Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍

Kubiak 2011 coach of year?

What do y'all think of Kubiak's chances of making the Coach of the Year award?
He's going against the rookie, Jim Harbaugh, who is the front runner of the race for obvious reasons. But with the turn around we have had this year along with the TONS of injuries we have endured throughout the season you can make a strong case for Kubiak to be the rightful winner.

With the week 14 loss to the Cardinals the 49ers are 10-3 along with the Texans. The next 3 weeks look like this

Week 15: Steelers
Week 16: @ Seahawks
Week 17: @ Rams

If we win out and they lose against the Steelers, would that do the trick?
 
Kubes is in the discussion but Harbaugh (both of them really), Fox, and McCarthy are also in the mix.

You could go just about any way and make a case.

Personally, if the Packers go undefeated, I don't see how you don't give it to McCarthy.
 
I see four realistic candidates: Kubiak, Harbaugh, McCarthy and Fox.

Fox wasn't even in the picture a few weeks ago and still has no chance if Denver misses the playoffs. But if they continue to win, "Tebowtime" or not, and take the division after that horrendous start he's a legitimate candidate.

McCarthy had a loaded team, but it still takes great coaching to hold a team together with NO let downs in a season, and it doesn't take much of a letdown on any given Sunday to lose in the NFL.

Harbaugh may have looked like the favorite a few weeks ago, but the 49ers seem to be weakening down the stretch and Alex Smith is again becoming what we thought he was.

If Green Bay goes undefeated, I think it goes to McCarthy -- it's hard to go against ANY coach that leads a team to an undefeated season in the NFL. If they don't, the next three weeks with Houston, San Fran and Denver may determine it.
 
I see four realistic candidates: Kubiak, Harbaugh, McCarthy and Fox.

Fox wasn't even in the picture a few weeks ago and still has no chance if Denver misses the playoffs. But if they continue to win, "Tebowtime" or not, and take the division after that horrendous start he's a legitimate candidate.

McCarthy had a loaded team, but it still takes great coaching to hold a team together with NO let downs in a season, and it doesn't take much of a letdown on any given Sunday to lose in the NFL.

Harbaugh may have looked like the favorite a few weeks ago, but the 49ers seem to be weakening down the stretch and Alex Smith is again becoming what we thought he was.

If Green Bay goes undefeated, I think it goes to McCarthy -- it's hard to go against ANY coach that leads a team to an undefeated season in the NFL. If they don't, the next three weeks with Houston, San Fran and Denver may determine it.

Completely forgot about McCarthy :vincepalm:
It may just be my Texans bias, but having all the injuries to our key players and STILL clinching a division title for the first time ever. That's crazy. I could be wrong but the ONLY time where we have had Aj, Matt, Mario, and Foster was the length of a quarter and a half. If the packers lost Clay Matthews, Arod, Woodson, and like Greg Jennings and still kept winning, that'd be impressive. But what the Texans have done is something special.
 
Individual awards for coaches and players are all fine, and I hope they get a lot of them. But winning the division, winning an AFC Conferance title and a Super Bowl is better. I think Kubiak at least deserves to be mentioned when talking about coach of the year, but I don't see him winning it unless he wins the super bowl. Which would be nice.
 
How could it not be Kubiak? Who could overcome THIS MUCH? This is honestly one of the better coaching jobs I have ever seen.
 
My Ballot

#1 McCarthy - undefeated, 'nuff said.
#2 Kubiak - Looking at 13-3 without Schaub, AJ or Mario
#3 Harbaugh West - Great turnaround story, falling off in the home stretch
#4 Harbough East - Talented team that has a tendency to CHOKE against bad teams on the road
 
My Ballot

#1 McCarthy - undefeated, 'nuff said.
#2 Kubiak - Looking at 13-3 without Schaub, AJ or Mario
#3 Harbaugh West - Great turnaround story, falling off in the home stretch
#4 Harbough East - Talented team that has a tendency to CHOKE against bad teams on the road

I pretty much agree with this ..... but if GB loses a game .....
 
I think each of these coaches being mentioned definitely would be deserving of the 'prize'.

Harbaugh - Surprise to me the 49'ers are doing so well. The Niners were 6-10 last year just like the Texans, both are now 10-3. I'd think Harbaugh might get an edge simply because he's a rookie NFL head coach, while this is Kubiak's 6th season with the Texans.

McCarthy - If he goes 16-0 I think his chances skyrocket. 16 is tough to do in this league. Kudos.

