NYT Slams Harbaugh for SF roster decisions; says he "skedaddled" to Michigan
Buried in his Monday Morning QB article at the NYT, Gregg Easterbrook opines thusly:
"Two years ago, T.M.Q. took a lot of heat from San Francisco fans — who at the time actually were San Francisco fans — for saying Colin Kaepernick couldn’t run a pro-style offense and is prone to “sailing the ball where no receiver awaits.” Repeatedly in the contested portion of the Seahawks contest, Kaepernick sailed the ball beyond anyone’s reach. Adjusting for sacks and scrambles, Kaepernick dropped back to pass 30 times for a net of 81 yards gained, an awful 2.7 yards per dropback. Trying to convert Kaepernick into a pro-style pocket passer simply hasn’t worked. The Niners either should employ him as a college-style running quarterback, or switch to Blaine Gabbert."
"It hasn’t helped that Santa Clara sank a bundle of high draft choices into wide receivers Michael Crabtree, A.J. Jenkins and Stevie Johnson, none of whom remain with the team. The Niners’ 2012 draft ranks among the all-time woofers. Jenkins and LaMichael James, selected in the first and second rounds, already are O.O.F. — Out of Football. No one else from that draft remains with the franchise."
"Jim Harbaugh arrived at the Niners in 2010, with the team on a talent upswing — NaVorro Bowman, Anthony Davis, Frank Gore, Mike Iupati, Joe Staley, Patrick Willis, others. Harbaugh took the credit for a few good seasons, then skedaddled as the impact of player personnel decisions with which he concurred, including the 2012 draft, became apparent. Getting out of town before people realize what you’ve done to the team — Harbaugh heading to Michigan, Pete Carroll fleeing U.S.C. in 2010 — is essential for many megabucks coaches."
In response, all I can say is, WTF?
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/28/upshot/so-whats-the-patriots-secret-t…
Edit: Easterbrook's main point is that Harbaugh endorsed the player personnel decisions made in the 2012 draft; after LaMichael James was released in September 2014, only OG Joe Looney was left from the '12 draft. I don't know enough about the situation in the 49ers front office back then—is it true that Harbaugh was on board with the draft choices, or was he handed the picks against his own better judgement? Out of all the criticisms leveled against JH, this is the first time I've heard anybody argue that he's a lousy judge of talent.
October 27th, 2015 at 6:25 PM ^
October 27th, 2015 at 4:35 PM ^
Tom Friedman is brilliant and should be in charge of our foreign policy. David Brooks is brilliant and a good writer. Other than that, the NYT is dead to me.
October 27th, 2015 at 4:41 PM ^
that a lot of the friction between Harbaugh and the owner/management stemmed from him not having a sufficient say in the personnel decisions, so I think it a great leap of logic for the writer to just assume he "concurred" with them, when all the evidence is there to suggest that he absolutely did not.
The personnel decisions being questioned here were exactly the reason he left.
October 27th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^
I am shocked, shocked to learn that TMQ has inaccuries and oversimplifications written from its ivory tower!
October 27th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^
I'm so over Harbaugh and NFL talk...not directed at anyone on here. But people in the media cannot let coach of the Jim Harbaugh and NFL discussion. It's been almost a year. Leave it alone.
Nick Saban coached in the NFL at one point too...bring his name up.
October 27th, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
Easterbrook is a moron. Among many moments in idiocy, back in 2008 he was peddling the insanely implausible, 100% Grade A bullshit story that Rich Rod was negotiating for the Michigan job PRIOR to West Virginia's 2007 national-title-chance-ending loss to Pitt:
http://mgoblog.com/content/unverified-voracity-lists-insultees
Guy has less than zero credibility to opine about any subject, ever.
October 27th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
his presumptions trump facts, and he enjoys it. Not worth reading.
October 27th, 2015 at 5:17 PM ^
who gives a shit what happened in sf. look at michigan and see him take a crappy team and turned it around.
October 27th, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^
There is plenty of salt in the pacific ocean maybe that's where he gets his salty attitude from
October 27th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^
I've done a very thorough analysis of the matter, and I conclude that Mr. Easterbrook is on the money. It's true that there are no more '12 draftees on the team. Clearly Jimmy has no eye for pro talent, and no ablity to develop pro talent. On the other hand, may I suggest pro teams consider looking in Westwood or Columbus to seek out those top flight coaches?
October 27th, 2015 at 5:30 PM ^
LOL. Stevie Johnson was a 7th round pick by the Bills and is still a good player. Crabs was before Harbaugh and looks good in Oakland.
October 27th, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^
October 27th, 2015 at 6:28 PM ^
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October 27th, 2015 at 8:23 PM ^
Once you figure out what you G A F about, let me know and I will either confirm or not. Awesome post.
October 27th, 2015 at 7:41 PM ^
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October 27th, 2015 at 7:46 PM ^
I think the reporter has not seen "Draft Day". It is not the coach who picks the team, the GM does. Stafford is supposed to be so much better than Colin. Look what he is doing with arguably the best WR in the game. John Harbaugh has lost 6 games this year and he won a SuperBowl. S*** happens and sometimes it is beyond a roster decision in one or two drafts. Ask Millen. It took him literally years to destroy the Lions.
October 27th, 2015 at 9:05 PM ^
October 27th, 2015 at 9:27 PM ^
FUCK THE NYT!!!!!
HARBAUGH!!!
October 27th, 2015 at 11:13 PM ^
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October 28th, 2015 at 8:54 AM ^
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October 28th, 2015 at 10:09 AM ^
never not a sanctimonious dipshit.
October 29th, 2015 at 12:05 AM ^