Harbaugh, Baalke answer questions from 49ers fans
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Harbaugh, Baalke answer questions from 49ers fans
Feb. 15, 2011
MAIOCCO ARCHIVE
49ERS PAGE | 49ERS VIDEO
Matt Maiocco
CSNBayArea.com
Some fans had the opportunity Tuesday night to have a direct line to 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke during a "Fan Forum."
The event took place over the phone, and included nearly 4,000 fans, according to host Joe Fonzi. Fans who signed up last week in a variety of different ways got a chance to ask questions to the two highest-ranking members of the 49ers' football operations.
The media were allowed to listen to the conference call, but could not ask questions. Here are the topics that were addressed:
--Fonzi opened the event by asking Baalke about the process of hiring Harbaugh. Baalke said Harbaugh was the right man for the job. "Jim had a lot of options. It wasn't a high-pressured sales job. We laid out the vision." And then Harbaugh made up his own mind. "We're very fortunate to have him."
--What was it about 49ers that made Harbaugh know this was the right fit for him? "This was the perfect competitive challenge. I love the way it's an even playing field. The organization with (president and CEO) Jed York and Trent Baalke, the honesty, the feeling that this is what I was about and they were about. ... And the goal of winning a championship. I get chills walking through this place. The bar is set extremely high here."
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--On following a similar career path as Bill Walsh: "I'm not accepting any comparisons to Bill Walsh. I love how high the bar is set, and it was set by Bill Walsh." Harbaugh also alluded to George Seifert, and how it was his goal to not only equal what the team did in the past but surpass those accomplishments.
And then the line was thrown open to fans' questions ...
--There was a question about Frank Gore getting older and taking fewer carries in 2011. Does Gore need take fewer carries this season?
"Having studied our team and our own personnel and other backs across the league, I really think Frank Gore is one of the best running backs in the National Football League and one of the most complete backs," Harbaugh said. "Frank Gore is the kind of guy who doesn't want to come out. He wants to be in there every single down. Can he have more production by coming off the field at times? And I think (Anthony) Dixon did a tremendous job last year. His productivity and growth as a football player will be elevated this year. So I think he'll be able to take some of those carries. Frank might not want to hear that."
Harbaugh said there will be times they want to keep Gore fresh. "But it won't be the type of thing where we have Frank Gore come off the field too much because he's one of the best backs in the league, in my opinion."
--There was a question of a possible trade of 49ers' first-round pick for Kevin Kolb? (Of course, no trade of a player can happen until there's a new collective bargaining agreement.) Baalke says they are not allowed to talk about any player with another team. (They don't want to get hit with another tampering violation.) But he said the 49ers will pursue all available opportunities to improve the quarterback position, namely via trade, free agency and the draft.
--What kind of defense does Harbaugh plan on running? Harbaugh said they'll be a multiple 3-4 defense, meaning a lot of different schemes. They'll blitz and play coverage -- all those things will be part of the package, he said. "It'll be creative and it'll be what suits our personnel the best." He said it would be similar to the aggressive styles of Green Bay and Pittsburgh. The defense is in good hands with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Harbaugh said. "I think you'll be impressed," he added. He said he feels as if he put together a tremendous coaching staff.
--Harbaugh said he and Baalke have talked every day, multiple times throughout the day. Things couldn't have gotten off to a better start, Harbaugh said, from a communication standpoint.
--Another question about defense . . . What will be done to shore up the pass defense? Baalke said there are a lot of things that go into performance, but he said pass defense will be an area they'll work to improve. "It's not always the secondary, it's the ability to put pressure on the quarterback." They'll look at improving secondary and pass rush, both schematically and with new personnel. Harbaugh disagreed with the tone of the question that suggested the defense was poor. But he said they'll look at every area of the organization to improve. "Every stone will be uncovered how we can improve as an entire organization and team."
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--In worse-case scenario with the CBA, what are the 49ers doing now to prepare for the possibility that there will be little time to prepare for the start of the regular season? Harbaugh said what they can do is prepare as if there will be no work stoppage, and have everything in place -- namely the offseason schedule. The entire plan is scheduled at laid out between now and training camp. If there's a work stoppage, they'll just have to roll with it. "All the teams will be under the same parameters," Harbaugh said.
--Harbaugh said the coaching staff is putting together the playbook. Now is the players' time off. They are not required to be here or come to meetings or work out until March 14, the first scheduled day of offseason training.
--Baalke said the organization is currently in draft meeting with the scouts who are in town. He said they are looking for a mentality -- guys who play with energy and passion. Once they identify that trait, they look at skill sets. He said they're looking for guys who love to play the game.
--There was a question about the 49ers adding more variety to the run game. Harbaugh said with all their offensive and defensive systems, they want to put players in positions to be successful. "We want to be creative and sound fundamentally. We have backs who can run a wide variety of running plays," Harbaugh said. "We have offensive linemen who are athletic and can be physical up front. . . . We have tight ends (Vernon Davis) who can set the edge. All that marries in the play-action game and the passing game. It's a group that can be creative."
