SANTA CLARA – Donte Whitner spoke for a long time at his locker this afternoon.
Here are a lot of quotes from that group interview.
Q: All the come from behind wins and the wins on the road – can you look to those for some guidance in place of the playoff experience this roster lacks?
WHITNER: Yeah, it’s really handling adversity, understanding that you’re going to be put in some adverse situations throughout the football season, you’re going to have some games you’re going to have to play on short notice and three, four days of practice and rest and travel across the country, and some games you’re in Seattle or Detroit where the fans are really loud and it’s really a playoff atmosphere. Everything we’ve been doing all year and all the teams we’ve been playing has really been preparing us for what we’re going to see the second round of the playoff, so we feel like we’re prepared.
Q: What does the defense need to do better for January 14th, in your mind? What’s the biggest thing you need to improve?
WHITNER: We need to improve our attitude on the football field each and every snap. Sometimes we’re dominant – a lot of times we’re dominant, but then sometimes we have lapses where we give up plays. It’s nothing mental – it’s all physical, and we have the guys in this room, we have the guys in our locker room to get the job done and to compete for a Super Bowl. That’s the goal right now, to win a Super Bowl, and we all know it, and anything short of that will be a disappointment.
Q: Will you be watching or scouting all the playoff games this weekend?
WHITNER: Yeah, you watch with a scouting eye. You know who the favorites are to win the football game – everybody expects New Orleans to win. But we understand that Detroit has a really good football team. They have a guy over there in Megatron who can win football games by himself. So with x’s and o’s, the players know what New Orleans is facing, New Orleans knows what they’re facing, and we’re just going to watch and hopefully we’ll get the best team. If I had to take a guess I would think it would be New Orleans, but you never know, you never know. But that dome really gives them a home field advantage. Other than that, I’ll be watching and we’ll be ready to come here Monday ready to prepare for it.
Q: Is it hard to scout it on TV because you can’t see all the players on the field?
WHITNER: Yeah, it’s hard to scout it on that. You can only scout once you come in and see the coaches’ copy and the players’ copy. You can’t really scout, you have to be a fan and just watch.
Q: Will you get together with teammates to watch that New Orleans game?
WHITNER: Yeah, I’m sure a few of us will get together, but guys like to do their own things sometimes, especially when you have downtime. A lot of guys might want to go home and see some family, so I don’t know. I know I’ll have some friends over – my younger brother is around here, so we’ll watch together.
Q: A lot of players on this defense have played almost all the snaps this season. Is that why you guys have given up some big plays the last few weeks?
WHITNER: No. It was a couple guys out of their gap, everybody not hustling to the football on some plays. We watched it, we talked about it and corrected it. It has nothing to do with that. Our training staff really does a great job. Our training staff and our weight room guys really do a great job working with guys one-on-one, understanding each guy’s body. All workouts aren’t the same. The things that have happened on the football field have nothing to do with injury. We expect guys to step in and play well.
Q: In past years did you watch the playoffs on TV too?
WHITNER: Yeah, and you tend to be a little jealous of the guys that are playing in the playoffs. All the attention of the sports world is on your games, especially when you get into the second, third round and the games get more and more important. Guys that want to get into the playoffs and are tired of sitting around four or five years in a row not making the playoffs. Now we have an opportunity to be one of 12 teams. Next week going into our game we’ll be one of eight teams, and hopefully after than game we’ll be one of four. We’re going to enjoy this.
Q: What was the last bowl game you played in?
WHITNER: The Fiesta Bowl down in Tempe, AZ against Notre Dame.
Q: Alex Smith said that at the Fiesta Bowl you got a portable DVD player. Did you get anything for making the playoffs this year?
WHITNER: Coach gave us a choice – you could either pick a painted football that says, “13-3, we made the playoffs,” or you could pick a little travel shaving kit, or another little duffle bag. It was not as extravagant as making it to the Fiesta Bowl, it will do.
Q: What did you pick?
WHITNER: I picked the football. I know my mom will probably want it. Somebody will probably want it.
Q: What did you get at the Fiesta Bowl?
WHITNER: Hand held Playstation 3s. It was pretty extravagant when you go to one of those big bowls. You never know what’s going to be in those goody bags when you get to your rooms at the Fiesta Bowl.
Q: Tostitos?
WHITNER: Tostitos. Bad of goodies. Extravagant hotel room – we stayed the Princess Resort down in Tempe. It was pretty good.
Q: Let’s talk about Harbaugh for a minute – what’s his deal?
WHITNER: I can honestly say that Coach Harbaugh is one of the most interesting coaches I’ve ever played for. You never know what you’re going to get from him. You never know what he’s going to say out of his mouth – some things we can share, some things we can’t. But he’s always going to shoot it straight to you, and he’s always going to make sure that the players are ready to play. Everything in this organization revolves around the players, and everybody else after that, so that’s how you know you have a good football coach – when he revolves everything around the players.
