[Today's Harbaugh thread]: Jim Harbaugh Back Squat Form [see edit]

Submitted by Cromulent on January 21st, 2022 at 2:22 PM

https://twitter.com/jesuittigers_fb/status/1484267662318481412?s=12

For a 58-yo not bad. He’s not looking spent so I assume this is just a warmup. 
 

Would like to see him turn his toes out a tad. Most of all he needs to point his eyes out to a spot on the floor a few feet out. Neck should be neutral, not in hyperextension. 

[EDIT: We're going to try a one thread per day policy as a catch-all for that day's Harbaugh 'staying or leaving?' rumors. Only exceptions will be if and when there's a verified report of Harbaugh signing an extension or a contract, whichever may be the case, or if he makes a public statement on his coaching status. We will be open to making adjustments to this 'policy' as the situation evolves. -rob f]

Mgoeffoff

January 21st, 2022 at 5:43 PM ^

Taking the hip crease more than a teensy amount below the patella forces some muscles to loosen that we would prefer to stay tight.

I'm not convinced by that argument.  The answers to most questions in exercise science are "it depends".  If you have the mobility and stability to maintain good technique ATC, go there. 

Ass to grass is stupid and pointless at any age

I think there's a very good point to go as deep as possible with good form...better hypertrophy.  The deeper you go, the more of a stretch you are going to get under load, the longer the eccentric portion of the lift, the more total work you will do, the less load you can use to get the same or better effect preserving joints, etc...all the hypertrophy is down there.  We don't want to round lower back, we don't want to have our butt wink, we don't want to shift forward with our weight, etc. but so long as you can maintain a neutral spine, generally speaking lower is better from a hypertrophy standpoint.  But, not everyone can do that due to mobility, hip structure, core stability issues, etc.

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XM - Mt 1822

January 21st, 2022 at 6:25 PM ^

Literally no athletic movement requires the knee to bend past 90 degrees in an explosive manner. The only exception might be, say, landing a long jump. More Importantly, if you go past 90° you increase the force upon the knee exponentially. In any type of long-term usage like that you are looking for damage in the cartilage and other structure, and how much shorten the life. Look at catchers in pro baseball.  Slowest guys on the team and that’s not a coincidence.

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maquih

January 21st, 2022 at 7:10 PM ^

Well when youre on the floor scrambling for a loose ball youre going to need all the explosive strength at weird angles you can get.  Yes, it exponentially increases the force and stress on your knees so me in my mid 30s wouldnt do it but that's something each athlete and trainer can figure out for their training plan.

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St Joe Blues

January 21st, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^

In light of the Harbaugh playing skins (bad choice) vs. shirts with recruits, Harbaugh climbing trees, Harbaugh jumping off high dives, Harbaugh spending the night at recruits' houses, I don't see anything wrong with this.

Harbaugh in the gym with recruits will actually carry weight with them.

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Wendyk5

January 21st, 2022 at 4:49 PM ^

I saw Dan Marino maybe 25 years ago in Hawaii in shorts. His legs looked like they'd both been broken more than once. IIRC, he did tear his achilles but his legs just looked like mangled tree limbs. I think he was still playing at that point. Football doesn't care about whether you need your body another 40 or 50 years after you retire. 

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blue in dc

January 21st, 2022 at 2:33 PM ^

I like this part of the story:

“Harbaugh had done 15 reps when Jesuit’s junior varsity coach — an Ohio State graduate — mentioned that Buckeyes coach Ryan Day was there a day earlier. He joked that Day did 16 reps.

So Harbaugh continued, adding in five more to give him an even 20. Or four more than Day’s fictional total.”

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2022/01/21/why-michigan-coach-jim-harbaugh-squatted-during-a-recruiting-visit-to-jesuit/

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rob f

January 21st, 2022 at 3:25 PM ^

No problem, just wanted to remind everyone that everything seen on sports websites and social media more than a few hours ago has likely already been posted to the MGoBoard, especially if it's pertaining to Harbaugh.

In this case, it wasn't posted as an OP AND it gave me the opportunity to point out new board policy on Harbaugh speculation threads. 

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XM - Mt 1822

January 21st, 2022 at 2:37 PM ^

cromulent, great picture.  disagree re: his posture/form.  it is close to picture perfect and his toes are turned out just the right amount.  

and he's wearing blue.  definite sign he's staying in AA.  really. 

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XM - Mt 1822

January 21st, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^

both harbaugh and i learned from the same athletic trainers at the same school we all love, and that is the form we were taught.  he played pro football.  i played hockey in college and played football into my 40's and did other athletic stuff that would make me sound like an even bigger jerk if i described it.  my college football playing sons have learned the same form.  for athletes, not lifters, that is the proper form.  the head-up posture helps to insure that the lower back/sacral region stays arched which is particularly critical if lifting heavy weights and without a belt.

what is your best guess on what he's got on that bar?  we can see the 45 lb so its 135 lb at a minimum, but those rubber coated weights might be only that, or there might be two plates on each side.  i can't tell.   

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