Harbaugh on Gore, Jacobs, Iupati and Boone

SANTA CLARA — Jim Harbaugh spoke in the media tent Monday afternoon. Here’s what he said about a few of his own players.

Q: Frank Gore has 103 carries through seven games. Is that about what you want from him workload-wise? He’s carried the ball considerably less than he had at this point last year.

HARBAUGH: No, didn’t have a number in mind.

Q: Generally speaking, did you want him to have fewer carries this season than he had last season?

HARBAUGH: No, not necessarily. I think he’s doing a great job. He’s been very productive when he’s had the ball in his hands.

Q: Brandon Jacobs still hasn’t gotten in the field in a game. What’s the vision for how he will eventually contribute to your team?

HARBAUGH: I think that’s all decided on the field. Brandon came here in training camp, was doing very well and got injured. Now he is working his way back. That’s a process that’s going on, and simultaneously you have guys playing very well at that position. It’s a process.

Q: What do you like most about Mike Iupati and Alex Boone and the way they’re working with Jonathan Goodwin?

HARBAUGH: It’s been fantastic. I thought the guard-play in this past game was top notch. Both those guys – Mike and Alex Boone – had their best games, which is saying a lot because they’ve had good games. And the way the three of them worked together, I thought it was outstanding.

Q: Is it hard to believe that Alex Boone went undrafted?

HARBAUGH: It happens. To his credit, he’s taken his opportunity, his work ethic, and he has a great attitude. He’s got it. He’s a great lesson for all young players that if you work hard with a great team attitude, you figure it out. He’s a wonderful example of that.

Q: Goodwin said last week that he’s never been around a guard who enjoys running Power as much as Iupati. Do you get that sense, too?

HARBAUGH: Yeah, I think it’s high enjoyment level. He’s a very strong man. He plays very physical. It’s talent, it’s attitude, it’s a lot of those things. He’s unique in that he’s big, he’s fast, he’s quick and also he secretly likes it to come down to the physical nature of it.

Q: When you were looking at the tape from the 2010 season when he was a rookie, did he jump out at you? Has he improved a fair amount these past two seasons?

HARBAUGH: Yeah, I think he’s getting better and better. The group is as a whole. Mike Solari and Tim Drevno do a great job with them.

Comments are closed.