Just saw on the ESPN crawl that Jim Harbaugh is ‘torn’ about accepting the Michigan job. His friends and family are encouraging him to take it, but he says he’s curious about what is around in the NFL. In other words, Jimbo is looking for more money. He’s going to play coy and see who writes the biggest check. I still think it’s going to be Michigan after all is said and done.
Frankly, I’m glad. Yeah, this regime of ineptitude could very hire another shitty coach and we go into the toilet again for 4 years, but I don’t see this team as it is currently constituted doing well if everything stays in place. Not that it could even come to pass, but Harbaugh has a habit of doing exactly what he’s doing here and that’s pissing off everyone around him. Not that this is a determining factor to keep a coach, but Harbaugh was handed the keys to a very talented but underachieving team. He basically rode the team by time and again leaning on the defense to make stops and keep the scores low.
For Harbaugh supposedly being an offensive coach, this was curious to me. There’s trying to be smashmouth and there’s constantly leaving points on the field. Whether Smith or Kaepernick was the QB, the offense was a lot like the previous offense. A whole lot of Gore and a whole lot of keeping the scores down. The offensive problems plaguing this team from day one of the Harbaugh era remain. No sense of urgency in getting plays off quickly, using up all of the play clock and more, red zone inefficiencies, and the inexplicable inability to make any kind of offensive adjustments on the fly.
This season it became insanely apparent as the 49ers were able to score pretty well in the first halfs of games, scoring an average of 13 points in the first half, and sucking down to an average of 5 points in the 2nd half of their games this season. This leads me to believe these coaches can game plan during the week pretty well, but when teams adjust things at the half, the 49ers don’t counter the changes they face, and end up fading as the defense ends up playing too much in the end. The 3 wins over NO, NYG, and Washington all followed this path, and the losses to Chi, AZ, Seattle, StL, and Oakland followed this deal. Early leads given up in the 2nd half.
The defense has been able to keep these games close over the years, but not this year. This year’s offense seemed bound and determined to abandon the run completely, and the results are pretty obvious to see. No continuity, massive substitutions and motion, all destined to use up play clock and stow down the offense. The same inane pass plays. Outs and fades. Nothing over the middle anymore. No screens, no slants, nothing to slow down the relentless pressure Kaepernick faced. To the tune of the most sacks in the league.
The game tomorrow? All I can hope for is no injuries as we play out the string.
Forty Niners Forever 
Omg i hope harbaugh doesn’t go to Michigan. We need draft picks
According to the bald dude Harbaugh is gone within 48 hours of the last game. His ass fired! What a fall from grace!
That appears to be what Harby is pushing for.
I saw Bill Cower make a comment on the pre-game about Harbaugh. He was talking about how sometimes a coach has a good situation and doesn’t appreciate it enough. He also talked about getting along with the FO. I forget the exact words but it was mostly about how Harby might end up regretting his self induced departure.
Not if he goes to michigan. He’d be Jesus jr.
there.
There was a huge change Saturday in the play calling by the coaching staff. It was obvious they changed how they deliver plays calls to the field. We got most snaps off with over 10 seconds on the play clock. I am guessing that they called one play in the huddle instead of two and allowed Kap to audible. I did see him audible a few times for the first time this year. Whatever it was, what a difference. We scored 28 points on offense and could have easily scored more if not for penalties and fumbles. It looked like the players were playing instinctively instead of trying to think out the play call. Play calling does matter and this game showed. Let us see how it works next week to verify the success but doesn’t it figure that RoBaugh would learn this just before their departure. My guess is they go back to the old system next week for olde tyme sakes and to prove they really didn’t understand what they did this game.
Del- I have a 49ers Original, Son’s of Harbaugh T-shirt. If you want to wear it I’ll send it to you. I won’t be wearing it.
Yeah, wouldn’t it be something that they figured out how to get plays into the huddle 63 games into their 64 game tenure.
Some don’t want to believe the truth but that is part of play calling. It starts with the coaching staff. They choose the delivery system, the players then carry out the orders whether they are “dumb” or not. Having a system that is easier to execute makes it easier for the players to execute the orders. Funny how that works. Some fans will just never know because the only thing they are worried about is being right instead of knowing what is right.
I’m hoping Frank Gore gets at least 71 yards rushing on Sunday so he can reach the 11,000 yard mark.
