Saints vs 49ers: Jim Harbaugh Proves Why Top-Flight Coach Trumps All-Pro QB

January 15, 2012   ·   Wes Stueve   ·   Jump to comments

There's no denying that Drew Brees is a better quarterback than Alex Smith. 
Yet, we all just saw Smith and the San Francisco 49ers topple Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
What caused this to happen? Was it San Francisco's defense? Their rushing attack? Their offensive line?
No, it was none of these.
It was Jim Harbaugh, their head coach.
In his first year as an NFL coach, Harbaugh did what no one thought he could: He turned the 49ers into an elite team.
Harbaugh was able to simplify the San Francisco offense, and after not doing much of anything for six years, Alex Smith played like a starting quarterback.
Under Harbaugh, a previously average defense became elite. Sure, the addition of Aldon Smith helped, but most of the players that make this defense what it is were already in San Francisco. No, Harbaugh is not the defensive coordinator. But does he not deserve some of the credit here?
In this game, we say Drew Brees put up an elite perfo...

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