. . . to paraphrase Mr. Mojo Risin’ himself, Jim Morrison.
As far as the story that won’t go away goes, and all this hyperventilating about the Harbaugh trade to the Browns, the one thing to come out of it is the notion that Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke are not pals. As in, they can’t be in the same room together, and they now communicate strictly by email. Now I’m not a huge proponent of Kumbaya, peace, love, granola, and all that shit in the workplace, but really, we’re poised at the edge of the 2014 draft, and the head coach and General Manager aren’t talking? Not a good scenario.
The Niners very recently travelled this road when sloppy Scotty McLoughan was canned a month before the 2010 draft, and Baalke took over as the interim GM. Of course that draft netted Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati, Navorro Bowman, Nate Bynam, Anthony Dixon, KW, and Phillip Adams. The only really bad guys from that draft, for us anyway, were Taylor Mays and Nate Bynam, although they are still in the league. So, maybe a little turmoil is good. But I’m not too happy to hear about all this shit right before the draft.
Throw in the apparent problems between Harbaugh and Greg Roman regarding play calling, and the recent uproar around the Harbaugh trade, there seems to be power struggles at every turn. All centering on Jim Harbaugh. And to me, this is the crux of the biscuit. Harbaugh wants more control. From the draft perspective, and from the play calling side as well. All the while he’s been stonewalled in his attempts to negotiate a contract extension with the 49er front office. Which leads me to believe he wants top money. Lets’s say the $9-10 million range? In other words, he wants Super Bowl money, even though he hasn’t delivered a Super Bowl.
Harbaugh’s point appears to be, well, I need to make the personnel decisions to GET us to the promised land. That’s fairly easy to infer from all these machinations going on. Also the play calling aspect. As I wrote a few threads ago, this team is in transition as to how the offense is built, the players they have, and the plays they are calling. There was a link to a story that addressed this very thing. About how the team is building itself to evolve into a more wide open offense as the old guard power running guys leave or retire. Of course the main thread of THAT story didn’t have the notion that the HC and GM can’t look at each in the eye, and that Greg Roman is becoming a puppet in his job.
So, this situation has become a lot more than offseason speculation and the nothing-to-talk-about news cycle. Although this certainly feeds into that in a big way. If this power struggle really is as bad as the noise suggests, Harbaugh is certainly the guy holding the aces. When he came here the 49ers, from top to Singletary’s flashing bottom, were seen as a national joke. A team with perennial high draft picks who managed to find new and intersting ways to lose. Head coaches who couldn’t design an offense other than Gore right, Gore left, Gore up the middle, punt. A front office of mid-level managers all wandering around the building with no direction or purpose.
Harbaugh comes in, and with little time with the team due to the lockout, takes them to the NFC Championship game in year 1, the Super Bowl in year 2, and the NFCCG in year 3. So, which piece is essential? It certainly isn’t Baalke. Or Roman. Strange days, indeed. Young Sir Jed has his hands full all of a sudden.
Forty Niners Forever 
Well the only thing with that is that this might be about Baalke’s job, not about money. As in Jim wants more control over the draft and personnel decisions. I’m sure everyone goes into lockdown mode now, so we won’t hear anything for a while.
I had $7.5 mill as his number. That’s near the top of all the coaches out there, and Fisher’s getting $7 mill from the Rams, so that sounds about right. Just get something done. If he wants to be the highest paid coach, what’s another $500,000? $8 mill? Fuck I don’t care. None of this is cap money so give him $7.75 . . .
Sean Payton is the high water mark at 8 mil but just to put it in perspective, Harbaugh gets 5 mil, to go past 8 is an incredible jump and he has a total of 3 years in the NFL and has not won a SB. Reid and Belichick at 7.5 and pete the cheat, fischer and Shanny are next at 7.
Does Harbaugh really deserve to be paid more than 8 mil?
That’s just it Chuck, I don’t think this is completely about his salary.
The FO dynamic is such that the GM is the architect.
Upsetting that dynamic is tantamount to roster suicide.
Ego’s are a tough thing to reign in once out of control.
It’s a chemistry thing.
I’m confident that Baalke has the eye for the talent aspect of this roster, as he’s largely put this thing together.
We’ll see whether cooler heads prevail here.
12th that’s the headscratcher here, for me anyway.
Is it about salary or control?
I’m with Baalke, seeing as he’s got a track record of talent evaluation as a Scout.
Sure, Harbaugh has an opinion and, likely believes his ways are best but, this involves structure and focus to maintain a competitive roster.
Especially with the Cap complications that play a heavy role in the equation.
I think it’s both NJ. Harbs is a classic control freak and that has been his MO. I also think he needs to feed his ego with a bigger contract than the FO is willing to give absent a SB win.
If it comes down to a choice I believe they will keep Baalke and can Harbaugh but I don’t think they want to make a choice. It will be up to Harbaugh to decide just how much he is willing to settle for. I don’t see the FO taking any personnel power away from Baalke or them paying Harbs what he apparently wants. Is Harbs wiling to settle for less or roll the dice on this season and hope he has more leverage next go around?
