TAMPA — If you’re facing a team coached by Jim Harbaugh, you’d better attack the day with enthusiasm unknown to man.
That’s been the mantra of the Harbaughs — Jim with the Chargers and John as head coach of the Ravens since 2008 — inherited from their coaching father, Jack.
“He’s a great coach. A great leader,” said Bucs guard Ben Bredeson, who played for Harbaugh at Michigan. “I really enjoyed playing for him, and so did my brother (Max). They’re having a good year over there. He’s got a unique personality. Guys play for him, and I think he’s having some success back in the NFL.”
Harbaugh has forged a career as a turnaround specialist who’s had a shorter shelf life at programs than his record should demand.
In 2007, he took over a downtrodden Stanford program coming off a 1-11 season. In his fourth season, with Andrew Luck at quarterback, the Cardinal routed Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
Harbaugh then led the 49ers to three straight NFC Championship games from 2011-13 and lost Super Bowl 47 to his brother and the Ravens. A year later, he lost a power struggle with general manager Trent Baalke and was off to his alma mater at Michigan.
Last season, Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a national championship, then fled to the NFL, escaping before the NCAA penalized him for recruiting violations and other infractions.
Back in the NFL, Harbaugh has the Chargers at 8-5 and in wild-card contention with his physical, run-first mentality. Quarterback Justin Herbert is managing the offense with 14 touchdown passes and only one interception.
There’s no secret about what the Bucs will face against the Chargers. Harbaugh is going to run the football, melt the clock and bring a physical brawl to the Bucs.
“I think there’s a sense of urgency, for sure,” Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said. “I don’t think there’s anybody walking around here worried, but you do have to have an understanding of what’s the style of game that we’re going to go play.
“This is going to be a physical football game that both teams are going to want to run the football, and whoever takes care of the football and wins situational football is probably going to win this game. They’ve done a phenomenal job of not turning the ball over and playing their brand and style of football that’s been successful for them so far this season.”
Defensively, the Bucs rank 11th in the NFL against the run (1,497 rushing yards allowed) and are tied for 21st in rushing average, allowing 4.6 yards per attempt.
“Well, you know they’re going to want to run the ball and they’re hard-headed about running the ball and it’s going to be tough, hard-nose, and they (aren’t) going to turn it over,” Bucs co-defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said. “It’s no secret what you’re getting, because they have a 290-pound fullback (Scott Matlock), so that’s kind of telling you what you’re about to get. That’s where you battle it right there.”
The Chargers also boast the best red zone defense and are third in the NFL with a plus-11 giveaway/takeaway ratio.
“It’s football,” Bucs linebacker Lavonte David said. “This is the old days. Doing what you really love and who’s tougher? How is it going to be? How is it going to go? Four quarters and we’re going to see who wears out first. They’ve got that mentality. They’ve got great players with skills to do that stuff, so we’ve got to be able to match it. It’s definitely a challenge, and I feel like we’re going to be ready for it.”
Chapel Bill
Bill Belichick’s decision to take the head coaching job at North Carolina raised a few eyebrows around the NFL.
Part of the decision had to center around dwindling opportunities to land a job in the league. The Falcons head coaching job, which went to Raheem Morris, was the only one Belichick interviewed for a year ago.
The belief is that he would want control of the football operations and bring in his own people wherever he landed. He has a chance to do that with the Tar Heels, hiring Michael Lombardi as the program’s general manager.
Coen, who has coached in the NFL with the Rams and Bucs, called plays at Kentucky and grew up a Patriots fan in Rhode Island, likes the move.
“I think it could be great for this game, honestly, if he can find a way to make college football more like this in terms of what’s being asked of the coaches, the recruiting staff, the personnel, the (name, image and likeness) and all those different things,” Coen said. “If he can make it a little bit less demanding on some of the coaches and create a great atmosphere and have success, I think it’s great for our game. It’s pretty cool to see, actually.”
But, Coen warned, Belichick will discover there is a big difference coaching college players.
“It’s a cultural change,” he said. “You wake up for a game Saturday morning, and there’s just a difference. There are 18-to-22-year-old guys that are being counted on to go do the right thing that your livelihood is dependent on, versus men in a business that truly take care of it in a lot of ways. It’s just a different deal. Whether you want to go impact people, and that’s what it sounds like he’s trying to do, go impact this game in a positive way, I think he has the opportunity to do that.”
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