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Originally Posted by dkgojackets
sounds like he did some coaching to get better performance out of players
Maybe. They lost 4x Pro Bowler Iupati after Harbaugh's final year, Goodwin who played on Saints SB team as starting center and started all games from 2011-2013 for the 9ers, Anthony Davis retired after Harbaugh left, etc.
Iupati obviously was a huge loss, then add the instability with other players leaving and possibly a lack of talent overall, and it makes sense why the line really sucks these past two years.
Mike Solari was their o-line coach 1 year before Harbaugh until Harbaugh left. Their o-line actually got slightly worse the first year Harbaugh became coach. Solari has also been a mixed bag throughout his career, so I don't really think Harbaugh was doing much. Foerster who took over when Tomsula became HC was a mixed bag with the Redskins.
Then you can look at Alex Smith who has been the same QB for the 49ers and Chiefs. I think more than anything Harbaugh figured out to implement a good system for his QBs. A run first offense with Smith or Krapernick is what is necessary for the success of either of them. Now Krap has no o-line or a receiver to throw to. Either of these QBs having to Godgers is not going to work out. I can't imagine Smith having much success if he was starting for the 49ers these past two years.
I think the bigger point here is that a lot of players are system players. While Brady is awesome, he clearly thrives in Belichick's system. And not only him, but why they can bring in any white WR they want, make catch and run RBs so effective, and have a defense that always performs extremely well without many big names. Most coaches can't figure out how to use their players properly or the team chooses big name players that often don't fit into their schemes.