Q: Does he ever surprise you?
WHITNER: Yeah, he said a couple things today that surprised a lot of guys. Some guys liked it. Some guys didn’t. I can’t really share it, but that’s the type of stuff you need in the National Football League. When you have guys who have been around as head coaches for so long, they tend to disappear a little bit. They tend to not be involved with the players as much. They tend to not sit down in the lunch room and talk to players and understand what’s going on in their personal lives, and not just on the football field. Coach Harbaugh does that. After wins or losses, on the way back on home on the plane he’ll skip seats and go sit with different guys and talk to them and just talk about whatever they want to talk about. There’s not too many head coaches who do that in college or the National Football League, and I think that’s why he’s won this locker room over the way he has.
Q: What will he say when he sits down next to you in the lunch room?
WHITNER: Yeah, he’ll sit down with you and say: “I haven’t talked with you in a while. What’s going on?” There’s not too many that do that. There’s not too many head coaches who actually speak to the players directly on a personal level. He does that and that’s why he’s good at what he does.
Q: Did you ever think that was kind of weird?
WHITNER: Yeah, I always thought it was weird. I always thought it was weird that a lot of head coaches don’t speak to you and talk to you and really want to get to know you personally. When I first got here I thought it was a little weird that he wanted to do that just because I was used to something different, but that’s why he’s won the locker room and the organization and everyone around here over.
Q: Do you feel that the players can talk to him honestly about what they do and don’t like going on about the team and he’s not going to hold it against them?
WHITNER: Yeah, and we have a little committee of eight players, and if we don’t like something – the way it’s going, a schedule or whatever we can go to him. He’s not going to change it every time, but he’ll consider it, and that’s why the guys like him. He said that we can do anything in the world and we can come and talk to him and he’ll forgive us except put our hands on women. If you put your hand on a woman then you’re done in his book. So other than putting your hands on women, you can do anything and come talk to him, and it’s true. Open-door policy. Everybody around here really likes him and we want to win for him and for ourselves.
Q: Is there something he’s changed at the request of the committee?
WHITNER: When we went to Cincinnati we had a lot of input on where we stayed and what we ate and how we wanted it to be down in Cincinnati. Even this week, going to the game. Do guys want to get on the bus and go the game altogether or do you want to have your families with you? He’ll take a show of hands and let guys really give input. There’s not too many coaches that do that. It’s really cut-and-dry – I’m the ambassador, you listen to us and this is how it goes. A lot of times it doesn’t work that way in the National Football League.
Q: Who’s in the committee?
WHITNER: Myself, Patrick, Justin, Vernon, Moran, Frank, Alex – and he really lets us give our input.
Q: Who selected the committee?
WHITNER: Our teammates selected the committee – teammates and coaches.
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As I have said many times before,the more I hear about JH the more I like him !
This team is “all about the players first “,as opposed to the Raiders who’s HC seems to think it is all about him,as he throws his players and coaching staff under the bus .
Great to be a Niner Fan !
Fully agree Tim!
@TIM: Like you, I could not believe the way that idiot Jackson went off on his team to the media. Unbelievable! TIM, now that the Raiders actually hired a GM, what do you think the chances of him talking to the players and staff and dumping Hue Jackson (the man is about as much of a head coach as Singletary and/or Nolan). Like Martz and the Ryan Brothers, this entire lot should stick with what you know and leave the rest to the big boys in my opinion.
Just shared with “Momma” the Raiders GM selection, and her first response, “Well, let’s see now what he does with that coach.” Interesting, huh
I hope that stan poster read this comment because I comepletely agree with TIM
Alot of people said that defenses win championships. The no huddle crew says thats outdated and that offense will win you championships. Well those are great assumptions, but what everyone forgets about is coaching. Coaching is the most important factor and the 49ers are living proof. From a losing record last year to the second best record this year. People better realize Jim Harbaugh is for real and the 49ers are not “pretenders”. You know who ever faces the 49ers in the NFL does not take them likely. All these sports analysts should give credit where credit is deserved.
(+1)
I saw the “No Huddle” show just last night…
What a Bunch of Blow Hards! Especially Jamie Dukes & Warren Sapp. My god it’s really pathetic how they talk over each other just to listen to their own voices.
And how they druel over the Lethal Saint Offense & go on about how it can be possible for poor Alex to keep up with them. Well all I say is you can throw all that out the window because until these 2 teams are on the field playing nobody knows what’s going to happen. But I’ll take my chances with the Most Complete Team, the 49ers.
