Let’s rank the top-5 head coaches in the NFL and see why Jim Harbaugh, with all due respect, doesn’t yet make the cut.
I base my rankings on productivity and evaluation and utilization of personnel in good times as well as bad. Who gets the most out of what they have and who can motivate the players to be the best they can be even when times are tough or when the team is beset by injuries or other factors is critical?
- Bill Belichick – Despite “Spygate” and alleged videotaping of Rams and Panthers pre-Super Bowl practices, he has earned his stripes for his cumulative successes. Demonstrates tremendous creativity with his roster and utilization of players and continues to win despite coaches leaving the organization for other jobs. Ironically, despite the fact that owners and/or GMs think the personnel they are hiring from the Patriots will bring the success of Belichick with them, the departing coaches and front office people have not been able to come close to the success they had when coaching or working for Belichick (Scott Pioli, Charlie Weiss, Josh McDaniels, Romeo Crennel, the Ryan brothers, etc.)
- Tom Coughlin – Has been in the league since the early 1980s as an assistant coach and has had success as a head coach with two franchises despite a lot of media hype about his lack of being a “warm and fuzzy” type of coach. He is resilient and gets his players to win in “must-win” situations. People continue to write him off and desire to send him out to pasture, but like the Phoenix, he continues to rise from the ashes. Is a very disciplined person, and despite the media’s impression and perspective about his demeanor and firm methods, the players respect him and his word.
- Mike Tomlin – Although the Pittsburgh Steelers currently are going through a transformation and transition primarily because of aging coupled with some critical injuries, Tomlin gets them to play and to play with an “edge.” It will further solidify his credentials if he can continue to win, although it may not be in as dominant fashion, as the club works its way through this refurbishing phase.
- Sean Payton – Although he deservedly is on the sidelines this year because of a variety of well-documented issues, the performance of the Saints so far this season definitely validates his impact and value on the franchise. Notably cocky and arrogant, often to an extreme, he has the ability to instill confidence and motivate his players. Maybe this “timeout” will enable him to mature and not define him but serve to redefine him as a person and as a coach.
- Mike McCarthy – Has earned his stripes during his tenure at Green Bay, and although known mostly for his offensive expertise, has worked hand-in-hand with the front office and with his defensive coordinator, Dom Capers, to make sure that both sides of the ball have talent.
As far as Jim Harbaugh is concerned, one year does not constitute a resume, so although he was successful last season, one year, even though it was a terrific year, does not put him in the same categories as the top 5 coaches. Obviously, based on his first year, there is optimism that the club will continue to experience its rebirth and again qualify for the playoffs and eventually get to and win another Super Bowl. Harbaugh has tremendous upside.
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You omitted Payton last time you had an article like this. What changed your mind?
This season.
Hard to argue with anybody on this list, but I think either John or Jim Harbaugh should replace Tomlin. They seem to get more out of their players.
Tomlin has won a Super Bowl.
If we go the Super Bowl route, then Mike Shanahan should be a top five coach. over Mike Tomlin.
I agree with Grant. Jim hasn’t won a superbowl yet. Tomlin has. Tomlin fields a top ranked team year in and year out in a much tougher division. Harbaugh is about 5 years out of the top ten in my opinion. Of course back to back SB would change that.
Good point MidWest,
Although Shanahan has not been a factor for a very long time.
Belicheat has’nt won a super bowl since he got caught cheating. has the fact that he has’nt been able to cheat since then made a difference?……I do’nt know.
Yup, that’s why he couldn’t handle the Giants both times, didn’t have any practice tape to go off of. Belichick is scum.
I’ve been saying the same thing about Belicheat. And while none of Belicheat’s coaches have experienced any success without him, Belicheat hasn’t won a Super Bowl since Weiss and Crennel left. Pats haven’t won a Super Bowl in 9 seasons, if he was really the ‘Next Walsh’.. wouldn’t he have won another one already?
Grant i agree with you 1.5 seasons is too short a time to rate Harbaugh in the top 5. I believe 3 full seasons and post seasons are needed to rate a HC.
Maybe not a “consistent” top 5 like those other cats – after one season, you can’t even begin to make that comparison. But considering the team’s previous futility, the lockout, the new system, and the results, last year has to rank up there with the league’s all-time amazing coaching accomplishments.
@ Grant:
Although I might order them slightly differently, it’s hard to argue with those coaches as the top 5. That said, I am sure some will try. In particular, it’s good to see Tomlin get some respect. I think he is underrated/overlooked by too many.
