Coach Jim Harbaugh: The Impact Of Having An Offensive Coach Versus A Defensive Coach

by David Fucillo on May 20, 2011 6:00 AM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

Yesterday afternoon, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis took a few minutes to chat with Tom Tolbert on KNBR (it's about 18 minutes). Vernon spent a good chunk of the interview chatting about his globe-trotting endeavors, as well as some artistic events with which he is involved. However, starting at around the ten minute mark, Davis started talking about football. At the 10:50 mark, Davis had some comments about new head coach Jim Harbaugh:

Tom Tolbert: Now have you met Harbaugh?

Vernon Davis: Yes, I've met Harbaugh.

TT: What'd you think of him?

VD: Oh he's amazing. He's amazing. I can't wait to get in camp and start working with this guy. I just like what, I mean he talks about football all the time. He's a genius. I look at him as a genius. We've never, since I've been with the 49ers we haven't had an offensive head coach. So this is going to be great, especially for the offense.

This got me thinking about the issue of offensive versus defensive head coaches. Mike Nolan was brought in after several defensive coordinator stints. Mike Singletary took over as head coach and was obviously more of a defensive-minded coach as well.

The big issue in recent seasons with the 49ers seemed to come from some combination of poor preparation and poor execution. I can see how an offensive head coach could work for a team, but at the same time, isn't the real value just having a competent coach that can bring in the right people to make up for their weaknesses? Even if Harbaugh is an offensive genius, if he does not have the structure and coaching staff in place to make up for his shortcomings, will it really matter how great he is at designing the offense?

My opinion on this issue is that it requires a mix of both his own strengths and his ability to get the support to overcome his shortcomings as a coach. That's probably just me stating the obvious, but that's how I view it for now. Do others feel differently about this?

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I would imagine , that Vernon was sporting a biggo woody after they hired Hrabaugh and thinkin' about dang time we got some offense integrity ...!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ...Jimmy Raye your no daisy ...!!

by Edggy on May 20, 2011 6:27 AM PDT reply actions

not just offensive integrity

but a HC that loves tight ends. Vernon had to love the Harbaugh hire, 49ers picked up an HC that is not only a offense minded, but is a TE minded coach.

by reedkrase on May 20, 2011 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions

I hope you are referencing woody from toy story.

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on May 20, 2011 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions

without a doubt, it'll be a refreshing change....

especially with regards to philosophy, how they approach and prepare for each game, their attitude towards playing to win as opposed to playing not to lose, together with the desire and willingness to play attacking, progressive, technical football….all teams are a reflection of their coach, and for this roster that drive and desire and hunger to be better each day can only be a good thing going forward….

by ratumike on May 20, 2011 6:29 AM PDT reply actions

I think one of the main considerations

is who they have for coordinators. An Offensive genius coach doesn’t need as much of an OC but would rely more heavily on a bright DC, and vice versa.

Details of the operations of an interstate dog fighting ring were revealed, with some portions involving drugs and gambling. Gruesome details involving abuse, torture and execution of under-performing dogs ... He admitted to being involved in the destruction of 6–8 dogs, by hanging or drowning...

by Simms-McConkey on May 20, 2011 6:49 AM PDT reply actions

Vic Fangio is the Truth

I am really excited about having coach Fangios blitz schemes implemented into our defense ..we have killer speed and probally the most athletic group of LBS in the league …..it will be a nice change from manusky style bend but dont break until it counts defense. I really like what coach harbaugh did with our staff all the way down to retaining rathman and tomsula! 10-6 or better this year!!

by phatboy33rd on May 20, 2011 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions

I really think that a lot of Manusky's defense was from Sing's orders..