As Chris Berman would say… “And that’s why they play the game”
Dukes and Sapp have scared me away from NFLTV (and please don’t forget Motor-Mouth Michael) who really makes watching a chore.
I like Sapp. Jamie Dukes drives me crazy sometimes. I liked it better when Mora or Mooch was in with them. I’m not sure why Jalen Rose is there… but whatever.
I wonder if Harbaugh’s style is a reaction to playing for Mike Ditka. Iron Mike was hard to play for, he didn’t care what his players thought, etc.
Or maybe it’s just the way the Harbaugh family coaches?
Seems to be unique.
@Adam
JH is unique alright.
What position on a football team gets more credit/blame from the media than any other?
JH was a QB. He played/started for quite some time. He experienced the bad (Ditka in Chicago) and the good (once he left Ditka).
Because of JH’s exp. as a QB for so long in dealing with the press, he created this tough exterior. Which is different from other tough exterior HC’s because they didn’t play QB at the NFL level, or at least at the level JH reached.
Interesting observation…. Does anyone know of a head coach that had more success as a former quarterback? And, what was their style in relating to the players?
Finally a interesting questions and answers, great piece, good questions and a thoughtful player. Nice new information.
I think Harbaugh is a great competitor and has a brilliant mind when it comes to football. He knows how to treat his players, like people DUH!
What player is gonna play his best football for a coach that is only conversing with his players when he has to. I think perfect example is Andy Reid. He the type of guy that just doesn’t have that chemistry with his players which is why the dream team was really just a dream.
That’s 7 players in the committee not 8. :p lol
I noticed that too. I wonder if the 8th guy might be Jennings or Andy Lee.
I’d say Staley
At least we know that the players will be ready to play. Go Niners! I wonder what coach said that some players didn’t like it.
“Boys, life is hard and some day you’ll all have to get real jobs.” :P
@Adam
I think you nailed it….that would strike some fear
probably a page out of BW speaches… “stay loose for some of you that means no sex and for some of you that means lots of sex.”
I could see how some guys wouldn’t like that and some wood!
Bill O’Brien just accepted the Penn State job. Great news . . . Roman will be staying – for now.
Sorry for going off topic, but I saw the report on ESPN and got excited
Thanks for the news, glad to hear it.
Great relief! Continuity is key for this team!
Need more stuff like this Grant. Less of reporters asking the same intrusive questions pissing Jimbaugh off during his presser. Not talking of you of course :). Great read.
Another off-topic subject but a good read (from a TV station of all places): http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/sports/pro/football&id=8491928
The Old Niners are liking the New Niners.
Great read- thanks Adam
Thanks, Adam.
Awesome article, Grant. Good stuff.
Really great article, Grant. Thanks.
Am I the only one dying of curiosity to find out what Harbaugh could have possibly said?? I wonder how those who “didn’t like it” will respond??
Guest – No, you’re not the only one.
Well, I hope those that liked what he said use it to kick NO/ATL/NY’s a**. And I hope that those that don’t like what he said use it to kick NO/ATL/NY’s a**.
Call me one dimensional.
barley – I’ll drink to that! …..where have you been barley?
The most interesting and revealing football interview I’ve read in many years. Yeah, Harbaugh is a special kind of coach. Will be fascinating to follow him over the coming years. BTW, re: Andy Reid, I thought the poster above was going to use Reid as a good example and then he suprised me by using him as a bad one. From everything I’ve read over the years, Reid’s ability to connect with his players is one of his strong assets.
PURE SPECULATION:
Harbaugh probably told them that if they play like they did in the 4th quarter against the Rams, then they would be one and done.
Haha. Yea, like he’d have to tell them that? I’m sure it was something *much* deeper.
Totally reading way too much into things, but anyone else think maybe Braylon Edwards violated Harbaughs cardinal rule? I only mention it because I’ve been having a difficult time trying to figure out why they would cut him so suddenly when they were so thin at the position. Whitners emphasis on that particular issue made me wonder…
Possibly, but I think his release had more to do with his injuries and (perceived) lack of effort. His release was amicable enough that we can probably rule it out.
Peep this folks … Peter Schrager of foxsports.com had some pretty bold predictions for this years playoffs. Look what he said about our good ol’ 9ers:
“3. The Saints, then, promptly go out to San Francisco, where they’ll be favored by four to five points, and get smacked around by a 49ers team no one’s respecting. Outside of the friendly confines of the Superdome, the Saints are a different team. The 49ers will own the line of scrimmage, milk the clock and knock off everybody’s “sexy” Super Bowl pick. Had the Saints beaten either the Rams or Buccaneers earlier this season, they’d be home against the Niners … and win by three touchdowns. Alas, they didn’t, and they won’t.” ( Here’s the article in it’s entirety)
Hmmmmm? Pretty bold, eh? Sounds about right to me. We have pretty much the same core team when we played them Monday night last season and only lost by 2 (if memroy serves me). I like our chances.
