What are the hallmarks of a Harbaugh-Coached team?
Forgive my ignorance but what are the hallmarks of a Harbaugh-coached team? For instance, I would characterize a Rich Rod team as made up of typically smaller, shiftier players from the south and being heavily tilted towards offensive output. Dantonio-coached teams might be said to be defense-oriented squads with lots of sleepers from the midwest who get coached up to a high level.
My general impression of Harbaugh-coached teams would be that they have "high-motor", "chip on the shoulder" guys who may have gone under the radar but it's possible I'm conflating Harbaugh's passion and shoulder chip with that of his players. In my mind, his players are Zach Novak, but in football.
What should we expect his teams to look like several years from now? Mostly midwestern kids who specialize in dominating the line of scrimage? Big-time recruits with big-time egos similar to Urban Meyer's Florida teams? I'll be curious to see.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:14 PM ^
Asskicking.
December 28th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
Niiiice!
December 28th, 2014 at 5:14 PM ^
never lose, and feature tons of Harbaugh! HARBAUGH HARBAUGH HARBAUGH!!!
December 28th, 2014 at 6:08 PM ^
its been fun...but it will be nice to get actual answers to questions again.
But hey Demar Dorsey --> HARBAUGH.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
That is all.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^
Voodoo dolls made of Greek Buckeye nuts.
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December 28th, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^
I MUST WIN.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
And smash all overhead projectors.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:18 PM ^
Big linemen, downhill running, solid qb play, lots of tight ends. Also since 2011 harbaugh teams have had disciplined and tenacious defense. Harbaugh puts tons of focus on having a top notch staff and being very disciplined. It's about time.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:29 PM ^
I'm guessing the first thing he'll want to jump on is M's shortage re the sort of big nasty OL's he likes.
December 28th, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
So, basically, he is going to have a Bo Schembechler style team?
I like it.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
Character and cruelty.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
The Stanford offense in 2010 would switch formation two or three times on almost every play, and I never saw them false start.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
Ass kickers.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
Winning.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
Winning a lot.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^
Pain
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December 28th, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^
And a coach that is respected and feared by his own players and opponents alike. Kind of like a Team coached by Bo.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^
That have bladders full of excellence.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^
Wisconsin but with good QB play
December 28th, 2014 at 5:25 PM ^
11 men on punt teams.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
Everyone knows we us 10
December 28th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
Develops players and coaches
December 28th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
Develops players and coaches
December 28th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
Physical
December 28th, 2014 at 5:32 PM ^
The offenses are centered around a power run game. The QB by nature of guys he has had since Luck are not necessarily dual threat but "mobile" enough. So it would be a lot like Carr's offenses IMO. But he has had less "statue" QBs than Carr recruited. The only guy I can think of anywhere similar to the type of QBs Harbaugh has been utilizing in recent Michigan history is Tate Forcier. But Smith was inherited at SF so not sure if it counts as a guy Harbaugh "wants" as he shipped him away. Kap and Luck are of that mold - a Russell Wilson type would also fit the kind of guy Harbaugh wants.
The defense is difficult to answer - Stanford didnt have talent early and Harbaugh flew through 3 DCs until Fangio showed up. Harbaugh is not a defensive coach just like Meyer isn't. That is Fangio's D he has enjoyed for half a decade so its not so much a Harbaugh thing. For D, you have to look at what Durkin will bring.
For the team overall, high demands, high motors, expectations of excellence, dont fear anyone, have belief in yourselves. He took a horrid Stanford team and beat Carroll's USC team at its height in year 1. Then destroyed them 2 years later.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^
Has Fangio been listed as someone who would follow Harbaugh? He has been amazing with the Niners. (Note: I know Durkin's name has been thrown around a lot, and I admittedly know nothing about the guy.)
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December 28th, 2014 at 6:00 PM ^
No. Some are saying he will is a serious HC candidate for 49ers (along with their DL coach) but either way he is an NFL guy - his only non NFL year was Harbaugh's last year at Stanford. His career has been NFL. With all the smoke around Durkin he seems to be the guy. Fangio would have been a coup.
I wrote a piece on Durkin a few days ago - you can go look it up if you want some Durkin info. Short story, coached as ST for Harbaugh - high energy, positive, 36 years old, DC at Florida under Muschamp for 2 years. Big time recruiter supposedly.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
Harbaugh offered Forcier a scholarship at Stanford, FWIW.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
Because it is impossible to "flunk" out of Stanford as it is at Michigan.
December 28th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^
Stanford's undergraduate admission standards are among the highest. Michigan accepts a broader range. The profs have similar expectations; the undergraduate climates are as different as the weather.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
Really? wow. Interesting. Well like I said, that is the only QB I can think of in recent history that is a Harbaugh type in terms of play on the field. Can't see Tate lasting long off the field with Jimbo!
December 28th, 2014 at 6:37 PM ^
With a coach that demanded discipline and commitment maybe Tate and Hagerup wouldn't have had the problems that they did.
December 28th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^
The coaches wold have made sure those two had no time to get into trouble.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:37 PM ^
The one hallmark of a Harbaugh coached team that is indeed extant and something we would do well to experience at the moment is development leading to improvement. I dare say that the rest of the hallmarks sort of extend out from that particular core trademark. If we get the one thing, I am pretty sure we get to experience the others.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
Scissor kick Angela Lansbury, or was that Bill Brasky?
December 28th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
Scissor kick Angela Lansbury, or was that Bill Brasky?
December 28th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
Scissor kick Angela Lansbury, or was that Bill Brasky?
December 28th, 2014 at 5:39 PM ^
Scissor kick Angela Lansbury, or was that Bill Brasky?
December 28th, 2014 at 5:41 PM ^
They practice hard AND execute.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
Being fully aware.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:42 PM ^
high motor, coach's kid, heady, white, deceptively fast
/s
December 28th, 2014 at 5:57 PM ^
All attributes of white players. It was a joke. It's how all commentators try to make white guys sound athletic.
December 28th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^
So, in a word, "gritty"
December 28th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
Yo, check out this video. JH last game at Stanford. Jake Butt, Ian Bunting, and Chris Clark will destroy B1G defenses.
http://youtu.be/XndGCPcS1zg
December 28th, 2014 at 6:03 PM ^
It was criminal how underutilized Butt was last year. IMO the most talented player on offense. (Yes better than Funchess at HIS specific position)
December 28th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
Development of talent, team toughness, & no entitlement. I'm sure there are many other things that he will bring, but those 3 are what I'm looking for right from the start!
December 28th, 2014 at 5:50 PM ^
The Hallmark is having opposing coaches ask him "What's your deal?" after Jim's well coached team destroys the opposing team.