Harbaugh "losing 49ers locker room"
Interesting article.
http://www.si.com/nfl/2014/09/07/jim-harbaugh-san-francisco-49ers-locker-room
September 7th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^
The 49'ers look terrrrrrible right now.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
Let the speculation begin...
September 7th, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
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September 7th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
RR was successful at WV before and Zona afterwards, but failed at UM (according to our standards). Sometimes all the resources, tradition, history, etc. put people under too much scrutiny. Our obsession with this team is also our curse. There's no patience for growth or error. Failure is a part of the learning process. To some, if you're not failing, you're not learning. We don't allow failure and call for changes at the first sign.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
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September 7th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
Come on, RR obviously wasn't successful at Michigan, but those WVU teams beat good Georgia and Oklahoma teams. And the Big East was much more competitive at that time. And being .500 in the Pac-12 (generally considered the #2 conference) at Arizona of all places is no small feat. And oh, by the way, that Arizona team you're belittling has beaten USC and Oregon the past two years. Which is more impressive than anything Michigan has done in that span.
Let's just focus on fixing our beloved Wolverines. If that's Harbaugh, ok. If that's someone else, ok.
September 7th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
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September 7th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
If they played this year, it would be ugly. At least they have wins against teams with a pulse. Brady has beaten the worst OSU team in a decade, a few mediocre ND squads, and a VT team that had no business being in the BCS. That's it.
September 7th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
RR also continues to blow the biggest game on his schedule...rivalry games.
He blew the Pitt game at WV, got schelacked by OSU and MSU here, and has now lost twice to Arizona State. I'm sensing a trend. Sometimes coaches get so tense during rivalry weeks that they just completely freeze up and the team follows their coaches suit. Cooper had it and I think RR suffers from the same thing.
September 7th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
The difference between and RR and Harbaugh's case would be RR was left a bare cupboard and whoever was left didn't really fit his system. The players that Hoke has recruited the past 4 years are designed for a system really similar to what Harbaugh had at Stanford. Really, if Hoke is let go at the end of the year and we hire any competent coach who want to play a similar pro-style with a spread thrown in system, that coach is basically set up for success. We have a lot of talent on this team. Just need results now.
September 7th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
RR was not left with a "bare cupboard". I wish you guys would stop perpetuating that myth. When Carr retired, most of the starting OL was left, 2 WRs, 2 RB, a QB with experience, TE, Kicker, Punter and 9 of 10 returning starters on D.
The problem was that once RR came in, several key players left or transferred as a result of the new system and transition. This was due to the transition, not due to the "cupboard being bare".
September 7th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
He also said it was due to the system he transferred, not before.
September 7th, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^
"We don't allow failure and call for changes at the first sign"
It's been failure since 2008. This will be year four with Hoke and things have gotten progressively worse.
September 7th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
We were happy in '11 and as soon as '12 hit we were already questioning if Hoke was the right coach and it continues. I haven't heard a credible expert (non-UM fan or former player or coach) predict any of these UM teams to win 10 games. So, at some level of logic we understand we aren't there yet in key aspects of the team (o-line, pass rush, etc.) yet we call for a coaches head when the struggles occur that we already knew existed. If we know the team is weak at key positions how can say it's coaches fault when those weaknesses show? If Harbaugh was coaching would that all of a sudden improve Gardner's decision making, turn Miller into Molk, make Clark become Woodley, or Countess into Marlin Jackson? We are who we are because like it or not the transition is not over yet IMHO.
September 7th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^
No coach at Michigan will ever be the "biggest ego in the room" as long as David Brandon is there. Harbaugh has already turned Brandon down once. Why would he want to work for a micromanaging AD who still thinks it's 1975 on the field?
As long as David Brandon is running the show, Jim Harbaugh is not going to "come home." Since Harbaugh pretty much "grew up around the program," due to his dad being one of Bo's assistants, I find this to be really sad.
Harbaugh is one of the few pro set guys who can create enough of a hybrid to beat spread teams of equal talent. Sadly, that makes him too inttelligent to voluntarily work for David Brandon.
September 7th, 2014 at 3:31 PM ^
I don't think Brandon is a problem. The man wants to win but doesn't want to admit to his mistake of hirining Hoke, but i think he will come around if Hoke fails to beat MSU or OSU and wins less then 10 games.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
I've been wondering if that'd happen. In college the coach is god, in the NFL the star players are. Harbaugh's personality probably works better in college because the maximum years that a player will spend with him is 5.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
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September 7th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
Assuming Harbaugh's old comments about academics are enough for the new President (who doesn't seem like a sports fan) to absorb AND Dave Brandon can accept a guy who would kick his butt out of film study room, aren't 10 NFL teams ready and waiting for Harbaugh. He is a proven commodity at both levels but gets paid more at the NFL and that was his stated dream - to do it at the highest level.