I think it will be an upset if the Saints beat the Niners.
I think Jason Garrett was a quarterback for Dallas, but never reached the level JH did. I think Jason’s personality could be called “the walking dead”. Very quite guy.
“Q: What did you get at the Fiesta Bowl?”
An example of a dumb question.
Great read Grant. Finally this team has a coach that believes each position is vital to the team’s success.
uberniner asked if anyone knows of a former QB who became head coach who had more success. Harbaugh wasn’t a star QB for a long time. In fact, he was average, then had success as a QB with the Colts. With only one season as a head coach it’s a little unfair to compare him to others who coached for longer periods of time. But, there have been quite a few QBs who made it to the coaching ranks. Frankie Albert was a better QB that Harbaugh and coached the Niners for couple of years. Good coach, hot temper.
Plenty of QBs: Morton, Starr, Spurrier, Garrett, Van Brocklin, Kubiak, Payton, Baugh, Allie Sherman, and the best QB I ever saw play, Otto Graham. One year, in a 12 game season, Frankie threw 29 TDs yet Graham was selected ALL-Pro at QB. Frankie was so good, they named him All-Pro at RB.
@mountain Jack
JH played in 177 games, starting 140. If that is average, average managed to stay around a long time.
I could not find stats on Frankie Albert, but his coaching career here he was not nearly as good. JH has won nearly as many games (I’ll be it the number of games have increased as the years have gone on) going 19-16-1. That is far from good in my eyes. He may have been a good QB, but he was not anywhere near the HC JH is.
Bart Starr was even worse. “His regular season record was a disappointing 52–76–2 (.408), with a playoff record of 1–1″
Steve Spurrier played mostly as a punter and back up QB. Far from the requirements of having to be a good NFL QB. And then in the NFL, his coaching stank. The Redskins went 7-9 being outscored in the last 85-31 in the last 3 games!
Otto Graham was just as bad as Spurrier as a HC. His teams went 17-23-3.
Mountain: The question was what good QB in the NFL has become a good/great NFL HC? Considering how much a passing league the NFL has become, one might think that good NFL QB’s would be the first on the list. They are not. And, interestingly, JH does not implement a high passing attack (being a QB himself) in his coaching experience. Either here or Stanford.
I can’t get any of the other QB to HC’s you mentioned. But, it is clear that if Otto was the best out of your list, then the answer is “NO”. No other successful QB has ever become a HC and been anywhere near as good as JH. Plus, most of they guys you mentioned lived in ages past. The media was a lot different then.
Thanks to all the players even through there gettin paid for making sundays exciteing again. been years and i am lovin it. Thanks coach for making alex a player.
Excellent interview. Yes, revealing. The most important thing I read was how Jim puts his players first. It really starts with players. The organization and philosophies of a good team come from the characteristics of the team’s players. The greatest teams then come from the execution of solid plans. The niners today are a very good team with the potential to become a great one this year. Remember that in 1981 that team also came out and won the Super Bowl unexpectedly. Regardless of the competition, albeit they be a great New Orleans or Green Bay team, if the Niners achieve their pinnacle of execution, they will win this thing. Thank you Coach Harbaugh for bringing us a most exciting and rewarding season. A championship team must be born first and foremost from a championship mind.
Has anyone every seen 49er Girl, and KNBR’s Kate Scott in the same room together? Just asking.
Just as king – If anyone has, it would be Max.
+1 to Crab15
As long Harbaugh lets his players have input, the players would feel less pressure but give more effort for their football team. With that, Harbaugh is on the right track as a head coach. He is not a distanced-coach but in touch with the players. As for hitting women which is a no-no in his book, it is not about morals. He wants his players’ heads into football and he knows that his players are role models as high profile football players who are in the newspapers everyday. The boundaries are just to protect their professional lives. There are too many news accounts of NFL players who crossed boundaries and it doesn’t bring good press to the teams they play for. Harbaugh is just protecting the integrity of the team as they grow as a team and become a genuine playoff contender, and it prevents potential distractions (i;e, a media circus). He is a shoo-in for the coach of the year.
What a great great guy he is. And keep winning..
I didn’t think I could like Harbaugh any more than I already did.
“He said that we can do anything in the world and we can come and talk to him and he’ll forgive us except put our hands on women. “
Whitner is a thoughtful guy who impresses me. I see why Harbaugh persuaded him to come over to the Niners and be a team leader. He could be a coach or front office guy after his playing days are done.
Great interview.
Whitner always has great interviews. He’s one of the few players that actually answers questions.