Is the 49ers' season lost?
Coach Mike Nolan tried to ease the concerns of his team afterward. His postgame talk to his team focused on how the season is long and there's still a lot of time for the 49ers to turn this thing around.
But you really have to wonder. This was a game the 49ers should have won. But they completely folded in the fourth quarter.
The 49ers ran 16 offensive plays in the fourth quarter and they lost 2 yards in total offense. Frank Gore touched the ball just twice in the fourth quarter. That doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.
J.T. O'Sullivan threw two interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown in the final minute) and lost a fumble.
The 49ers were outscored 23-0 in the fourth quarter. Click here to read my article for the newspaper.
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Obviously, many plays went awry. One play that deserves special attention was a third-and-6 from the Eagles' 11 late in the third quarter. The 49ers were leading 23-17.
The Eagles brought six people on a blitz. Tight end Vernon Davis lined on the left side. O'Sullivan rolled right. They had the tight end screen set up perfectly, but when O'Sullivan turned to throw back to the other side, safety Quintin Mikell was in his face. O'Sullivan hurried his throw and tossed it over
It would've been an easy touchdown. The 49ers had three blockers out in front of
"There was no one there at all,"
The 49ers settled for a field goal to increase their lead to 26-17 - instead of 30-17.
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Obviously, another key sequence was after the Eagles pulled to within two points early in the fourth quarter. What the 49ers needed was a time-consuming drive. They needed to use Gore to chew up the clock and perhaps move down the field to increase their lead.
Instead, the 49ers went three-and-out with two incomplete passes and a pass to
It seemed like pretty odd play-calling by offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
"You know, we've just got to finish," Gore said. "I'm not the coach, and I don't make the calls. The Eagles made big plays. We made mistakes and we lost the game. Our coach did what he thought was the best thing for us to get a first down and move the ball. We made mistakes toward the end. They made the plays and won the game."
Said O'Sullivan: "I believe whatever play coach Martz calls is the best play for our offense. We were trying to move the ball and be aggressive. He is going to call the play that he feels is going to be the most successful."
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The one big head-scratcher was Mike Nolan's decision to challenge David Akers' made field goal midway through the fourth quarter.
This was not a good day for Nolan challenges - or non-challenges. But it's my understanding that Nolan should not have been allowed to challenge that call because the kick sailed over the upright and could not have been reversed anyway because there's no frame of reference on video.
"I asked him (referee Ron Winter), 'Is it challengeable?' And he said, 'It really doesn't matter now that you threw the red flag'" Nolan said. "They have to correct that. There's got to be some kind of signal that says it's not only good but it's not challengeable or it is."
The play the 49ers should have challenged was on the second drive of the game.
Hank Baskett was ruled to catch a 16-yard pass on a third-and-2 play from the 49ers' 29. Despite the ruling of a completed pass, the ball clearly popped out of Baskett's grasp and hit the ground. Nolan said he was not made aware that the ball was not caught until after it was too late. Four plays later, the Eagles scored the first touchdown of the game to take a 7-3 lead.
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Injury report
Receiver Josh Morgan played almost the entire game at split end because Bryant Johnson is battling hamstring and groin strains. He is hobbled. Johnson practiced Wednesday and Thursday, but sat out Friday's work. He was not on the team's injury report.
Fullback Zak Keasey's right arm was in a sling. He said X-rays proved negative, but he is scheduled for an MRI examination on Monday to see is something significant is wrong. Keasey hinted that it might be something serious, such as a torn tendon. Keasey sustained the injury while blocking on a first-half kickoff. He did not return to the game. If Keasey is out, look for Michael Robinson and Delanie Walker to split the duties of the fullback.
Kicker Joe Nedney had a shoulder sprain, an injury from trying to make a tackle in the first half. He continued to kick.
Vernon Davis required about five stitches to close a gash on his left forearm. The 49ers appeared to be taking extra precautions after the game after the staph infection that broke out late in training camp.
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Report card
Here's my quickie grades from the game:
Quarterback
D: With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, J.T. O'Sullivan threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. O'Sullivan completed 17 of 30 passes for 199 yards. His passer rating was 49.2.
Running back
A-minus: Frank Gore ran hard. He gained 101 yards and a touchdown on just 19 carries, while also catching three passes for 16 yards. Backup DeShaun Foster failed to convert a third-and-1 run in the second half when the 49ers were moving the ball.