Why wouldn’t they give Jimi the “trigger” on who to sign? Baalke’s hurt feelings this time? I don’t get it please explain why York will alienate the $5 million man over GM at whatever lesser salary? Control proxy for Jed to be the biggest big shot? Pretty piss poor reason if so. Is Jed so addicted to control that he will “can” Jimi when Jimi wants more control?
Suicidal methinks
That would be the rational choice for me too 12th.
HC salaries aren’t Cap influenced.
Jed would be likely be thrilled to pay Jim for the hardware, it’s what this game is all about.
I’m on the Baalke side of this dilema as well.
Jim is one competive SOB.
It works on the field, not so much in the FO.
I just read your boy Archer ran the 40 in the least amount of steps (18) tying the record with Megatron. Amazing for a kid his size to have that stride length.
Am I too high on this kid 12th?
I think he’s an absolute nightmare to contend with.
Like he’s shot from a cannon.
Tavon Autin without the 1st RD money.
Draft him! 😀
Phil, just because the HC wants the say over personnel is not a reason to give it. The team was built by pro GM’s and it is top notch. A college coach jumps to the NFL to a loaded team and does well with it for 3 years while the GM continues adding pieces to it and you think it’s a good idea to just hand him the keys? What do you base your decision on? Harbs also has conflict with Marathe, maybe Harbs should negotiate contracts too?
The organization has structure and the HC has his place in it. He needs to turn down the ego and coach his team and worry more about play calling, calling time outs and not being a dick to the ref’s, stuff like that.
If he can be had in the 3rd I take him, my fear is will they use him?
You base this decision on the team Jim Harbaugh built at Stanford. Stanford was nothing, then Harbaugh came along and took a school with limited scholarships because of standard and actually competed with the rest of the nation while being handicapped. Harbaugh recruited them. That’s what you base your decision on. And he won an Orange Bowl. How often do Standford teams win Bowl games?
12th axed: “Phil, just because the HC wants the say over personnel is not a reason to give it. The team was built by pro GM’s and it is top notch.”
And 12 it is a proven fact this team cannot win the big one as currently built. Who is willing to see it happen AGAIN in 2014? Certainly not Jimi who a resourceful, successful football man.
See also Spit’s recap of Harbaugh’s track record above for the rest of my case which I now rest.
I need to take a walk around the block because I take exception to you calling me a liar? I provided proof what I said was true, did I miss your apology somehow or are you just too small to give it?
College and Pro is not the same animal. Is there a current successful HC wearing the GM hat also? There is a reason for that.
Trying to follow your logic Phil. The Niners have arguably the best roster in the NFL and you somehow believe Harbaugh can do better? Even better is that the lack of winning the SB you somehow attribute to Baalke? Seriously?
Phil it’s also plausible, that we didn’t win the big one because Kaep is locked onto Crabtree, in the biggest play of the bigger games?
That can be evenly argued that Coaching isn’t providing better options too.
It’s a rough situation.
Let’s just hope they sort this out, without sinking the ship in the process.
You’re right, 12th. College and the pros aren’t the same…. except you have one problem there…. and his name is Andrew Luck.
Owen Marecic, Doug Baldwin? One superb athlete, a once in a generation guy is how he was described, That’s your raison detr’e ?.
You have your opinion, I have mine.
Doug Baldwin is doing great with Seattle. From what I’ve read, Owen Marecic decided to step away from the game because he was worried about head trauma. That’s a very real concern for a FB who really doesn’t make much money. Risk / reward wasn’t there. He consulted Harbaugh.
There’s a long list of talented Stanford players in the NFL who Harbaugh recruited, but the bottom line is that Harbaugh recruited and got Andrew Luck, and he developed him. But feel free to dismiss this to continue to build your argument.
As usual you missed the point but I’ve run out of crayons for one night.
I didn’t miss your point. I made a new one. New point: Plenty of Stanford players, who Harbaugh recruited, have gone on to have great NFL careers, thus making a good case for Harbaugh to be given more of a job as talent elevator. You keep giving me a voice. Thank you.