I am not that impressed with Mike McCarthy, yes he won a Super Bowl and yes for that reason you can take him over Harbaugh, although he was part of the Mike and Mike show that chose AS over AR, we know how that it went. I would taken John H over Jim also because of longevity too.
Shouldn’t 23Jordan be included there someplace? He is at the top of the game as far as talent evaluation goes…
23 Jordan will have the last laugh, AS won’t be here next year, the way he has regressed this year
Thats what he said last year. He says alot of things, too bad none of them come true and Neal why are you always defending him? Double post much?
Im still waiitng for you to find that comment where I challenged someone to a fight. Still looking or are you liar?
FDM,
I have never had any profile other than my own. As fat as fighting post,You said it FDM, you know you said it, other people saw it, but unlike you Smithers, not going to waste my time on you looking for a old post. Geez I must really get under your fur, if that statement bother you. Time for a flea bath (( dog)).
Neal you sound like the hater profile, lie and lie some more but are too lazy to find the facts to prove anything you claim. Yeah that bothers me 23welcher, you are him are’nt you?
No I am not him. Jordan is alot more passionate than me about getting rid of Smith, also Grant can confirm that we are two separate people, but this is how I see it.
BS=FDM= Oneniner= Primate. You 4 are all on person and that is a fact.
@ Neal:
BS=FDM= Oneniner= Primate. You 4 are all on person and that is a fact.
I don’t think that word (fact) means what you think it means.
I know you are. Same terrible spelling and grammar and same rhetoric of stupidity daily. Same type of garbage as well. Its official, you are 23welcher!
Do something with yourself and find that quote, oops Neal another lie, just like 23welcher.
FDM,
I guess you don’t have much of a life, when you have 4 profiles on here. Perhaps with some advanced therapy, you can go to from 4 to 3 profiles, and worked your way down to 1. Now don’t threaten to fight me on here dude. Temper Temper. lol
@ Claude,
You just have one profile, even though your a Smither, your one of a kind. unique, weird, strange, different and odd, all good.
Neal just like all you haters, prove something for once ni your life. All you guys do is cry about Smith, no facts ever, then you cannot even make claims to what you say. Who needs a life 23welcher, you do.
Primate oh I mean one niner, oh wait BS oh wait FDM, must sucked to be you, do you get confused on who the hell you are?
I have a great life bozo, you can call me any poster you want. I could care less about you , who was it again that you wanted to fight on here. Perhaps you also need a anger mgment class. hahah
Good post 23welcher!
Thank you BS, oh I mean Primate, oh I mean Oneniner oh FDM. Hey are you taking fighting classes, so you can challenge more people on here to fight? Man you got no life.
Ahhhh!!!
How sweet. Neal can’t help but think of me on a thread. He just has to bring me up.
Scary.
Neal
The PD needs somebody to go fetch them lunch. Go to it.
DS, its not Neal, its 23 welcher.
FDM,
You are the Internet tough guy that threatened to “slap the yellow off of my teeth.” I told you to come on down to Danville and you didn’t know where that was because you were chirping from New York or wherever you live. You are the only person that has ever threatened me with physical violence on this blog. Lol, it’s easy to be a tough guy in a different time zone.
Danville? Is that not the home of where the book for dummies was invented?
@BigP:
Cut him some slack. Neal tends to bring out the worst in people.
At least FDM didn’t threaten you with a gun.
So much for my efforts to make peace. Just not in my skill set, I guess.
There you go FDM, you threaten BIG P in a fight, that is enough proof for me. I knew my statement was true,talking about a liar, hey FDM, I live in San Jose, come on down internet bully. Tough guy . hahahah
San Jose? Is that not the city where the record for the most illiterate people in the USA live?
What does FDM stand for? oh I know Freaking dumb male. You going to try to fight me now like you did BIG P. Your nothing but a coward.
FDM – A while back you said:
Big P anytime, anyplace you need the ugly slapped off your face or the yellow off your teeth, please, indulge me!
More drama and the usual culprits aren’t even part of the thread. Re-focus please…football!!!
FDM’s pie hole got shut in a hurry. Funny how the truth does that.
FDM has been exposed. Truth in the pudding. Tough guy on the internet, I have a feeling FDM is a 12 year old girl so Big P will slap her on the butt and send her home !!
@ Nick:
Funny how the truth does that.