Receiver/tight end
C:
Offensive line
B-minus: Overall, it was a strong performance against one of the more difficult teams in the league to play against. The protection held up very well for most of the game against the Eagles' blitzes. This unit gave O'Sullivan time to throw. Also, there were holes for Gore. On the down side, the line was responsible for four penalties for 23 yards.
Defensive line
D: The defensive line did not get much pressure on Donovan McNabb with their four-man rush. They also had a difficult time containing Correll Buckhalter, who rushed for 93 yards on 18 carries.
Linebacker
B-minus: Takeo Spikes made an interception deep in 49ers territory late in the third quarter. But in the fourth quarter, Patrick Willis failed to hold onto a ball that would've been a pivotal turnover. Willis and Spikes were the team's leading tacklers.
Defensive back
D: The 49ers secondary had a very difficult time keeping up with rookie DeSean Jackson, who caught six passes for 98 yards. McNabb threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns while compiling a passer rating of 94.7.
Special teams
B-plus: Ray McDonald's blocked field goal, which resulted in Donald Strickland's 41-yard TD return looked to be the momentum-changer the 49ers needed. The 49ers' coverage units did not have a good day. The Eagles' average starting point was their own 46.
Coaching/overall
D: Coach Mike Nolan ordered a couple questionable challenges, including his decision to appear a made field goal in the fourth quarter. The play had no chance to get overturned, and the 49ers needed that timeout. The stars seemed to align for a 49ers victory, but they could not close the deal.
Hi Matt- Just curious, why did you think the 49ers had a
"strong chance" to win this game? In a way, you were certainly right, as they had a 2 score lead. On the other hand, one could argue they were pretty fortunate to be in that spot and their 4th quarter meltdown reflected their true character and abilities. My previous theory was that the Yorks had slipped you something in the press trailer but since the 49ers did actually show a little more than I expected today (although still not much), I figure there must be more to the story.
There were several reasons I thought the 49ers would win. The Eagles did not have four of their starters on offense, including Westbrook. I also thought the 49ers would return to basic on defense and that unit would fly around and get after McNabb. But the biggest reason is that the offense practiced so well last week. It looked like they were really on the same page, so I thought they'd be able to handle the Eagles blitzes and make some big plays of their own. --Matt M.
This being a GPS game, does the season start to spiral downward from here? Is Coach Nolan going to reevaluate his defensive approach or does still believe the onus is on the players to execute?
Matt we've all been guilty of buying into a Martz Offense as taking us to the next level. What we haven't seemed to escape is the bland strategy we use on Defense.
A wounded Eagles offense, a QB that doesn't run like he used to, and Nolan continues to feature a keep it in front of you approach?
Is it Singletary and Manusky devising these plans or Nolan directing them to?
I'm numb after watching what happened today.
The script for beating the Eagles was proven by the previous 3 teams who played them. Ball control, work the edges and neutralize the pass rush with controlled short yardage passing.
We don't execute, we don't deviate too far from the predictable with Nolan.
We've reached the ceiling with Nolan, a change is absolutely necessary IMO.
Mindnumbing football every week with Nolan, nothing changes except for the depths of ineptitude.
Take a look at the final minute of the Atlanta game if you can. Mike Smith is loved by his guys and they refused to lose. A rookie QB with seconds to play completes a big time pass to set up a game winning FG.
Our guys show nothing close to that sort of passion under Nolan. It's sad, and definitely correctable.
Make a coaching change and see what Singletary/Manusky/Martz can do to right the ship.
Meantime, use the final 10 weeks to line up another HC if necessary. I think this is a golden opportunity for Singletary to audition. He's got fire, he's got a star pupil in Patrick, and he's got quality guys alongside him to assist.
Martz and he might just light the fire that's needed to get this team to achieve. I can't take it anymore.
I was hoping that the team will get blown out and fire nolan after. If York not going to do any changes before the season ends and teams are 5-11. That tells you the Yorks don't care about the team! sick of tired Nolan excuses. The owner and the coach are letting the fans down and they don't seem to care for us faithful fans loosing our FAITH. what make you think building a new stadium will make the team any better.
My X-Mas wish list:
- NEW COACH..PLS!