Having The Say / The Trigger over who is on the team, who gets drafted, who suits up and plays are different issues from how much we pay players vs available cap space. Paraag needs to say “Jimi you spent all yer allowance and you can’t have the little doggie in the window this year”. Baalke is a good talent evaluator (except WRs)? Fine, evaluate, consult, recommend. Who we draft and sign does not need to be his deal. It can very well be Jimi’s. We win a SB then JH is a genius. If not then are we worse off than now? I say no, not worse off but Jimi got his chance and maybe plays more players someone else drafted. He signs for 5 more years and we have a much better shot at winning # VI. Present structure is not working to win it all = a proven fact. NOT working to win it all period. Why would that change w/ current arrangement? Don’t think so and neither does Jimi. Baalke of course does. But we know the history as currently configured. Plus Hendrix is not signing (and no one else at the moment)
Baalke doesn’t like it, tough. He’s not the one getting paid $7-8 mil a year to win games. Hendrix is. Seattle will grab him but oh well
Reposting:
Having The Say / The Trigger over who is on the team, who gets drafted, who suits up and plays are different issues from how much we pay players vs available cap space. Paraag needs to say “Jimi you spent all yer allowance and you can’t have the little doggie in the window this year”. Baalke is a good talent evaluator (except WRs)? Fine, evaluate, consult, recommend. Who we draft and sign does not need to be his deal. It can very well be Jimi’s. We win a SB then JH is a genius. If not then are we worse off than now? I say no, not worse off but Jimi got his chance and maybe plays more players someone else drafted. He signs for 5 more years and we have a much better shot at winning # VI. Present structure is not working to win it all = a proven fact. NOT working to win it all period. Why would that change w/ current arrangement? Don’t think so and neither does Jimi. Baalke of course does. But we know the history as currently configured. Plus Hendrix is not signing (and no one else at the moment)
Baalke doesn’t like it, tough. He’s not the one getting paid $7-8 mil a year to win games. Hendrix is. Seattle will grab him but oh well
Each facet of the FO has an important role Phil.
Each guy compliments the other, with the ultimate goal of maintaining structure.
Hard to know what the root of the problem is here, as the media isn’t sitting in the room with these guys.
I’m leaning toward a clash of ego’s here.
A good GM isn’t something that comes easy, if I had to choose a side.
HCs are a dime-a-dozen too.
We have a good combination, or so it would seem.
Hate to see it dissolved.
Harmony and common purpose makes a team competitive.
Just hope it’s ironed out in an amicable way.
Naw I don’t buy it. GM can recommend just fine without having the Trigger on who to sign. Singletary had this as HC but Jimi’s not good enough?? Laff!
No harmony in FO under current situation. Fact. No Harbaugh extension. Fact. No winning the big one. Fact X3.
But let’s just let the situation continue and poor little Baalke ‘n Jed’s feelings be spared?
Joke, right? No, change needs to happen w/ Jimi on the trigger and in control making $7+ mil/year.
Fix it Jed
Jim needs a puppet GM like Singletary was afforded. Micheal Lombardi wouldn’t be my first choice, but Lombardi and Harbaugh would get a long…. and they would dictate to Paraage. This is the kind of relationship that needs to happen in Santa Clara. However, Lombardi isn’t the talent evaluator that Baalke is.
The key question that needs to be asked is what’s the difference between a grouping like Harbaugh and Lombardi or Baalke and Tomsula? Who wins more games? In my opinion, Harbaugh and Lombardi dominate Baalke and Tomsula.
In my opinion, Jed York let Mike Singletary force Scot McCloughan out…. and right before the draft. And that’s Singletary. He sucked. Why wouldn’t York let Harbaugh move Baalke? I really can’t fathom Jed York siding this time with Trent Baalke over an actual good coach when Eddie let Bill Walsh walk and letting Walsh walk might be a bigger factor that keeps Eddie D out of the HOF than his gambling issue. If Eddie worked it out with Bill, and they won six or seven Super Bowls together (which they could have if Eddie didn’t put too much pressure on Bill), Eddie could run the mafia and still make the HOF. Maybe not, but stressing Bill out so much that he wanted to retire was a huge mistake that hopefully Jed York can fix, unlike uncle Eddie.
But I will say this much – If Jed York has let this fester this much, which he clearly has, Jed York’s an idiot. Everyone’s calling this “the worst kept secret in the NFL.” This has been going on a for quite a while and Jed never fixed it. In my eyes, that’s a huge problem. To me, that’s on Jed York and I’m not real happy about it. Jed said, “I want a HC and GM who work together in lock step.” The aren’t, and that’s creating huge problems with not only the talent acquisition, but also the overall team philosophies.
I’m sure there have been dysfunctional organizations that won Super Bowls together, but it’s not a plan for sustainability or longevity. My sincere hope is that Jim Harbaugh and Jed York move Trent Baalke out and at some point Jim Harbaugh realizes that it was a mistake to do so. I think that’s the best course of action. Move Trent, find another talent elevator (and Harbaugh can evaluate talent), keep Harbaugh forever, and then when Harbaugh’s old and has perspective he can claim moving Trent was a mistake. But don’t lose Harbaugh. No matter what. Don’t lose that guy.
Spit I liken this to my younger Son, who thinks he’s entitled to everything I pay for, because he grew up in my house.
There’s a structure, pecking order if you will.
As with my kid, who also doesn’t like being told what to do, things are accomplished when everyone does his share.
Harbaugh is a worthy and capable HC, no argument.
I just don’t think he’s accomplished enough to justify giving him more control, if that’s what he’s seeking.