Fox - If he wins out I can see some merit to it... but that would be 11 wins max. The "turn around" is staggering but they were 2-4 their first 6 games with 3 of those losses being by a combined 11 points (3,3,5). The Texans were 3-3 through their first 6 games and are on a 7 game win streak.

Kubiak - Turned a 6-10 team around to now sitting at 10-3 with just clinching the division and earning a playoff spot for the first time in team history. Many will point to Wade Phillips as the biggest reason for the turnaround and I'd say that's true. Don't forget part of a HC's job is to continually improve the team not only by players but coaches and assistants as well. Sure McNair wanted Wade but you'd be kidding yourself if you think Kubiak didn't want to hire him here. A big plus for Kubiak has been his ability to lead the team week in and week out. Foster started the season injured. Andre has been injured and missed half the season. Danieal Manning misses time. Mario gets put on Injured Reserve. Schaub gets injured and put on injured reserve, backup Leinart goes out. 3 games with our 3rd string rookie QB and we're still winning. We've overcome SO much adversity that it boggles my mind. And with 3 games left in the season, we're still very VERY much in the talks of being the 1st seed - the #1 team in the AFC. To add to it, the fanbase was calling for his head this offseason, wanting a new head coach.

This may totally be a homer pick, but that's fine. I'd vote Kubiak at this point. We've just overcome so much to be sitting where we're at right now. Our team is so resilient this year, just like Kubes.
 
I was arguing for Harbaugh last week, but man, after watching this team clinch it's first division title with a rookie QB and many of our pro bowlers on the bench, I think a solid case should be made for Kubiak. That might be homerism talking, but what the heck. I think he's got a good as a shot as anyone with the exception of McCarthy at 16-0.
 
If Gary gets blame for Bush then he should get credit for Wade Phillips. Thread doesn't sound so stupid now does it? Not guaranteeing he will but is good to be able to have a talk about it.
 
If Gary gets blame for Bush then he should get credit for Wade Phillips. Thread doesn't sound so stupid now does it? Not guaranteeing he will but is good to be able to have a talk about it.
Sure is nice just being able to mention his name in there!

I don't think what Wade has done should detract from Kubiak as Head Coach of the Year. We don't think any less of Bill Cowher because he had Dick LeBeau as DC do we!?
 
I think the Yates situation and how Kubiak utilized him perfectly shows he's the COY. So happy what he's doing with the situation. Could've handled it other ways but he played his cards right.
 
Sure is nice just being able to mention his name in there!

I don't think what Wade has done should detract from Kubiak as Head Coach of the Year. We don't think any less of Bill Cowher because he had Dick LeBeau as DC do we!?

Or Sean Peyton

Top 10 defenses:
  1. Houston
  2. Pittsburgh
  3. Baltimore
  4. Jacksonville
  5. San Francisco
  6. New York Jets
  7. Cincinnati
  8. San Diego
  9. Cleveland
  10. Washington

The teams in Bold are on the outside looking in. Only Cincinnati has a reasonable chance of making the play-offs & San Diego a slim chance. Great defensive personnel (& let's be honest, most of ours were here before Wade was), great defensive coordinators...

NFL Football is the ultimate team sport. We're not 10-3 right now, because we have a great defense, we're 10-3 because we have a great team.

I don't think Kubiak has earned the CoTY, I don't think he's close to being the favorite. He should be in the conversation, but there is a lot of football left for Gary Kubiak, Jim Harbaugh, Mike McCarty, John Fox, etc... etc.. etc...
 
Or Sean Peyton

Top 10 defenses:
  1. Houston
  2. Pittsburgh
  3. Baltimore
  4. Jacksonville
  5. San Francisco
  6. New York Jets
  7. Cincinnati
  8. San Diego
  9. Cleveland
  10. Washington

The teams in Bold are on the outside looking in. Only Cincinnati has a reasonable chance of making the play-offs & San Diego a slim chance. Great defensive personnel (& let's be honest, most of ours were here before Wade was), great defensive coordinators...

NFL Football is the ultimate team sport. We're not 10-3 right now, because we have a great defense, we're 10-3 because we have a great team.

I don't think Kubiak has earned the CoTY, I don't think he's close to being the favorite. He should be in the conversation, but there is a lot of football left for Gary Kubiak, Jim Harbaugh, Mike McCarty, John Fox, etc... etc.. etc...

To the bold - Much of the talen on the defensive side was added this past offseason.

Watt , Reed , J-Jo and Manning may as well add Barwin to that group since he played a half of football last season.