Really? It seemingly has no effect on jordan and bay.
Neal
That moron once said he coached football. Who’s going to believe him now?
@ Nick:
Who’s going to believe him now?
I will, unless I missed something. What transpired today that would cast doubt on FDM’s claim to have coached football?
Claude Balls
You as a lawyer should know. FDM flat out lied. His reputation is shot. Does that answer your question?
FDM= Freaking Dumb Memory! Bwahahahahahah!
That was a classic!
@ Nick:
I must have missed it. What did FDM lie about?
Claude Balls
FDM said find that comment where I challenged someone to a fight. Then BigP and Crab provided evidence.
@ Nick:
Well, they referenced a comment where he threatened to slap someone. I’m not sure that is the same thing as challenging someone to a fight, but I understand your position.
Thanks for the explanation.
hof
What do you mean? Neal never talks football without having a dramatic outburst towards somebody. Today it is FDM.
And FDM may be onto something. Anybody who agrees with 23 as much as Neal does…..come on now. Nobody is that stupid except for 23 of course.
Nick – That was a true cut and paste from fdm’s post. I remembered the time frame and got involved because fdm said some insulting crap to me right after he threatened BigP that day.
The archives don’t lie.
Back to football and Giants World Series!
Can Zito possibly outduel the anointed one (Justin Verlander)? Most experts pick Tigers to win series. They picked Reds and Cardinals too.
Who could possibly have it better than us?
Crab
I think the Giants will win it in 6. They may lose the opener tonight, but not the series. Zito may prove me wrong, however, and I’ll be perfectly fine with that.
I just noticed, my avitar is gone…..
I was wondering if this was the “original 55niner”
lol
55Niner – Now your avatar looks like Hofer with his mouth closed. :-)……….Hofe my pal, just messin with him.
Oh yeah DS, it’s me…boy, my little comment sure started a sh!t storm here. I figured it would…it’s amazing how fast the name calling starts….back to the avatar…can’t figure out what happened…not only that, I can’t for the life of me remember where I got it…I do remember a post by Bay, ninerMD or another one of the regulars that stated where to get one….. any help???
55Niner
I actually thought it was a little funny, no harm to anyone.
But you’re right. It did start the in-house fighting really easily. Not your fault at all.
BS, I actually feel sorry for you, you just have not been the same, since taking all of the new meds your Dr prescribed. You need a second opinion.
Bulls Spit in your face Neal. You know the feeling well.
Go back to the stables and keep shoveling it.
FDM,
So you and Primate are the same person. How can you stand living in your Mommy’s basement. hahahahahha
Thanks 55. I appreciate that.
Your Welcome 23….your talents aren’t going un-noticed.
I’m sorry Grant I can’t agree with you here at all. Jim Harbaugh is a top five coach right now.. those accomplishments you mentioned for the other coaches are great but Tomlin for example was handed a great team from Bill Cowher. Jim Harbaugh turned around a team that was horrible for years and turned them to a super bowl contender. Also, looking at this list I can’t help but notice that in the year and a half Jim Harbaugh has been an NFL head coach, he has beat 4 out of the 5 coaches on your list with a showdown later this year against the 5th, so if he beats the 5th than what?
I would love to hear Grant’s reply to my post.
The Steve Mariucci argument is how you answer your post. His last two years he was 22-10. His first two, 25-7. Then you follow it up with Coughlin is 2-1 against Harbaugh.
Winning the Super Bowl is hell of alot more important than wins during the regular season. Although these other head coaches have a big advantage as, they all have Hall of Fame QB’s, AS would not make the Hall of Fame in a zillion years. He is just adequate QB with a ton of mechanical flaws.
And if he does Neal? I’d also like to point out Kurt Warner. He was certainly a late-bloomer who still had mechanical flaws as well, but when he had an offense tailored to his strengths he excelled. Does that make him any less of a QB?
Midwest,
Kurt Warner can pass better blind folded than AS does now. AS has a offense to excel right now but he has regressed with two poor games in a row. He is just a C minus QB
Warner was great with the Rams….Rams had great weapons for Warner.
Warner sucked big time in New York…NY had horrible weapons for him.
Warner was great in AZ…AZ has LF and had AB.
See the pattern?
@ Neal:
This is for you, ninermd, and other commenters who like to use the word “regress” too loosely:
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2012/10/qa-has-alex-smith-regressed-is-jacobs-braylon-edwards-20.html
DS,
Are you saying that AS does not have the weapons to succeed? That all of these upgrades in the receiver corp were for nothing.