- NEW DC..possible mike s. and NO more 3-4
- NEW ALL POSITION COACHES if you think we have the talents.
So Matt, when are you or Lowell Cohn going to write up the Fire Mike Nolan bylines? I got a feeling Ann Killion and others are jumping aboard the get rid of NOlan bandwagon. Damon Bruce was on the WARPATH, wish I didn't have to work to miss it.
Hi Matt,
Do you think Nolan is going to be fired at the end of the season? I know the odds of him getting canned after this game are nil, but he should be simply playing out the string at this point, right? Haven't we all seen enough? What do you think the odds of Mike Holmgren coaching this team next season?
I offer the following New Chant - BOOT THE SUIT !
Fans throw the red flag at ownership, we're mad as h$ll and we're not gonna take this anymore.
I only wish I could get through the Meadowlands gates next week with one myself, he's had more than enough time to get this situation corrected. He obviously can't get out of his own way.
I'm even asking myself if Marty Schottenheimer would like another shot? I'd be willing to make that call if I were the Yorks. But wait, that's the problem, the Yorks aren't passionate enough to demand a winning program apparently?
This game, like the game before it, should raise a red flag for those who have been clamoring for Martz to replace Nolan. The offense still has major issues to work on, and the play-calling in the last quarter stunk. Martz has some great innovations, but he has yet to show that he can get the basics taken care of in crunch time. A team that is unable to control the football and move the chains when it has to is not a winning team. JTO's mistakes are understandable in a first year starter. The failure to utilize Gore and implement an effective 4th quarter running and possession-passing game is not.
As for Nolan--he acted like a man under the gun, and if he isn't, he should be. The designer shades and tailored suits might be acceptable as the eccentric trademark of a proven winner. As it is, they smack of pretense: unearned and obnoxious. Time for a change. Now? Or do we have to suffer through a whole season?
matt...honestly...coaching/overall gets only a D??? i have a sneaking suspicion that the overall part of the grade is carrying water for the coaching part. i'm not exaggerating here, nor being hyperbolic, when i say that that may have been the most poorly coached 4th quarter in the history of the nfl. it was definitely nolan's worst coaching performance, and that's saying alot after the past 3+ years! if today's coaching performance doesn't merit an F, you might as well attach a disclaimer to your game grades from now on saying that the grades range from A+ to D-.
Matt, if this is a GPS game, then this team is going nowhere fast with Nolan. Same old crap, different day.
I've been neutral on the Nolan front - until today. I approve of a number of things that Nolan has done, and I feel that the team is close to actually being able to compete. I also feel that they are not going to get there with Nolan at the helm. He does not coach a good game, and the players are still making critical mistakes. That can only be traced back to the coaching.
Before the bye week, remove Nolan and promote Singletary to head coach. Since Singletary is already Assistant Head Coach, this would be probably the least disruptive move in the middle of the season. The OC and DC stay put and continue their roles. Let's see if Iron Mike can instill the intensity that's lacking.
I'm not so impressed with Martz this game. He kept calling that tight-end screen play that the Eagles were completely ready for. The one time it might have worked, the 49ers couldn't execute.
JT did not look good. Michael Robinson did though! Looking forward to seeing more of him on offense.
I doubt Holmgren will want to coach the 49ers. He might be interested in the GM job though..... Or maybe President...?
We should look to work more on mutiple back sets and give JTO some options to play action. We are much too vulnerable on deep sets and what always was a staple of the Martz/Faulk years was the play action dump offs that isolate him (Gore) on the LB/CB.
Frank is going to get worn out trying to gash on every running call.
He's a fantastic receiver and should be used as a decoy more until someone else, Walker/VD/MRob can be worked into a backfield set.
I understand it's a new offense, but we need to show a little more imagination then have to this point.
As Matt illustrated, when the WRs are taken away, we haven't found a backup, (Marshall) plan yet.
I've thought Jason Hills' speed would have been utilized more by now also?
Matt? Any indications about where Hill resides on the Nolan depth chart these days? Bryant Johnson is certainly doing his best Ashley Lelie impersonation already.
What a dismal team these 49ers.
The Eagles were 2 and 3, playing in SF, and without all their offensive starters.
The Cardinals are improving, at this rate the Rams will out do the 49ers. What has happened to our once proud 49ers? These are perpetual bottom dwellers.
