How could Jim Harbaugh get one percent better?
He’s already a very good coach, but as he says, you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse. You never stay the same.
Keep in mind, I’m working under the hypothesis that Harbaugh is the King of the 49ers. He’s got complete veto power. No play gets called if he doesn’t give the OK, and no player gets signed or drafted if he doesn’t give the thumbs up. He’s responsible for it all.
So, here are five areas where he could improve to ensure he’s arrow-up for 2012.
In-game coaching with a lead. Harbaugh needs to tweak his game-management philosophy. He’s not nearly aggressive enough when the 49ers are winning. It’s as if he tells the offense to go out and punt. Alex Smith stops throwing downfield, often by design, and the Niners let their opponents hang around. This led to two losses last season. First, against the Cowboys in Week 2 – Harbaugh went for a 55-yard field goal – and made it – but the Cowboys got flagged for a 15-yard penalty which would have put the Niners offense in the red zone, but Harbaugh declined the penalty and took the field goal. Second, against the Giants in the NFC Championship game, they had 14 points and the lead halfway through the third quarter and finished the overtime game with just 17. In both games, Harbaugh had the lead in the second half and his offense did virtually nothing to add to it. Harbaugh needs to coach his team to go for the jugular when they have the chance, and not rely on the defense to hold small leads.
Acquiring wide receivers. Last offseason, Harbaugh let Trent Baalke and wide receivers coach John Morton talk him into drafting USC Trojan Ronald Johnson in the sixth round. The 5-10, 200 lb. receiver ran a 4.45 at his Pro Day, but he was slow in training camp and the Niners cut him. Thanks to the failed Ronald-Johnson experiment, the Niners missed out on former Stanford Cardinal Doug Baldwin, an undrafted rookie who caught 51 passes for 788 yards (15.5 yards/catch) for the Seahawks in 2011. Harbaugh has no excuse for whiffing on Baldwin – he coached Baldwin all four years of his Stanford career. The Niners can’t afford to draft the wrong receiver this year. They can’t afford to sign the wrong one either, like they did last season with Braylon Edwards.
Third down play-designing and play-calling. Alex Smith seems to always check down on third and long – he throws a pass way short of the first-down marker. Either his primary read is always covered, or the check-down is the primary read. Harbaugh needs new material. Greg Roman and Geep Chryst get most of the credit for play designs and calls. Maybe Harbaugh should be more hands-on, because Roman and Chryst didn’t cut it on third down last season.
Red zone play-designing and play-calling. They didn’t cut it in the red zone, either. They never really figured out how to call play-action pass plays to Vernon Davis in the red zone. Jimmy Raye knew well enough to do that. Again, it’s as if Harbaugh told the offense to play for field goals. There’s an overriding theme of passivity, especially with leads, and Harbaugh needs to break that now.
Interacting with the media. Bill Walsh understood how important this is. Harbaugh doesn’t. As long as he’s winning, he’s got nothing to worry about. But as soon as he starts losing – and all coaches lose eventually, even Walsh did – he’ll get eaten alive. When Walsh lost, he got the benefit of the doubt from the media, because he’d been humane with them. Harbaugh will get no benefit of no doubt. He treats the media like sub-humans. He needs to realize he’s the face of the 49ers, the spokesman of the franchise, not just a football coach. He needs to widen his scope for his own good and the good of the 49ers.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
@Grant
Scrap #5 and replace it with something game-related, lest you appear self-important.
WR:
Maybe Harbaugh doesn’t understand this position as well as he could. He read Braylon wrong, thought he’d connected with him on the UM level. Wrong. He said WRs would be relevant again, but didn’t involve them much. He insisted on playing Ginn, whose single, solitary gift is straight-line, top-end speed (not acceleration or shiftiness). Ginn can’t catch a cold. Harbaugh didn’t insert KW into games until way too late in the season and failed to use him like he should have, a la Percy Harvin/Dexter McCluster. Had he used him all season, perhaps KW wouldn’t have been so overwhelmed in the big moments.
Playcalling:
Throw 15 more times per game to Kendall Hunter/Bruce Miller on designed plays, not check downs.
Red Zone:
Use CK7 and his mobility, length, power…
Putting in a different QB just for redzone situations is an awful idea. Messes up the flow of the game
Alex was a washout in the RZ… nothing could have been worse than what we saw this year.
The red zone play calling left a lot to be desired. Too often this year they would just line up and everyone in the stadium or watching on TV knew what was coming next.
They need to motion people and get the defense moving prior to the snap to help get them out of position. Whether it is a pass or run you can use motion to get guys out of position, and they often did not do that in the red zone.
Real objective 49er fans would pay attention to the fact that the RZ was AS one of his biggest strengths, last year that wasn’t the case? So, would we put that all on AS? The smart answer would be most half and half for AS and JH & Co.
I do not agree about the media aspect. He owes the media nothing, Hue Jackson was a media darling and well enough said.
Agreed. Media relations are not important. JH keeps details of his strategic planning from media because he doesn’t want the rest of the league to anticipate his plans. Columnists don’t like it for their own selfish reasons.
Your #5 is self-serving and irrelevant. I applaud JH’s strategy of NOT telling media everything it wants to know.
BTW, Bill Walsh was very similar, in that he knew how to conduct press conferences without giving away his strategies for the team. JH is a disciple of Walsh.
I think what Grant is trying to say here is that Harbaugh is a lot crabbier after losses and probably much more of a pain in the ass. I can sense it and see it with my own eyes.
Harbaugh really isn’t used to losing and of course like any other person, hates it.
But there is no stoicism on his part whether win or lose.
Only the media gives a crap about media interaction,
Lol. We all know how Cohn senior and Harbaugh interact…….like the two huge egos that they are. The media is important to the media only….agreed 100%.
So… by extension, no media interaction means no football stories and thus no blog. So if you don’t care about that stuff, why are you here?
Thanks Grant. Agree on Harbaugh’s accountability, and I’m pretty sure he does expect himself to keep getting better. There are always things that can be seen in retrospect, and I expect Jim to improve.
WRs. Yeah, two mistakes when viewed in hindsight. At the time though, I liked the Braylon pickup, I thought he’d help. Whoops on Jim and Trent and me, but it didn’t cost too much.
On Ron Johnson; that was a whiff for sure, but not due to the udfa from Stanford succeeding elsewhere; that’s endless second guessing. Its a whiff because a draft choice didn’t make the roster, so wasted. Taking advice from staff members, or at least listening, is smart. All draft decisions are subject to failure, and that failure carries its impact forward. So now we are pressured by ‘need’ at WR rather heavily. It doesn’t mean the process was flawed.
Agree on the play calling; results speak for themselves.
Finally the media relations: I’m sure some here may feel like PorkBun seems to that its media reporters feeling sorry for themselves. I happen to agree with you, that as the face of the franchise, Jim could work harder at that. I’m not calling him out on it, but if I were the owner Jim and I would have a low-key discussion about it. I’m thinking he could maintain his independence and credibility with a more even handed approach to the media, which after all enhances his and his players’ salaries and SF & NFL coffers.
The thing about ‘getting away with it while he’s winning’; well, I don’t think he cares a wit about that; he’ll take on any accrued karma. But he could improve as the spokesman for the franchise.
Maybe I’m wrong, guys like Buddy Ryan never cared, and Bill B still doesn’t.
Sing Fraud needed help with the media, because his disdain for the obvious made him totally unaccountable and a complete waste of print and air. Sing was too stupid to articulate anything about the team, about concepts, about life. All he could do with any ease was blame players and coaches for his failures at leadership. His decision to blow off the media completely was ultimately a huge slap in the face of the fan base because it was evident that Sing was not thinking, was unable to even consider questions.
Harbaugh is vastly more appropriate in his media demeanor.
Harbaugh answers most questions, but refuses to answer certain types of questions. He as ever wavered on this, so when dumb reporters persisted in asking off-limit questions, he was red to them. SO WHAT!
Harbaugh knows football and answers questions. He provides insights into himself. Most importantly, he is dead honest, so the media reports to the fans whatever they get and fans get a fair picture of how their team/coach is doing…
Dude! Now that’s what I call debating! You present and explain your position convincingly on Harbaugh, I’ll cede those points. On Sing you seem bit harsh in calling him stupid, but I’ve always thought that managers in any work role who relied on blame and intimidation are weak-minded.
I agree with everything except the media interaction, don’t give a pimple on a pig’s ass how he treats the media. The media in general are self indulgent wanna be’s, jealous of the lifestyle and the money athletes make,and ask stupid questions. One point that I would like to make is that Muph amd Mac have absolutley horrensous relationship skills with Harbaugh, although you see a guy like Ted Robinson who has a good relationship with the coach, let him do the interviews rather then the Frat boys.
…how can you agree with everything but still blame Alex for ALL…..
…you “haters” are really confused……
Quit stirring up Shiite. It’s funny for a bit, but I’d rather hear what you have to say. You seem anggggrrrry! Do you play Anggggrrrrry Birrrds?
The Smithers are the haters, they hate everyone who disagrees with them, can’t get blood from a rock but they keep on going and going, I don’t hate Smith, just wish he was carrying a clipboard for another team, but the Smithers are just a confused group.
….me angry?…..nah…never dat…
….sorry you joined late…….said all i could……and i was right…….
but for fun…….what will you rather hear from me?
#1BiggestToolLoofEver
say something! say something! say something! anything at all, football related, you insignificant schmuck…
The lack of civility and class on this blog is something to behold. Calling someone an insignificant schmuck in person would get your teeth knocked out but here it is an every day occurrence. Coupled with a staggering lack of genuine football knowledge — and in some cases pure hatred of individual players — makes this place a zoo for many of the posters here.
Yeah, and the civility with the press thing is way overblown. If I was asked as many pointless and in some cases moronic questions as most head coaches are asked daily, I’d be pretty grumpy myself…
Streetglide: Perfect summary of what is wrong with this blog. Thanks!!
Your number 2 isnt a reason. The draft is a crapshoot. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose. Your number 5 doesnt hold water. I dont care if he gets along with the media or not. The media isnt what it use to be. The media is now biased and not nuetral. Use to be the media put out the facts and let the readers decide for themselves, Now the media tries to sway their readers to feel the same way the writer feels. I dont see how number five makes Harbaugh any better.
Not a crapshoot. Some FOs are better than others. Walsh was a magnificent judge of character guys.
Hey Pork not sure what FOs stands for. Your right Walsh was great at most things he did in football, is why he is call the genuis.
Front Office – includes GM & scouting dept.
Gotya, had a brain cramp.
I don’t know how old you are but back in the day Bill screwed up on evaluating talent too. He could also get pretty testy with the press. Some of us see that era through rose-colored glasses.
Harbaugh is already one of the best coaches in the NFL and cohn, some 25 year old who got his job because of his dad, is offering up tips. What a joke. Btw, most people love that Harbaugh shuns the media. The media have become like lawyers, a big friggin headache and large reason why we can’t get along. Seriously, you take away foxnews and msnbc and this country would be a whole lot better. I have zero sympathy for the media.
you got that right
Peter, I’m 24 years old.
