Jim Harbaugh - The man who turned water into wine.

When the San Francisco 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh as their coach this summer, the inevitable questions of how a coach could transfer their collegiate success into the deeper ruins of the NFL.

Harbaugh, whose outstanding results at the University at Stanford provoked several organisations to enquire about the 47 year old. Staying in California seemed like the logical choice for him, and for the 49ers the gamble on an inexperienced coach seemed like gamble worth taking in an attempt to lift the team from the doldrums.

In a season where expectations weren’t overly high and the team were pencilled in to be also-rans, the team has propelled themselves into the NFL’s elite. With 7th year Quarterback Alex Smith taking the snaps and miraculously making the previous 6 years of mediocre throws and a subpar mentality all but evaporate with every throw.

With a 74.8 QB rating and a TD-INT ratio of 58-54, Smith has dismantled the record books, upping his levels of play into the upper-echelons of Quarterbacks. Smith this season has upped his QB rating by over 20 points (97.8) and has a 10-2 TD-Int ratio. A remarkable uprising in numbers co-incidentally entwine with Harbaugh, an ex-Quarterback’s rookie season as head coach.

Harbaugh, whose passionate, yet somewhat reserved personality has split opinion on around the league, this was demonstrated none more so than in Detroit after the 49ers win last month.

After the 49ers cemented their place among the pantheon of Nfl teams in Michigan, Harbaugh, exuberant after a beating a fellow contender, was somewhat over-zealous in shaking the hand of Lions’ coach Jim Schwartz, provoking a scuffle between the two coaches.

With a Chris Jericho demeanour in press conferences, and a ruthless streak similar to Michael Corleone, except without the mass murder and drug trafficking. Harbaugh, who openly admits that brother John, coach of the Baltimore Ravens is his only friend in the league.
When asked about his coach, defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois just said “he’s comfortable with the way he is”. Comfortable, a word that is often used in describing Harbaugh, as a key asset of his is the ability to remain calm, or if anything become more confident in high-pressure situations.

With his conservative approach in the passing game, letting Alex Smith play the game simply, and let MVP candidate Frank Gore consistently put up video game numbers. “The inconvenient truth” is playing up to his new contract, putting up over 100 yards a game on the ground and adding an extra threat in the passing game, becoming a weapon on every play.

With a smart offence, an all-pro running back and an elite defence, where superstar Patrick Willis has been partnered with budding sensation Navarro Bowman helping him combine the best linebacker tandem in the league.

Add the effervescent Justin Smith in with newly acquired Donte Whitner and Carlos Rogers, and the defence holds up with the rest of the league.
And as the old saying goes. “Defence wins championships”.