SANTA CLARA — Here’s what Jim Harbaugh said at his Monday press conference about preparing for the 49ers’ upcoming opponent, the New England Patriots.
Q: You’ve been undefeated in prime-time games this season. You notice anything about your team in these games?
HARBAUGH: No. Somebody else mentioned that, that we’ve been pretty darn good in those type of games. Just locked in on this one here, going to New England, putting together a really good plan and week of practice, travel preparations, I mean, all those things that will go into playing this big game.
Q: Do you know Belichick at all? Have much of a relationship with him?
HARBAUGH: Professional. Have met him a few times and talked to him.
Q: What do you consider the hallmark of playing a Belichick team?
HARBAUGH: They’re always consistently good. Everything they do scheme-wise is very tough to prepare for because you don’t know what they’re going to do. Just very well-coached, very top shelf in the National Football League on the field.
Q: He’s got a reputation as being a guy who schemes very tricky defenses for young QBs to decipher. Do you see this as a particular challenge for your staff and for Colin?
HARBAUGH: Yeah, sure. In particular a great challenge. A great challenge for our entire football team.
Q: Will you watch the Patriots game live tonight or will you wait until you get the coaches’ film?
HARBAUGH: Yeah, well we can’t get the tape until the game is over, but yeah, we’ll probably spend some time watching their other games and take a look at it – we’ll probably have the TV going and the tape machine at the same time.
Q: Two primetime games against playoff opponents. Is this a test for Colin Kaepernick in a playoff-like atmosphere.
HARBAUGH: I really believe it’s about this next game. We don’t take anything for granted. Nothing is secured until it’s secured in terms of being in the playoffs. We’ll give this game the respect it deserves and prepare for it like it’s the most important game on the schedule.
Q: Tom Brady is also a Michigan guy and a Bay Area guy. Do have a feel for him since there are some similarities in background?
HARBAUGH: I have great respect for him. His career, his ability, his competitiveness. All his unique attributes that make him the great football player that he is.
Q: Do you remember him from Michigan?
HARBAUGH: Yeah, followed him. We weren’t there at the same time. Probably about 15 years (difference), maybe?
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
Who asked the first question. I guess he does not consider the Thanksgiving night Harbaugh bowl last year as a prime time game.
Oh wait! Nobody watches these Thursday night things outside the home areas of the two teams involved. I guess Harbaugh is undefeated in Prime Time games. LOL.
Q: You’ve been undefeated in prime-time games this season. You notice anything about your team in these games?
Key words you forgot to read: this season.
Oops. I have to get out of the speed reading mode!
In fairness Grimey – that game against the Ravens still hurts.
It was a tough game. I’m sure Alex still feels it.
Advice to all: measure twice, cut once.
Um… the question clearly says this season.
Since Crab asked, here is a quick synopsis of what to look for from the Patriots tonight.
Shotgun – 11 Personnel (1TE 1RB) – Last week against the Dolphins they threw out of this formation 32 times.
- Brady threw only 7 of those 32 deeper than 10 yards, and he was 2-7 on those.
- Brady completed 19-25 of the remaining throws under 10 yards and was only 3-6 on passes to the left side. (4-6 under 10 over middle, and 12-13 under 10 to right side)
- Patriots will use the wide receiver screen as their outside run game from this personnel grouping. The running game is limited to between the tackles, primarily on draws and quick inside traps.
21 Personnel (2TE 1RB) – Primarily a run formation, but will also use play action.
- Against Miami Brady only threw 7 passes the entire game from this formation. On those attempts he was 2-7 with 1 int. These calls are primarily for deeper routes, TE wheel, Dig, Flood type concepts.
-They ran almost at will against Miami in the 2nd half. This might sound a bit familiar, but with 8:30 remaining in the game the Patriots took over possession for the final time with the score….20-13. They proceeded to go 77 yards, and ended with a FG with 1:15 remaining after Brady dove to his left to set up a FG.
In total, Brady only threw 8 passes after taking the ball from under the center and was 2-8.
The key to slowing this team down is tackling well. The first man there needs to get his hands on the ball carrier, and either take him down or wait for the cavalry to help. Tonight’s game will be a good preview for the game on Sunday as the Texans run an similar defensive scheme. Couple things to remember, the last time the 49ers played against a team the week after playing the Texans was the Bears game, secondly this should be a physical contest and the Patriots will be coming off a short week to prepare.
Kinda the key to every game defensively Jack. No matter who you play…if the first guy there makes the tackle you’ll stand a good chance of winning. Regardless of who the QB/offense is. In 2/3 losses our defenders didn’t tackle well. I can’t recall us winning a game where we don’t.
More plays needed to get yards means the offense has to be consistently good for more plays to get the same results if the first guy misses. And simple probability states that is harder. Being consistent for 6 plays is easier than being consistent for 12 plays.