Peter probably works for his old man business.
@Grant
…smartass… (hehe)
HAHAHAHA!!! Nice!!! :D
Peter, it is empathy not sympathy, nobody died.
sympathy |ˈsimpəθē|
noun ( pl. -thies)
1 feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune : they had great sympathy for the flood victims.
• ( one’s sympathies) formal expression of such feelings; condolences : all Tony’s friends joined in sending their sympathies to his widow Jean.
2 understanding between people; common feeling : the special sympathy between the two boys was obvious to all.
• ( sympathies) support in the form of shared feelings or opinions : his sympathies lay with his constituents.
• agreement with or approval of an opinion or aim; a favorable attitude : I have some sympathy for this view.
• ( in sympathy) relating harmoniously to something else; in keeping : repairs had to be in sympathy with the original structure.
• the state or fact of responding in a way similar or corresponding to an action elsewhere : the magnetic field oscillates in sympathy.
Sorry, Neal, you should have been an English major…. -L-
Look up empathy oh wise one, it is closer to the meaning.
@Neal
Streetglide is an insignificant. Here only to referee and cut/paste from other sources. Nothing to add.
Thanks for the tip PBL, he needs to glide right out of here.
…..the haters call this Alexcuses……I call it an Alexplanation……good read!!!
I call one weiner and DS the same chick !!
@Neal
You need to read streetglides post at March 4, 2012 at 5:44 am.
It truly applies to you.
The lack of civility and class on this blog is something to behold. Calling someone an insignificant schmuck in person would get your teeth knocked out but here it is an every day occurrence. Coupled with a staggering lack of genuine football knowledge — and in some cases pure hatred of individual players — makes this place a zoo for many of the posters here.
DS, I thought he was talking about you.
Great article until I saw a positive Jimmy Raye reference. No matter how true it may be, please consider no referencing Jimmy Raye in a positive manner (related to football).
lol…
Who cares, every one should make an adjustment after the first year…….
I think an off season to implament the entire playbook, a full training camp, and some additional players will take care of 1-4. Who cares about #5 other than the media. Walsh was media-manipulative, not media friendly. I like the person/coach that Harbaugh is, and I certainly don’t know as much as he does about receivers and qb’s and neither do sports blogers.
I like you mention the Stanford kid. Its what I have said for years,the 49ers and Raiders every Sunday read the exploits of Cal and Stanfords best..then when the draft rolls around they ignore them. Deshaun,Marshon..even back to Riviera. I cant understand it really.
Harbaugh and the media? If the niners do hit a bad season..it could get ugly. I don’t think after SD State and Stanford success,he’s built to be dogged at presscons. They are going to get very short even in a good year after a loss.
Why do the posters feel being a better person to the media is asking too much of Harbaugh?..its the old macho military in sports thinking. It’s too California to better yourself socially with the media,not like the perfectness of the Midwest coach…wink,wink.
Aaron Rodgers
The Ultimate example. Thanks.
Aaron Rodgers had alot to work on coming out of college and alot of time to work on it at GB. Would’ve been thrown to the wolves in Frisco and probably not in the NFL anymore had we taken him!
He himself ensured that he wouldn’t be in SF, the insolent kid!
hey stan, give me 20 pushups!!
If Rogers were drafted by the 49ers he’d be out of the league by now.
Selective memory, Stan?
Andre Carter, J. Newberry, K.Harris all 1st Rounders
@ Grant
WRs of 2012:
Jeffery
McNutt
Jones
Streeter
Hemingway
Randle
Posey
Toon
I like Jones and Streeter.
Don’t know Jones too well. Love Streeter. Saw Hemingway & McNutt play. Both were clutch, caught everything, nice body control.
Grant, Do you still feel the 49ers are targeting Wallace?
In your piece the other day you said they had $23m in cap space available before cutting Spencer, etc. Am I correct in assuming that total does not include the carry over from last years unused cap?
Jack… he never answered the Q, but the answer is YES
–
cap is to be around $38M
–
Niners should doggedly pursue Carl Nicks… new top priority
Nicks and Colston too! Stick it to that smug little jerk Payton and his dirty team… he he he
I like Jones or Toon in Rd#2. Wasn’t Sando pushing Posey?
I’ve been panning Jeffrey due to reported slow 40 times (didn’t run at Combine), and so worries about lack of separation ability.
BUT, the other day someone (Neal?) posted a long revealing list of NFL receivers and their Combine 40 times. If I remember correctly both Sterling Sharpe and Brandon Marshall had doggy combine times, but both have the proven ability to get open. So it depends how they evaluate the game film. At the moment I’m still guessing that Jeffrey isn’t what 49ers want at #30.
Jeffery makes catches while surrounded. He DOES resemble Marshall. Check his YouTube
#1 isn’t always right. Were Harbaugh not quite SO aggressive Josh Morgan would have been playing in the playoffs. Harbaugh’s OVER aggression caused Morgan to be in position to be injured vs the Bucs on a play some would call running up the score, at the end of a game the Niners had put away in the first half. Aggressive is good. STUPID is NOT.
I see why you would use that play as an example, Joe, however, JH/GR had to run a play. CK was in the game and they wanted to see what he could do. So they called a pass. What happened next could happen on any play of any game.
That play aside, I think JH will go for the throat more often in year two if he has the chance. Game situations will dictate the play calling, not any stubborn minded strategy.
Joe,
I’ve mentioned that call ever since it happened. It was a dumb unnecessary call. For all the right buttons Harbaugh pushed that went right, that was terribly wrong. Then to not prepare us properly for the playoffs by using Hastings and Swain instead of even looking at a T.O. Or somebody ??? That was a boneheaded ego driven move as well. We go into the NFC championship game, short of capable wideouts. We sign 2 guys with less than 20 NFL career catches between them??? Cmon man.
not having WR for the playoffs was a pisser for me as well…..it eliminates certain dynamic tendencies of a game….very dissappointing
Yeah, and if a bullfrog had wings…….
IMHO, Harbaugh got a little better every presser he conducted. He answered relevant questions thoughtfully and with dignity. Grant, what disturbs me is that what I think you’re addressing in #5 is his lack of patients with with the inane and irrelevant… much like the famous question posed to Doug Williams… ” how long have you been a black quarterback?”. Could you please answer this question: Why do you media types get your feathers ruffled when Harbaugh dismisses questions of the ilk… “what did you do after the game?” or “what’s wrong with your pinky finger?” And I apologize in advance for possibly not getting the questions exactly right but I think you get my drift. Just asking?
If this year’s draft/free agent class is any where near last year’s success, it will be, again, stellar. No doubt Harbaugh, the rest of the coaching staff, and front office staff have reviewed and critiqued every aspect of last year except media relations. I doubt they want to deliberately alienate the media but neither do they kowtow to the media–as it should be.
Harbaugh is short with the inane questions which some in the media (we all know who they are) insist on asking.
Ask him some relevant questions without repeating what someone else already didnt ask.
Also understand, he is not going to give anything, I repeat, anything that he considers to be detrimental to the team.
His first job is the 49ers, second – the 49ers and third – the 49ers.
The sooner the media realizes this, the more relevant their relationship with Harbaugh will be.
You guys need to earn his trust, not the other way around.
Says who?
This is not Lowell. Lowell’s screen name is Papa Stan.
No, that’s my dad.
Well then, this is JC. Howdy Lowell.
Says the people. Just because you Lowell, are some over the hill journalist, doesn’t make you immortal.
Keep asking those questions Lowell. That look of severe constipation on Harbaughs face is priceless.
Says “common sense”, Lowell. The coach doesn’t need you to do his job (nor the staff, nor the players). But you need him (and them) to do yours with any credibility. Therefore, if you want him/them to help you do your job, you need to establish some credibility, and earn their trust. Seems pretty basic…unless you’ve somehow gotten the idea that YOU’RE the star, and the boys are just playing for your convenience, and to support your work. That does seem to be a risk in the reporting and blogging business. But read a few of the comments on this page, and you’ll have a much better idea of where you fit on the food chain…
“Says the people.”
Don’t count me in on that. Personally, I like knowing what’s going on.
Going through life fat, lazy and stupid is no way to go.
Says my opinion. This is a blog and users are allowed to comment, are they not?
Call it ego, call it entitlement, call it bravado……whatever it is Harbs has it. And that is a very good thing. The orginization is becoming relevant again because of his 49er first, team first mentality. He is never going to bow down to the media or anybody who questions his decisions. There could not have been a better person to right this ship. Ultimately, the ONLY thing that matters is winning in this league. End of story.
#5: I think you speak on behalf of your Dad who was unhappy with JH then went on with his article. Media relation is brutal. George Seifert and Steve Mariucci got driven out of town indirectly by media after getting attacked by brutal writers such as Tim K (Mercury News).
Tim Kawakami did not cover the 49ers when George Seifert was the coach. Tim didn’t even work in the Bay Area then. Carmen Policy chose Steve Mariucci over Seifert and the media had zilch to do with it. Please get your facts straight.
This is not Lowell Cohn. But nice echo… zilch is lowellesque.
Lowell, facts are hard to find on Grant’s blog’s comments these days. Lots of blown out chests.
–
So, Lowell, didn’t you get the sense that Harbaugh was winking at you (so to speak) during those pressers? And if so, isn’t that because you engaged Harbaugh in a respectful manner? He gives no quarter, but neither is he spiteful…
Hi Grant, I just wanted to weigh in on the media controversy. I don’t understand the feelings of those who minimize or discount how Harbaugh treats the media people. You writers are a great service to the fans-us. You deserve to be treated with respect . My opinion is that Harbaugh crosses that line much more than the reporters do. I’m on your side.
Don’t ask stupid questions. That’s a good rule to go by.
–
The one thing Harbaugh did that I thought was absolutely original AND brilliant was to stop writers dead in their tracks if they were asking leading questions.
–
For example:
Media: “Jim, your offensive line struggled today, could you address…”
JH: “Stop! I take exception to and dismiss your comment. Do you have a question not based on an assumption that you, a reporter, made about something you have no facts to support?”
–
By taking this approach, Harbaugh may have come off as gruff or rude, but he was certainly the authority to take such measures, and obviously his players benefitted from him protecting them. The most annoying thing about Q&A sessions is when the non-authority tries to frame an issue by creating an assumption that is no more likely true than false. It puts the authority figure in the position of either addressing a falsehood or accepting a less qualified assessment of the a situation before addressing the issue. Harbaugh handles this in the perfect way, though his manner may be rude. He could be more charming, but in year 1, in a room populated by people none of whom anticipated 6-2, why be nice? If I’m proving myself immediately in a room full of antagonists and sycophants, it becomes their onus to earn MY respect!
Very Well Said … Go Niners!
Grant, You are wrong about the 49ers having 14 points at halftime in the Championship game. Their second TD came in the third quarter.
As for the way Harbaugh interacts with the media, I think you guys are the only ones who give a rats behind, and besides, if you guys would take the time to realize the types of questions he likes to answer it would be easier for both you and him.
