Remember how the Saint blitzed the living hell out of us during the preseason? Apparently that is not how a preseason game is supposed to go and probably did bc Harbaugh was being a bad ass from day 1.
Niners coach Jim Harbaugh said he didn't know he might have a violated a "gentleman's agreement" when he bypassed a call to Saints coach Sean Payton before their teams' preseason opener on Aug. 12.
Then again, the first-year coach wouldn't have picked up the phone even if knew of some arrangement where NFL coaches speak before exhibition games to hash out the rules of engagement.
"I'm certainly not aware of any gentleman's agreement," said Harbaugh, who broached the topic with Ravens coach John Harbaugh. "I even asked my brother: 'Is there some sort of gentleman's agreement that you call a coach before a game, a preseason game?' He wasn't aware of any. And even if there was we wouldn't do it anyway. We ask no quarter. We give no quarter. That's how we approach things."
The subject was raised today, of course, because the Harbaugh and Payton will renew acquaintances Saturday at Candlestick Park. The game will be played five months after New Orleans violated NFL protocol by blitzing, and blitzing, and blitzing San Francisco in the preseason opener.
According to this story that surfaced after the game, Payton was miffed that Harbaugh didn't touch base before the game. He was so miffed, in fact, that he told defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to blitz the Niners until they couldn't see straight. It worked. New Orleans collected six first-half sacks and quarterback Alex Smith took a vicious pounding.
Today, Harbaugh said he took no offense to the Saints, a more established team, blitzing a team under a first-year coach in the first exhibition game after a lockout.
"That's what they do," Harbaugh said. "As evidence of a full season to see what they do. Whether that helped us, it was effective in the game. It made us address it."
A few players familiar with Williams' schemes – center Jonathan Goodwin and cornerback Carlos Rogers – said they weren't surprised to see Williams blitzing so much in the preseason. Goodwin previously played with the Saints and Williams was the Redskins' defensive coordinator during part of Rogers' tenure in Washington.
Left tackle Joe Staley, however, veered from the company line. Staley said he was upset by the Saints' tactics and he recalled the offensive line shaking it collective head on the sideline: "We kind of come to the sidelines and we're like 'They're blitzing every play. We have a week-and-a-half of the offense in right now.' So we weren't expecting that, no."
There are 201 users in the forums
LOL "We ask no quarter. We give no quarter". Harbaugh
Jan 10, 2012 at 6:52 AM
- blizzuntz
- Veteran
- Posts: 47,974
Jan 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM
- valrod33
- Hall of Small
- Posts: 137,969
Jan 10, 2012 at 7:01 AM
- VaBeachNiner
- Veteran
- Posts: 55,859
And this is why the Niners will win on Saturday.
Jan 10, 2012 at 7:31 AM
- d49izme
- Veteran
- Posts: 1,863
From Wiki:
"A victor gives no quarter when the victor shows no clemency or mercy and refuses to spare the life in return for the surrender at discretion (unconditional surrender) of a vanquished opponent"
2011-12 San Francisco 49ers and the No Quarter Defense
"A victor gives no quarter when the victor shows no clemency or mercy and refuses to spare the life in return for the surrender at discretion (unconditional surrender) of a vanquished opponent"
2011-12 San Francisco 49ers and the No Quarter Defense
Jan 10, 2012 at 7:38 AM
- TheChozen
- Veteran
- Posts: 5,955
I love that quote. Sounds like it shoulda been in Gladiator!
Jan 10, 2012 at 7:44 AM
- LaMattsBlue
- Member
- Posts: 27,765
Harbaugh is just being PC but it was a dick move by Payton. We had no offseason and 2 weeks of practice. One of our players could have been hurt.
Jan 10, 2012 at 7:59 AM
- blizzuntz
- Veteran
- Posts: 47,974
Originally posted by d49izme:
From Wiki:
"A victor gives no quarter when the victor shows no clemency or mercy and refuses to spare the life in return for the surrender at discretion (unconditional surrender) of a vanquished opponent"
2011-12 San Francisco 49ers and the No Quarter Defense
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:00 AM
- Method
- Veteran
- Posts: 9,709
I hope we pound their asses in from the first minute to the last.
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:09 AM
- TheChozen
- Veteran
- Posts: 5,955
Originally posted by Method:
I hope we pound their asses in from the first minute to the last.
Harbaugh may never admit it or say it but he wants to give it right back to them this game and what better way to do so than to bounce em from the playoffs?
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:11 AM
- ajl49sf
- Veteran
- Posts: 13
Originally posted by Method:
I hope we pound their asses in from the first minute to the last.
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:18 AM
- SundayTicket
- Member
- Posts: 5,316
lol, read this in the newspaper today.
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:19 AM
- Rubberneck36
- Moderator / HOF
- Posts: 129,745
Harbaugh's gonna eat his chilren
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:20 AM
- HessianDud
- Veteran
- Posts: 22,995
like a BOSS.
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:21 AM
- HessianDud
- Veteran
- Posts: 22,995
also, "The No Quarter Defense" is the best nickname for our D that I've heard.
Jan 10, 2012 at 8:21 AM
- NeeJ49er
- Veteran
- Posts: 9,580
'Gentlemans Agreement" ??? WTF ???
I have never heard about opposing coaches talking "strategy" with each other, thats what game film is for ...Payton is such a baby, pop another vicodin and STFU
Jim should call him and say "well , we are going to pound on you and hit you guys hard .,.what about you"
I have never heard about opposing coaches talking "strategy" with each other, thats what game film is for ...Payton is such a baby, pop another vicodin and STFU
Jim should call him and say "well , we are going to pound on you and hit you guys hard .,.what about you"