Baalke evaluates the talent, slots the Picks, acquires the talent.
It’s Jims’ job to elevate their game and win on Sunday.
Sure, each guy is important, just do what you’re capable of doing, nothing more, nothing less.
Win the SB, establish leverage.
NJ – No offense, but that’s not right.
Harbaugh’s job bleeds into Baalke’s. That’s why, when Harbaugh was hired, Jed said he wanted a HC and GM working in “lockstep” together. Their jobs overlap each other, they have to. Harbaugh is the more valued and limited commodity, so Harbaugh wins the power struggle because Jed can afford to lose Baalke, but he CANNOT afford to lose Harbaugh. ESPN said on the front of their NFL page, “The 49ers need Jim Harbaugh more than Jim Harbaugh needs the 49ers.” Why? Because Jed York has no clue.
Let’s see, Hendrix built USD, Stanford and the woeful 9ers all into powers. Now they reach a ceiling and fail 3 X winning the big one- but we don’t have enough evidence he’s worthy of as much power Jed was willing to give Singletron? Or not enough evidence Jimi knows something about acquiring talent, building programs and winning?
Really NJ? So what does Jimi have to do to build yer confidence?
I’m quite confident he’s da Man and Baalke needs to step aside or out whatever. Bring in Mike Lombardi or someone who can work with Jimi. I’m quite confident we’re not winning the big one they way the FO is now. I’m not willing to “give it one more year the way it is” and see if we get lucky.
Fix it Jed
100% agree: Good recap of the York failure to address this dysfunctional relationship. Just do it Jed! Jaysus already man.
Here’s the fix: “My sincere hope is that Jim Harbaugh and Jed York move Trent Baalke out and at some point Jim Harbaugh realizes that it was a mistake to do so. I think that’s the best course of action. Move Trent, find another talent elevator (and Harbaugh can evaluate talent), keep Harbaugh forever, and then when Harbaugh’s old and has perspective he can claim moving Trent was a mistake. But don’t lose Harbaugh. No matter what. Don’t lose that guy.”
Is Jed suicidal as regards our favorite team (and his)? Give up the control issue son and we can all move forward. Let’s not experience another York failure to know what’s best for the Niners!
Truthfully, I don’t think Jed wants to decide between them.
Ideally he’d find a way to settle the squabble for the good of the team.
The mediator role.
Nobody wins in a death duel of this sort.
It cripples progress.
Good owners allow the football decisions to be made by football people.
His job is to get the house in order.
Eddie interfered with Bill Spit, created yet another dimension of stress that didn’t need to be applied.
It’s not the Eddi era any longer. You can’t scream and rant and meddle as he did, because talent can’t just be bought off the street at any price.
Today’s structure is too complex and unforgiving when mistakes are made.
If Baalke blew too many Picks I’d cite him as a problem within the process.
Thus far, his track record speaks for itself.
Our roster is deep and talented now.
My vote is not to upset the structure.
Players play. Coaches coach.
If Paraag squandered Cap space on deadbeat Contracts, he’d be replaced too.
Each guy has a job to do.
One HC can’t rewrite the business model.
One would think, Phil, that Eddie D would pull Jed York aside and say to him…. “Look, I lost Bill and people never forgot that I couldn’t make it work with Bill. We could have won 10 Super Bowls together with patience and communication. Don’t lose Jim Harbaugh like I lost Bill Walsh.” I would sincerely hope that Eddie would have this conversation with his nephew.
And you know what? I guarantee next year Jim Harbaugh will be the coach of the 49ers. So that means that over the course of an entire year, Jed York gets to hear it from fans that letting Jim Harbaugh go would be the worst mistake of Jed York’s lifetime. It’ll take Jed some time to figure it out. But eventually the court of public opinion will decide in favor of Jim Harbaugh over Trent Baalke.
NJ – That’s all well and good, and I agree with you that ideally everyone gets a long. But what if Harbaugh and Baalke never again get along? That’s not sustainable. And I agree Jed doesn’t want to make that decision. But if Jed has to, down the road, Baalke’s gone. 49er fans won’t let Jed move Harbaugh.
Nothing gets accomplished until everyone understands his place Spit.
Jed has to get this situation focused on the common goal.
It’s been a disappointment to get to the summit, only to be stopped short.
Jed is paying both guys to win.
If harmony and focus can’t be restored, futher turmoil is the only option.
If it’s simply about salary, I’d say Jed could easily fix it with a bump and added incentives.
I think it’s more than that.
This is about settling the differences, which a good Owner has to do.
Call a sit-down, scream it out, get back to doing what got them here.
Team Work.
12 sez mysteriously;
“12th man says:
February 25, 2014 at 12:07 am
I need to take a walk around the block because I take exception to you calling me a liar? I provided proof what I said was true, did I miss your apology somehow or are you just too small to give it?”
12 what are you referring to here? I have no idea. You call me out for calling you a “liar” WTF?