Agree with all points with the exception of the media take. Your four points regarding the play on the field were spot on.
With regards to the media, Harbaugh is the antithesis of P.Carroll (just to use an example). Carroll is a total media darling. He loves the attention and seeks it out. While Harbaugh seems to avoid the media at any cost. Carroll wants to be liked by everyone, and Harbaugh doesn’t seem to care if you like him or not. I will venture to say that if Carroll has a losing season in 2012 he will lose his players. The P.Carroll’ rah-rah, high-end emotional types don’t have a lasting run in the NFL. But enough about Carroll.
Harbaugh is a ‘independent thinker’ who will rise and fall on his ‘own’ coaching style. I don’t believe Harbaugh will make any excuses for his style of football especially after a 14-4 season in his first year as a coach. And I don’t believe he really cares how the media perceives him as well. I love that he shifts all (success) attention to the players. Yet, we as fans (and media) know that the teams 2011 success is highly attributed to him and his hand-picked coaches.
Except for his ‘take no prisoners’ demolition against P.Carroll’ Trojans a few years Harbaugh seems to take what the defense gives him. While B.Walsh went for the ‘jugular,’ Harbaugh seems intent on doing just enough to get the win. That pattern worked fine throughout the season until the championship game. But next season an improved Alex Smith and more speed on the outside will make the offense more dynamic and give Harbaugh the flexibility to take more chances. I personally don’t care if Harbaugh like Belicheck has a low-key relationship with the media as long as he continues to rack up the wins. You say that when he begins to lose he will get eaten alive. You may be right, but we will cross that proverbial bridge when we get to it.
Still, 4 out of 5 ain’t bad Grant (lol).
…how about we rephrase this part since you agree with Grant….
“But next season an improved Alex Smith and more speed on the outside will make the offense more dynamic and give Harbaugh the flexibility to take more chances”…
But next season an improved JH and more WR speed on the outside will make the offense more dynamic and give Alex the flexibility to take more chances……..
Alex is perfect, DS, we know!
@pork
You meant to say JH, right?
I am the president of the AS fan club, and the president of the club is JH.
Do you have any further questions for me?
@DS
So you are you saying that you are JH?
* few years AGO,
Grant,Grant,Grant what are we going to do with you. I normally enjoy your write ups. But saying Jim Harbaugh needs to be more aggressive is like saying, hey somebody go teach that wild Cheetah how to run. They were working with a limited number of plays each game if they didnt practice them to perfection, 100% chance they wouldnt be used. If you recall it was Chryst who called the game winner against the Saints with 14 seconds left, not Harbaugh or Roman. But they know how to work together thats where the success comes from, not Harbaugh being more aggressive or taking more control by calling more plays in those instances
Walsh was far more creative and far less egotistical than Harbaugh, who makes Singletary look flexible. I call him Jughead.
Respectfully disagree. I think Walsh was way more egotistical then Harbaugh, but he tried not to come across that way. Parcells and Jimmy Johnson I recall being a little tired of The Genius lore. I think Bill was very manipulative with players and media and just as calculating as Jim.
But what is manipulative? Its managing people, I think. Getting them to do what you want.
Bill absolutely was creative, but Jim has been also and will continue to be so as the installation of the system continues. Jim just doesn’t even pretend to dance with the media.
I think the premise that Harbaugh has complete control over personel is false. He doesn’t have control over the draft. He even stated that he appreciates having the structure in place “checks and balances”. The players appreciate how Harbaugh interacts with the media … therefore I DO. Ginn had a great year, Kyle Williams did too, he cut bait on a player failing, and most importantly he turned Crabtree around. It baffles me that there are people out there that are trying to find how things were “screwed up” last year, versus what we did well and the things we’re going to do to get better. Nothing is going to be perfect after one season.
Ginn had a pretty good year as a return man. Terrible as a WR.
Ginn opens up the middle and short stuff for a lot of our other receivers. There were a couple games where a lot of guys disappeared at receiver except for him. The second half of the season he really stepped up big for us. It can be argued that our receivers really became ineffective because Ginn was either hurt or out of the game (i.e. in the playoffs). Now I am not a Ginn supporter or guy, but he deserves his credit.
Jim recruited for his Dad while playing pro football. The players he recruited won a championship. Jim recruited at both San Diego and Stanford. Those teams were winners. If you don’t think Jim has a say in what type of players he wants, your smokin something! Jim is always first to put the credit elsewhere. He’s not gonna say “Look at me, I did this”. The rest of what you said I agree 100%. Nobody had us going 13-3 so why point out what was bad. Build on what went right!
Yep, we are lucky and forunate to Have JH!
Good points, yes Coach Harbaugh may be “awkward” in his public demeanor at times ,largely it would seem as a byproduct of his intense goal driven focus in his job(a job he I think we would agree he does quite well!).His fidelity and commitment to the “TEAM” is admirable.His selfless abandon to his purpose is and will be our great fortune as fans.It is clear he will be a difficult subject for the media ,more so for those who approach that job without reflection I suspect.
I agree, build on what went right. However, to do so, you must identify what went right, and what didn’t. And, building on what went right doesn’t preclude fixing what didn’t go right. Not addressing failings (which starts with identifying them) is something that gets people fired.
yep i like the glass half full attitude wrt the niners activities on their way to a 14-4 season…..though i get grant is probably drawing on JH’s 1% mantra for a storyline…my only point of contention is how the WR dilemma was handled the last 1/4 of the season when it was clear earlier than that the niners basically had one WR to go forward with….i would have rented the potential of a threat if nothing else….
i am saddened stevie johnson is not part of my vision any longer….will have to rethink what is a balanced approach for the next couple of weeks where WR and OG is concerned….it makes the draft scenarios much less convergent….
Improving 3rd down is huge. That would make Harbaugh’s ball control offense a lot more effective at draining the clock.
Red zone improvement would also solve the “going for the jugular” issue. I’m sure Akers is happy with the FG record but if just one FG per game had been a TD the season would have been a lot less tense.
Can’t really blame Harbaugh for the Ronald whiff. 6th round choices are a crapshoot. Edwards was a bad signing in hindsight but at the time it looked like a good risk.
As for media relations – that’s Harbaugh’s choice. I think his job will be easier if he uses more tact with the press. Plus, I like most of the 49ers beat writers so I’d like to see their jobs be more comfortable too.
John Morton was singularly responsible for the RoJo pick, which was used in place of an unnamed Stanford WR (according to lore)
It would make sense to get input from the WR coach – just don’t ask him again this year, heh. He had his chance.
Whiffs in the 6th round don’t bug me. I was glad to see the team release him ASAP when he wasn’t panning out. That shows the team is willing to move on from mistakes quickly.
Harbaugh is on record as saying he doesn’t trust his judgment on his former players at Stanford. He said he’s afraid he may over or under evaluate them for the NFL, so he defers to Baalke and the other staff for those evaluations. Baalke probably loved Johnson and favored him more than Baldwin so he convinced Harbaugh to pick him. You have to remember these guys have only been working together for a year so the actions they took last year are not a trend, its what they did last season.
I disagree on Braylon Edwards as well, we have no idea how he would have performed if he would have been healthy this year. Remember he never was right after that knee injury. If he would’ve stayed healthy then you’d have two decent receivers out there, throw in Vernon Davis and that’s a tough matchup for most defenses. The injuries we had a wide receiver are the #1 thing that killed us last year.
Grant, you must be bored today. Writing about how a 13-3, one play short of a Super Bowl, coach can improve is a big waste of time. Telling him that he should have gone after someone he coached for 4 years like he didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing would have been the most absurd comment, but then I got to number 5. Get over yourself. No cares how he treats the media except the media. Your dad was all over him and Baalke during the preseason, quite unfairly I might add, and now you cry because he isn’t treating you nicely. Please.
Since we are on the subject of giving advice on how to get 1 percent better, here is mine for you: the next time you feel compelled to write about what Harbuagh needs to do to be better take a deep breath and go outside and mow the lawn. Sometimes less is more when it comes to writing and other forms of art.
Your logic is faulty… the Niners didnt win the SB, there is always room for improvement, & the 1% better ideology is one that Hardballs applies to everyone every day.
(also, young people don’t do chores anymore)
You might want to take your own advice before posting, Dennis. Harbaugh loves the continual improvement schtick. But… it’s not even a schtick. It’s real, and true. Of course he’s going to look how to improve, and people are going to comment on what they think should be done. And, that’s a good thing, and its kinda fun.
Why the vitriol? Maybe you need to mow the lawn….
The LAST thing I would want JH spending any time on is adjusting his media relations. The press conferences I watched last season showed it is the media that needs to adjust NOT the coach. Some of the most stupid questions were asked and a total waste of time for JH. ‘How’d your pinky get bent?’ and other nonsense. You would think a professional journalist could come up with something more interesting then that kind of idiocy. My five year old could do better.
Absolutely. But over the hill Lowell and his sibling will disagree…
Sibling? Are you serious. Please get a dictionary.
Lot of pipple is hear what din’t majer in Enjlish…
ninerz,
The term sibling is used in reference to a Brother or Sister. Grant is Lowell’s son.
What it comes down to imo is that Harbaugh has a responsibility to answer questions at designated times during the season. Harbaugh often showed a clear disdain toward this part of his job and didn’t answer the more pertinent questions dealing with strategy or the health of his team. That is why you see questions like “who was stronger when you were kids, you are John?” Or “Out of all the places you’ve lived, where did you get the best Steak dinner?”
Not saying these questions were asked but hopefully you get the point. Lowell and Grant have a job to do and when the HC acts like a hostile witness on the stand, you have to get creative sometimes.
And I just realized in my last post I used “dealed” instead of “dealt.” I failed.
Why are you reading and posting then? That’s right. Because hate fuels the Radio and Journalist’ world. Ha ha haa. Cohn’ make that money. You need these people. And they need you too. Wheew
Most of the useless, pointless questions came from Lowell.
I take that as a compliment.
@Lowell
I suppose a journalist who has been around since June 19th, 1846 (the first baseball game in history).
You’ve likely heard everything by now.
:- )
Yea, it’s a compliment to be silly, how sad.
I suspect some of Lowell’s more ridiculous questions were asked as satire. Mr. Harbaugh won’t answer any substantive questions, so Lowell obliged him.
@Lowell. If your questions are of the same quality as your comments on this blog, good luck getting anything useful out of anybody.
A lot of people either forget or aren’t old enough to have actually seen Bill Walsh coach; they only know the records. BW was actually a very conservative coach with the lead; he used to drive me crazy. In fact you wouldn’t have seen him try all those 50+ yard FG’s – he would usually try to pootch-punt from anywhere outside the 25 rather than risk a miss.
I think your critique of the 3rd and long calls is a little short-sighted. Most of those 3rd and longs are the result of too much conservatism on 1st and 2nd down. And the problem on 3rd and long is the same as in the red zone. We have no dominant or even reliable receivers + the OL isn’t strong enough to stop an all out rush when the D knows the pass is coming. Check-downs are usually all that’s available, and those are preferable to INT’s or sacks.