There already ready to talk with DC Dan Quinn from the Shithawks for the gig, think he would be a good choice.Besides you can’t beat em have someone join us. Strum up the “Mighty Quinn Music”
Well as much as it sucks to lose. it was a very entertaining game. scored more that 3 and 7 points. TD runs and passes. all in all one of the best games to watch. IMO. yes, yes, winning is the ultimate goal. But after watching this offense flounder for 14 games it was nice to see the offense put it together for a change.
For a half anyway. The mantra of this season.
PFT is reporting that the day McDonald allegedly sexually assaulted a woman the two were drinking all day with Aldon Smith.
Wonderful. He’ll be suspended all next year now.
Harbaugh when he’s fired should be……..
A. Getting a lame phone call from Jed stating “we’re going in another direction. Thanks for your service, Jim.”
B. Tell his wife he’s fired and let her convey the joyous news. “Honey we’re free at last!”
C. Tell ESPN and let the news out on the air in middle of the night. Let Jim get what he deserves!
D. Give Jim a going away gift card on all 49er’s gear. At least half off.
Better make it a gift card from Walmart on his pants Nip,Dickies&Dockers half off!!
Harby just got a gift card from the Cards. They are starting the rookie Thomas at QB.
They should have started him yesterday. Linsey was awful.
I was a huge Harbs fan and got off him this year when it became clear that he couldn’t adjust to adversity. He’s got an autistic quality about him and you just can’t do the same thing over and over and pretend it’s all going to work out. He was great when it was “Who’s got it better than us” times but anyone can win and look good. He started losing and, really, he had no response other than the same stuff…..
So I’m fine with him leaving. But as a Niner fan I am deathly afraid of who will replace him. York has a pretty horrendous record on head coaches BEFORE Harbs. And it’s all about the W right? This cat is 43-19-1.
So to all the guys who rail on him incessantly, who do YOU want to replace Harbaugh that will go BETTER than 43-19-1? Serious question. I doubt I’ll get a serious answer since most of the Harbaugh-hate is just about hating and nothing else.
Since I have been OK with Harby staying until a couple of days ago when it was reported that he is mulling Michigan or a pro job, I don’t know that he is still mentally even here. My premise has been to just fire Roman and get a competent OC.
But since you are asking for names all I can do is throw some out which I have previously done. Jed is young and smart. Hopefully he is learning. Right now as Harbaugh is leaving we appear to be in the same situation as when he arrived. He needs to move on while he still has leverage. I am not convinced that this quagmire hasn’t been orchestrated by Harbaugh. After all it was reported early in the year the players did not want to play for him anymore. It is quite possible he wanted to get fired so he still gets the safety net of 5 mil guaranteed. If true he now will get his wish.
Be afraid Flavor. Somewhere Sing is laughing secretly.
I’ve said ore than a few times Pete Carmichael, NOs OC would be a good choice. He’s done a good job w/Brees.
Also Pep Hamilton, Indy’s OC, although there’s backlash around here regarding him.
Today at his presser Harbaugh looked like a man who knows what his future is already. A few weeks ago he looked like a defeated man and his QB followed suit. Lately he looks relaxed and at ease and his QB does too. Make no mistake, Kap is Harbaugh’s guy.
To repeat what I said above, he came here while we were a losing team and in some turmoil with a coaching change. We get a report at the beginning of the year that his players don’t want to play for him. Nobody wanted to believe the report. His star WR opens the season wearing blue shoes while we play the Cowboys. What was that about? The players are playing hard but many have called out the rhythm and dumb schemes most of the 2nd half. It isn’t often you hear star players calling out the coaches by the multiples. Hello, is anybody listening?
Some of the losses have to do with injuries but when players wear the opposing teams color shoes and call out the coaching schemes it isn’t good. It looks like the success curve is on the downward arc and Jimbo is leaving us just as he got us, with a losing record and uncertainty. It was a nice run but as they said would happen when we hired him, he has ran his course. I think if he stays it is more of the same mess, maybe even worse next year. Harbaugh needs a change of scenery and it is looking like the 49ers do to.
Good post Berger, sad to say it appears to be a mutual parting of the ways. As you said, it has run its course. Too bad they didn’t quite make it, could be a while before they get back there.
The next coach won’t have as much of a winning % but I don’t worry much about that, I just want a Super Bowl win. He’ll have 4 years if comparing to Harby.
I hope Fangio sticks around as HC or DC and either way they pull in a modern era OC.
I don’t mind getting a defensive minded coach if he has the sense to hire a good OC and step out of the way. Boles and Quinn come to mind as candidates names that have been bandied about.