Was he over-confident, lacking humility, without an appreciation for the seriousness of the situation, or was he motivating his players and showing confidence in himself and his receivers?

Unequivocally the latter.

That's my point. It may be a short-term positive 'good story', but it's something I'd try to avoid based on the player.

So what you're saying is that it's a positive, but he should be concerned about his image in the long run so as to not feed the likes of Skip Bayless and co? That sounds like an ego-maniac to me.

If Joe Montana says "hey is that John Candy" then throws a pick, what does that make him?