….well written….
Poorly written. Dont know if you go to games, but recievers are open more than you think. Grant is right on this one. Ive seen personally ,recievers open and the shot wasnt taken. Smith on 3rd downs needs to improve. Bottom line. Cant blame recievers for everything. Like the idiot who is above my post.
I’ve seen your crap before … every comment is an opportunity to take another shot at Smith. You are sooo very boring.
You brought smith up. Stupid! I don’t care to bash smith. Just idiots that think it’s all the receivers fault and every other player, coach, fan, sun in the eyes excuse there is. When are you morons going to learn? The QB gets the glory and he gets the blame. That’s the nfl. Deal with it!
@M2
Nice thoughts.
I think what the Niners coaching staff needs to work on the most this off-season is to find that 1 play we can run in the redzone which works even if the defense knows it is coming.
That little 2-3 yard route JR ran neat the endzone to the outside…nobody seemed to be able to stop that. Everybody knew it was coming, but the Niners still scored.
The coaching staff needs to find that 1 play for this team. Run or pass. VD/MC/FG/guy not on the team. We need that bread and butter play.
The coaching staff needs to train the WRs better in every phase except blocking. That’s been the weakness since Rice left. The great WR corps in the NFL are in sync w each other and w the QB; moreover, when plays are broken, routes are broken off and improv takes over. Hello… Big Ben!!!
If it’s the play to JR that I’m thinking of, it’s called sprint right option. That was a good play. I saw us run it once this year to MC and it worked. Can’t remember which game tho.
@pork
The improv thing is so hard to do near the goal line. The defenders are all scrunched up in there. Now it is possible, but generally only for those QB/WR combos who “have chemistry”. JM was the only WR I think AS had chemistry with. That does not necessarily mean JM was their best (most talenred) WR. Just that JM was the best for AS.
@montanaman
I believe you are right. Sprint right does seem familiar.
And I think it was a 2 point conversion to MC that worked. But, then we never saw it work again. I don’t think they tried it more than a handful of times after that though.
@DS94 …. I know what you mean but for such a play to work consistently you have to have legitimate threats in the receiving corp and a consistent running game to draw the defenders … and an OL that can protect. The Niners went 13-3 with an 8-8 offense … not too bad.
@M2
I was hoping MC would become that guy.
I knew MC was not going to be fast, but I hoped his ability to “attack” the ball combined with his medim frame would come in handy near the endzone.
*medium*
Saints franchise Bree’s. Wonder why. Is it because they arent taking the slightest chance of losing their 1ST PRIORITY?????????? HA HA HAAAAAAAAAA Copy and paste that Claude! ELITE+BREES= #1 PRIORITY! That’s how the NFL works Clowns! Any word on our QB yet?
……..you are a sad story……..you ran to your fata$$ to pc just to write that…….calling you pathetic is being nice…….
Don’t overstate the obvious. Brees is his name. His name is not Bree.
HA HA HAAAA. Swallow that Crow Clown. While our “top priority” is still sitting in wait! If you had a girlfriend Id be glad to show her the only fat part on my body.
you ran to your fata$$ to pc just to write that……………PBL Have some fun with that. Stay off my porch. I dont need another clown to slap. My hand is tired! Enjoy that crow also Porky! Buahahahahahaaha Gotta go enjoy my social life. Have fun behind your computers all Sat night. Losers! WHEEEEEW!
Jordan, ninermd, & Bay,
What’s with the Buahahahaha stuff? Are you guys all part of a secret Count Chocula cult?
……..you are a sad story……..you ran your fata$$ to pc just to write that…….calling you pathetic is being nice…….
Brees
Brees
Brees
Brees
Brees
–
get it?
Lol. That was just for you PBL. Ill continue to let you have your 1 mistake from me. But still, Bree’s is number 1 on the priority list. Buahahahahaa <——- had some count chocula cereal this morning Hammer.
I’m gonna agree 99.9% on Play Calling. You could have swapped out the shots of the current coaching staff with those of the Singeltary era and not really noticed a difference at times. As far as going for the jugular, you forget that Harbaugh went for the jugular once this season and it bit us in the a55. Josh Morgan broke his ankle ala Buster Posey style on a play that by all rights probably should never have been called. From then on, once snakebit 10x shy.
I don’t agree with you on the Braylon Edwards signing. He and Smith were building up some pretty good chemistry until the knee injury. After that Edwards was pretty much done for the season. Still he made a solid effort to get back on the field, but his first game back injured his shoulder. The only reason he was cut was to be able to bring a warm body into the Post Season.
What you probably should have said was in relation to that, Harbs should have brought in one of the better Receivers off the waiver wire and if you had said that, I would have agreed with you 100%.
Here’s a fact. Niners underutilized the running game BIGTIME in the NFCC game…
I take exception to your fact. It is not underutilizing when you decide not to call upon an underperforming resource. In the last half of the season the vaunted 49er running game had been reduced to a myth. Frank Gore looked gassed and he averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry for the final 8 games (429 yards on 123 carries). Contrast that with the 1st 8 games when he averaged 4.91 yards per carry (782 on 159 carries).
……..intelligent and factual comment again……claude you have competition…..
Gore averaged 4.6 yards on 16 carries in the NFC championship game. He was underutilized, as was Kendall Hunter, who averaged 7.8 yards per carry in that game.
… oneVague9er…
anything coherent to say?
ripping on M2 or me/Grant/facts?
Thx Grant. Maybe a little more of you throwing tour weight around would increase the overall intelligence level of the blog.
I’m not so sure about the last point.
I understand it, but I think that Harbaugh approach with the media help to make the team much more solid…
He crated this sort of “us against the world”, or “what happen in the house stays in the house”…
Of course he will be eaten by the media if something goes wrong, but he doesnt care as long as it benefits the team. He’s ready to take all the blame, he knows that… but the players will feel always protected, and he will trust him…
So, team first… and the problems with the media in case of losing will be solved somehow, even having the players much playing for him, as paying back or protecting him back for what he did for them before…
Corrections:
*and THEY will trust him
*even having the players much MORE playing for him
:)
Belicheat isn’t that great with the media either, and just because Walsh was given a pass during the less stellar seasons doesn’t mean that JH will encounter the same issue or well, really even care about how the media is toward him.
It is what it is, I would not expect any different from him and if you media folks don’t dig it maybe it’s because you guys all ask essentially the same old dumb questions over and over as if you can’t think for yourselves and get it figured out.
It’s pathetic, not just when the media is asking JH questions but really any coach, it’s like enough already!! If you don’t get it the first time, you know chances are you’re not ever.
…not sure why trade with Rams instead of trading with the Vikings to get RG…..
the Rams are not going to draft him and its cheaper to trade with the Vikings….
One colt,
You don’t negotiate with Minnesota because someone could backdoor you and make a trade with the Rams and shi- on your face on draft day. You , the biggest Smith lover in the world are as dumb as a brick. No wonder why Smith is your American idol!! You are pathetic!
can’t argue this, Jordo!
LMAO! That was funny!
@ Jordan
Hahah Americian idiot, soundsl like a Green Day song.
Jordan it to easy! But I can never get tired of slapping onelame around. You know it’s killing him every second smith isnt signed. Tic toc tic toc…… Buahahahahaaaa
….smart moron – i didn’t say you couldn’t negotiate with both……of course “dummy” someone else could out bid you…..but there is also a chance the Rams could be asking for too much and turn off bidders……..
……how many teams are we really talking about – 2-3 teams……
Grant, very impressive – the premise of this article, and points #1 and 2, show that you are a professional journalist, a term i dont throw around lightly. Yes, Harbaugh is to be held to account just as everyone else is, even if he appears to be the greatest thing to happen to the Niners since Bill Walsh & George Seifert.
I’m less excited about points 3 and 4: while coaching may play an important role, unfortunately Harbaugh can’t pitch it or catch it, and good players have a way of making schemes and coaches look good.
as for point 5, maybe he will improve in this arena. my guess is that there’s only so much the tiger can change his stripes.
@Grant: I have also noticed that Jim Harbaugh can be a little salty during press conferences. Will you please elaborate on some of the things that Coach Harbaugh can do (or do differently) that would make him a bit more palatable (from the perspective of the media)?
For the most part coaches and media have always maintained an adversarial relationship, particularly one that Harbaugh played for … Mike Ditka. Remember when he threw his gum at a reporter. Even those who were considered to have good press relations got very testy and difficult at times (eg: NBA coach Don Nelson). I think that it may be even worse now that so many of the writers also host blogs wherein thay express so much opinion, much of which is controversial just to inspire hits. Another problem is that so many of the writers are so ill-informed. Sometimes I cringe at the inanity of their questions. The coach that can answer those questions with good humor while suffering the pain of losing a game would be rare indeed.
Yeah, and I am 43 and have followed the 49ers since the late 70′s…not sure your point….to me, you are just some young kid trying to make a splash. You need to take a step back and stop infusing you article with so much emotion…it actually comes across a little bit jerky. If I was harbaugh, I wouldn’t be thrilled with the tone of your column. That’s it, keep writing, it will get better…time will do that, make you better.
I’m really surprised how naive and ignorant so many of you are about Grant’s comment on the media. Grant’s making the point that it’s easy to be the way he has been because he took a mediocre team and turned them to 13-3. Everything came up roses this year.
But when they get into a losing streak what happens when JH act’s with the media like he did last year. One obvious thing that will happen is that when he’s losing, and refuses to answer questions then HE will become the issue. When that happens he’ll figure it out and start being more accommodating simply because he won’t want his disdain for talking to the media to be an issue.
And you guys all feed off what he says too. This year there wasn’t any worry because they were winning. When they don’t win you guys will be the first to jump on what he says. So yes this does matter, and if you don’t think then let’s revisit next year and see what you guys do when they’re losing and JH won’t tell you what he’s doing to fix it because it’s none of Grant’s business to know :)
When was the last time Harbaugh the HC lost?
Woody:
The answer is easy then,simply don’t lose !
If a group of people were constantly trying to find my weakness, look for controversy, cause division, make people look bad, sit back and wait for a statement from a coach/player to write my story, I’d be salty to the media too. No bigger group of lazy people imo then sport media writers esp in the bay area. As a sports fan for 50 plus years I can say I wouldn’t miss a thing if the sports journalist became a endangered species and disappeared. I think I could figure it all out w/o the reporting from Cohen and his like.
And you show up on a blog? That’s about as hypocritical if not simply fake as it gets.
Yes, its well known that sportswriters have one of the easiest jobs in the world. The only thing they have to worry about are deadlines. “Must….type….faster. So tough!”
Meanwhile, these athletes are out here risking their healthy every sunday, taking tremendous punishment, and according to the Cohn family, they’re feelings at press conferences are more important than the players.
ghostrider33, absolutely. Great opinion.
Ninerz and ghostrider,
Why don’t you do your part and stop visiting, and posting on this blog then? You’re nothing more than self-righteous hippocrits.