Ok Claude,
Fair enough, Although J 23 and others want Smith out, I still would like Smith to work out but his play is so inconsistent, 3 great games, one below average and 3 poor games right now. Not a good trend
Two bad games doesn’t mean Smith has regressed, but instead that he has struggled, as has our run defense. And if look at Warner’s. career, he struggled to even maintain the starting position when he didn’t have an offense tailored to him. His passing game was especially inconsistent.
I will agree that Smith is currently a C average QB right now.
See Neal/23welcher or whatever you want to be called, when facts are presented it makes an opinion hold water. You pop off without thinking. That’s your problem. Claude gives you facts and then you somehow agree after the fact. What are you 6 years old and just believe whatever everyone else says?
If you really believe Smith is not the answer, talk football, tell us why insted of looking like a clown all day everyday.
DS – You said “Warner sucked big time in New York…NY had horrible weapons for him.”
Amani Toomer, Tiki Barber, Ike Hilliard and a young Jeremy Shockey were not horrible weapons.
Most Niner fans have been on the Smith bandwagon including me, unlike J23 I was so excited with Smith after the Saints game, then he was horrible with the Giants. I was disappointed with Smith, then I actually called Smith a top 5 or top 10 QB after the first two games of the season, I admitted that I made a mistake and then he was dreadful against the Vikes.
C15
If you think that, then that leaves….COACHING!
There are 3 factors:
1. The player themself
2. Their teammates (in the QB position, his weapons)
3. Coaching.
So, if you are saying that KW was great the whole time and his teammates were plenty scary to opposing defenses, that only leaves coaching as the reason for KW starting out like a HOF, then looking like Carson Palmer with the Raiders while he was in NY, then again looking like a HOF in AZ.
IMO Larry F. is way better than all those guys you mention combined. In the Super Bowl, KW looked horrible when he wasn’t getting LF the ball. When he did get LF the ball, he looked like JM.
DS – No, not coaching. Those players I mentioned were very good players. You said Warner had horrible weapons (not true). It wasn’t the weapons, it was the 12 fumbles that Warner had that year. The former grocery bagger could not hold the ball.
I agree Fitz is better than the 4 players I mentioned though. Thanks for the response DS.
Tory Holt and Issac Bruce (HOF WR) in his prime with the Rams, plus Flipper Anderson as WR’s.
Add Faulk (HOF) in his prime as his RB beats out Amani Toomer, Tiki Barber, Ike Hilliard and a young Jeremy Shockey (who I think has always been way over rated. Had he been in Cleveland, nobody cares about him). Not a single HOF worthy player among them.
@ Crab15:
Amani Toomer, Tiki Barber, Ike Hilliard and a young Jeremy Shockey were not horrible weapons.
No they weren’t, and Eli won the Super Bowl in 2007 with similar or even lesser talent.
I think Warner was bad in New York for reasons unrelated to the weapons surrounding him.
DS – What the hell are you talking about? I responded to your comment that Warner sucked big time because he had horrible weapons. Don’t make it more than it was. Ask anyone in here if the 4 players I mentioned were horrible weapons.
C Balls – Exactly, thank you!
C15
I don’t remotely think Warner was suddenly great with the Rams. Then suddenly lost his greatness in NY. (What happened there?) Then suddenly turns great again in AZ to the point of some thinking he’s HOF worthy.
There are 3 things that go into a player being great as I brought up. You’re focused on only 1, the player. If the other 2 aren’t met, that great player suddenly looks quite average, or below. I don’t remember many teams courting Warner after NY. When those other 2 are met again, the player is suddenly great again.
Believe what you want. But KW didn’t suddenly forget how to play in NY, and suddenly have it all come back to him in AZ. And KW fumbled plenty with the Rams claude. It’s just that the Rams didn’t care about TO’s as much as I would. Their team philosophy was “Oh well.”
In AZ/Rams, he had the other 2 variables. In NY he lacked at least 1. If it isn’t weapons or coaching, what do youpropose it is? I can’t accept it was Warner suddenly sucking when he was great before and after.
DS – I’ll get back to ya later, just got home from rite aid with case of IPA’s (sale 12.99 for 12 pack) for Giants game!
DS94everXev says:
October 24, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Warner was great with the Rams….Rams had great weapons for Warner.
Warner sucked big time in New York…NY had horrible weapons for him.