Other than that , I agree with your assessment of the COY situation - there's a long way to go.
 
To the bold - Much of the talen on the defensive side was added this past offseason.

Watt , Reed , J-Jo and Manning may as well add Barwin to that group since he played a half of football last season.


Other than that , I agree with your assessment of the COY situation - there's a long way to go.

Not trying to downplay the addition of those 4 guys..... Watt, Reed, Jjo, & Manning.

I'm saying it's 11 guys on defense: Cody, Antonio, Barwin, Demeco, Cushing, Quin, Kjac........ all were here before Wade got here, so while Wade's 4 guys are great, the guys Kubiak brought in weren't all that bad, especially if you include Mario, Sharpton, McCain, Nolan, Demps (kinda)
 
Not trying to downplay the addition of those 4 guys..... Watt, Reed, Jjo, & Manning.

I'm saying it's 11 guys on defense: Cody, Antonio, Barwin, Demeco, Cushing, Quin, Kjac........ all were here before Wade got here, so while Wade's 4 guys are great, the guys Kubiak brought in weren't all that bad, especially if you include Mario, Sharpton, McCain, Nolan, Demps (kinda)

Oh I dont dispute that at all .... just pointing out that ~50% of the defense is new players or players at new positions.

Gotta give both Kubiak and Wade a lot of credit for a job well done thus far .... and hope we have a lot of football left to watch , all the way to Feb 5th 2012.
 
I stand behind my vote for Harbaugh in SF. The Texans have had talented payers but lacked a talented coordinator.
 
I stand behind my vote for Harbaugh in SF. The Texans have had talented payers but lacked a talented coordinator.

The same can be said about SanFran. That's the same team Nolan was building, that Singletary continued building. There may be three new starters on both sides of the ball.
 
Last edited:
If Gary gets blame for Bush then he should get credit for Wade Phillips. Thread doesn't sound so stupid now does it? Not guaranteeing he will but is good to be able to have a talk about it.

I don't necessarily think this is true. We all know Wade was McNair's hire.

But I don't think that minimizes Kubiak's accomplishments. Cleveland & Jacksonville both have top 10 defenses, neither of them are in the play off hunt. Atlanta has a top 10 defense & their play-off future is in jeopardy. Cincy have top 10 defenses, & they are on the outside looking in for play-off spots.

Not to minimize Wade's contribution, but I don't think we'd have turned this thing around so thoroughly, even with Wade as the cook, if Kubiak & Smith didn't do as good a job with the groceries. Those high character guys that we see some posters complaining about.
 
I stand behind my vote for Harbaugh in SF. The Texans have had talented payers but lacked a talented coordinator.

The same can be said about SanFran. That's the same team Nolan was building, that Singletary continued building. There may be three new starters on both sides of the ball.

16-0

Undefeated = COY

McCarthy

Now that GB has lost can McCarthy still get CotY with a 15-1 record?

I don't think SF beats Pittsburgh tonight ... The Steelers will be on a mission since a Pittsburgh win means they go to the top of the AFC North. And Big Ben is supposed to start.

So you have McCarthy at 15-1, Harbaugh at 11-5 (I don't think they beat the redhot Seahawks up in Seattle next week either), or Kubiak at 12-4.

Who's Coach of the Year??

I still say McCarthy.
 
I think loss against Panthers hurt Kubiak's chances. He needed to win out and at least one PO win.
 
Wade's defense without Kubiak's offense = Jacksonville
This is why. Texans offense is very good and we have been winning with many key injuries. I still challenge anyone supporting another head coach to compare our injurires to the other candidates injury list.
 
Wade's defense without Kubiak's offense = Jacksonville

If the Texans win out... no matter what happens with the other teams, I'd still give COTY to Kubiak. What he has done, despite all of the injuries, is a minor miracle. Every week, the team had a reason to lose and blame the injuries... but they didn't, they accepted the "next man up" mantra and continued on their mission.

The COTY award is awarded for this season, and this season only. So you can't judge him on past seasons.

And in the past, we kept blaming all of the defensive woes on Kubiak, regardless who he had at DC. But now that the defense is playing well, Kubiak doesn't get any credit?
 
And in the past, we kept blaming all of the defensive woes on Kubiak, regardless who he had at DC. But now that the defense is playing well, Kubiak doesn't get any credit?

I think Kubiak definitely deserves consideration.

However, I do understand the argument here. Kubiak & Rick Smith didn't go too far outside their circle of friends when they attempted to fill the DC position. They didn't bring Greg Williams in for a talk. They didn't bring Nolan in for a talk.

