1. Innovation:
Like Walsh, Harbaugh is highly innovative (esp. on offense, but also defensively)
2. Hire Great Coaches:
Walsh surrounded himself with great coaches (see Walsh coaching tree). Harbaugh has also hired great coaches
3. Player Development:
Great coaches are able to teach and develop players, hence turning great athletes into great players. The Walsh 49ers won by developing players such as their entire O-line (McKittrick), their QB (Montana was 3rd rd, Young was a prior bust . . but both were developed by great coaching). Walsh coaches (Seifert, Ray Rhodes, etc) also developed great DB’s with later picks such as: Eric Davis, Don Griffin, Tim McKyer, Merton Hanks, etc. Coach Roman, Donatell, Leavitt, etc have also shown that they can train and develop players into guys that fit their system.
4. Draft:
Since they can train and develop players it allows them to draft more talented athletes with more upside and mold them into good football players. Therefore they can get better draft value by selecting guys with "higher ceilings", and thus get the max value out of their draft picks, rather than drafting players who are "pro-ready", but already maxed-out.
5. Offensive Scheme:
Stanford showed that Harbaugh’s offensive scheme will be like Walsh’s – deceptive, balanced, and will allow the innovative 49ers to outwit other teams (vs. predictable 'smash-mouth', run vs. 8 man box, 'run-run-pass').
6. Defensive Pressure:
Fangio will pressure the QB and stop the pass (think Steelers, Packers type 3-4 defense).
7. Free Agents:
FA’s will actually WANT to come to the 49ers again, so players will clamor to join the 49ers just as they did in the 80’s. Success breeds success . . .
8. Great QB Play:
NFL is QB driven, and Harbaugh is one of best QB developers in NFL. Like Walsh, he will ensure that we have great QB play!
9. Stop the Opposing QB:
Walsh emphasized pass rush and DB’s. Walsh’s teams always had great DB’s and a great rotating pass rush (Fred Dean, Haley, Board, f*gan, Carter, etc). Likewise, Harbaugh will ensure that we stop the QB (eg. drafting Aldon Smith) (pass rush and CB were his only options with their #7 top pick)
10. Attitude and Work Ethic:
Harbaugh & staff are driven, hard-working, no excuses, do-whatever-it-takes-to-win types. This attitude will permeate entire team.
Championship!!!!!!!
PS. As you can see, I’m trying hard to be an optimistic 'glass is half full' kind of guy . . . and I’m also getting a little bored with no dang football!
[ Edited by maxsmart on May 30, 2011 at 5:37 PM ]