2012-GameRelease-Divisional

Harbaugh loves watching Frank Gore churn out yards on the ground.
Just check out this week's NFL passing statistics. Alex Smith ranks 25th in the league in passing attempts
through two games, 24th in passing yards - and second in quarterback rating, behind only Atlanta's Matt
Ryan. That's the epitome of efficiency, especially when your team is unbeaten.
Seifert is enjoying watching these 49ers slowly become more creative on offense, much as he has
enjoyed watching Harbaugh quickly revive the franchise.
"I think so much of it stems from Jim's foundation, his background," Seifert said. "He grew up in a football
family, and that was the family's passion - it wasn't like they went camping or fishing or bicycling around
Europe. Their time was spent on football. I think that's a big part of his success.
"The other part is the fact Jim played quarterback in the NFL, and he was with different clubs and had
insight into different systems and players. That's huge."
Flores similarly pointed to Harbaugh's history at the game's most important position. Flores, also a
quarterback in his playing days, found his background immensely helpful in working with Jim Plunkett on
the Raiders.
And let's face it: More than anything else, Harbaugh's torrid 20-game pace begins with Smith's
transformation.
The 'quarterback thing'
"He has a better feel for the whole quarterback thing," Flores said of Harbaugh. "Some guys have no
sense of how a quarterback feels or thinks. I think Smith has responded to him because of the
relationship quarterbacks have."
Flores echoed Seifert's point about the value of a vagabond resume. Harbaugh played for four NFL teams
(Bears, Colts, Ravens, Chargers) and helped his dad, Jack, at Western Kentucky. Then he was an
assistant coach in the pros (Raiders) and head coach in college (San Diego, Stanford). He picked up
tidbits of wisdom along the way.
One constant: Harbaugh's demonstrative, clenched-jaw visage on the sideline. At one point during the
Packers game, it looked like he might explode right there on camera.
He's no stone-faced Tom Landry, that's for sure.
"You have to be who and what you are," Madden said. "There's nothing worse than someone trying to be
a tough guy, or Mike Ditka trying to soften up. Then you become a phony. That's the first thing players
know, if you're a phony."
Harbaugh is no phony. As he watched Sunday night's game against the Lions on television, Seifert saw
Harbaugh's facial expressions and pictured another coach - Bo Schembechler, who coached Harbaugh at
Michigan in the 1980s.
Nearly 30 years later, Harbaugh carries on the tradition in San Francisco.
"It's just a total rebirth," Seifert said, "and it's a lot of fun."
The 20-game mark
How some notable Bay Area coaches fared in their first 20 games at the helm (including the playoffs):