Relax, we disagree on the GM issue
Phil, 12th was talking to me. Hopefully he did take that walk…..
Not you Phil, Spitty here called me a liar twice because he couldn’t find an article I referred to so I posted it for him.
I don’t mind a disagreement or differing point of view but take exception to being called a liar in an effort to dismiss what I said. Its cheap.
Dirt cheap… like your undies.
And your mouth.
Wait… I thought you were taking the high road? What happened to the high road?
Oh 12 was talking to Spit. lol. Nevermind
What’s fun (secretly, between you and me, Phil) is that 12th got into the name calling business, took offense, then tried to take the high road looking for an apology. That, to me, is a good time. But I’ll admit I’m demented.
Maybe but yer sober too my friend. Well 12s okay, yer okay, I’m okay, Dennis is so-so…
So you’re saying I need to be better than that? Could be… Could be…
Find a name I called you Spit. Nearest to anything like that is I said you are being naive.
The reason you decided I was lying is because you couldn’t find the quote I referenced and it is unfathomable to you that the Browns didn’t offer a first for Harbaugh so you decided I was piling on and lying.
I don’t have to satisfy you of anything. I have satisfied myself of the events that led to this “revelation” of Baalke and Marathe not getting along that Kawakami reported on in December.
You don’t want to believe it OK.
Should read Baalke and Marathe not getting along with Harbaugh.
Baalke has proven to be a pretty masterful talent at handling the Draft process too.
Look around the League at guys that have Drafted high for a number of years yet, can’t make any progress.
Holmgren thought he was invincible at one point too.
Demanded, and received ultimate control in Seattle after successes in GB.
It’s not a simple process.
Coaching is a full time job.
Focus on doing it completely and properly.
Jim has missed the prize 3 years running.
It’s great to be there but, improvements have to be made.
That’s on Baalke and Harbaugh.
Suck it up, shake the other guys’ hand and, get back to work.
Yup.
Harbaugh and Lombardi, or Baalke and Tomsula? I’ll take Harbaugh and Lombardi every day of the week and twice on Sunday….. when it counts.
Looks like 12th doesn’t want to take this one on….
How many College coaches would jump at the opportunity Harbaugh was given with this roster?
It’s almost a no-brainer.
SF is a top tier franchise with good depth and no Cap constraints.
Take a look at Jerruh in Dallas.
He’s something like $20M OVER the Cap, changing coaches like he changes his mind.
There’s dysfunction and then there’s Dallas.
Ego’s have no place in this game.
Lombardi the trophy? Me too.
Lombardi of the Raiders and Browns?
Not exactly high-holy NFL ground in my book Spit.
Lombardi benefitted from his time in SF. Pre Salary Cap.
When Drafting wasn’t as big a piece of overall success as it is now.
Eddie bought many of those Lombardi’s with FA talent.
Since then?
TV and not much more of any significance.
IMO, GMs are the tougher piece to replace.
Let’s hope neither piece has to be replaced.
Sweet Christmas, NJ. Just pick one. I didn’t ask for your recap of the man’s credentials. You know good god damn well I’m referring to Micheal Lombardi of the NFL Network and Cleveland Brown. Now pick. Lombardi and Harbaugh or Baalke and Tomsula? Don’t make me take a walk….
LOL Spit, relax Brother, you know what I’m saying.
My GM is Baalke.
If you have to go to Tomsula, so be it.
Harbaugh might be overplaying his hand at this point.
They need to duke this thing out and realize, it doesn’t get much better then it is right now in SF.
I vote for scheduling a Festivus moment before the Draft.
A traditional ‘Airing of Grievances’ dinner with Jed and Staff would do the trick.
Lol. But it’s coming because this is not getting resolved. Jed needs to step up
Maybe Jed needs to cut that Festivus Pole into a couple of 3′ lengths and beat some sense into his GM and HC before the appetizers arrive?
A true Spitblood moment.
Knock a little sense into his upper management duo and get them back to work.
I’m up fer it NJ. Chuck should issue them around here as well!
GMs are the tougher pieces to replace? Horse cookies! Jim Caldwell, Ken Whizzerhurts and Mike Pettini? Those are your recent NFL hires.
Right now we could grab Micheal Lombardi, Scot McCloughan, Scott Pioli (who build the Chiefs and is now with the Falcons) and if I did research I could easily find you five or even ten more good GM candidates. You can’t say the same for head coaches in the NFL.
Lombardi and Harbaugh or Baalke and Tomsula? Pick.
built
Why not throw Mike Tannenbaum in there too.
Very few GMs get recycled.
Once they’re cast aside, as was the case with Pioli and Tannenbaum, there’s the realization that they failed miserably at doing what they were initially hired to do.
Tannenbaum Cap strapped the NYJ with guaranteed Contracts AND, Sanchez and Tebow.
Pioli couldn’t Draft the proper pieces. Traded a Pick for Matt Cassel too.
I’ll take Baalke if forced to take a side.