Warner was great in AZ…AZ has LF and had AB.
See the pattern?
Yes I do. I see the pattern of you not knowing what the hell you’re talking about. Wheeew!
Warner looked scared to take hits in NY. I don’t remember if his Oline was that bad, but he clearly was’nt the same player he was on the rams.
Warner was great in St.Louis, horrible in NY, and pretty good in AZ. Where is any of that not true?
Read bs’s other comments and excuses to get your answers. It’s pathetic. It doesn’t even have to have Smiths name in it and the agenda is clear. Ds would make the worst chess player ever. Might as well scream out its next play. Pathetic
Ninermd, you are right, I dont understand the history of the blog but what I do understand is that some of you speak like teenagers to one another. Not cool.
MD, yet you are less critical of a comment wishing for an injury? This doesn’t come close!!!!!
Axel/hof
md is a hater. Not of AS, but everything. That is why I don’t use the term “non-believers.”
This post seems like an over reach to make the simple point that it’s way too soon to know how Jim Harbaugh should be ranked ranked among his active peers.
You might want to check out how Bill Belichick did as an NFL head coach before he came to New England.
Note that these five coaches that Grant chose also have elite QBs who have ranked in the top 5-6 (the order is moot) over the last five years or so on a cumulatively basis.
These five coaches also happen to have the top 10 (if not top-5) front offices that draft consistently well year-to-year.
OK, now back to ranking players and coaches….
If you believe jim harbaugh belongs on that list he does’nt have a so called elite QB
i would put jim harbaugh in there also. where or in place of who? i’m not sure. I also believe Jim Harbaugh will be on that list very soon.
I would replace Payton with John Harbaugh. I understand your reasoning, but there is nothing to say if he was on the sidelines things would be different. They had a lot of player movement this off season, and that has also effected their performance.
Well said Jack.
If you wanna rank the most accomplished coaches in the NFL right now, that’s a great list!
But if you wanna talk about Top 5 coaches right now, Jim Harbaugh is on that list! Harbaugh has bested Coughlin, Tomlin, Payton and McCarthy last season.
same thing i said.
MTomlin is very good but he inherited a gifted and talented SB team from BCowher. I see him in the same light as GSiefert with the 9ers. So I would move number 4 and 5 up and add JH to number #5 on the list.
I agree Hofer. John Harbaugh should be on that list.
Hard to argue with that list. Both Jim and John Harbaugh got to be close to the top five.
As pointed out, other than Coughlin, Harbaugh as not lost to a single coach on that list in head to head match ups. The team’s continued success this year shows he’s not a one year wonder. The team has defied the “reversion to the mean” as predicted by many. Actually, it’s Belichick’s, Tomlin’s, Payton’s and McCarthy’s teams that *have* reverted to the mean so far this season.
If posters can talk Grant into lowering a player’s grade after a game, Grant maybe you should be listening to us on this as well. ;) When is Harbaugh’s “probation” period over?
Its over when he wins a Super Bowl. He doesn’t deserve to be ranked top 5 when the other coaches have.
OK, Fair enough, BigP.
Same goes for Smith. Win a Super Bowl and the critics will have to zip it. Period the end!
Ha. As if that will be enough for your haters club. Dream on, md.
Belichick – Brady
Coughlin – Manning
Tomlin – Roethlisberger
Payton – Brees
McCarthy – Rodgers
All these coaches are good coaches but what Harbaugh has accomplished with Alex Smith as the QB is astounding. If McCarthy has Alex Smith as the starter, does he have a Superbowl? If Payton has Alex Smith as the starter, does he have a Superbowl? If Coughlin has Alex Smith as the starter, does he have 2 Superbowls? etc. etc.,
It’s too early to put Harbaugh on this list but if he wins a Superbowl with Alex Smith as the starting QB, then Harbaugh is #1 on the list.
I disagree here. Payton, McCarthy, Belichick, Coughlin, are all great QB coaches. If you remember, Eli Manning was very inconsistant and had a lot of trouble early in his career. It almost cost Coughlin his job two year now. He turned Eli into an Elite passer.
Belichick groomed Brady in a marvelous organization that many owners including our own are trying to mimic.
McCarthy is a well documented QB friendly coach. And San Diego, a lot like Tampa Bay and SY, had no faith in Drew Brees. Payton did a lot of what JH has done with AS.
