[Pastor]

How do you think he will do?

I would like to see him do well but I think it is a 3-legged stool of coaches-players-ownership.  I think the Niners are challenged in 2 of the 3.

[Pastor]

How do you think he will do?

I would like to see him do well but I think it is a 3-legged stool of coaches-players-ownership.  I think the Niners are challenged in 2 of the 3.

[KartyFan]

I once heard him say in person: "I see myself as a college coach." Of course he was 100% lying, but I would have to agree that he fits in better when he is clearly top dog. I'm not sure how the pros will react to the way he played favorites with Stanford players.

[KartyFan]

I once heard him say in person: "I see myself as a college coach." Of course he was 100% lying, but I would have to agree that he fits in better when he is clearly top dog. I'm not sure how the pros will react to the way he played favorites with Stanford players.

[82lsju]

the 49ers slogan for this season "Suck then Luck"

[82lsju]

the 49ers slogan for this season "Suck then Luck"

[Mick]

Harbaugh truly was perfect for Stanford.  They let JH be JH, he had a forgiving media and he had very smart players (relative to the typical collegiate player) who responded well to experienced NFL coordinators who used near-NFL level schemes and strategies.  That, coupled with a massive dose of Luck transformed Stanford and made Harbaugh more marketable.  His EUTM was perfect for the college ranks.

At the next level, he will be mediocre.  He won't be a brobdingnagian failure, but he will be mediocre.  He won't hit 7-9 this year; I'd say somewhere between 3-13 and 6-10 (if he's lucky).  JH may be a QB genius (or not, at the NFL level), but he has a rookie and a failed shotgun QB behind center.  He got rid of a defensive coordinator who finished $16 out of 32 NFL teams in points allowed in favor of Fangio who was demoted from DC to special assistant for four years.  In Fangio's last season as DC, the Texans finished 2-14 and were last in the league in points allowed.  Fangio will be hugely overmatched at DC.  Greg Manusky, former Niner DC will join the Chargers as their DC where he will kick butt.

His OC, Greg Roman, has never been a coordinator.  He has coached the OL, tight ends, QB's (once).  Good luck there, Greg.
 

[Mick]

Harbaugh truly was perfect for Stanford.  They let JH be JH, he had a forgiving media and he had very smart players (relative to the typical collegiate player) who responded well to experienced NFL coordinators who used near-NFL level schemes and strategies.  That, coupled with a massive dose of Luck transformed Stanford and made Harbaugh more marketable.  His EUTM was perfect for the college ranks.

At the next level, he will be mediocre.  He won't be a brobdingnagian failure, but he will be mediocre.  He won't hit 7-9 this year; I'd say somewhere between 3-13 and 6-10 (if he's lucky).  JH may be a QB genius (or not, at the NFL level), but he has a rookie and a failed shotgun QB behind center.  He got rid of a defensive coordinator who finished $16 out of 32 NFL teams in points allowed in favor of Fangio who was demoted from DC to special assistant for four years.  In Fangio's last season as DC, the Texans finished 2-14 and were last in the league in points allowed.  Fangio will be hugely overmatched at DC.  Greg Manusky, former Niner DC will join the Chargers as their DC where he will kick butt.

His OC, Greg Roman, has never been a coordinator.  He has coached the OL, tight ends, QB's (once).  Good luck there, Greg.
 

[mark3k]

While, at an emotional level, I hated reading Mick's post above, I found it difficult to argue with his logic, and thus felt compelled to give him a Respect point (love those up and down thingies!).  Now, if he could just explain what "$16 out of 32 NFL teams" means?  ;-)

[mark3k]

While, at an emotional level, I hated reading Mick's post above, I found it difficult to argue with his logic, and thus felt compelled to give him a Respect point (love those up and down thingies!).  Now, if he could just explain what "$16 out of 32 NFL teams" means?  ;-)

[Leftcoast]

I'd agree with Mick's post, and it would sound like wisdom if it weren't for the familiarity of it all.  Wasn't this the same sort of thing that many said about Harbaugh's staff when they came to Stanford? 

I get the retread and immature OC argument but we know other things about Harbaugh and his staff than their NFL pedigrees.  My personal feeling is there's something about Harbaugh whether it's his need to win or  his hyper-competitive, mono-maniacal focus that WILL translate from college into the NFL.  I'm willing to believe he can elevate the game of his assistants and recreate some magic on Sundays.  I'm also willing to believe that if he DOESN'T win he's cold-blooded enough to cut loose his coordinators and find guys who will win with him.

I see in Harbaugh some of that "it" factor, that indefinable something that separates a successful NFL Head Coach from the ones with merely a good resume.  Not sure how to describe this more clearly than to say that Harbaugh looks like someone who an NFL team would trust to lead them into battle and trust to make the cold-blooded personnel decision that lead to winning football. 

But ..... let's see if he still has that IT factor when he gets a few losses under his belt - which he'll surely get as coach of the 2011 49ers.

[Leftcoast]

I'd agree with Mick's post, and it would sound like wisdom if it weren't for the familiarity of it all.  Wasn't this the same sort of thing that many said about Harbaugh's staff when they came to Stanford? 

I get the retread and immature OC argument but we know other things about Harbaugh and his staff than their NFL pedigrees.  My personal feeling is there's something about Harbaugh whether it's his need to win or  his hyper-competitive, mono-maniacal focus that WILL translate from college into the NFL.  I'm willing to believe he can elevate the game of his assistants and recreate some magic on Sundays.  I'm also willing to believe that if he DOESN'T win he's cold-blooded enough to cut loose his coordinators and find guys who will win with him.

I see in Harbaugh some of that "it" factor, that indefinable something that separates a successful NFL Head Coach from the ones with merely a good resume.  Not sure how to describe this more clearly than to say that Harbaugh looks like someone who an NFL team would trust to lead them into battle and trust to make the cold-blooded personnel decision that lead to winning football. 

But ..... let's see if he still has that IT factor when he gets a few losses under his belt - which he'll surely get as coach of the 2011 49ers.

[Griffins78]

Beyond the EUTM, the Stanford players seemed to draw a lot of confidence from being well prepared. Harbaugh's coaching staff worked very hard and were very organized to be prepared for every game. They knew their opponents personnel, strengths and weaknesses and had game plans that their players were confident in. I think that has been lacking at the 49ers.

[Griffins78]

Beyond the EUTM, the Stanford players seemed to draw a lot of confidence from being well prepared. Harbaugh's coaching staff worked very hard and were very organized to be prepared for every game. They knew their opponents personnel, strengths and weaknesses and had game plans that their players were confident in. I think that has been lacking at the 49ers.

[unclechuck]

Braylon Edwards signed as WR. Not renewed by the anything goes Jets.

Edwards had a boffo Sr. year at Michigan but was a drama queen & all around pain in the ass in Cleveland. By most accounts he's a very bright guy, but quite full of himself.

Maybe Harbs works that Michigan Man mojo with Edwards and gets great play and reasonable citizenship out of him. Maybe not.

Regardless, an interesting gamble right out of the gate.

[unclechuck]

Braylon Edwards signed as WR. Not renewed by the anything goes Jets.

Edwards had a boffo Sr. year at Michigan but was a drama queen & all around pain in the ass in Cleveland. By most accounts he's a very bright guy, but quite full of himself.

Maybe Harbs works that Michigan Man mojo with Edwards and gets great play and reasonable citizenship out of him. Maybe not.

Regardless, an interesting gamble right out of the gate.