“I think I could figure it all out w/o the reporting…”
Haha. Wow. And… how would you go about doing that? You gonna hang out at 4949 all week? I mean, I realize the job market is soft and some folks have a lot of free time but wow…
The sooner the Cohn family realizes that Jim Harbaugh’s job description is to coach the San Francisco 49ers, the better off all of us will be about their constant whining about how they are treated.
Here’s a tip: You are not the story. The team is the story. No one except for your peers and close friends gives a flying hoot how the coach addresses you. And in my frank opinion, after seeing how utterly stupid most of your questions are, I think you’re getting off easy.
No doubt.
Part of his job description, and what he’s paid for and obligated to do, is to do interviews with the media. He chooses an arrogant, belittling, and dismissive tone with them, which, practically speaking, defeats the whole point. For a journalist to point out the obvious, which is his crappy attitude towards them, is hardly beyond the pale.
The knee-jerk hatred that is spewed at the Cohn’s in particular, and the 49er media in general, is incredible, and disturbing. Some angry, angry people….
Angus, I see your point. The only writers in the Bay Area are the Cohn’s. They bring it up at least once a month. I am sure the other journalists feel the same way, however they don’t waste columns or blog space to whine about it.
*the only writers who go on and on about it*
Woody, what is hypocritical about that? You think posting on a blog is the same as journalism? I’m not a sports writer trying to tell a successful HC how to do his job so that it makes my job easier. Talk about fake…
Ghostrider,
I don’t think Grant’s trying to tell JH anything. He’s posting his opinion on his blog, for our entertainment and perusal. If reading it makes you so angry you have to hurl insults, I’d advise you not to read it any more.
I disagree with the people who say media relations isn’t important. Grant is right, it’s not a big deal when everything is roses, but if the team struggles, drops a couple games in a row, then the knives come out.
Bill Walsh had a good relationship with the media. He knew the reporters’ names, he let them watch practice and he even ate meals with them and told them things off the record. No member of the press ever abused the privilege. I don’t recall any Ira Miller articles saying, “Look for the third play of the game where they’ll throw a deep post to Rice,” or “look for them to draft Charles Haley here, this kid out of James Madison they really like as a pass rusher.”
People don’t give the local media enough credit for being professionals. I’m not talking about the national clowns on ESPN either, I’m talking about the local guys, the ones who are at the facility every day. Nobody ever asks Harbaugh game plan questions and nobody would Tweet or write articles about the kind of plays they’re working on in practice if they were allowed to watch. That’s against the code and people who value their jobs don’t break the code.
Harbaugh doesn’t reveal things and you all applaud him for it, but he’s paranoid to the point of insulting. There is nothing wrong with saying so-and-so had a bad game after the fact. The players are grown men and can handle honest criticism. Besides, some respond to being called out in the press. Everyone is different, psychologically.
Harbaugh acts insulted and offended at the most innocent questions and it’s beneath him to act that way, to be so unprofessional, as the face of the franchise. He could stand to learn a thing or two from a number of his players on how to deal with the press.
If he had his way, not only would he never have to talk to the press, but he’d make it so none of his players would either. The entire scope of your 49ers coverage would come during the three hours of game day on Sundays. Is that what you want?
Free press is important. They’re the conduit to the fans who make the sport what it is. Harbaugh doesn’t care for the fans, the press, the refs, anyone. He thinks everyone outside of the 53 guys in his locker room is an enemy and ultimately that kind of thinking is destructive and will cost him in the end.
“Nobody ever asks Harbaugh game plan questions”
Um….false. They ask this constantly. And after numerous times of Harbaugh telling them “we dont talk scheme”.
It reminds me of a parent having to tell their children something over and over and over. Media= children
There’s also quite a bit of revisionist history when it concerns Walsh in your post. True, he wasn’t QUITE as blunt with the media as Harbaugh is, but he often told his players to not pay attention to what they write and called them “the enemy”. Many former players have cited this in the past.
I think your memory of how Bill Walsh interacted with the media is distorted. Bill was a gentleman but he did not tell the press everything they wanted to know. I also don’t believe that he socialized with the media; but, even if he did I am reminded of a quote I saw recently from Jack Nicklaus. He was recalling how he used to have drinks with members of the press with an understanding that everything was “off the record”. He was saying how that would never work in today’s environment.
You make some great points but you take a diamon or a gem the way it is flaws and all, We are so much better with Harbaugh then with out him, some people only function their best when it is them against the world, Harbaugh will be around a lot longer then some of the nicer coaches that are in the Not for Long League! I love this blog and Grant’s and Lowell’s articles but I know a lot of the questions asked would bug me but I am sure their is a better way of doing things but lots of books do not change their covers. As much as Singletary and Nolan drove me nuts they had their positives too. Nolan helped put in a different structure, talked Justin Smith into signing year and some young talent as Donahue left the cuppard less then bare, Singletary reached vernon Davis and others but overall the negatives were too big. No ones perfect but Harbaugh is the Man to have! Best Story like is he and John are pre-teens, their Dad is a Coach at another school, their asked to go to an assistants coach home to play or mentor his younger sons, Jim and John end up fighting the parking lot and to this Jay Jim is ticked off because he felt John blew his chance of eating lucky charms or fruit loops at this house because their mom only served healthy stuff, Two sons , head coaches, Daughter married to Indiann head Coach, doing well, Can’t argue with how the Harbaughs raised their kids even if they are ultimate compeitors because we get the benefits as ninner fans!
Please leave the criticsm of Jim to your monday morning enthusiats. There was no time last year when Jim came on to accomplish everything noted here. He had no camp and inherited the players for the most part. The draft graded out well in the upper eschelon in the NFL. I have been telling anyone who wants to listen that the second year will be the year we see Jim’s imprint on the team with free agency, the draft, possible trades and of course camp. He did not fumble away the NFC championship, no hate noted here for the culprit.
Jim and the staff were the story of the year as they did well with what they had and deensively, we can also give props to the former regime for giving us the talent there. This team will be built for the long haul now with Trent, Jim and company. Also, lets thank Jed for the hiring as he received all the hate prior to our new staff. Mark my, words, this team will now be in the hunt for the forseable future and the niners are now back where they were during the great Walsh, Policy and Eddie era…
Speaking to the choir brother! Everyone involved seems to have a gift, harbaugh has no problem surrounding himself with people that are as smart or smarter then he is and gives those people lots of compliments. Much different then Nolan or Singletary. We have to be happy with what we have!
@ Grant, you get your girl at UCLA? You should write a story about a late night amongst the Jacarandas… do you have any of those? ;)
So are we supposed to have sympathy for the media?
Without the media we would have no idea who the 49ers are. We wouldn’t know the coaches, the players or the front office. Without the media the 49ers would just be some anonymous dudes running around in red and gold pajamas every Sunday.
The media – especially the local beat writers, are the fans’ window into the team. When Harbaugh craps on the media he is indirectly crapping on us.
Give the guy some pepto-bismol then.
@DS Hah!
@msclemons without your gunt you could see you feet!
You Cohn’s are so freak’n sensitive. Get over it. It’s not about you.
Grant is a sensitive 24 year old that only has this blog in life give the kid a break!
Wow personal attacks on the Cohn family! Gettin crazy up in here! Y’all must be bored or just itchin for some Foitball! Look I’m not going to defend the Media in general, those of you that know me already know I’m on the side of most of the posters on here. However, I will say that these guys are professionals and take their jobs/assignments serious and have been and will continue to be our eyes and ears inside the locker room, on the side lines, and at the podium after the games. We are their customers and we’re the ones always coming to then for insight/info, so do I agree with Grants point #5, no, but do I agree that he has the right to express his dissatisfaction with JH’s treatment towards him and his colleagues, yes. Also, I appreciate you Lowel for your journalism and professionalism throughout the years, you’ve groomed a great writer and son and I respect you and your family , and apologize for the disrespect displayed by my fellow fans.
Unfortunately Grant’s writing and analytical skills are sub-par along with his uncanny biased opinion and dislike for certain players; but homer it up maybe you will be elevated to the elite of the blog with the others 23jordan, bayarea, msclemons, neal, 49ergirl. Just make sure you continue the only blog topic that generates comments the hatred of A. Smith.
Grant’s job is to generate controversy and get readers into this blog and hopefully interact positively with the paid advertising. In that sense, he is flat-out killing it. While it seems like a dozen posters dominate this place, it is a fact that it is the busiest blog in the bay area.
Whether anyone posts anything remotely intelligent is immaterial. If Grant was selling Buicks at the local car lot, he’s be the sales champ. the rest of you can pound salt…
Reading most of the above is like watching a girl fight behind the local yuppie bar…
Funny with Truth! But I see Grant and Lowell more the Porsche or Jaguar type!
#5 is right on.
…..interesting to know……”Dashon Goldson earned roughly $2.1 million during the first four seasons of his NFL career. Not per year, but total.”…..
@oneniner
Look at what many good WR’s make.
They are all on their first contracts and were not #1 draft picks. So, they come at quite a bargain.
DS, What does the salary of any good wide receiver have to do with how much Goldon has made in 4 seasons?
Cite Sando…
Interesting how? Got an opinion
As I recall, when Harbaugh signed, Baalke retained control over all personnel decisions, including the final roster. They obviously talk things over and try to come to common agreement – but Baalke, not Harbaugh, has the final say.
So, how come The Great Alex Smith still isn’t re-signed? It only took him 7 years in the NFL but now he’s the bestest ever…….
Alex Smith is the last girl at the prom, nobody wants to ask her out, but she is the only one left, he is nothing but Jim Harbaugh pet rock.
No leverage. Why sign someone who isn’t going anywhere now. They will sign him. In his number of importance. That’s how it go’s.
Their is a deal most likely on the table and right now, it is posturing, but AS unfortunatley is not going anywhere except being Harbaugh pet rock.
Go’s?
Goes?
MD is the dumbest among us.
PBL, you are doing an amazing job checking on everyone’s grammar. Keep up the good work!
md, I don’t think the delay in the AS signing has anything to do with order of importance. I think it has more to do with waiting to make sure that they get the team built first, then he will help set his up to make it work.
As the Smither group always reminds everyone, AS is a model citizen and will do whatever is best for the team.
@md
Maybe AS is doing a 1:1 exchange deal.
AS will give up getting $1 for every dollar the Niners offer Wallace.
So, if we assume AS gets a $7million/year deal, AS will give up $1 million in order for the Niners to offer that savings to help give Wallace that extra $1 million, on top of whatever the Niners would be willing to pay Wallace (say $10 million at most).
If the Niners needed an extra $3-4 million to get Wallace over here, AS would get $3-4 million less. And, in the next few years, the Niners win at least 1 Super Bowl because of it.
Something along those lines would not shock me. Wallace is one of the most complete WR’s in the NFL, and AS knows he what he needs to improve, and what the Niners needed to win that title game.
And Wallace would be satisfy that need nicely.
This is based on 3 idiots. pbl the fat boy who sits on the computer on weekends to grammar check. “his only defense” Claude the 5 year old paste and copy moron, and the biggest loser onelame arguing that Bree’s <—- lol wasn't the most important FA for the saints and Alex smith is to the 49ers! That's all. Just proving a point to 3 of the loneliest losers on the board!
