Harbaugh vs. Meyer: Who's the Ultimate QB Guru?

Submitted by Santa Clause on

247Sports article that compares Harbaugh and Meyer. I don't see how the writer picked Meyer, as he not only has had more to work with over the course of his career, but he also has had longer to do so. Plus, Meyer's quarterbacks did fuck all in the NFL, whereas Harbaugh's quarterbacks went on to do pretty well in the big leagues.

http://247sports.com/ContentGallery/Meyer-vs-Harbaugh-Who-is-the-ultima…

Dg

August 7th, 2016 at 11:20 PM ^

You go to Harbaugh.  He's turned some of the least naturally talented quarterbacks relative to the talent they're playing against (A. Smith, Rudock) and turned them into effcient and even sometimes deadly passers.  Alex Smith gets hurt and within a week the niners add to their playbook with the pistol and gets even better results with Colin Kaepernick a true dual threat.  Point is I don't care what offense you're running I want Harbaugh working with the quarterbacks.  Plus Urban hasn't shown anything in the NFL and hasn't worked with anything outside of option athletes with big arms.

BlueCube

August 8th, 2016 at 6:17 AM ^

To do with talent evaluation. Also, if this wasn't posted in over a week, it's because it was Buckeye propaganda. Giving credit for players you never coached has something to do with recruiting but little to do with being a quarterback guru.

FatGuyTouchdown

August 7th, 2016 at 9:26 PM ^

Meyer: Tim Tebow, Alex Smith, Chris Leak???

Harbaugh: Andrew Luck, Alex Smith.

I think Harbaugh is a better coach too, by the way. But Meyer has a fantastic resume in his own right and I'm not sure there's a wrong answer. Real recognizes real, and Meyer is a phenominal coach for quarterbacks.

Santa Clause

August 7th, 2016 at 9:37 PM ^

*Harbaugh:

Josh Johnson (who he turned into a NFL draft pick from the University of San Diego)

Andrew Luck

Turned Alex Smith into a good NFL quarterback

Turned Colin Kaepernick into a superstar then when he left Colin turned to shit

Made Jake Rudock (a backup at Iowa) a way better player than he was before which led to him being drafted in the 6th round.

There, fixed it for you.

 

FatGuyTouchdown

August 7th, 2016 at 9:30 PM ^

what Alex  Boone's comments should have to do with this discussion, especially considering Alex Boone trashed Harbaugh last year. I think Alex Boone is a fucking moron, but don't use his comments to further a discussion, especially when he said this last year: 

 

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/49er-ex-buckeye-alex-boo…

FatGuyTouchdown

August 7th, 2016 at 9:30 PM ^

what Alex  Boone's comments should have to do with this discussion, especially considering Alex Boone trashed Harbaugh last year. I think Alex Boone is a fucking moron, but don't use his comments to further a discussion, especially when he said this last year: 

 

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/49er-ex-buckeye-alex-boo…

Hornsgoblue (not verified)

August 8th, 2016 at 8:54 PM ^

Would agree regarding "system" QB's.

Like Meyer at Ohio State, Steve Spurrier churned out a lot of QB's that won a lot of games and looked great in college but they didnt do much in the pros-Danny Wuerfel, Shane Matthews etc.

Harbaugh on the other hand seems to work to the strenghs of his players. The fact that Jake Rudock who had been all but abandoned by Iowa now has a chance to play in the NFL is phenomenal.

I Like Burgers

August 7th, 2016 at 9:27 PM ^

Depends what your benchmark is.  In terms of developing QB that work great in his system in college, its tough to argue against Meyer.  He's had a lot of QBs that did really, really well in his system in college (Smith, Tebow, Barrett, Jones, Pryor).  But, they were only good in college.

Harbaugh has also developed good QBs, but not may outside of Luck that were that well regarded in college.

If you're grading on who is going to make a QB into a better NFL player, I'd go with Harbaugh.  But for making them work in his system in college...its either a toss up with a slight lean to Meyer.

Frank Chuck

August 7th, 2016 at 9:36 PM ^

...Harbaugh's choice to lead Stanford after Luck. Hogan wasn't perfect but he was a damn good college QB.

Also, Taysom Hill committed to Harbagh at Stanford but exited (after Harbaugh) because of some kind of conflict.

All things considered, I feel darn good about Harbaugh's ability to (1) evaluate QB talent, (2) recruit QB talent, and (3) develop talent.

Dg

August 7th, 2016 at 11:37 PM ^

1. Harbaugh hasn't coached in college as long as Urban so less qb's to coach and 2. The caliber of player out of high school that Urban has gotten is much higher than what Harbaugh has worked with so far.  Harbaugh has worked with one 4 star or higher recruit in Andrew Luck in which turned him into a number 1 pick and implemented philsophies that I'm sure still stick with Andrew and the reason he's still successful.