I do believe Harbaugh's style IS more suited to the college game as is Saban's. There is a shelf life for those guys at the pro level before the message gets stale. But in college with the constant rotation of players it will work. But for this to be anything more than a pipe dream Harbaugh has to want out of the NFL completely. If I am an NFL team he is one of the top 5 coaches in the league and if he wants GM responsibility and I am ho hum sad sack NFl franchise I give it to him with the salary that comes with both positions. Harbaugh likes control. He won't get it here with Brandon.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
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September 7th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^
Carroll was a failure in his first NFL stint. Harbaugh is one of the most sought after coaches. Big difference.
Again he has to actively want out of the NFL. Full stop.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
He won the division in his first year, went to the Wild Card the year after and then went 8-8.
September 7th, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
Actually he was a failure in his first stint in 1994 with the Jets - they went 6-10 and he was fired. That was his first NFL HC job.
His second stint was better, he was a .550 type of coach for the Patriots over 3 years which is not bad. He just happened to be in a rough division and finished in 4th and 5th place his 2nd and 3rd year.
If he had coached the Lions to a .550 record over 3 years he would have been heralded as the best coach in the modern era ;)
September 7th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
Not sure that one bad year actually constitutes a failure. Carroll was fired because his team finished the season poorly after starting 6-5. OK. But one season is a pretty short leash and limited data. Also, when you consider that that was a mediocre roster that went 4-28 over the next two years after Carroll, I'm not sure that one 6-10 season looks so bad.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^
That's very true but he also was out of work for a year because no one wanted him. USC boosters and fans were also not pleased with his initial hire and he was SC's third choice for the job at best. That's in total contrast to Jim's situation. Harbaugh would make a big splash and almost every NFL or college would welcome him with open arms. Dude's not gonna be lacking for suitors.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^
Regarding his salary and staying in the Bay Area, which his wife likes -- how much does he get paid there? How far is his salary going considering California taxes and COL? Compare that to SE Michigan/AA -- all you'd need to do is match what he's currently making, if not increase it a little bit and his money goes much further here.
Lefty and Tiger both left CA for Florida over the taxes and that was a big consideration for LeBron in choosing Miami a couple of years ago.
Salary isn't the problem here IMO.
1) Does he want out of the NFL?
2) Does he want to deal with being the savior of his alma mater's program? It's a helluva lotta pressure. He's still young and if he gets run out of the NFL and fails at Michigan....where does he go next?
3) He and Brandon are both egos. Brandon and Hoke would need to be a packaged deal or Brandon would seriously need to realize that 4 years of riding the bench doesn't qualify him as a football expert and to STFU.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^
"... Bay Area, which his wife likes ..."
For some reason I remember thinking that his wife as a CA native. (That would help sink the idea of moving to SE Michigan, which would be a cultural shock on multiple levels.) In fact, the WWW suggests she's from Belton, Missouri, which is outside Kansas City.
So there is, in fact, a chance. :)
September 7th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^
I am as sure as that as I am sure that the sun is hot.
But the reality is that Harbaugh wants to be the best at the highest level. Any competitor would and by all accounts Harbaugh is an extreme competitor.He is staying in the NFL.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
Generally agree with your thoughts with 2 caveats
At some point money doesnt matter - accomplishments do. If he makes $xM in CA or $yM in Michigan that is not going to make his decision for him. If he was Joe Schmoe deciding whether to take a $70K job in MI or a $105K job in CA that's different.
Second, he won't be "run out" of the NFL. He will be highly sought after if he leaves the 49ers. If he did indeed fail at UM he'd be a guy who suceeded at Stanford, succeeded at 49ers and failed at Michigan. But if he can turn the turd that was Stanford (1-11 before he showed up) into something great, I cannot see him not suceeding at any college level. Guys either have it or they don't. He has it.
For a guy with his success it is about what he wants to do with his life. Does he want to live in a world where his dick is not the biggest and he has to deal with prima donnas that are on every team. But in return he doesnt have to travel, deal with 16-17 year olds, their handlers, their parents ,and alumni. Or does he want to grind it out on the road 30-40 days a year, glad handle alumni, deal with parents, etc. It's really a lifestyle choice for him. None of us know what he is thinking in that regard.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:28 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
I would dropkick my grandmother for Harbaugh right now.
September 7th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
September 7th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
...was probably referring to the guy in your post when he said, "prima donna coaches."
September 7th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
I would dropkick your grandmother, too.
September 7th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^