So while I don’t want to take anything away from what JH has down with Smith, the reason the 5 coaches that made the top five are there is because they have groomed their own struggling QBs.
I don’t disagree that these coaches deserve credit in developing their QB’s and putting them in a position to succeed. I just happen to be of the opinion that none of these coaches with perhaps the exception of Belichick could have won a Superbowl with Alex Smith as the QB. No amount of grooming and coaching could get Smith to play at the same level as those guys, all of whom appear to be on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
Houston,
You had it right at first. NONE of these coaches could get Smith to the Super Bowl. JH calls him an expert in this offense. Urban Meter tells us that once he learns an offense inside out, he’ll be great. What gives? 203 yards a game. Alex Smith has been less than Average from Day 1. He’s always been clueless without someone holding his hand. JH is holding his hand now and most NFL coaches don’t have time to do that. They have 52 other men. Alex needs JH as a QB coach exclusively. Alex is MEEK, just like Singletary says he was. He can’t function on his on.
The most glaring proof that he is a game manager. His radio goes out and he uses the last timeout of the half instead of calling a play on 2nd down. Smith is book smart and football dumb. Give me a break!
Neal we needs some facts not hot air opinions, oh I mean 23welcher.
@23, that’s ridiculous. Almost every QB in the league would have called a timeout in that scenario. Your blind hatred of Smith is impacting your judgement. I agree that he’s not a great QB but let’s use rational arguments to make that point.
Matt, good points. EMannings career passer rating is 82.8 and it took two years out of three at 90+ to get him respectable at 82! He turn on the light in 2009 when he was 28 yrs old.
Houston,
Do you want me to name a few. You don’t exactly love Alex Smith yourself. You make it sound like you sound so differently than me when you’re bashing the guy. Don’t be critical of me because you don’t agree. Say you don’t and say why. Here is that list.
1. Manning
2. Manning
3. Brady
4. Rivers
5. Rothlisberger
6. Brees
7. Luck
8. Vick
9. Ryan
10. Hasselback
All these guys have that capaility. Because they arent game managers. They know how to think on their own on the field. These are playmakers.
@23jordan:
Ouch. Is this more or less embarrassing than your prevent-defense-in-the-red-zone flub? And should it be included in the list of things you have told us about Alex Smith and quarterbacking?
I think it should.
You say that the Ryan Brothers worked for Belichick but I don’t think that’s accurate. While Rob certainly worked for him, I don’t think Rex ever did.
You are correct. Ryan worked for Bryan Billick and the Ravens from 99 to 2008.
Grant, my initial reaction to the title of this article was “whaaaaaat? child you must be crazy!” But After reading the list and the reasons I changed my mind. I agree with you about sean peyton, that dude is legit, especially given the wreck that the saints currently are without him. I disagree somewhat in that I think you have tomlin rated a bit too high. I think he’s a great head coach, but my gut reaction would put him down around 7.
Let’s put this in perspective to the game we are facing this week. Whisenhunt turned around a team that had 7 straight years of losing records. His second season, he took them to the superbowl. He’s also 1-1 against Harbaugh. It appears he’s on the same track that Harbaugh is on. Difference being, his cardinals have been to the SB. SF and Harbaugh haven’t. So, just throwing in a SB doesn’t change anything. Harbaugh hasn’t coached long enough to be a top 5.
Steve Mariucci went 25-7 in his first two seasons with SF. Is he elite also??? In his last two seasons in SF, he went 22-10. 1 year is hardly considerable…
As long as Jim Harbaugh continues to start Alex Smith at QB, he is a BOTTOM-5 coach as far as I’m concerned.
I’m not an Alex Smith fan, but when I read this, I ask myself, who would start on this roster and actually do better than 5-2? I don’t think there is anyone on this roster who can right now. Kaepernick isn’t ready. He hands off to backs who aren’t even there. He doesn’t have a solid enough grip of the play book.
Thank you Matt.
Matt,
That was 1 play of all the plays he’s been in there. Are you serious? What proof do you have that he doesn’t know the play book?? Did you see that written somewhere? Facts are good!
Jordan, preaching about facts is humorous coming from the guy who claimed as a Fact that Alex Smith wouldn’t be on the team this year, much less the starting QB….. just saying, practice what you preach homey
I am telling you from observation that Kaepernick doesn’t have the same grasp of the playbook that Alex Smith does. That isn’t a knock on either player. Alex Smith has 8 years experience. Kaepernick is in his second season and is still adjusting to the speed of the game.
