anymore.

I fear the culture of Shaw's teams going forward will increasingly reflect this coaching style and personality, with the primary orientation not to make mistakes rather than playing to make plays and win. After Shaw became HC, I thought 2012 would be the true test whether he is up to the new standard that had been set -- we were going to be successful in 2010 with Andrew Luck almost regardless of Shaw's coaching. However, I now think 2015 is the real test. The entire team will be a product of Shaw's program and coaching. Without major changes in his coaching style and philosophy (which I do not anticipate happening), I am not optimistic.

[doug]

Based on watching Shaw's teams play, Shaw is relentlessly risk-averse. I don't think there is a credible opposing view as to that point. He demonstrates this in almost every game, most recently foregoing a potentially game-winning FG to instead punt from Utah's 34-yard line with less than 2 minutes remaining.

My fear now, admittedly based mostly on speculation combined with that established fact, is that Shaw inherited a team whose culture had been completely transformed by Harbaugh. Those were the guys (many not highly regarded as recruits) that took us to 4 straight BCS games. However, now the guys who embodied Harbaugh's culture have largely left the system. This year's team has only the last remnants of that culture, and the consequences are evident in our record and play. Our guys don't make key plays like they used to, and I think that is a reflection of Shaw's priorities. They play with a "negative" motivation, fearing the consequences of making a mistake more than positive rewards (credit/promotions/props) they might get from making a play. In addition to ending in a lot more losses, this play-not-to-lose style is intolerably boring to me. I don't enjoy watching our games anymore.

I fear the culture of Shaw's teams going forward will increasingly reflect this coaching style and personality, with the primary orientation not to make mistakes rather than playing to make plays and win. After Shaw became HC, I thought 2012 would be the true test whether he is up to the new standard that had been set -- we were going to be successful in 2010 with Andrew Luck almost regardless of Shaw's coaching. However, I now think 2015 is the real test. The entire team will be a product of Shaw's program and coaching. Without major changes in his coaching style and philosophy (which I do not anticipate happening), I am not optimistic.