Friday at 4949 Centennial
Posted by on January 20, 2012 – 5:12 PM
Players were loose. And the coach was looser.
In an almost jovial mood was Jim Harbaugh addressing the masses of media in town for Sunday’s NFC Championship against the New York Giants.
Harbaugh said there’s work to be done and that the team can benefit from Saturday’s walk-through prior to the team’s home game at Candlestick Park.
“It’s really never done,” Harbaugh said. “The hay’s in the barn philosophy is not one we subscribe to.”
Some 20 minutes or so later, quarterback Alex Smith made nearly an identical statement when asked if he had more work to do Friday night.
“Hay’s not in the barn, I guess.” said Smith, who plans to go over the team’s entire game plan in order to wrap his head around it.
The rest of the 49ers locker room looked focused and loose at the same time, just as Harbaugh wanted it to be.
A few players waited around the bathroom area to get in the barber’s chair, while many conducted interviews with the masses of media in the Bay Area this week for the team’s 13th appearance in a conference championship game.
Harbaugh liked the mindset of his players all week.
But will he stop and enjoy the moment, preparing for a game that could get him into the Super Bowl for the first time in his playing or coaching career?
“Stop to smell the roses? No,” Harbaugh said.
Instead, he’ll have his team ready to compete.
“I can only speak for myself. I know what a challenge we have in front of us,” Harbaugh added. “Really, our mindset, our focus, has been on our preparation and just the mindset of the only thing we have to fear is being unprepared. It’s especially important against a team like the Giants.”
After beating the Giants 27-20 in a close Week 10 matchup in San Francisco, Harbaugh knew he’d faced a quality opponent.
“We knew when we played them in November the Giants would be a team that would go deep into the playoffs,” he said. “We know how talented they are, fortunately we’re here, too. We’ve got one shot and we’re planning on giving it our best.”
Notes and Quotes
The status of wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and tight end Delanie Walker will be listed as questionable, according to the 49ers coach.
Harbaugh said defensive coordinator Vic Fangio called a timeout with :02 left in the game last week to make, literally, a last-second adjustment. “Vic called for it upstairs,” Harbaugh said. “He wanted to see what formation they were in, what look they were in.”
Asked about his offensive line’s play, Harbaugh went out of his way to commend the defensive line, too. “I have a lot of confidence in our offense,” Harbaugh said. “Both those groups on both sides of the ball – defensive line and offensive line – have really been the tip of the spear for this football team. With their physical play, their attitude. It’s been a team attitude, a selfless attitude.”
Several players spoke at the podium on Friday, including wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The wide receiver who caught a 4-yard touchdown last week admitted he has friends on the Giants, but will put those relationships aside to go after his ultimate goal. “You can win all the individual awards that you want to,” Crabtree said. “But if you don’t have the Super Bowl, it’s kind of like, you leave the game and it’s kind of hard for you. … That’s been my goal ever since I left college.” Crabtree said his drops from the Saints game haunted him, too. “I couldn’t sleep. But, at the same time, you’ve got to put it behind you and catch the ball, do what I do.”
Safety Donte Whitner spoke positively about New York running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who will face the 49ers for the first time this season after missing the Week 10 game between the two clubs. “He’s really one of the best players on their offense, especially when healthy,” Whitner said. “He’s actually a power back in a scat back’s body. He makes big plays for them and he has a lot of heart, a lot of intensity. He’s going to be one of our focuses this week; we have to take him out of the game.”
Lastly, Smith said the guys have been even looser than last week, saying the team’s anxiety was higher before the first playoff game. He’s ready for New York’s talented pass rush, too. “I don’t think there’s a team that presents this type of challenge and has this many guys that can all rush the passer,” Smith said. “I can’t remember playing a team that had this many guys that can get after the quarterback. I feel good about it, though. It’s going to be a challenge.”
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By alex_fn_smith on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
i had a dream last night that we blew away the giants….eli cried like a baby,and left san francisco with his elite tail between his legs,and finally admitting to himself that hes not as talented as his brother. and in my dream we then went on to beat the patriots in the superbowl,and it broke their spirits to the point where they never returned there again.
