With the season on the line, Harbaugh threw conservatism out the door

Insert slow clap......

Originally posted by KSchuerman:
Insert slow clap......

Next time, hopefully we throw conservatism out the door from the first quarter onward.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by KSchuerman:

Insert slow clap......

Agree

The 9ers have been less and less conservative with their offense over the last several games of the season. Smith is throwing more on 1st downs and Gore is being used much less (13 carries today). I think the change is a natural progression of the team learning the West Coast offense. I expect to see more of this next season and for the rest of the playoffs this year.

Agree it was a gutsy call and a pivotal moment, but a couple points to round out the picture:

Geep Chryst actually made the call. Obviously, Harbaugh has veto power and chose to go with it, so kudos to him. But this is an interesting insight into the way that Harbaugh and his staff work together to call plays in the game. All the Offensive coaches have input. It's not just Roman or Harbaugh. The coaches work as a team to make the calls. It was the same at Stanford.

Alex Smith was asked about the play after the game. He said his first thought was to not force it or do anything stupid. Don't turn it over, take a sack, or do anything that might jeopardize the Field Goal. Sounds like typical "cautious Alex," doesn't it? But then he said, "Sometimes you've just got to let it fly." I loved hearing that. That's a step in his development, right there. Because it's the perfect combination of intelligent QB play and boldness. We never doubted Smith's intelligence; it's the swagger that was missing. Now, after less than a year of Harbaugh's support and confidence boosting, plus plenty of team success, we're starting to see the swagger.

Originally posted by Lifer:
Agree it was a gutsy call and a pivotal moment, but a couple points to round out the picture:

Geep Chryst actually made the call. Obviously, Harbaugh has veto power and chose to go with it, so kudos to him. But this is an interesting insight into the way that Harbaugh and his staff work together to call plays in the game. All the Offensive coaches have input. It's not just Roman or Harbaugh. The coaches work as a team to make the calls. It was the same at Stanford.

Alex Smith was asked about the play after the game. He said his first thought was to not force it or do anything stupid. Don't turn it over, take a sack, or do anything that might jeopardize the Field Goal. Sounds like typical "cautious Alex," doesn't it? But then he said, "Sometimes you've just got to let it fly." I loved hearing that. That's a step in his development, right there. Because it's the perfect combination of intelligent QB play and boldness. We never doubted Smith's intelligence; it's the swagger that was missing. Now, after less than a year of Harbaugh's support and confidence boosting, plus plenty of team success, we're starting to see the swagger.

What Harbaugh is doing with his offensive coaches is genius. He is giving them a taste at calling playing and should Greg Roman leave for a head coaching position, which I think he will eventually do, Harbaugh can plug one of his offensive position coaches in as offensive coordinator. Bill Belichick has done this successfully. Patriots went from Charlie Weis to Josh McDaniels to Bill O'Brien and the offense did not miss a beat. Granted, they also have one hell of a quarterback, but the offensive continuity has helped keep that offense running like a well oiled machine from year to year. Offensive continuity is so important for success. From players to coaches to the type of offense. Harbaugh has a plan in place.

Originally posted by 49ersRednGold:

Originally posted by Lifer:
Agree it was a gutsy call and a pivotal moment, but a couple points to round out the picture:

Geep Chryst actually made the call. Obviously, Harbaugh has veto power and chose to go with it, so kudos to him. But this is an interesting insight into the way that Harbaugh and his staff work together to call plays in the game. All the Offensive coaches have input. It's not just Roman or Harbaugh. The coaches work as a team to make the calls. It was the same at Stanford.

Alex Smith was asked about the play after the game. He said his first thought was to not force it or do anything stupid. Don't turn it over, take a sack, or do anything that might jeopardize the Field Goal. Sounds like typical "cautious Alex," doesn't it? But then he said, "Sometimes you've just got to let it fly." I loved hearing that. That's a step in his development, right there. Because it's the perfect combination of intelligent QB play and boldness. We never doubted Smith's intelligence; it's the swagger that was missing. Now, after less than a year of Harbaugh's support and confidence boosting, plus plenty of team success, we're starting to see the swagger.

What Harbaugh is doing with his offensive coaches is genius. He is giving them a taste at calling playing and should Greg Roman leave for a head coaching position, which I think he will eventually do, Harbaugh can plug one of his offensive position coaches in as offensive coordinator. Bill Belichick has done this successfully. Patriots went from Charlie Weis to Josh McDaniels to Bill O'Brien and the offense did not miss a beat. Granted, they also have one hell of a quarterback, but the offensive continuity has helped keep that offense running like a well oiled machine from year to year. Offensive continuity is so important for success. From players to coaches to the type of offense. Harbaugh has a plan in place.

Agree. Harbaugh has a great plan in place

I must be dyslexic, I was thinking to myself "What conversation was Jim having that he just stopped giving a f**k".

Good post. Agreed.

Originally posted by 49ersRednGold:
What Harbaugh is doing with his offensive coaches is genius. He is giving them a taste at calling playing and should Greg Roman leave for a head coaching position, which I think he will eventually do, Harbaugh can plug one of his offensive position coaches in as offensive coordinator. Bill Belichick has done this successfully. Patriots went from Charlie Weis to Josh McDaniels to Bill O'Brien and the offense did not miss a beat. Granted, they also have one hell of a quarterback, but the offensive continuity has helped keep that offense running like a well oiled machine from year to year. Offensive continuity is so important for success. From players to coaches to the type of offense. Harbaugh has a plan in place.

I don't think Roman has the record yet to be a serious HC candidate. Perhaps after next year but most teams would be smart enough right now to pass on him which it seems they are doing. That's not a knock on Roman but more me trying to assess the reality of the situation which is that our offense wasn't lights out this year but showed it could be.