They brought Frank Bush in 2008, but didn't get rid of Richard Smith until 2009, then automatically promoted Bush while presenting a weak attempt to look outside the organization.

As far as anyone knows, Kubiak & Rick Smith did not reach out to Wade Phillips. McNair did & McNair landed him.

So, I do understand fans not giving Kubiak credit for the defense (even though the majority of the ingredients were already here, even though the draft looked just like any Kubiak/Smith draft since 2007). I don't agree, but I understand.

From what I gather, the way Kubiak & Smith talk, every decision is a decision agreed upon by a certain group. Sometimes it's Smith, Kubiak, McNair & Cal. Sometimes it's Kubiak & his coaching staff. But it is rarely ever just Kubiak's decision for this, or Smith's decision for that. By that same token, I do not buy it was McNair's decision to bring in Wade. I think they all came to the conclusion that we would have a great team with Wade running the defense. Kubiak's job may have been held as leverage, I don't know, but it is plausible.
 
I think Kubiak definitely deserves consideration.

However, I do understand the argument here. Kubiak & Rick Smith didn't go too far outside their circle of friends when they attempted to fill the DC position. They didn't bring Greg Williams in for a talk. They didn't bring Nolan in for a talk.

They brought Frank Bush in 2008, but didn't get rid of Richard Smith until 2009, then automatically promoted Bush while presenting a weak attempt to look outside the organization.

As far as anyone knows, Kubiak & Rick Smith did not reach out to Wade Phillips. McNair did & McNair landed him.

So, I do understand fans not giving Kubiak credit for the defense (even though the majority of the ingredients were already here, even though the draft looked just like any Kubiak/Smith draft since 2007). I don't agree, but I understand.

From what I gather, the way Kubiak & Smith talk, every decision is a decision agreed upon by a certain group. Sometimes it's Smith, Kubiak, McNair & Cal. Sometimes it's Kubiak & his coaching staff. But it is rarely ever just Kubiak's decision for this, or Smith's decision for that. By that same token, I do not buy it was McNair's decision to bring in Wade. I think they all came to the conclusion that we would have a great team with Wade running the defense. Kubiak's job may have been held as leverage, I don't know, but it is plausible.

The red and the blue statements are in direct conflict. Are you saying the red statement is the "conventional local wisdom" and the blue is what you believe actually went down...?
:thinking:
 
The AP COTY award is awarded before the Super Bowl is played, and it seems the voting is concluded just after the conference championships (can't find specifics on it, but if someone else can please post). So playoff performance could have something to do with who wins the award, but looking at past winners it seems to deal more with regular season accomplishments. If you look at past award winners you can see that the voters love turn-around years and regular season domination.

Past few winners:
2010 Bill Bellichek New England Patriots - 14-2 Pats domination
2009 Marvin Lewis Cincinnati Bengals - Turnaround to a playoff team
2008 Mike Smith Atlanta Falcons - 11-5 turnaround year for that team
2007 Bill Belichick(2) New England Patriots - 16-0 domination
2006 Sean Payton New Orleans Saints - Big year for NO 13-3
2005 Lovie Smith Chicago Bears - 11-5 after going 5-11 last season
2004 Marty Schottenheimer San Diego Chargers 12-4 after going 4-12 last season
2003 Bill Belichick New England Patriots - 14-2 domination

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Coach_of_the_Year_Award#AP_NFL_Coach_of_the_Year

I don't think the Texans are quite as big of a turnaround as the 49ers, but I'd put Kubiak at #3 overall behind them and McCarthy. However, AP does have a Coordinator of the Year award, which should go to Wade unanimously.
 
The AP COTY award is awarded before the Super Bowl is played, and it seems the voting is concluded just after the conference championships (can't find specifics on it, but if someone else can please post). So playoff performance could have something to do with who wins the award, but looking at past winners it seems to deal more with regular season accomplishments. If you look at past award winners you can see that the voters love turn-around years and regular season domination.