By alex_fn_smith on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
and the tom brady legacy,finally died,and he belicheck realized he will never ever win a superbowl without being able to cheat….boy what a dream…lets make that a reality. go 9ers…
By alex_fn_smith on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
*and belichick
By Efren Sanchez on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
I KNOW IN MY HEART THE 49ERS WILL BE VICTORIOUS & WIN THE SUPER BOWL THIS YEAR! WE HAVE A NEW TEAM & A BETTER QB ON OUR SIDE.
IF WE MADE THIS FAR WHY NOT GO AL THE WAY & WIN BIG THIS YEAR!
49ERS FAN FOR 26 YEARS & STILL GOING TO BE FOR LIFE BECAUSE I HAVE FAITH IN MY TEAM!
By missouri 9er on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
GO NINERS Play hard and just do what you guys do! Defense play with a warriors attitude, Special teams bring the pain, and Offense like a well oiled scoring machine. I LOVE THIS TEAM! GOOOOO NINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By leagle eagle on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
the 49ers should win this game as I think Coach H will give A Smith more freedom to improvise…Smith seems to work best when he just reacts and does not think too much…mistakes will cost the game..someone has to lose
By 49er_Truth on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
The Truth needs defenders. These noble souls, who fly in the face of “consensus” and “verifiability”, refuse to kneel to the power of disagreement, knowing that in the end The Truth will prevail.
The 49ers and the 49er Faithful are the defenders of Truth.
By Rick in Round Rock on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
AAaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I cant wait!!! nice dream Alex.
LETS GO NINERS
By melekekane on Jan 20, 2012 | Reply
Alex, ou are half right on this one,,,, My dream a month ago was, 49ers 27 Ravens 13… remember that score… Go niners. Fan since 1958…
By paul ogasawara on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
I remember attending the games during the 80′s when the Niner crowd would start a cheer just before the second half when the Niners received the kickoff. One side of the field would yell GO. The other side would scream NINERS! I sure wish some Fortyniner Faithful could revive that tradition.
By NorCali chick on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
Good Luck with Niners..#85 Davis love you!!!
By ninerz 1 on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
our mighty men will remain that!!! continue to bring the way you have all year.who’s got it better than us NOBOBY!!!!!
By 49er Joe on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
This is our year. Well overdue, but I believe in our team. Even when everyone counted us out, we were still in it. Last 4 teams and were still in it. Lets make everyone eat their own words, and finally give us back our respect..NINERS ON MINE TILL I DIE…GO NINERS!!!
By JasonInReno on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
In my dream, Bill Belichick was thrown in a Federal Penitentiary for spying on the 49ers Super Bowl preparations.
By JIM C on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
I KNEW ALL THE NINERS NEEDED WAS P.M.A., AND THEY GOT IT WITH MR. HARBAUGH!!! STAY POSITIVE , AND DO THE DEAL!!!! YOU GUYS GOT THIS!!!!
By JIM C on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
HARBAUGH NEEDS TO PREACH IT IN THE NEXT FEW TEAM MEETINGS….”POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE” (P.M.A.)…BELIEVEING WILL = WINNING!!!!!!
By edaniele on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
Go 9ers, reminds me so much of 1981….. unexpected. This coaching is unbelievable. Love the vibe in the city.
By Mike on Jan 21, 2012 | Reply
The 49ers are 20-9 All-Time in playoff games at home… The Giants defense was ranked 25th in scoring (giving up 25 points a game) and 27th in yardage (allowing 376 yards a game). The 49ers have the 2nd rated defense. New York was 9-7 and gave up more points this year (400) than they scored (394). The Forty Niners had 2 more days to prepare than the Giants who played on Sunday 1/15, then flew from Green Bay to NY and laster in the week flew cross country to San Francisco. This is PAY BACK for 1991. Go Niners, punch your ticket to Indy….
By chad on Jan 22, 2012 | Reply
It has been a long time…i have a funny feeling the niners will take it to the next level against the Gmen and upset them more heavily than anyone expects 31-17 niners!!!!!!!!
By Tarcules on Jan 23, 2012 | Reply
Wonder how bad he needed money? This is his recent tweet:KyleWilliams_10 Kyle Williams
My truck is strugglin right now had to drop it off it kept turning off on me
6 Jan Favorite Retweet Reply