Matt, you gave the coaching a D grade...so, naturally I must request some of what you're smoking, please. Seriously, a D?? Is there hope? Yes. There is hope that Nowin will be fired while we still have an outside shot at the playoffs. No point seeing out the season with him, we've seen what he brings to the table. Get someone else in there asap, while we still might rally. We have the talent, just about. The only hope us Niner fans have is that Nowin is fired. Matt, you said Manusky might get the interim HC position, which has surprised most on here...why Manusky? Surely Singletary? Any ray of hope that Nowin will be fired after the blowout at the Giants this weekend?
Yorks, Please fire Nolan. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. NOW!!! Don't wait for the bye week. At the end of the season, fire all of them. Don't retain any coach thats part of this charade. This team and all the fans need a cleansing. Start talking to Cowher and Schottenheimer today. Put feelers out to the agents of Holmgren and Urban Meyer. Don't wait. Your fans don't deserve this crap.
Schottenheimer is the CHOICE!!! It's REALISTIC and he is a PROVEN WINNER at many different places. It should have been done in the offseason because the 49ers have WASTED yet another year! With the right coaching JTO is a good enough QB to win the NFC WEST, probably not much beyond that, so the 49ers better be looking QB in the offseason as the number 1 priority!
Thank you, Coach Nolan, for our good defensive players and stable salary cap situation. Now get the FRACK off my football team!
Maybe the reason Nolan didn't get the signal to challenge that catch was because he didn't have his headset on. The camera kept flashing to him standing there with it around his neck. What's the point of having radio communication if you're not going to use it? What the heck was he doing? It's not like he was coaching somebody up. He was just standing there with his arms crossed.
Hate to say it, but this season has now become a rebuilding season for 2009. We are now playing for draft position. I know numerically the Niners are not yet out of the playoffs, but looking ahead in the schedule I can see 2 or 3 more wins at the most. The optimism I had 3 weeks ago has totally faded as the Niner franchise again has showed that it in no way resembles the once proud organization owned by Eddie D. Based on the comments on this board, I believe that many other fans are feeling a similar way, and I have to wonder; how much longer will this go on until some sort of quality change at the helm is made.
Check out this quote from SI: "Consider this: The Eagles' 23-point fourth quarter on Sunday, capping a 40-26 road win over the Niners, surpassed any output that Philly had in its last three games: A 15-6 home win against Pittsburgh, a 24-20 loss at Chicago and 23-17 home loss to Washington." I bet you could find a stat similar to that every week after someone plays against Nolan. Yes, the season is lost. The season was lost once Nowin was allowed to come back for '08.
I think a big indicator of how the day was going to go, was in the first half when the niners were moving the ball decently and couldn't convert on third down. Instead of going for it on fourth and short, Nolan decided to punt the ball. Within three plays the Eagles were right where the niners punted from. I know Nolan has been in the hot seat for quite some time, but I really think it is time to evaluate what he brings to this team. I personally feel that he is not a right fit for this team. His defensive strategy is very frustrating because it doesn't work. When Manny Lawson is back healthy, I hope to see the niners stay in the 3-4, instead of switching to the dime/nickel after first down. Nolan has been criticezed as having a vanilla defense and I am really starting to see it....
Hi Matt thanks for everything u do with the blog you help me keep up with the Niners big time while living all the way on another cost.That being said if you feel that a qb's reputation is based largely on his 4th quarter/clutch play like i do i'd wish you gave JTO a F for the game he just played.His fourth quarter performance rendered anything that he done in the game useless.It also made anything anyone could have done to win the game Useless.Mike Nolan should be fired TODAY, but it didnt matter if Bill Walsh was walking the sidelines 3 fourth quarter to's by your qb equals a loss 99.9% of the time.
Matt, let's say you hired Mike Nolan to do a job and 4 years later, the job wasn't done to your satisfaction. Do you still give Nolan a chance or do you fire Nolan? My answer is B, I hire the Nolan for a job, it's not done, he's gone.
Matt, do you really watch the 49ers? HEre is Mike Nolan's coaching record outside the NFC WEst:
NFC East, 0 and 5 now
Eagles, 0 and 3 overall, 2 rematch losses
Giants, 0 and 2, could be 0 and 3 if they lose @ NY.