Past few winners:
2010 Bill Bellichek New England Patriots - 14-2 Pats domination
2009 Marvin Lewis Cincinnati Bengals - Turnaround to a playoff team
2008 Mike Smith Atlanta Falcons - 11-5 turnaround year for that team
2007 Bill Belichick(2) New England Patriots - 16-0 domination
2006 Sean Payton New Orleans Saints - Big year for NO 13-3
2005 Lovie Smith Chicago Bears - 11-5 after going 5-11 last season
2004 Marty Schottenheimer San Diego Chargers 12-4 after going 4-12 last season
2003 Bill Belichick New England Patriots - 14-2 domination

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Coach_of_the_Year_Award#AP_NFL_Coach_of_the_Year

I don't think the Texans are quite as big of a turnaround as the 49ers, but I'd put Kubiak at #3 overall behind them and McCarthy. However, AP does have a Coordinator of the Year award, which should go to Wade unanimously.
I think COTY is based upon regular season only. On your SF pick is the team on it's 3rd string QB? Has it's # 1 WR missed 9 games (includes Dec 22nd)? Did SF lose a starting LB? Did the starting FS break his leg? Did the starting RG break his leg? Just as a starting point.

Not jumping on you but do you look at this aspect or just the W/L turn around from year before?
 
The AP COTY award is awarded before the Super Bowl is played.....
Thanks for compiling this Dutch, great info!
On your SF pick is the team on it's 3rd string QB? Has it's # 1 WR missed 9 games (includes Dec 22nd)? Did SF lose a starting LB? Did the starting FS break his leg? Did the starting RG break his leg? Just as a starting point.

Not jumping on you but do you look at this aspect or just the W/L turn around from year before?
I agree badboy.

I think SF is getting a big boost because of Rookie HC and them starting off so hot. I keep hearing "what a big turn around for the Niners" But it's not like they went from an 0-16 team to 16-0 or anything. If we're looking at past seasons I would say yes the Texans have underperformed BUT we've been very comparable to SF.

2011: HOU (10-4) vs SF (11-3)
2010: HOU (6-10) vs SF (6-10)
2009: HOU (9-7) vs SF (8-8)
2008: HOU (8-8) vs SF (7-9)

The way the Texans have dealt with so much adversity this season is the trump card for me.
 
Now that GB has lost can McCarthy still get CotY with a 15-1 record?

I don't think SF beats Pittsburgh tonight ... The Steelers will be on a mission since a Pittsburgh win means they go to the top of the AFC North. And Big Ben is supposed to start.

So you have McCarthy at 15-1, Harbaugh at 11-5 (I don't think they beat the redhot Seahawks up in Seattle next week either), or Kubiak at 12-4.

Who's Coach of the Year??

I still say McCarthy.

Now that the 49ers beat down one of the AFC's best teams and the Packers lost to the lowly Chiefs, do you feel any different?

I would give it #1 to Harbaugh and #2 to Kubiak.

McCarthy, great coach, but he's working with the Super Bowl champions this season. That's much different than taking two clubs like the Texans and 49ers to their first playoff berths in a decade.
 
I think COTY is based upon regular season only. On your SF pick is the team on it's 3rd string QB? Has it's # 1 WR missed 9 games (includes Dec 22nd)? Did SF lose a starting LB? Did the starting FS break his leg? Did the starting RG break his leg? Just as a starting point.

Not jumping on you but do you look at this aspect or just the W/L turn around from year before?

They haven't had near the amount of injuries the Texans have this year. In fact, I'd say only about 3 teams have had more IR players than them (Bills, Seahawks and Jags). Although I'm not sure which are starters and which are not. I don't even recognize a few of the Texans' names.

List of all team's IR players:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/injuries/pup

In any case, I think the 49ers will wind up with a 13-3 (seahawks & rams left) record and the Texans will likely be 11-5 or 12-4. I'd still give it to Harbaugh for turning around that team in 1 year, not 6. Wade is the rudder that has righted the course of the Texans ship, not Kubiak. He is without a doubt the Coordinator of the Year. Kubiak is riding his defense at this point.
 
In any case, I think the 49ers will wind up with a 13-3 (seahawks & rams left) record and the Texans will likely be 11-5 or 12-4. I'd still give it to Harbaugh for turning around that team in 1 year, not 6. Wade is the rudder that has righted the course of the Texans ship, not Kubiak. He is without a doubt the Coordinator of the Year. Kubiak is riding his defense at this point.

Did Sean Payton win a Super Bowl for the Saints or is that Greg Williams' Super Bowl?
 
Did Sean Payton win a Super Bowl for the Saints or is that Greg Williams' Super Bowl?

Super bowl win = team accomplishment

COTY award = individual contribution

Look, if Harbaugh had been the 49ers coach for the past 6 years, then yeah he wouldn't be in the conversation. But it took him 1 year to do what it took Gary 6 years. That's the difference, end of story.
 
