Harbaugh to the Niners

Even though quarterback Andrew Luck has decided to return for his senior year (he might want to reconsider his decision), his now former coach Jim Harbaugh has left him and Stanford for the NFL, to coach the San Francisco 49ers. As the Cardinal are expecting a drop-off next season after a blowout win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Harbaugh favored a five year, 25 million dollar deal to head to San Fran and join his brother coaching in the pros.

Many other teams, in both the NFL and NCAA, were courting Harbaugh to coach their team, most notably the Miami Dolphins and Michigan University, where he went to school and played there as the team's quarterback. Michigan is now still looking for a replacement for recently fired Rich Rodriguez, after a miserable past three years in which the usual powerhouse went 15-22 overall. The Dolphins still have a coach in Tony Sparano, but had talks with Harbaugh anyway, which seemingly lost Sparano power with both his players and in the organization.

So why did he choose the 49ers? As of right now, they aren't in the greatest shape. Well, for one, San Fran offered him the most money, lucrative terms for a coach. He must see it as an opportunity to turn a team around, to convert the 49ers the consistent contenders they once were.

Tyrod Taylor's NFL QB Chances

Throughout his time at Virginia Tech, and particularly this season, quarterback Tyrod Taylor has made extraordinary plays. Why, then, does ESPN's Todd McShay have him unranked for NFL Draft prospects at quarterback, and 25th in receiver? Why should a guy who's been a quarterback his entire college career suddenly switch to receiver? Why wouldn't he make a quality NFL quarterback?

The same was said for the Broncos' Tim Tebow. He should be a tight end, they said. Well, he's fixed up his mechanics and now has a few starts under his belt. He's no Peyton Manning, but he's formidable. Look at Michael Vick. His and Taylor's stats are extremely comparable for their Virginia Tech careers, Taylor's actually slightly better than Vick's in some categories. And look what Vick has done.

Taylor's stats this year are 23 TDs, just 4 INTs, for 2521 yards, and a 60% completion rate. Why, then, should no one give him a shot as a quarterback in the NFL? Is is just because he is a scrambler at times? He stays in the pocket most of the time, but runs to escape the rush. Sure, his mechanics aren't great, and he probably doesn't know a pro offense, but neither did Tebow. It was similar to the offense Vick played in.

By no means am I saying a team should pick Taylor over a top QB such as Stanford's Andrew Luck, who is said to be pro-ready at this moment, as he and Taylor are currently clashing in the Orange Bowl. I just think some team should give Tyrod Taylor a shot. He could be another Michael Vick, you just never know.