Originally posted by dj43:
The talent on this team would get just about any offensive scheme INTO the playoffs, but that won't get you past well coached teams with similar talent. Harbaugh is a very stubborn, ego-driven man who has a particular way he wants the offense to run. He has his rubber stamp in Roman, an ex-nose tackle who will follow the leader into hell.
A good coaching staff will put players in situations in which they can succeed. Fangio does that with the defense, for the most part. Harbaugh doesn't do it with the offense. When the OL is struggling blocking a certain defense, instead of altering the play calls to offset that defense and put the OL back in control, Harbaugh just tells them to fight harder. That is not good coaching. That is stubbornness.
"Work smarter, not harder" clearly does not seem to apply to this offensive philosophy. It's like Harbaugh thinks that there are valor points to be obtained for sticking on what you intended to do and not adjusting. Very much a Singletary-like mindset.