Super bowl win = team accomplishment

COTY award = individual contribution

Look, if Harbaugh had been the 49ers coach for the past 6 years, then yeah he wouldn't be in the conversation. But it took him 1 year to do what it took Gary 6 years. That's the difference, end of story.

I don't have a problem with picking Harbaugh over Kubiak for COTY. I would be upset, if Kubiak got the COTY, for personal reasons.

But to say:
Wade is the rudder that has righted the course of the Texans ship, not Kubiak.

Is just like saying Greg Williams won the Super Bowl, not Sean Payton.

COTY is about the team, keeping the team together & having them play good, competitive football consistently. Wade didn't do that in Dallas.... hence he is not a head coach right now.
 
I don't have a problem with picking Harbaugh over Kubiak for COTY. I would be upset, if Kubiak got the COTY, for personal reasons.

I agree with that to some extent. I don't hate Kubiak, but I do wish he was an OC rather than an HC.

But to say:


Is just like saying Greg Williams won the Super Bowl, not Sean Payton.

COTY is about the team, keeping the team together & having them play good, competitive football consistently. Wade didn't do that in Dallas.... hence he is not a head coach right now.

If Kubiak won a Super Bowl this year, I would say he's a super bowl winner along with everyone else on the team. It's a team accomplishment. COTY is an individual award to recognize an individual coach's contribution to the team. There's a difference, and it's not to say that the team doesn't matter, but I don't think Kubiak did anything special or different this year. He handed the draft over to Wade to bring in guys for his defense. The best thing he did this year was letting go of control of the draft for the first 4 rounds.

Grabbing Yates may turn out to be a steal, but I don't think that alone is worth the award. In contrast, Harbaugh took a mediocre Alex Smith and turned him into an above average QB. A guy most people had declared a bust (and still is somewhat) and turned the offense around with him at the helm. That's pretty amazing to do in 1 season. Smith has a 91.1 QBR this year, and is on track for his first 3000+ yard season.


Also before someone throws out the inevitable "NFC West is a crappy division" argument, the 49ers Strength of Victory so far is .449 and the Texans is .400.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings/_/type/playoffs/sort/strengthOfVictory/order/true
 
I agree with that to some extent. I don't hate Kubiak, but I do wish he was an OC rather than an HC.
For the record, I don't hate Kubiak. My personal reasons has nothing to do with hate.
If Kubiak won a Super Bowl this year, I would say he's a super bowl winner along with everyone else on the team. It's a team accomplishment. COTY is an individual award to recognize an individual coach's contribution to the team. There's a difference, and it's not to say that the team doesn't matter, but I don't think Kubiak did anything special or different this year.
I'm sure this makes perfect sense to you. Please try to understand some of us may find it difficult to understand.
He handed the draft over to Wade to bring in guys for his defense. The best thing he did this year was letting go of control of the draft for the first 4 rounds.
This is speculative. The 2011 draft was really no different than any draft since 2006. High character guys, team leaders..... defense heavy, which is probably the main reason Wade was able to turn the defense around so fast.
Grabbing Yates may turn out to be a steal, but I don't think that alone is worth the award. In contrast, Harbaugh took a mediocre Alex Smith and turned him into an above average QB. A guy most people had declared a bust (and still is somewhat) and turned the offense around with him at the helm. That's pretty amazing to do in 1 season. Smith has a 91.1 QBR this year, and is on track for his first 3000+ yard season.
& you attribute that directly with Harbaugh? People were thinking Cushing was one-&-done, a product of steroids.... he's now leading the team in tackles, some saying he's the best LB in the game.

We took Cincinnati's "other" corner & he's having an all-pro season.

If you want to go offensively, "people" are talking about Chris Myers like he'll be an All-Pro, this "no-name" offensive line is regarded as the best in the league (by some) (San Francisco has 3 first rounders on their OL; Staley, Iupati, Davis. Plus they have a first rounder in Michael Crabtree, & Vernon Davis.

Oh yeah, Alex Smith was a first overall pick.

Then We've got an Undrafted free agent as our leading rusher (& starting RG until recently).
Also before someone throws out the inevitable "NFC West is a crappy division" argument, the 49ers Strength of Victory so far is .449 and the Texans is .400.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings/_/type/playoffs/sort/strengthOfVictory/order/true

Like I said, I have no problem giving the award to Harbaugh, I think he is more deserving. I just don't undertand thinking Kubiak doesn't belong in the conversation....

Fangio, Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis has just as much to do with Harbaugh's success as Wade, Joseph, & Cushing.
 
Back
Top