Urban also by fact has developed a college quarterback into a number 1 pick with Alex Smith.  However, however, Smith was nothing in the NFL until, you guessed it, Harbaugh was able to coach him.  In the coming years where Harbaugh can consistently recruit his own guy with players like Peters and McCaffrey and develop them their whole careers, you're probably going to see a smorgasbord of first rd. draft picks with highly sucessful college and NFL careers.

Urban needs a specific type of player in order to run his cut and dry system.  He needs a big arm quarterback who can bring the threat of the read option.  When his quarterbacks don't have that and the defenses figure it out the production slows down.  We all saw how stale OSU's offense got when Cardale got too fat and the element of the read option was taken away.  Also not sure if many of you remember this but at UF Urban also played a guy by the name of John Brantley who wasn't extremely mobile either and you guessed it, UF's offense struggled.

Sure Harbaugh I imagine has a preferance for what he likes in a quarterback but it probably has nothing to do with how well you can run a specific set of plays.  If you have athletic instinct and are a hard worker and a leader Harbaugh will want you.  He will then give you the right tools that will translate to any level or atmosphere of football.

RobM_24

August 7th, 2016 at 9:27 PM ^

Apples and Oranges. If your talking about Pro development, Harbaugh by a mile. However, for the college football coaches like Meyer and Brian Kelly can plug guys into their systems and make them put up numbers without much prep time.

Diehard566

August 7th, 2016 at 9:41 PM ^

The answer is simple: The guy who is actually a QB coach Mullen was the QB coach at BGSU, Utah, and Florida. When Mullen left, it was noticeable. Herman was the QB coach at OSU until this year. Now it's Tim Beck and the change is noticeable. The whole premise is ridiculous because Meyer simply isn't a QB coach and wasn't even one as an assistant coach (WR coach) You may as well ask who the better linebacker coach is because Harbaugh had Skov, Willis, etc

Perkis-Size Me

August 7th, 2016 at 9:38 PM ^

Depends on what you're looking for.

If you're looking for who gets their guys ready for the NFL, it's Harbaugh and it's not even remotely close. If you're talking about who has produced the most at the college level, you have to go with Meyer at this point. Meyer's system allows someone with great athleticism to come in and start putting up numbers right away without having to grasp really difficult offensive concepts.

There's nothing wrong with that. Its won Meyer a few titles, so why move away from that? Meyer doesn't have, and shouldn't feel obliged to run a pro style system when he has his own system that works. But again, when debating who gets their guys ready for the NFL, it's pretty obvious who's QBs succeed and who's don't.



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7words

August 7th, 2016 at 9:40 PM ^

This seems kind of like a stupid comparison. Maybe they should have compared Rich Rod to Urban instead since his QBs put up great numbers too but don't get drafted as QBs by the NFL either.   

SBo

August 7th, 2016 at 9:42 PM ^

Ohio State is obsessed with us. Maybe even more than Michigan state. Their band uniforms include a yellow banana that says "BEAT BLUE" on it. Their band, after every game, yells "Who's the best band in the land" answer: "We are" question: "Who says?" answer: "Michigan". Just an observation after reading their team guide on reddit thanks to a post from u/gobluelarkin bringing it to my attention. They fail to mention that the Michigan Marching Band started script ohio, yet cite it as the best tradition in college football. Just an observation.

A Fan In Fargo

August 7th, 2016 at 9:45 PM ^

Yep, lets go play qb for Meyer and break legs, not ever improve at the position and not get into the NFL with any skill! Sounds like a winner huh kids? I think Don Brown and gang will have his offense figured out this year with the blitz packages they won't get to see until that day. A very special gift wrapped surprise for the bucs on that Saturday. 

RelevantBlue

August 7th, 2016 at 10:02 PM ^

Would you rather see you're QB drafted in the first round, or win National Tiles? Looks like Meyer is all-in on the second option. Harbaugh is the better QB coach and there's really no debate about it.

MichiganForever

August 7th, 2016 at 10:08 PM ^

Andrew Luck is a quarterback. Tebow, Jones, Barrett ect are giant athletic guys who wont ever be significant contributers on any NFL roster at the QB position. Cardale Jones is already a running joke from what I hear coming out of training camp.

 

Meyer system works for what it is. A college system that doesnt translate to the professional level. Harbaugh has been successful at every level and has produced 2 NFL starters including a future Hof candidate.

MChem83

August 7th, 2016 at 10:11 PM ^

with his third string QB killing it. And that was in a year when his team was supposed to be too young, and a year away, talent-wise. Nuf sed. When Harbaugh does that with even his first stringer, then there can be a discussion.