Saints, 0 and 3 overall, 2 rematch losses
Chicago, next year, 0 and 2
Vikings, 1 and 1
NFC North 2 and 2
NFC South 1 and 3
AFC West 2 and 2, beat Raiders/Denver, big loss to KC/SD
AFC North 1 and 3, beat Bengals
AFC South 1 and 3, beat Texans
AFC East 0 and 1 thus far, but we were 0 and 4 4 years ago.
Matt, coaches improve by winning. If you can't win, you shouldn't coach. Please elaborate how you think we're improveing, but we go out and lose the game.
HOW HARD IS IT TO FIGURE OUT THE FRANK GORE WAS IN A GROVE YESTERDAY AND YOU JUST HAD TO KEEP GETTING HIM THE BALL?? MIKE MARTZ AND MIKE NOLAN ARE A VERSION OF DUMB AND DUMBER!! MICHAEL TURNER HAS A ROOKIE COACH AND A ROOKIE QB AND HE GETS THE BALL 25 TIMES FOR 54 YDS. BUT, GET THIS, THEY WON! WE HAVE 2 "EXPERIENCED" COACHES AND THEY ARE CLUELESS. THE EAGLES STRUGGLED TO STOP THE RUN LAST WEEK VS. THE REDSKINS, THEY STRUGGLED THIS WEEK VS. THE NINERS, YET MARTZ CONTINUES TO PASS AND PUT THE BALL IN THE HANDS OF JTO(ie, Just Turn-Overs)2 THINGS TO BLAME ON THE 4 LOSSES. DEFENSE AND JTO. IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON TOO SHAUN HILL. WE WILL LOSE TO THE GIANTS, BADLY AND WE WILL BE 2-5 THEN PLAY THE SEAHAWKS AT HOME AND PROBABLY FIND A WAY TO LOSE THAT ONE AND BE 2-6 AT THE BYE. NOLANS TRACK RECORD AFTER A BYE. NOT GOOD. WE LOSE MONDAY NIGHT VS. ARIZONA. NOW AT 2-7. THERE IS NO WAY YOU LET THIS GUY FINISH THE SEASON. CAN ANYONE SAY TOP 5 PICK NEXT YEAR???
Mike Nolan, Mike Martz and JTO are single handedly destroying this team. We (JTO) has turned the ball over 9 TIMES in these last 3 losses. 9 times! There is NO HOPE! 2-6 by the bye week. I happen to have a friend that is an Eagles fan and when the 9ers were up 26-17 I kept telling him, "Dont worry, you guys will win this game. Dont you know that we have "Just Turn-Overs", he will hand the game over to the Eagles" And guess what, he DID! He is part of the problem with this team, not the answer. On third and 3, Martz dials up a pass, rather than giving it to gore. JTO throw a pick. This team is not good, will not be good, and won't get better. This is what they are. Frank Gore has only one game that he carried the ball more than 20 times. I am so on the FIRE NOLAN CAMPAIGN!! Get rid of this fool!! THERE IS NO HOPE WITH NOLAN RUNNING THIS TEAM!
It shouldn't surprise anybody now that how the D performs on Sundays and how Nolan manages the game on the sidelines Sundays is total confusion because the problems originate from the same confused individual: MIKE NOLAN. I don't think there's any sane person out there that can honestly say this team is headed in the right direction, in our life time anyway, with Nolan as head coach! He had the opportunity and didn't get it done so it's time to go. C'mon Yorks, we're tired of wasting our time watching terrible football. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!
i
There is hope: FIRE NOLAN NOW! This guy is unbelievable. There needs to be a system in place to prevent him from throwing the flag on unchallengeable calls? How about his knowledge of the rule book and his own judgment?? The refs' job is not to save him from himself. The guy who chalenged a call "to give the team a timeout" a couple of weeks ago, was too busy playing with his watch to challenge a critical non-catch by the Eagles in the first half. And don't even get me started on his impotent, anemic defensive schemes...what a chicken sh*t. This guy needs to be out of here now, he has had plenty of opportunity to show that he does not belong on the sidelines making game time decisions on Sunday.
How can anyone in their right mind not see that Mike Nolan has already paid all of the dividends he is going to? Yes, he brought true talent back to a team that was sorely lacking in that area. Indeed, he got control of the salary cap and steered us out of that hell. But he has proven time and again that he is inept at best as a head coach. The fans deserve far better than what we are getting.
