Tag Archives: Jim Harbaugh
Did the 49ers run a ‘bounty system’ during the 2011 season?
Everyone knows that the San Francisco 49ers are a tough physical football team but did part of that toughness include some form of a bounty system in which opposing player’s injuries were targeted last season?
According to NFL.com, in a recent interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hinted that he thought something was going on in their game against the 49ers last season.
” But I think when we played San Fran, I felt like there were some things going on, some extra … Now, obviously, I did have the ankle and I was playing, so there was kind of a bulls-eye on there anyway. But for the most part, guys play tough and you go into a game expecting it. I expect to be tougher than them.”
Brotherly Love: Jim Harbaugh Gives John Harbaugh Early Present
With less than a week before Christmas, everyone is scrambling to the stores at the last minute in hopes of finding the perfect gift to give someone this holiday season. Now of course if you are done your holiday shopping then congratulations on avoiding the rush hour like traffic at the stores this week. Some people may get lucky and be able to get their present before Christmas, and on Monday night John Harbaugh got the best early Christmas present, and probably best Christmas present he could ever want. On Sunday night, the Baltimore Ravens lost to the red hot San Diego Chargers, who won their fifth straight game and essentially gave away the AFC North and any hopes of getting the number one seed in the AFC. As Ravens fans all over took out their frustrations and how it would be possible that even after sweeping the Pittsburgh Steelers that the Ravens would still not win the Division, a Christmas miracle happened.
On Monday Night, the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers in what was really a bizarre game. It started off in delay due to a transformer near the stadium causing the stadium to go pitch black. The lights came back on and the 49ers took control early and never looked back. The 49ers defense picked off Ben Roethlisberger three times last night and even recovered a fumble making it a tough night on the Steelers offense. The more bigger achievement has to be that the 49ers have not allowed a single rushing touchdown in 14 games, which is a new NFL record.
As Jim Harbaugh celebrated a big victory in San Fran, there was a even bigger celebration taking place across country in Baltimore, MD as the Baltimore Ravens now take back control of the AFC North. The Ravens now sit atop the AFC North at 10-4 still tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but now control their own destiny once again. Thanks to Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh and the rest of the Ravens can now breath a big sigh of relief going into the final two games of the season.
Consider this John’s early Christmas present from Jim, and now it’s up to John to take advantage of the Steelers loss and use this gift wisely by winning out the final two games to win the AFC North and get the best seeding possible, which could be the number one seed if the New England Patriots slip up in the final two weeks.
Mike Presley is a NFL Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. He is a graduate of the Carolina School of Broadcasting and hosts a weekly NFL show on the schools radio station 89.3 The Storm entitled “The Front Seven.” Mike also writes for the racing website www.hardcoreracefans.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikepresley64.
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With the 49ers Loss the No.2 Seed in the NFC is Up for Grabs
A last second challenge sends the San Francisco 49ers in to a tie for the second seed in the NFC race.
It was all but over in the second quarter in the desert. The San Francisco 49ers lined up for a 50 yard field goal to take a 9-0 lead against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday afternoon. For a team that takes very little risks with a very conservative playbook nobody could believe when punter Andy Lee pulled up from the snap and threw a fluttering strike that should have put San Francisco up 12-0. Pending the extra point the score would have put a strangle hold on the opposition against a stingy defense. A late whistle came in to blow the play dead in order to challenge the previous play, an acrobatic catch by Kyle Williams to put the team in to field goal range. During the fake field goal attempt kicker David Akers took a shot allowing Andy Lee to roll out and throw a pass that would have destroyed any momentum the Arizona Cardinals defense had built up during a low scoring first half.
Coach Jim Harbaugh went from visibly elated to astounded in a matter of seconds when the scoring play was brought back. Forced to settle for another attempt at a long field goal, Akers, still shaken from the previous play, pushed his kick wide right. That miss marked his first from 50+ in seven attempts this season.
The Arizona Cardinals marched down the field after the missed field goal to take a 7-6 lead on a 60 yard touchdown strike from John Skelton to Early Ducet. San Francisco was able to pull themselves up and answer with two field goals in the final two minutes of the half when their defense tightened up after giving up their only first half touchdown since mid October.
The lead was taken to 19-7 in the third with a 37 yard scamper from San Francisco’s workhorse Frank Gore. This score erased the bad taste from the “botched” fake field goal that 49ers fans everywhere were itching to get rid of. The lead was closed to five after John Skelton’s second long touchdown toss to standout receiver Larry Fitzgerald of 46 yards three minutes later. The third touchdown pass in the fourth sealed the deal for the Arizona Cardinals upset of the NFC West champion San Francisco 49ers. What comes next for San Francisco has yet to be decided.
The New Orleans Saints win brought a host of playoff seedings and tie breakers in to question. Right now, both the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints have punched their tickets to the postseason and are playing for a first round bye. With identical records, their roads to that coveted second seed are quite similar. The New Orleans Saints (a former NFC West foe) have two remaining games against teams with losing records. Their third remaining opponent is the Atlanta Falcons, a conference rival that will look to upset the Saints in the Super Dome. A feat not easily conquered. On the flip side, the San Francisco 49ers have only one remaining game against a winning team, next Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Candlestick Park. Their other two opponents are NFC West teams they have already defeated by a combined score of 59-17.
With both teams facing similar remaining schedules their conference records should be the sole tie breaker if both teams finish with the same record. San Francisco 49ers fans will hope for that at the very least since they currently own that tie breaker. The next two to three weeks will prove testament for both teams since it is almost a foregone conclusion that these two teams will meet in the second round of the playoffs regardless of where the seedings lie. It all comes down to who gets the game in their house. The road to the Super Bowl goes through Green Bay, everyone already knows that. What these teams will be focused on is getting a home game before they have to face, what will more than likely be an undefeated, defending Super Bowl champion, on their home turf.
Adam Smith is an NFL writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at asmith@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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Kaepernick will force Smith to be on a short leash
San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is not known for his patience. As a player we witnessed his displeasure with poor play from his teammates. As a coach at Stanford we noted his rapid changes in order to improve a once 1-11 squad. With NFL coaching aspirations, he left Stanford to join the 49ers in a year when they have arguably the best quarterback, and one of the strongest teams in college football. Harbaugh’s reputation as a quarterback mentor, and perceived excitement about rookie Colin Kaepernick, may not bode well for Alex Smith if he plans to start all 16 games this season.