@ninermd:
Just proving a point to 3 of the loneliest losers on the board!
I just saw that gem of a comment from you, posted at 3:12 AM. Who’s the loneliest loser?
Sounds like you guys think you know what’s going on behind the scenes…but I have my doubts about that. For all you know, there’s already a deal in place, but for their own reasons, the team hasn’t announced it. Or maybe Alex is keeping the numbers flexible, so he can adjust if and as needed. Or maybe something else entirely is going on. But these comments remind me of the wisdom of the statement: “Don’t believe everything you think.”
Great facts! I guess you know everything that’s going on also. Yep it’s all one big secret. Ha ha haaa
What a bunch of idiots the Saints are, the bounty hunters scandal beats Spygate, they are going to be heavily punished and now they have to tag Drew Brees, this would of been a very good time to sign Brees to a long term deal and show some stability.
“People don’t give the local media enough credit for being professionals.”
Have you actually listened to some of the questions he gets asked at those press conferences. Most people with half a brain can tell whether or not he’ll answer any of those questions as soon as they’re asked, so you’d think after a couple of those sessions certain “professional” writers would learn what to ask if they really wanted an informative response. As far as critiquing his players/employees in public, that’s a bad move in any business. Sounds to me like you’re just not a Harbaugh fan. Too bad because the guys a winner, exactly what the Niners needed even if we can’t find out what he eats for breakfast or when he clips his toe nails in todays internet information age. LOL
Sorry, this was directed to Michael’s post.
@niner61
Well put.
I think JH’s experience playing the most criticized position in all of sports (QB) for so long in the NFL has a direct effect on how he deals with them now. And this is why he is the perfect coach for AS. JH went through almost everything AS did.
“Interacting with the media”???
What does that have to do with football? Too sensative there huh.
Sigh… it’s part of his job.
#6) Learn how to interact with other coaches after the game, win or lose. Treat everyone like a considerate gentleman, not because they are, but because YOU are.
I was just wondering how JH dealed w/ the media when he was at Stanford.
Just one sample and just highlights, so not much to read into it, but it’s something.
Anyone from PD covered Stanford ? Would like to know their experience w/
Harbaugh back then.
http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2010/8/3/1601425/pac-10-media-day-part-iii-were-not
AlbertS, I heard a few interviews with Harbaugh while he was at Stanford, and he “dealt” with the media the same even then. It isn’t as if he changed anything about his beliefs or approach when he came to the 9ers.
People just need to realize that if he feels being specific on a particular question will put him at a competitive disadvantage in some way he won’t answer it.
Case in point, during the AT&T he was having a good free flowing session with the media until someone brought up the question, “Do you think it is too soon for Belicheck to be playing in a golf tournament after a loss?”. At that point he shut down and went into the Harbaugh we all saw during his weekly presses.
@Hammer
On the other hand, why must the media pressing for a reply when JH stated he wasn’t comfortable answering it?
“What did you do last night?” after a tough lost.
It might be a human interest question, but he chose not to anwser that question and whatever follow-up questions[bet someone will want to dig deeper, LOL]..
due to some private reasons.
IIRC, that end of the season presser lasted about 20 minutes, quite short, and that question was the last one, again if IIRC. A show stopper. All I want is more football questions.
….
Did anyone complain about JH during his college days?
People could still get their stories out, didn’t they?
Dang… this place is out of control. Go away for a few weeks and poof! More knuckleheads than I can shake a stick at.
Time to put the stompin’ boots back on. :)
Oh my gosh Adam Einstein has arrived. Woo Hoo !!
You’d be one of them Neal
DS, you are the blog buffoon on this site, you have zero repect and even the other Smithers on here , think you are a laughable sad character.
Neal Fitzbob, didn’t you have some place to be? Seems I remember they fixed Lowell’s site and a bunch of you expats were going home.
No Adam Einstein, I moved and this is where I hang.
Ah. Lucky for everyone else, I suppose.
Find 1 Neal.
?? You drinking.
Typical hater response.
Make a stupid comment as you did, then can’t support it with any evidence.
Maybe the ones who think like JH don’t feel the need to have to protect me from people like you. I am doing quite fine protecting myself thank you.
And the ones who think like JH understand we don’t always have to agree with one another on everything. We can disagree and not call each other names.
This all seems quite impossible for you, because your mind does not have the capacity for the idea of civilized disagreement.
Come back soon.
DS, you are the biggest hater of the blog, BAR NONE. You hate anyone who is not a Smither.
Neal, I wouldn’t say bar none, but he is right up there with Jordan and Bay when it comes to hating a player on the team.
They choose to hate on AS, while his choice is Crabtree, and to a lesser extent Goldson.
Jack
You don’t know what you are talking about.
Bay and Jordan wanted the Niners to get rid of AS for McNabb. They wanted Hasselbeck instead of AS. They wanted Josh Johnson all year. They wanted to give the Eagles a couple of high draft picks for Kolb. They wanted Flynn from GB. They wanted anybody but AS.
You know how all those guys who became full time starters turned out this past year? They all stank. Big time.
They put down and personally attacked anybody who defended AS. They didn’t leave it at their evaluation of AS. I have left it at my evaluation of MC.
And, you are comparing me saying I want LF or Wallace instead of MC is remotely equal to who they wanted in place of AS?
The hate flows thru you doesn’t it? If you don’t think Wallace or LF are WAY BETTER than anything MC has shown, and that MC will have as good a year as LF and Wallace (no injuries to either), then you are seriously screwed up in the head. Way too many concussion shots in your lifetime. Those two guys are the best in the game right now. MC isn’t the best in the bay area.
If you were a Niner fan for as long as you claim, then you know the Niners went after the best guys in their largest position of need every year. That is how the team got better and stayed better than anybody else. Doesn’t mean that they always got them. But for you to suggest that wanting Wallace or LF in place of MC who stank in the two largest games of his life is hating, when bay and jordan have done a lot worse in every single way….you are really ignorant of the past.
Why do you keep bringing this up? You said you were done with the subject last week. But, you keep talking about it. Get past it. Talk about something else with me or don’t talk to me at all.
And, guess what? Nobody wanted DG last year. And guess what? DG came back here with his tail tucked between his legs. And guess what? It was DW who set the tone against the Saints with that hit. And guess what? DG knocked two Int out of the hands of his teammates. And guess what? DG took out TB going for one of those Int.
Those are the facts. Yes DG made some great impact plays. But he also made some huge critical errors in games that cost us the win as well. You can’t even admit who has had the better career. DW or DG. DW in 2010 had 140 tackles. DG in 2010 had 80. DG last in 2010 completely stank up the joint. DG in 2011 became a dynamic player who to frequently missed tackles, took bad angles and was overly aggressive in hopes of making the big play. Sometimes he did. Sometimes he didn’t.
How come DG never had a year remotely like this before DW came along? You completely ignore the guy who solidified the secondary because you are all obsessed with the Pro Bowl deal. Get some objectivity before you post.
DW is a damn good football player. DW took over the duties that DG had last year, and which DG could not handle. DW still had a great year while taking on those responsibilities. Because of that, DG could focus on what he does best. And that is making big plays. But, without DW, he could not have done so.
Remember when Dana Stubblefield lead the NFL in sacks that one year? Well, it was because he was playing next to Bryant Young. When Stubby left for the Raiders, he never came close to the kind of domination he had playing on the Niners. Why? BY was in SF. I suspect if DG leaves to another team and has to take over those play calling responsibilities he had in 2010, that the 2011 DG will be no where to find.
Why can’t you just be happy that DW came, and allowed DG to be good? All I ask for is to you to credit DW, but you don’t. Who is the hater?
DS, Please explain how you saying that you want a player like LF or Wallace over Crabtree is any different from someone else saying they prefer another QB over Smith because they are better.
I also never said that Crabtree is better than either Wallace or Fitzgerald. If you can find a post where I said that please repost it and I will give you $20. In fact I posted that I WANT them to go after Wallace, and that by adding another big time receiver it would benefit the team, and help make Crabtree better as well. Your response was that I am living in a fantasy world. Guess what, Grant just posted something very close to that 2 days ago.
As far as DG, guess what, they just FRANCHISED him because they didn’t want him hitting the open market because they know his value went up significantly after last year.
I also told you that DG benefitted from having Whitner back there with him to help solidify the back end of the defense. You are correct that Whitner set the tone with the great hit on Thomasbto set the physical tone against the Saints, but totally forgot to mention DG’s interception and return which set up the Crabtree touchdown later in that same quarter.
You want to blame DG for missing tackles and costing the game against Arizona, which is partly true, although the offense also squandered 4 red zone opportunities by only coming away with field goals.
I also told you that it wasn’t only DW making DG better, but the same could be said about the Smith boys making each other better, Willis making Bowman better and on on and.
And as for Stubblefield you are correct on the fact that he was not as good with Young, and I don’t think it was a coincidence that those years also were poor years for the 49ers. It wasn’t until he returned in 2002 that they returned to the playoffs. You would also know that the year after he led the league in sacks he went to Washington actually, then came back for a few years prior to finishing with 1 year in Oakland.
If you want to try to throw shade on me go ahead, but at least get your facts straight and don’t try to put words in my mouth.
DS, one more question, and I ask this meaning no disrespect to Whitner, but if he was so much better than Goldson last year why did the NFL coaches and players vote in Goldson and not Whitner for the Pro Bowl?
@Jaacak
“DS, Please explain how you saying that you want a player like LF or Wallace over Crabtree is any different from someone else saying they prefer another QB over Smith because they are better. :
Like I said, you really don’t understand the “hater” term. Look at onenienrs description he wrote earlier. It is quite good.
I never called anybody a hater for wanting a new QB. Or a new RB, WR, DE, etc. That does not a hater make.
Everybody has a right to evaluate players, and to want somebody who they think is better. But, come one Jack. Did you see Kolb this year? Or McNabb? How many wins did they have between the two of them? 4 maybe? AS had that many by week 5.
But, that in itself doesn’t make you a hater either. Wanting somebody instead of the guy you have. But, look at the archives Jack. Every good thing JH said about AS, they rebuffed. Anybody who suggested AS was better than the haters thought was tormented. I’m not talking debated with. I am talking cussed, told their stupid, shunned, verbally assualted, etc. All for saying the same things that Joe Montana himself said and what JH our savior HC said.
Look at how many posts 23J especially wrote when the Niners won games that day. He was often absent of barely a peep. Then look at games where the Nienrs lost. He couldn’t get on here fast enough to post his hateful spew. He was cheering for the team and AS to do poorly. Look at what I was posting. I was (and will if MC still is a Niner) to play well. I will come on here after he has a great game or makes a great catch and congratulate the guy. I want to be proven wrong by a Niner player. It happened last year with TB. I thought he sucked and that Spencer was way better. Good thing I am a fan. Also a good thing that I know I don’t know as much as JH and I accept his evaluation. Look at my posts all year. How often did I hate on T. Brown? Not once.