--What is Harbaugh's prototypical quarterback? Harbaugh answered: A competitive guy, a winner, accurate throwing the football, make quick decisions, leadership ability, timing and makes good decisions. Harbaugh makes a point to say, "I see on the board where you said you like Alex Smith. I like Alex Smith, too."
--What team do you model the 49ers after to make them a champion? Baalke said he's not sure they're going to model themselves after anybody. They want to build a winning organization, Baalke said. They look back at the formulas that have been successful, but they're going to build it their way, he said. "You got to be who you are. We're going to respect what other teams have done, but we're going to build it our way." Harbaugh said they have the best model in all of professional, how the 49ers did it with Walsh. "We want to build a bully," Harbaugh said.
--A 9-year-old asked whether Alex Smith is in the quarterback mix: "Yes, Alex Smith is definitely in it," Harbaugh said.
--Any plans to make adjustments on the offensive line? Baalke said, from a personnel standpoint, that team feels fortunate with the young linemen who are under contract. "(We're) encouraged by the personnel we have at those positions." Said Harbaugh, "We're in a great position from a talent standpoint. Both of the two rookies got a lot of playing time last year, and that will help them." He said he expects a "big jump" from both right tackle Anthony Davis and left guard Mike Iupati. Harbaugh said, "You have a pretty darn solid offensive." He said they want to make big strides in technique and stance. "You'll see that group grow and grow and grown together."
--Will they be drafting by need or best-player available? What are top priorities? Baalke said they take into consideration need and BPA. "Obviously when the best player available is clearly the best player on the board, it's tough to turn a player like that down. You don't get better by passing on good football players and taking players who aren't as highly rated."
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--A question on whether 49ers will use "prevent defense" at the end of games when they're trying to hold onto a lead. Harbaugh said they might -- but they might use a bunch of other defenses, too. "We're going to play coverage, in terms of rushing three and dropping eight. We'll rush four and drop seven. We'll rush five and drop six. And we'll bring the house, too," Harbaugh said.
--A caller asks if linebacker Patrick Willis will be blitzing from the outside like a Lawrence Taylor-type pass rusher? "We all feel Patrick Willis has the potential to be one of the real greats in the game," Harbaugh said. He said Willis is a middle linebacker -- you have to be strong up the middle. "That's critical for any defense to be great up the middle." Harbaugh said they can use him in other areas, too. They don't want to be predictable in how they use him. It's up to the creativity of the coaching staff, Harbaugh said.
--Harbaugh said he's a huge historian of the game. As a kid football was his life, he said. Harbaugh said he loved watching John Brodie, and the Green Bay Packers. He saw Vince Lombardi's team at Kezar Stadium. Harbaugh's favorite football moments from his childhood include the "Immaculate Reception" and "The Catch."
--Given fact 49ers were 6-10 and inconsistent, was it difficult to evaluate talent on the team? Harbaugh said it was the first thing he did when he took over the coaching position. He evaluated the scheme and how hard a player is player, and if the individual players were playing at winning levels. Harbaugh said he looked at each player and assessed strengths and weakness. "I agree, I think the talent is very good here," Harbaugh said. "But you're always looking to get better. You're never satisfied."
--Caller asked about possibility of a lockout and the inability to sign free agents, and if it changes how the 49ers will approach the draft? Baalke said it will not impact how they approach the draft. But it will affect NFL teams' ability to sign college free agents -- the undrafted free agents. "That's what it affects," Baalke said. He said the rest of the lead-up to the draft is business as usual.
--How do you approach the missing pieces, getting more pop in offense and defense? "When it comes to winning a championship, it's about doing all the details," Harbaugh said. "Going foward, it's about a new year and a new attitude. How many things can we do right and how fast can we do it? It's everybody trying to be expert at what they do."
--Any free agents who are essential to re-sign and is it worth using franchise tag on Aubrayo Franklin? Baalke said they're going through the process with the coaching staff. "We're not only evaluating our own free agents, we're evaluating all the free agents in the National Football League." They'll meet Wednesday and go through all of that. They'll talk through the 49ers' roster and see how they stack up against other NFL free agents. Not surprisingly, Baalke did not answer the Franklin part of the question, but sources have told CSN Bay Area that the 49ers are not planning on tagging Franklin for a second year in a row.
--Harbaugh said the quarterbacks will use a hard count, and the QB will have the power to audible.
--Have you thought about drafting a lot of defensive backs early? Baalke said they'll look at getting better through the draft at a lot of different positions. "We feel real good about the depth in this draft, but there is a lot of work to be done, yet." He said they are very early in the draft process. "We're pretty fortunate that this draft is going to bear some awfully good players. At what position? I can't tell you that right now."
--How difficult is transition from college game to the pros? Harbaugh said he understands the challenge and the magnitude of the NFL. He knows how competitive it is and how hard you have to work. "I have to be really good for the 49ers, and that takes a lot of work," he said. "I can promise you that I'm going to work at it every day." He said his responsibility is to be an expert as a coach.