Chip Kelly proved he can Coach, as did Harbaugh.
There’s plenty of Coaches to pick from.
Fewer options at GM.
Scot Pioli couldn’t draft the proper pieces? 3/5th of the Chiefs’ starting O line was drafted by Pioli. He drafted McCluster, Hemingway, Jackson, Poe, and Berry. He wasn’t great, but Pioli and Harbaugh would dominate Baalke and Tomsula. Plus we’d keep our coaching staff together.
Don’t you mean “Why not muddy the water with Tannenbaum? Hell, while we’re at it, let’s offer up Jeff Ireland. That way we can really muddy the water.
“There’s plenty of Coaches to pick from.
Fewer options at GM.”
Okay, NJ. Let’s research two lists. Your top ten head coaches who could be available today to replace Harbaugh vs my top ten GMs who could be available today to replace Baalke. These guys can’t make lateral moves. They have to get promoted. And a college job to an NFL job is considered a promotion. You ready?
I’m not keanly aware of the talent in terms of College Coaches Spit.
Safe to say it’s more of a gamble to recycle a GM IMO.
Give me your assessment and I’ll give it some thought as to who I’d consider beyond Tomsula.
No, no, no….saying you’re not aware only proves my point. There aren’t any good head coaching candidates out there. And surely, with your reseach skills, you can find a good head coaching candidate, or ten. I can find ten good GMs with some research. I promise you that. But you and I need to do it together. I’m not producing a list and having you shred it to pieces like you just did with Pioli. Grow a pair and do some reseach, or you prove my point.
I’ll put together my list. You put together your list.
Yes everyone should do their job HC+GM+salary cap dude but where we are now is Jimi’s not happy and so far there is no agreement on extension and whatever else. If Jimi wants more power/control in drafting certain player I say give it to him so he will actually play LMJ for example and gives us a better chance to win DO IT. Current structure is dysfunctional and it’s not going to change w/o changes being made. Going back to same old same old will not produce better results. This is a suggestion to address another problem area for us. We have discussed our limitations in passing O, play calling, cap space etc and this is one more limitation.
A mentioned our #1 issue is making Jimi happy in a reasonable way that works for the team and the rest will take care of itself. At this point for the reasons mentioned elsewhere I do not see us progressing without the baalkebaugh power struggle being resolved. Jed doesn’t want to lose Baalke but he’s going to have to make a choice before he loses Jimi.
We’re too dysfunctional to win it all at = from the top = HC/GM relationship
NJ, NJ, NJ…. what am I going to do with you? You’re taking Baalke and Tomsula over Harbaugh and Lombardi? That’s beneath you, brother I honestly thought better of you. I know you love the draft, so do I. And this love for the draft could be clouding your Baalke judgement, but I could name 10 GMs to replace Baalke and that would dwarf you list of 10 head coaching candidates to replace Harbaugh. I’ve already given three who could rival Baalke, but you’ve given me none who could rival Harbaugh. What’s my point? Harbaugh’s the better man.
Spit they’re both worth their weight to this team.
All kidding aside, it sounds like a good old fashioned power struggle is ensuing.
Jed has to get these guys focused.
Remind them that no one wins if they lose focus onthe team.
I’ll remain optimistic that cooler heads will prevail.
Me too, but look at my post at 1:40. I’m callin’ your ass out.
The question at the heart of the current debate is who is the ultimate authority in the organiztion. The head coach, the GM or the President? Whoever it is, apparently Jed in this instance, needs to better define the roles of the others.
Whatever the extent of Harbaugh’s authority, I believe his first and most important job is to coach. IOW teach or more accurately, supervise the teaching. Does anyone think his job of ensuring that the players are learning to perform their assignments is so complete that he needs more things to occupy himself with?
I don’t.
Does anyone think that the players he had available to teach and play were lacking talent and lacking to the point of being the reason we couldn’t win? I don’t. And I’d suggest the games which ended our Harbaugh seasons were not lost because we just didn’t have the right players.
As 12th man and NJ49er have already asserted, just coaching the players we have is plenty for a head coach to handle. And I’m pretty sure he himself has found it necessary on ocassion to admonish his players, “just do your job and let the guy next to you do his.” I think it’s advise he could take to heart.
Many have loudly and often objected to our failure to develop or use younger players who should have been able to make an impact but couldn’t get playing time. Do they now think that was Baalke’s fault?
Lots of coaches with more pelts on the wall than Harbaugh aren’t causing hate and discontent over wanting more power and over folks that by all accounts are pretty good at their jobs, too.
Get ahead of this one, Jed and handle it. -Papa
I agree with everything you just wrote, NoFear. However, it doesn’t get to the heart of the issue. The heart of the issue is sustainability. Can these guys work together for the length of Colin Kaepernick’s career? Do you know when Bill Belichick will retire? When Tom Brady does. If you have a super star qb, which takes years to find one, you ride that pony until the cows come home. Jed’s mission is to put the pieces around Colin Kaepernick for Kaep’s entire career. But I digress.
