KazooSkinsFan wrote:Deadskins wrote:Nor do I think it's a battle of egos as Kazoo claims, though AH's ego does factor in to his petulance about having to play with the scrubs. It's got to do with the approach Shanahan is taking in trying to get AH's best from him. I think his approach is counter-productive to getting AH on board, and therefore, to team unity. And that is detrimental to the team in the long run.
So our argument is the guy is out of shape and just needs the work. You're saying he should have taken him out after the first quarter and that you're not saying it's egos, but then you are saying the "approach is counter-productive."
How is that not about "egos" exactly since Shannahan was playing lard butt and you're saying he shouldn't have? What is it about then if it's not about playing and it's not about egos in your view?
OK Kaz, try to follow along. I had no problem with MS playing AH in the final preseason game. I just think he carried it too far, after seeing that AH wasn't going to give any effort. That was the part that was counter-productive, because he had already proven his point to AH and to the world. Some of AH's teammates feel that AH would give an effort in a regular season game that he wouldn't in the preseason (and I tend to agree). And everybody, including the D-coordinator, feels that our defense is better when AH is on the field. You even stated, in a previous post, that MS
is giving AH special treatment because he understands that he has special abilities above and beyond most players.
What I think is counter-productive is the approach he is using to try and change AH's attitude. This is where AH's ego comes in to play (yes, AH's ego is involved here, as I've stated repeatedly). But it is not a "battle of egos," because Shanahan's ego is not part of the equation. Some players respond to the carrot and some to the stick. I'm not asking that he coddle AH, and give him kisses, just that he not air the dirty laundry in public by forcing him to play the final three quarters of a game where he's obviously mailing it in. Hell, if he had pulled him and sent him to the locker room, it would have been better for the team. At least that would have sent the message in a clear way that AH was letting his teammates down with his half-assed play. Preseason games are not the place to try to get people into condition, that's what conditioning coaches do during the week. As it stands, this will divide the locker room, as some of his teammates will invariably side with AH, even if most side with the coach. And that is what is counter-productive to a successful season. Get it now?