I also think that Harbaugh brings a level of confidence that flows through his whole coaching staff. He has coaches who are good in their own rights and also work well together.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on May 20, 2011 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions

love the coaching staff!!!!

i’ll take this season for what it is, but that doesnt mean that harbaugh is still not gonna have our guys go out and play hard and to win!!!!! i just wanna badly smash our first game opponents, those damn seahoax’s!!!! i think the first couple of games will be kinda ehh, but the season progress, then we might see then str8 eating teams up….just my opinion on it tho….niners4life baby!!!!

by face49er on May 20, 2011 7:43 AM PDT reply actions

it requires a mix of both his own strengths and his ability to get the support

The mistake the team made was to hire a dc when they had the #1 pick in the draft not mention the #1 college player was a QB(?). can i say that the hiring of a dc was the sole reason for the beginning of armageddon, but hiring 2 successive dc as HCs was armageddon. i put blame on the front office. i read somewhere that nolan didnt know anything about AS. coming from an nfl dc job why would he!? nolan was hired too late to have any input in the draft. it still drives me nuts that Mcclough/Nolan didnt see Mcarthy as a potential HC after having a number productive yrs as a oc. really?? i know its ez to say mccarthy now b/c gb won the sb. mccarthy would of quickly realized what he had in AS and drafted qb(and it wouldnt have been n bynham) to compete with or replace AS. mccloug could not see a talented offensive coach on his own staff?? nolan possibly could of gotten it right, sing never, but the common thread between nolan and sing was their verbal abuse of the most important position on the team. the front offic eshould of seen the signs when nolan was bad mouthing the qb and then to move on to sing. did they even ask sing what he thought of the qb postion? SORRY, forgive me people.LOL. went off on a little tantrum. Fooch I agree “it requires a mix of both his own strengths and his ability to get the support.”

by biggie900 on May 20, 2011 8:41 AM PDT reply actions

I do think offensive versus defensive HC makes a HUGE difference

There is simply a very different mind set between the two. It’s a natural extension of how they had to approach the game in their various position coaching roles prior to becoming a HC.

A defensive coach will generally have the mindset of “if we can just stop the other team and get them off the field, we can win”.

An offensive coach will naturally have more of a “if we can put more points up and keep them off the field, we can win” mindset.

The goal is the same, but the approach and focus is very different.

I much prefer the “attack” mentality of offensive coaches. I just feel the NFL (see rule changes over the years) is biased towards the offense, and you need to exploit any advantage you can (see: rules). Not to mention, with the range of kickers anymore, it is very hard to completely stop the other team from scoring at all. So if scoring is all but inevitable, you need to focus on scoring MORE than the other side more so than simply trying to stop the other side from scoring…

by ColoradoNiner on May 20, 2011 9:20 AM PDT reply actions

As long as Harbaugh does not say

gotta look at the film……

QUESTION: When is our QB going to answer questions like "You only threw 4 TD's today. What's wrong with the offense?"
ANSWER: When Andrew Luck ditches the draft and we sign him as an undrafted free agent!!!

by crumpedup15 on May 20, 2011 9:20 AM PDT reply actions

VD and Crabs

Should flourish with an offensive minded head coach. Harbaugh utilizes the talent he has in a great manner, that will only help the two. In fact, Alex Smith and Crabs are out of excuses they need top put up or shut up I’m 2011, the scheme, coaching and talent is there.

Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis, as stated by Scarlett Johansson. I couldn't agree more. Reverse would be true too!!!!

by nocal81(Vincent) on May 20, 2011 9:31 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Stability.

I like defensive minded HC’s when there is a solid front office and it is a “destination” for OC’s (ie: PIT). Every offseason OC’s become a very hot commodity and retaining them can be difficult for teams in our position. We’ve seen first hand what happens when you roll out a new offense every year and I’d rather not go through it again. I like having an offensive minded HC because no matter how good the offense is we know the scheme and terminology will remain (mostly) consistent year to year.

I also tend to believe it is easier for an offensive guru to find and retain a DC than vice versa. It’s a snap observation that I have no data to support, but it seems to be the case in my head. Feel free to correct that.

by 9isEnough on May 20, 2011 10:18 AM PDT reply actions