It was a mistake to let the man continue last January, but I do not think the Yorks are football-savvy enough to know that Nolan snowed them with whatever tricks he used to sell them his retention in his role as HC.
It is quite simple. The guy has no clue as to what he is doing as a game day coach. Did anyone catch him looking at his watch just before they had to call a time out to avoid a delay of game penalty? That incident was a microcosm of what is wrong with this guy and his coaching methods. Much has been made of his lack of attention to little details like clock management but think about this: 4 timeouts were burned unnecessarily yesterday. 2 by ridiculous challenges and 2 to prevent delay of game penalties. the man is ill-prepared and uninformed in a position that requires him to be both. Sure, we can blame the players for not executing. But if the coach isn't doing his job, how can we expect the players to do theirs? Mediocrity and incomptence surely roll downhill just as surely as excellence and attention to detail do.
Fire Nolan yesterday, please.
Blueprint for Yorks:
1. Fire Nolan during bye week.
2. Promote Martz to interim HC for the rest of the year.
3. If the team responds keep him OR
4. If they continue their current trajectory or if Martz is more mad than genius, fire him at season's end and start over with a new, proven HC.
Simple, isn't it?
Hi Matt, I've been a lurker for a long time. Love your blog but the new format forced me to register in order to read the blog. Every time I clicked on the link it would bring up a sign in page and not allow me to read the blog. What's up with that?
It seems to me that the 49ers have a bunch of good players but they have not gelled into a TEAM. Different facets of the team seem to do well but they never put it all together in a sustained fashion. One week the offense is good and special teams and defense play badly. Then the next week it will be the defense that plays well and the offense blows it. On to the Giants .
Fire Nolan and make Singletary interim coach to see how team responds. If the response is inadequate go get "the chin". Make a play for Holmgrem as GM.
Frustrated... That's all I can say.
We've had opportunities to win these last 3 games. The D has been playing way too soft, fearful of the big play. Martz's calls get worse as the game goes on... What happened to running Frank, Mike?? It worked for the first 3 quarters, why get away from it? If we're not going to run, at least dink and dunk down the field. JTO was trying to do too much.
Bottom line is, we have the talent to win these games, but our scheming and play calling suck - especially on D. I've supported Nolan in the past, but I'm getting sick of watching these games wilt away, mainly due to our underachieving D.
Well, I'm not surprised at all the vitriol here. I was at the game yesterday and those feelings kept coming out during the game. Even when the 49ers were ahead a lot of people around me were booing Nolan's decisions. Maybe he hasn't lost the team, but it sure sounds like he has lost the fans. If the Yorks expect people to keep spending money this see this team, they had better consider making some changes.
I do have to say that yesterday it was the offense that lost the game. The defense wasn't great, but they played well enough to win the game. Even after those first couple of 4th quarter turnovers, they help Philly to field goals and gave the offense a chance to make a comeback. It didn't happen. It wasn't that players weren't trying, but the playcalling didn't work. Frank Gore had 101 yards rushing and only got two touches in the 4th quarter. There is definitely something wrong with that picture.
I have to agree with a some of the posts here. I think that Nolan should be fired and Singletary given the interim job. That way you keep both coordinators in place. It gives Manusky a chance to show what he can do with Nolan calling the shots. It gives Singletary a chance to prove that he can be a Head Coach. Plus Singletary is supposed to be a great motivator. That could really help at the end of this season. As to Martz, he has definitely improved our offense from last year. But it's still not a good offense and he is calling plays as he always has. Big rewards and big risks. Lot's of sacks and ignoring the running game when it counts. Don't promote him, replace him after the season.
Matt, This is just my opinion of what should happen for the good of the team. I am curious though. Do you still think that Manusky would get the interim job if Nolan gets fired?
What's with the defensive line. We go out and sign Smith, use the number 0ne draft pick on Balmer and resign Soapoga for big bucks. What happens a team missing it's top running back and top offensive lineman runs all over us. This has happened repeatedly this year. Even though he are getting killed with the run the defensive continues to line up in wide defensive gap formations seemingly inviting it. The myth that Nolan is a good "defensive coach" is being exposed.