The issue is sustainability. I agree, in a perfect world, Jed writes the checks, Jim coaches and Trent evaluates the talent. 100% in agreement with you. But if two guys don’t get along (two guys who absolutely must work together) then something’s gotta give.
Kaep gonna be our qb for maybe fifteen years. Jim Harbaugh will coach for maybe 15 years. Better find a way to make that relationship your number one priority. You can always find another GM. A coach like Harbaugh only comes around once a decade. Actually, longer than a decade.
Here, here NoFear49er.
The old game of ‘who’s in charge of this dept?’
FBI vs CIA.
We go this far, they go from there.
Get this sh!t ironed out.
There’s a Draft to prepare for.
If you’re not with us, you’re against us.
Both guys on this end of the rope, 1..2..3.. PULL.
Nicely put NF.
In twenty five minutes, I’ve found five good GM candidates. Not a single retread. I’m going to blow your ass out of the water. “GMs are harder to find?” My ass.
Go for it.
Tannenbaum was doing the NFL Network circuit not long ago with Pioli, I’m sure they’re available.
Just the same, I wouldn’t hire either of them.
I’d take my chances with a deserving College Coach, even before I’d hire Chucky.
I’m not one to shred someone’s efforts Spit.
Just saying I don’t follow College programs like I follow the Pro game.
I’ll do my due dilegence, and make a reasoned attempt.
Christ, I’d take the SF GM job for pennies on the dollar if Jed would have me.
You know me, I’m a Jr GM intern.
Been doing it for years, for nothing other than my own enjoyment.
Whatever Jed is paying Baalke, I’d do for half price.
H3LL, I could do a better job than Jerruh is doing in Dallas.
Problem there is, I’d purposely screw it up, just because it’s Jerruh’s team.
No incentive for me there.
Now, SF?
I’m down for that action in a NY minute.
Don’t forget to put me on your list. 😀
One guy I would consider off the top of my head, because NoFear49er reminded me of him on Skeebs’ site last week is, Charlie Weis.
You’re gonna have to do better than Charlie Weis, son. I’ve got some dandies.
You’re putting me on the spot Spit.
My wheels are turning Brother.
If I were the GM, I’d consider Berger as my Offensive Coordinator, since he seems to have an answer for the SCO.
But, I’d have to have a HC in place first before that could occur.
Tell you what would be interesting.
Mike Leach reunited with Crabtree.
Kaep would get to air it out with Leach and his favorite target.
Instant Contract extensions.
See?
I’m thinking like a GM now.
Here’s a fast, though not necessarily complete list, of possible considerations for a replacement HC – In no particular order…..
I would look to another NFL teams’ Coaching ranks too.
Something I’d have to do some additional research on of course.
Jim Tomsula – SF
Rob Chudzinski
Charlie Weis
Kirk Ferentz – Iowa
Brian Kelly – ND
Bob Stoops – OK
Chris Petersen – Boise St
Les Miles – LSU
Mike Leach – WA St
Jimbo Fisher – FSU
Tomsula’s an Arena League coach who knows the D line, but that’s about it. Rob Chudzinski was so good, Cleveland fired him. Charlie Weis isn’t even getting consideration in the NFL with current vacancies, and was fired from a college football job. Bob Stoops is vanilla. I have a buddy who went to Oklahoma and we’ve been watching and talking OU football since the Peterson days. Stoops hasn’t done much… even when the team was good. In my opinion, Les Miles is the only head coach on this list I’d even consider, and most of the time college coaches don’t make good NFL coaches. Harbaugh and Kelly are the exceptions, not the rule. Les would be a risk, but interesting.
And I don’t think any one of the these guys could take the 49ers to the playoffs. Not if they had to out-fox Arians, Fisher and Carroll. No chance.
No offense but if I was in charge you guys would be fired on the spot. Crying over a coach is ridiculous. If he wants more power let him WALK! To HELL with him! And PAY him what he wants so he can be happy? In the real world you guys would be eaten alive. Jed has to call the shots and knock some heads! If he can’t do it then he should resign forthwith.
I think I’d say we agree there Nipper.
Harbaugh was hired to Coach the roster Baalke largely assembled.
Jed was put in place to manage the team.
Jim, you Coach.
Trent, you build and manitain the roster.
Paraag, you work the Contracts with Trent.
Got it?
Good.
Get back to work.
Order up 1 6′ Festivus Pole. Aluminum of course.
Cut it into 2 3′ lengths.
Arrange a dinner meeting, preferably a banquet hall with a dance floor.
Jed invites, no, demands, attendance from Trent and Jim, maybe Paraag.
Jed gets a stopwatch.
Paraag gets a whistle.
Trent gets 1 3′ piece of the Festivus Pole, Jim the other.
Clear the dance floor.
Jed sets the watch for 3 mins and orders appetizers.