Like I said, you should just stay out of the hater talk completely. Just write what you think and let the people who know who wrote/did/said what to their own business.
Yeah. Thank you for reminding me about DG. Like I didn’t know. Know who the last guy they franchised was? AF. He came off of 1 good year just like DG did after a sub-par career. And that franchised year, how did he play? No where near as good. The Niners didn’t bother trying to resign him and he went to NO. How often did you hear his name called in any NO game? How about the Niner playoff game? The guy flamed out after 1 season.
How often do teams sign players who they franchised the year before anyway? How often do those players under perform the year they are getting big time bucks? Don’t be surprised if the Niners get another safety (or use one of the guys they have like Spillman) and give them a long good look during the season at practice to see if he could take over the role of DG.
You just think that MC is going to have a better attitude, will be willing to be demoted, likely will be asked to take a pay-cut sometime soon (if not this year, then next year certainly) and be ok with it all. I don’t. Why can’t you see how my angle has some reason to it? MC has never shown a great desire to be here, or else he would not have held out so long, and he would have been the first one to call up AS and ask if he could help set up “camp Alex”. MC could have done a lot of things a lot better. But has chosen not too. Do you think it was all just a mistake, or is it intentional. I think MC when asked to take a pay-cut and a reduced role will not accept, and be asked to be released (all assuming of course the Niners get a better WR than MC).
And, I don’t believe Grant wrote a blog about MC a few days ago. Please quote me the paragraph where he described how MC will be happy with the Niners getting Wallace, and what his new role to be will be eagerly accepted. He talked about getting Wallace. Not about MC.
I did give DG his due in my last post.
“Because of that, DG could focus on what he does best. And that is making big plays.”
About whey they voted in DG and not DW?
Reasons
1. DG had a lot of Interceptions. I think he lead the NFC, maybe the NFL in picks from the safety position, or he was near the very top of the list. That is a big deal. And rightfully so. If you’ve read my posts, I say that TO’s are the biggest thing in a game besides points, and DG did get some Int’s and he did recover the fumble before it went out of bounds in Philly. All very good commendable things that should be rewarded. If those are not rewarded, then what is?
2. How often does any one team get 2 safeties and a CB into the Pro-Bowl? Not often I bet. So, DG got in. No dis-respect to either DW or DG. But, the Niners were not going to send 3/4 of the NFC secondary to the Pro Bowl.
3. I am sure DW will tell you that DG deserved to go. And, DG will say the same about DW.
Please excuse the “Jaacak”.
It was a typo on my behalf, and not meant as any kind of insult.
DS, Again, my bad for failing to realize that you and Oneniner were employees at Websters Dictionary.
You call Jordan, Bay etc because they are rude to you and hate on you. Icall you a hater, not because you are rude to others or want a new player but because you are using your opinion to bash Crabtree and express a desire to cut him, which is also what those guys do to AS.
Refer to the piece Grant wrote about the first year $ amount on Brooks’ contract. You are correct that he did not reference Crabtree. My point in my last response was that when I told you I wanted both Wallace to sign here and to keep Crabtree you told me I was in a fantasy land. Well, if Grant’s prediction is correct they will both be 49ers like I said I wanted to happen. I guess we all might be living in a fantasy world.
If Crabtree goes in the tank as a result, then I will join you in wanting to move him out, but I don’t think that will happen.
As for DG, if they find someone who is better and he starts over DG, great!! All I care about is winning and let the best man play. I don’t play the game of favorites and guys I don’t like as you do. I enjoy all of the 49ers players equally. I leave the drama and pettiness to folks like you.
“…but because you are using your opinion to bash Crabtree and express a desire to cut him, which is also what those guys do to AS.”
Uhhh. That is what a blog is for. To discuss who to draft, pick up in FA, and who to cut off your team as a result of the pick-ups one hopes and the weaknesses of your team the previous year.
So, to you a person is a hater who wants a proven dramatic upgrade at a position which the Niners sorely lacked with a young player who is way better than what we have now in every category? Better hands, faster, doesn’t complain, makes big plays?
So, as a coach you never looked to upgrade your personnel then?
“…I wanted both Wallace to sign here and to keep Crabtree you told me I was in a fantasy land.”
No. I told you that the idea of MC being cool with the idea, getting paid the kind of money he is getting paid, and from his prior known history that MC would not be ok with the idea. I gave you a link to every NFL player contract. I told you to look at what the Niners are paying for MC, compared to other #2WR’s. I don’t know if you ever did or not.
But, if you insist that TB is trying to keep the Niners financially stable (and there is some reason to think that), then the prospect of MC having a cap hit of over $11 million dollars the next two years along with a guy who is vastly superior in every way as making the most sense with your money, then I say you’re wrong. I say the Niners can easily find a replacement for MC’s production and a player who is not pointing the finger at everybody else after the worst game of his life for a lot less money than $11 million over two years.
I did not say to just drop MC out of the blue. The haters would drop AS right now without any other QB on the roster. But if the choice came down to having to decide between MC and Wallace, then that is no choice at all. I chose Wallace. If the choice comes down to a young promising rookie at any position who is being paid scraps or MC, I choose the promising young rookie. I take my bets that MC does not become the next JR, and scan the waiver wires/FA/undrafted rookies/our own team for a suitable replacement. I may only save $1 million or so this year, but it would save over $6 million in cap space for 2013. Money that could go towards a truly gifted athlete or two or several.
But, somebody thinking this makes them a hater? So be it. But, where we you when Chilo Rachal was on contract and people wanted to get rid of him? Or Reggie McGrew? Just because a player is on contract does not make him immune from criticism. If you are fair, then you must have called those people who wanted to get rid of Chilo and Reggie haters as well. But, I hope you realize how silly you would look doing it. Chilo at one time looked to be an improving player as well. But that does not mean he will actually get better. We all saw his play diminish after that promising start. I feel the same about MC. And MC costs a lot more money than Chilo did last year against our cap (MC $5.7 million vs. $1 million)
The media? Lol. Be nicer to the media so he doesn’t make you look like a fool all year is what you shoulda said. Harbaugh doesn’t need the media, the media needs Harbaugh you remember that. Without Harbaugh your selling used cars.
Grant :
You make it sound as if JH told Alex to not complete passes and not make 1st downs and not see open receivers and not throw on time and on target etc etc etc. , because the team was ahead. In reality JH only played conservatively because he had a QB who he believed might screw it all up if he let him loose,so he only let him loose when it was absolutely necessary. The only strict rule JH gave to Alex is for him NOT to be the one to screw it all up by turning the ball over,everything else that went wrong from the QB position was because the QB didn’t produce because his talent level was inadequate.Of course it’s not all on Alex,but if we had a real talent at QB we all know JH would not be so conservative and afraid of what might happen if he allowed the QB and the offense to “go for it”.
Tim,
The truth hurts, but we have to keep telling it. We are a QB away from a super bowl. Are you curious to know whats going on with Smith’s contract? I hope the Niners give Manning a call. Might as well. Alex is going nowhere fast. He will wait.
Are you freakin high? Alex Smith had this team BANGING on the door. Above you state truth about Swain and Hastings(both of whom did NOTHING for us) and here you’re saying it’s the QB.
MAKE UP YOUR EFFING MIND 23Jordan!
Which is it? The QB or the Receivers? It’s NOT both. Play calling sucked quite a bit at times. Smith is not the guy in the booth calling down plays to his helmet mic. Smith is not the guy dropping Passes, slowing up instead of running to the ball or the guy that is blocking for him. 44 Sacks allowed by the Line. Many times our Linemen gave up on the play allowing a free shot at the QB.
I’m sick and tired of people throwing our QB under the bus and giving free passes to everyone else at the same time. Here you are and you not only called out the Coaching staff for Swain and Hastings(correctly I would add) but you throw the QB under the bus. Absolute RUBBISH!
Jordan, You really need to lay off the alcohol my man. Manning, bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! Are you freaking serious with that BS? The guy can barely throw the ball and you want him here.
Are you capable of doing anything other than ripping on AS?
23jordan we are ready to allow you to become a eunich we found the microscope and are ready to proceed we have , yet to encounter someone so small as you!
Hey jordo, instead of bein a little punk stalking me around the net how about you step up and state your case here when you get called on your BS.
The only time this happens(stalker punk) is when I call you on your garbage. I apologize for bustin your chops little man. Maybe next time you drop some BS trash like this I’ll just agree with you… nah nevermind. I’m Irish, I have common sense and I’m not shy about sharing my opinions. If you don’t like it then you can sit there and rant to yourself and break that keyboard into a million pieces. Or maybe your parents will take away your computer priveledges.
“In reality JH only played conservatively because he had a QB who he believed might screw it all up if he let him loose”
I find it interesting that YOUR “opinion” of reality is always Harbaugh didn’t have confidence in Alex and not the whole offense, a GROUP that had a line that was well below average in pass protection and and no playmakers in a below average group of wideouts too. Love your objectivity, Tim. LOL Hate blinds.
…@Tim…..”In reality JH only played conservatively because he had a QB who he believed might screw it all up if he let him loose”…….
once again you show how dumb you are……I guess those 4th quarter comeback didn’t mean much to you…….how about the playoff game?….did JH believe in Alex to let him loose running and throwing the ball?…..
Oneniner says, “I guess those 4th quarter comeback didn’t mean much to you.”.
One, The 4th quarter comebacks were great, however this fails to disprove the common theory that Harbaugh played it close to the vest because he didn’t want Smith to lose the game. Unfortunately no one truly knows what someone else is thinking, and I tend to disagree with this notion as well.
Look at how he handled Andrew Luck at Stanford. Even with a QB regarded by many as the top QB in college football, Harbaugh insisted on having a balanced attack due to his belief on what it takes to WIN.
Harbaugh is old school in his approach and the AS haters can’t wrap their heads around the fact we don’t throw 50 passes a game. That is their loss, the 49ers keep winning and they keep needing to find new lame excuses why.
Quite comical actually when you think about it.
Fails to disprove it because he HAS to open it up in those situations to win.
@jack
Also note how and when the haters loved to talk about the Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton.
They spoke great about him when he threw for 300/400 yards in a loss, but never spoke of him looking great throwing for under 200 yards in a win.
DS, As much as I disagree with you for your hating on Crabtree I have to agree with you on this one. As you said, Newton put up great stats for fantasy football aficionados in losses, however only thre for over 250 one time in games that they won.
His numbers were very Alexesque in all of the Panther wins.
@jack
“The 4th quarter comebacks were great, however this fails to disprove the common theory that Harbaugh played it close to the vest because he didn’t want Smith to lose the game.”
I heard an interview with Joe Montana talking about passing in the NFL in a previous conversation he had with Bill Walsh.
Bill always said that there are 3 possibilities when you pass the ball, and two of them are bad. And this was the best HC ever speaking to the best QB ever. And JM agreed.
