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OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - Printable Version

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OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - fullmetal - 06-05-2017

From Brandon Jacobs, a disgruntled 49er RB who left in 2012:

Quote:"They’re just running routes in the defense, getting people killed. Size and strength is what they had, and that’s why they won. Let’s be real. They had great assistant coaches, but Jim didn’t know what he was doing. Jim had no idea. Jim is throwing slants into Cover-2 safeties, getting people hurt. That guy knew nothing, man."

There's a bit more at the source:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/05/26/brandon-jacobs-jim-harbaugh-didnt-know-what-he-was-doing/

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - Phogge - 06-05-2017

Thanks Brandumb, all he does is win.

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - Snorlax94 - 06-06-2017

My take on Harbaugh is that he is at his best being an executive style head coach, finding the right employees (many of Stanford's assistant coaches are still from the Harbaugh era), setting the culture, addressing structural needs (getting a stadium, enlisting aid, changing the admissions process) and bringing an enthusiasm previously unknown to finding every advantage possible. I think he's a great fit for college because enthusiasm (and charisma, at least to some high schoolers) can translate into a sustainable recruiting advantage there. I think he is willing to out-satellite-camp, out-sleepover-in-a-sleeping bag, and out-eat-mom's-home-cooking any coach in the college game.

I don't think he's ever been famous for being an x's and o's guy or being an innovator.

I didn't like the drama. And he seems to wear out his welcome with some administrator/owners, some fans, and some players. I suspected he was willing to sacrifice the long-term well-being of his players in a way that I may not be comfortable with,  but before there was a strong pattern, he was off to his next job.

In terms of him supposedly being so amazing, I think he has a track record of getting oh-so-close and then having it slip away (Stanford-Oregon, NFC championship game, Superbowl, Michigan-Michigan State game). While the Stanford SC game may have been the game that started this era, IMO Harbaugh has not had a marquee win as impressive as Stanford-Iowa.

I think probably no coach could have turned around Stanford like Harbaugh did, but I have been glad he's gone every day since he left, and I suspect his brutal style, lack of perspective, and personal dramas will eventually cause problems even at Michigan, especially if he keeps coming so close and failing. He'll get a ton of leeway there, far more than Stanford would ever give anyone, and he may get Paterno-esque leeway, which is not a good thing and may lead to regrets.

To anyone who disagrees, I say, what's your deal??? 😜

And a final plug, David Shaw has been involved in the two greatest football games I have ever attended, Stanford-Iowa 2016 and Stanford-Cal 1990.





Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - Mick - 06-06-2017

I was listening to Brent Jones speak on KNBR in Harbaugh's third year as coach.  Jones specifically addressed locker room challenges that Harbaugh had as a somewhat crazed coach.  Now remember, to that point, Harbaugh had enjoyed incredible success including a Super Bowl and two other conference championship games, three consecutive conference championships in his first three years as a head coach -- that had never been done before.  Today, even after his 8-8 season, Harbaugh's career coaching percentage is better than all post-1930 FB coaches not named John Madden, Vince Lombardi or George Allen.  So Harbaugh's star was ridiculously high.

I don't recall Jones' exact comments, but it was an eye opener that clearly surprised the host as well.  Jones stated that Harbaugh was really hard on players, definitely not a player's coach.  He said that Harbaugh's EUTM/"Who's got it better than us?" schtick was a schtick that wouldn't play well with NFL players in general after the first year.  He said Harbaugh was a good coach, but in answer to the host's last question "Would you have wanted to play for him?" Jones replied "Maybe."

Yikes.  It was a stunning series of comments on a coach who achieved on a level superior to that of all other coaches in his first three years.

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - BostonCard - 06-06-2017

It's really tough to argue with results.  To wit:

He took a Stanford team that was 1-11 before he arrived and took it to a BCS bowl (Orange Bowl, which, by the way, counts as a marquee win similar to Shaw's Rose Bowl win over Iowa).

He took a 49ers team that had been 6-10 under Mike Singletary and had not been to the playoffs since 2002, and took them to two NFC championship and one Super Bowl in four years.  Their record since his departure has been 5-11 and 2-14; they have fired two coaches in two years.

At Michigan he took over a team that had gone 5-7 and in two years he has had 2 10-win seasons.

Whether he is a good X's and O's coach or not is not the question.  The man can win, and he saved Stanford from the depths of a 1-11 season.  Without Harbaugh, we don't have David Shaw delivering us 3 Rose Bowls in 6 years.  I'm a big fan of Shaw, and 6 years in he has built Stanford into a durable winner.  But Harbaugh resurrected Stanford and he will always have my appreciation for it.

We will see what happens at Michigan after another couple years.  Harbaugh may start to wear thing, and I suspect players won't be as enthusiastic about his schtick if he goes through some tough times.  But right now, he is rightfully considered one of the best coaches in the country.

BC

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - fullmetal - 06-06-2017

By and large, a coach will be measured by wins and losses, not minimum number of concussions suffered.  And head coaches are generally more administrators than tactical technicians.  JH will keep winning as long as he can attract talent (charisma, media coverage) and skilled coaches.

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - Goose - 06-06-2017

(06-06-2017, 06:32 AM)Mick link Wrote:Harbaugh's career coaching percentage is better than all post-1930 FB coaches not named John Madden, Vince Lombardi or George Allen.
Of the three coaches named, only Madden could be totally called a "player's coach". Many people couldn't stand Allen. He had a reputation for "using people up". Lombardi was all about winning. If he said run a pattern over the middle, you did it or you walked. You could show up hung over, but you better not play like you were hung over. So, being well-liked doesn't seem to be required to succeed. I think that almost all "great" leaders, be it coaches, generals, CEO's or Presidents, have a lot of people who don't like them. Hard choices make enemies, and does often result in "using people up". Is this required for success? Maybe not, but it seems pretty common in people that are publicly recognized as "successful".

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - PAsportsfan - 06-06-2017

Anybody have address for Jacobs?

I need to send her some milk and cookies.

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - fullmetal - 06-07-2017

Save your money...Jacobs is probably better off than most of us  ::)

Re: OT hot take: JH doesn't know as much about X's and O's - FarmBoy - 06-07-2017

(06-07-2017, 08:16 AM)fullmetal link Wrote:Save your money...Jacobs is probably better off than most of us  ::)

That depends

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timeinc.net/time/money/3821404/nfl-players-retire-bankruptcy-life-expectancy/%3Fsource%3Ddam