On Jed’s signal, Trent and Jim move to the dance floor, Fetivus Poles in hand.
Jed sets time, Paraag whistles the end of the 3 min period on Jeds’ command.
1..2..3, start swinging.
That’s a pretty good metaphor fer what we have right now- with us as spectators.
I’ll prioritize my list in the order I’d want them hired.
1.) Eric DeCosta. Assistant GM to Baltimore Ravens. I read that DeCosta is Ozzie’s right hand man and certainly going to get a GM job soon. Even Ozzie credits him for playing a significant role in the Ravens’ two Super Bowls. Harbaugh connection. The two would probably get along.
2.) Marc Ross. New York Giants Vice President of Player Evaluations. Youngest college director ever in the NFL with Eagles at 27, now 40 years old. Credited by current Giants’ GM, Jerry Reese, as being responsible for finding Hakeem Nicks, Jason Piere Paul, Mario Manningham and unrestricted free agent, Victor Cruz.
3.) Matt Russell. Director of Player Personnel for Denver. Highly thought of by John Elway. San Diego wanted them as the GM when they fired AJ Smith. Denver blocked them from hiring him because they were in the same division.
4.) Tom Gable. We all know him. Currently Director of Pro Personnel in Philly. Recently interviewed for both the Bucs and Dolphins jobs.
5.) Omar Khan, Pittsburgh’s Director of Football Admin. Previously worked as a scout for the Saints.
6.) David Caldwell. Director of Player Personnel, Falcons. Interviewed for Colts’ GM job,. Working with Pioli and Dimitroff. Article I read about quoted another GM outside the Falcons organization as saying, “He’s the best GM candidate out there right now.”
7.) Steve Keim: Cardinals Vice President of Player Personnel. Interviewed recently for the Rams GM job.
8.) Jon Robinson, Director of college scouting, Patriots. Worked under Pioli and Dimitroff during the Patriots’ heyday.
9.) Tag Ribary (sp?). Current Seattle Director of Pro Personnel. Pro and college scouting experience with Redskins with Gibbs and Panthers with Dom Capers.
10.) Two guys with the Packers. John Dorsey, Director of Football Operations, and Brian Gutekunst. Gutekunst was hired by Ron Wolf, and recently promoted to current position.
All of these guys have a ton of experience and haven’t been given the chance to be GMs…. yet. Most of these guys, with the one exception that I know of being Tag Ribary (sp?) are young, up and coming GMs who just haven’t gotten their chance yet. A lot like Trent Baalke three years ago…..
Trent Baalke’s 2012 Draft:
1: WR A.J. Jenkins — Illini
2: RB LaMichael James — Ore
4: OL Joe Looney — Wake Forest
5: LB Darius Fleming — ND
6: S Trenton Robinson — Mich St
6: OL Jason Slowey — W Ore
7: DE Cam Johnson — Va
Jim Harbaugh is a once in a decade head coach. Trent Baalke is not a once in a decade GM.
OK Spit, good effort.
Lets see how that plays out.
I don’t fault Baalke for a few missed Picks. Happens to all of them.
By and large, his resume is solid.
We’re in contention, getting better since he took over.
Can’t say the same for guys like Dimitroff, Pioli or Tannebaum.
A noble effort on your part however.
By and Large, Trent Baalke has drafted three starting players in three years, and two of those three were Jim Harbaugh picks in Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid. The other was a top ten selection which better be a starter in Aldon Smith. And you think Baalke’s the irreplaceable one? I don’t. Baalke’s good, but he’s not great. Jim Harbaugh has greatness in him.
What’s largely ovelooked in our scenario Spit, is the condition of our Cap, youth on the roster and, additional Picks at our disposal.
We’re solid in the FO in those terms.
It appears to be, as NoFear49er and I have asserted, that Jed has to bring these 2 into line.
Air it out, identify the grievances, find common ground.
Baalke built the foundation.
It’s upon Harbaugh and his Staff to get this thing functional.
You can’t be autonomous in this business and expect to succeed, as Jim seems to suggest.
And if you can’t find common ground, fire Baalke.
Actually, forget about seeing if they can get along. FIRE TRENT BAALKE NOW!!!!!
Baalke turned Alex into 2 additional Picks while lowering the Cap in the process.
He got Picks for several other Draftees that didn’t cut it either.
There’s a ton more involved with the GM position than the HC has to be concerned with.
Teams fail more often when the GM fails.
The survival rate doesn’t suffer as much with the change at HC.
In a perfect world, the GM hires the HC, as was the case with Harbaugh.
Let’s hope it gets worked out.
We’re making progress, despite the current turmoil.
Complete horseshit. Harbaugh turned Alex into two picks by rejuvenating his career. Without Harbaugh, Smith was worth nothing. And Harbaugh lead the way towards telling the NFL Smith would stay on the roster if the 49ers were compensated. Remember Harbaugh saying “We have the best qb situation in the NFL?” That was all Harbaugh.