As a 49er fan though, I hope the team fields the personell who gives SF the best chance to win. Right now, AS gives SF the best chance to win this week.
I think Tolzien might just surpass Kaepernick on the depth chart also. I think Kaepernick might be traded at the end of the season.
Matt,
“I think Tolzien might just surpass Kaepernick on the depth chart also. I think Kaepernick might be traded at the end of the season.”
I am with you regarding Smith being the best option for now, however these two sentences gave quite a chuckle. Using the Giants play as example of Kaepernick not knowing the playbook is kind of funny too.
Jack,
I had to show a tangible example of Kaepernick not knowing the playbook. Unfortunately, it had to be one that even the most unobservant person would have noticed in the game.
The majority of us understand that Harbaugh is going to put the best option under center to win the game week in and week out.
As for the Tolzien rant, I am such a huge Tolzien fan it was wishful thinking. That opinion holds no merit but it sure was fun to write.
Jack – I just read your post about maybe Kap being traded at the end of the year. Didnt a few of us make that statement months ago and you laughed it off as never gonna happen. Now that I am warming up to Kap you think he might be traded?
@ Jack,
Do you ever go to games and watch pre game warmups? I have. Tolzien has a very weak arm. I developed a liking for him in the preseason. Having said that, I feel that the lack of arm strength makes him a backup and not an NFL starter.
Dangle,
The caveat here that nobody talks about is that The Niners tried unsuccessfully to replace Alex Smith. It wasn’t as if Smith was plan A to come back here. He was plan B. plan A was Manning. That is a fact. Alex Smith was a backup plan, as he should be. Lets be real here for once.
He was plan in 2005 and somehow has managed to survive. Now the best coach in the NFL has decided he is his guy and they win games. Cannot ask for more.
Go back to rooting for the Cowboys. I’m sure Jerry Jones misses you dearly.
No undercenter, read it again. I was laughing off the idea from Matt that he would be gone. I do however agree that right now Smith is the best option. If his finger is an issue as Roman seemed to say after the Seattle game maybe they should do a Walsh and allow it to rest for a week.
Then become the Niner HC, and do something about it. Till then, hush up.
Really not possible to give an answer to THAT question.
I can give an answer to a related question:
“Would I exchange JH for any of those HC’s?”
My answer: “NO!”
Too early to tell w/JH and the guys you named all won Super Bowls which has to count for something.
If you guys want to see a hater, check out this guy:
http://blogs.sacbee.com/49ers/archives/2012/10/mad-haters-cardinals-d-linemen-hold-special-hate-for-49ers-predict-sacks.html
Nick
He says in the article though that he doesn’t hate the Niners off the field.
The haters here do hate AS 24×7. AS wasn’t on the field during the off-season, but that didn’t stop them from hating. There is the difference.
I misunderstood the poll, I thought it would be for only the years Harbaugh was coaching in the NFL.
Wishing a career and even potentially life threatening injury on someone should be grounds for an immediate banishment, PERIOD!
Grant, this is completely over the line, and should have no place on this blog.
AES,
It’s a strong opinion but its still just an opinion. It’s nothing to ban anyone about. I’d feel the same way if he said the said the same things about Justin Smith or Willis. Just gotta have thicker skin than that. Players get hurt, no matter how much we would hope they wodnt. His wanting it to happen isn’t going to make it happen. No big deal.
Mike McCarthy passed on Aaron Rogers and drafted Alex Smith when he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Niners. He was the main reason for them taking Alex. Now Aaron Rogers is making him look brilliant in Green Bay. Some judge of talent.
Im suprised that this has turned into an Alex Smith blackhole again. I some what disagree with your post Grant. I dont think Sean Payton deserves to be in the top 5 at all. Fostering a bounty program on a team that gives players extra money if they injure another player is just not good coaching, further more the team as a whole is beginning to show how one dimensional it is. It and green bay are very similar teams simple pass happy spread teams with weak defenses, in case you are wondering Jim Harbaugh submitted the league the blue print to defeating those types of teams. That is the reason you have seen the patriots phasing in a more dominant rushing attack. Jack Harbaugh deserves 5th place instead and Sean Payton deserves sixth place, also I think Mike Mcarthy is overrated and the Packers are going to come back to earth in the next couple of years and be less dominant.
Don’t be surprised. More often then not, this blog turns into a war between the Hatfields and McCoys regarding AS. The team is winning but it’s not enough.