Knowing that, I don’t think it is a message sent at all about anything not having AS throw it like a hot potato. Except that JH agrees with Bill Walsh who knew that passing the ball is inherently more risky even with the best QB and NFL player ever at your command than running it. And that risk increases substantially when you pass the ball further downfield.
Thus the short passing game in the WTO designed to help minimize those 2/3 bad things and to count as a run, except you get your guy into more open space than if you did run the ball. These types of passes are often called check-downs, and that term is used inappropriately by too many.
DS, All you need to know about Harbaugh is that he wants balance in his offense to demoralize his opponents and reduce turnovers. If you had watched ant Stanford games during his time there you would notice that he is doing exactly the same basic stuff now with the 49ers.
The reason he and Alex turn it loose and get those comeback wins is because they know they have to.
As for the only three things can happen statement, even Lou Holtz says that over and over again. I believe that statement actually originated with Vince Lombardi.
I agree Jack.
So why is everybody all pissed/upset/wanting JH to change the philosophy that raised Stanford from a local back page 2 paragraph game into a national story, and an NFL team which stank to the title game?
I don’t watch much college football. But when I did watch Stanford, AL was not throwing the ball 50 times a game. AL managed the game as JH instructed and Stanford was a top 10 team. AS is managing the game as JH has instructed him to do. And the Niners were an OT away from the Super Bowl.
It would appear to me that the philosophy is a proven one to win games. And that is all I desire from my team. Most people would say that AS and AL are different players and that AL is better. But AS managed just as well. So, it was not the QB who made JH’s philosophy work. It was the philosophy itself and how JH implements it that makes it work.
DS, That is simple. The popularity of Fantasy Football, and ESPN highlights has taken many away from what really matters, WINNING.
They turn on ESPN, and what do they see? Highlight after highlight of big explosive type plays. Why do you think it took until the Monday Night Steelers win before they realized how good this team was. Look a Gore 1 yard TD run is not as sexy as a Mike Wallace 50 yard TD reception.
Fantasy football puts all of the emphasis on stats, and many in the younger generation grew up with this stuff and think that throwing for big yardage is the most important thing a QB can do. They are missing the fact that Alex did a good job of limiting the amount of times the defense was put in bad situations, ie a turnover inside our own 40. Part of the reason our Defense was so dominant was because the opposition rarely had good field position to start drives, and this plus their ability to stop the run, made it very difficult on the opposition to be consistent offensively.
I don’t really want Harbaugh to change a thing other than being a little more creative with the formations and motions down in the Red Zone.
The main FA WRs we have spoken about getting a a vjax or mike Wallace. But what are the chances we take a look at brandon Lloyd? He won’t have a price near either of them and he is just as good of a deep threat as any receiver out there. Just a thought.
we already had B Lloyd
Ok and whats your point? We had him 6 years ago and he has finally came into his own the last couple seasons. He had 1450 yards 11 tds two years ago and had almost 1000 yards last years with jay feely and kellen clemens as his QB’s. All im saying is he is worth a look. And he wont break the bank.
ok guys like any other teams have 2-3 pro bowl receivers lol give me a break.
3rd down and red zone play calling are not going to change. harbaugh by nature is a conservative coach. i dont see the 9ers under harbaugh being a high scoring team untill he can put together a dominate run blocking o line. when they are in a lot more 3rd and short situations i think you will see him being a little bit more agressive. it also applies to play calling with the lead. harbaugh wants to run it down teams throats not to just beat them but to demoralize them.
Coach, Your points are all spot on as always. I think in the red zone they need to be a little more deceptive by using more motion, etc to help the O get the defense out of position.
@jack if i was calling the plays in the red zone they would be alot more creative but so far harbaugh wont take my calls
@old coach
What is your phone number?
lol
Old Coach, Try giving him a call directly on his cell then. The number is 408-867-5309.
@Jack:
Harbaugh married Jenny?
@claude
Did you actually call the number?
@ DS
No, why?
Claude, Thanks for getting that one. Unfortunately I think we both just dated ourselves though. ; )
The post above your reply had a phone number. You then brought up a persons name. Just wondering.
And I think old coach has it right. There are going to be a few restraining orders issued if somebody does call up that number Jack gave.
@Ds:
No, there won’t. Google 867-5309.
That is kind of freaky you can get a persons name from the internet just by typing in a random phone number.
DS, it is from an old song. You missed the joke.
@DS:
Are you serious? Just do a search on Google for “867-5309.” Don’t worry about an area code.
* do a search on Google for “867-5309″
I did.
And I included the area code as well. My search results seemed to indicate that it was an actual person with that phone number named Jenny:
Here is what I got is what I got:
159 (408)867-5309 12/12 02:04P O 2 Home Area Saratoga CA W Included .00 .00. 160 (412)867-5309 12/12 02:07P O 1 Home Area PTTSBGZON1PA W Included .00 .00
No mention of any lyrics for any song.
And just below that, I got the phone number of I guess the actual person with that phone number. A data entry worker. I’m not including the persons name here.
You’re right Jack. I didn’t get the joke. But, apparently the joke got you.
@DS:
This should not be that difficult.
http://www.google.com/search?q=867-5309&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
First entry
And:
http://www.google.com/search?q=408-867-5309&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Second entry
@claude
I use a different search engine from google.
I see the link.
But I still think it is freaky that if you do the search claude with the area code, you will find people’s phone numbers.
DS, IT’s AN OLD SONG!!! YOU MISSED THE JOKE, MOVE ON!
@DS9
Try google “867-5309 lyrics”. LOL
DS, Quick question. Your first name isn’t Warren by any chance is it? If so, please tell Mary that I say hi.
Make up your mind Jack
First you want me to move on. Then you ask me a question relating to the thread you want me to move on from.
See the conflict in those posts?
DS,
Not sure how old you are but 8675309 (Jenny I got your number) is an 80′s song. A couple of people got it and then you ran it into the ground. Lighten up.
@rocket
I’m cool with it.
I just think it is freaky that you can get real peoples names from the phone number.
I didn’t attack anybody man.
Yes DS. Just like how someone can type in your address and see your house.
DS,
I didn’t say you did. You just got off on another tangent when it was a joke about a song that you didn’t get. You seem to be in ultra serious mode on here most of the time, which is why I told you to lighten up.
DS, I do see the conflict. So is your name Warren? If so please tell Mary that I say hi.
Actually I have been smiling the last hour or more while discussing it.
I think you have a picture in your head of how I am, and you subscribe to that picture as always being serious. So, you read everything in a serious tone, even when I don’t write it as such. An issue with the internet and blogging.
How many serious posters poke fun at themselves as much as I have? Check that. How many posters flat out have as much fun with other peoples ideas saying things about them than I do?
Most serious people are not so sarcastic as I am. A few are, but most serious people just don’t get sarcasm. I would hope you would have caught that by now rocket.
And, I on the other hand think you guys take this whole blog way too seriously. Thinking that one person has cred and the other person does not. The whole notion of cred is a joke to me on a blog. You are all so serious all the time about being right and maintaining cred when all I am here for is to have fun discussing football. If I get a year off in something, or a guy moved over to a different team than I thought, I don’t really care. But many of you here just seem to lie in wait for somebody to make a mistake and then jump on them for it. Get over yourselves already. The fact that I actually had a fight with somebody who thinks he has cred here over a quote from a NFL HC is all the proof I need about some here thinking they know more than they do and taking this WAY to seriously.
Have fun. Keep it civil like you would if we were actually face to face discussing things in person and just go with it.
For instance rocket. One of the latest stupid story lines according to some is that I am the head of the AS fan club. Well, we know who supported AS since he was hired….JH. So, logically, if these people are correct, then I must be JH. So, I go with that. Just like I go with the stupid notion that some here think they know my gender when I have actually never stated it, or my religion. Of course I have no idea how that started.
It’s when people think they know more about you than you know about you, and when people think they know more than the HC and can’t admit that they don’t… in fear of losing some stupid cred from people they will likely never meet over something that has no real impact on our lives, that is what I call taking things too seriously.
@Jack
You caught me. I am living a double life.
I am JH and Warren Buffet. I spend my days analyzing economic reports with my QB economics major AS as we discuss the finer points of how to play QB.
The meetings we call are so boring the rest of the attendees just fall asleep. Leaving Alex and myself plenty of time to talk about the upcoming games.
When I am not discussing football, I am on Charlie Rose doing interviews about how my office assistant gets paid at a higher tax rate than I am.
You can’t just punch in any series of numbers to get an address Jack. If the street does not have that number, or you have the wrong street, you won’t get anything from mapquest
Besides, they are starting to run out phone numbers. Addresses…never will be a problem of running out of them.
@DS:
Wrong Warren. You’re now 0-2 on Jack’s cultural references.
DS, That was actually kind of funny, lol. I wasn’t referring to Warren Buffett though, and I would never mistake you for Harbaugh. Do you by chance wear ear muffs?
C’mon man, are you actually saying there are more important things than this blog? Preposterous notion!
DS,
That long drawn out post talking about how you are not serious is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. You say you don’t take this personal or seriously, but you do. You propose more peace treaties than most Countries do. You are constantly bemoaning the fact people “cussed you out” or ” how you don’t read so and so’s posts.” You didn’t get a refererence to an 80′s song and instead of just saying “oh my bad I missed that” we get the commentary on how you get peoples info if you put a number in etc.
DS, you have a lot of good things to say, but you are ultra sensitive and take this way too seriously. You are here every day for hours on end and get into arguments with multiple posters about everything from your gender to why you would take Alex Smith over Drew Brees.
All I’m saying is lighten up and focus on football. That’s all. Take it however you like.
rocket
Your definition of seriousness differs from mine then, and we’ll agree to that.
P.S. Although it is hard to figure out now, I was talking football before, during and will after this thread.
@jack
That Buffet post is but a small sense of what you get from me.
@claude
You’re right. I did go 0-2. But I rather like my Warren post. Everybody is a critic. lol
oh god i can see the restraining order now
ok trivia freaks who sang the song
Tommy Tutone was the band. Don’t remember the lead singer.
Saw a news report a while back that says that number is one of the most frequently used phone numbers for those in store discount things like what Safeway and others do
http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/8675309.asp
i thought tommy tutone was the singer
@old coach:
Nope. The singer’s name was Tommy Heath.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Tutone
Another potential FA receiver was taken off the board today. Buffalo locked up Stevie Johnson with a 5 year deal, about $19.5m of which is guaranteed.
“no player gets signed or drafted if he doesn’t give the thumbs up. He’s responsible for it all.” ~Grant
—-
Grant, I don’t believe this to be. Habaugh’s control is finite, and I think you’re confusing Baalke’s and Habaugh’s duties. They are not a holy duality. They indeed exist separately. Habaugh said a year ago, that Baalke ran the draft and he large sat back and watched. You talk to him. Ask him.
Hear what you are saying but who is making more money? The players drafted HAVE TO fit JH’s system and program. If there is a final decision I believe TB would yield to JH. TB is a smart guy.
I fail at finding new an engaging data to backup my point that Trent runs the show, not Jim.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/columnist?id=1541900
get over yourself buddy. can’t believe you threw a number 5