Excellent segment today on KNBR with Gary Plummer. Worth listening to. He laid out a litany of mistakes that were made, and clearly placed the burden on the defense. He reminded us of last year's mantra: If only we had a half-way average offense, then the Niners will be competitive, because Nolan is such a defensive genius. This year, the offense is *much* better than last year, yet the result is the same.
In any case, I wonder if it is Freudian that Nolan keeps repeating "there are still lots of games left in the season..." Maybe he's afraid that there are not alot of games left in *his* season???
It is clear that he's a victim of the Peter Principal: he's in over his head.
Look here is reality. JTO is not an NFL quarterback. Too many turnovers . He will have some good games. Even a blind squirrel will find a walnut now and then. But as long as JTO plays and Nolan coaches...we are doomed. Scotty Mc needs to man up and fix the ship....you're a GM Scott so act like one.
Look here is reality. JTO is not an NFL quarterback. Too many turnovers . He will have some good games. Even a blind squirrel will find a walnut now and then. But as long as JTO plays and Nolan coaches...we are doomed. Scotty Mc needs to man up and fix the ship....you're a GM Scott so act like one.
In the sober light of the day after, I have decided to join the "BOOT THE SUIT!" cheering club. Where do I register? Do I have to wear special clothes? Will we have practice sessions?
This quote from Ulbrich after the game sums it up perfectly -
"You could step back and look at us the last couple years and realize maybe we weren't a playoff-caliber team. But now we are. I mean, from a talent perspective? We're absolutely a playoff contender. Should be, at least. To come up short, that pisses me off."
Mike Martz cost the 49ers the game. He is almost entirely responsible for the 4th quarter meltdown.
it does not matter what the coach does or does not do, when your QB is incompetent as JTO you can never win games...PERIOD. JTO sucks that is the problem.......i can't wait for MATT's future read - "WELL I WAS 100% WRONG, A.SMITH DOES HAVE A FUTURE WITH THE NINERS"
OK, this turned into a much longer post then I thought it was going to, but frustration took over, sorry for the long read (if you choose to read it).
I really just don't know how to respond anymore. From the Nolan perspective, he doesn't get it. He has had four years to figure it out, and he is still lost on game days. You challanged a FG? Anyone that watches that official review show on NFLN knows the chances of getting a FG overturned are slim and none. But you don't challenge a clear dropped pass that instead of setting up 4th down and FG attempt gives the Eagles a first down and leads to a TD?
With the defense, I don't know who is responsible for the overall defensive game plan, but in any case something needs to be changed. If it's Nolan, then it is just one more nail in his coffin. I was glad to see them get out of the worthless "big-sub" package, but then to only rush 4 pretty much the entire game and generate little to no pressure. And whoever is responsible for the secondary calls needs to be fired right away. Walt Harris has clearly lost it. He was getting beaten like a drum yesterday and the Niners did nothing to stop it except to keep moving him further and further away from the line. On one play I swear he lined up 15 yards away from Jackson in the endzone, great, you prevented the TD on that play, but instead Jackson makes an easy 10 yard catch, first and goal at the 5, couple plays later, TD Eagles. Great job there. NOT!
The offense played pretty well in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Their use of screens to counter the Eagles blitzes was perfect. But, again, they abandonded the run too early. It is also clear that JTO is not in a position to win a game. 3 turnovers in the fourth quarter? That is unacceptable, and Nolan and Martz need to say it. One of JTO's strong points is supposed to be mental toughness, well making those mistakes every week is just plain being a bonehead. (I will give him some credit on the int for TD at the end, it looks like the receiver was not expecting that throw).
Needless-to-say, this team is still lost and something has to change. Fire Nolan now, promote Singletary, let Manusky and Martz continue to manage their groups. But in the off-season they need to find a real HC. I would be OK with Marty-ball. I don't care if he can't win in the playoffs, at least he can get his teams to the playoffs.
There also need to be some wholesale changes in the personnel. Right now they have the players to run a 4-3 on defense (not this "big-sub" crap). Put Smith, Fields, Soap and McDonald with their hand in the dirt, line up Spikes, Willis and Lawson behind them. And for goodness sake, BLITZ! Put Harris' tired butt on the bench. Let Brown play, he's young, he'll make mistakes, but I can live with mistakes caused by inexperience, those can be corrected. Mistakes caused by dimishing skills are uncorrectable. Ditto for Golston. The secondary needs playmakers (especially if the offense is going to keep turning the ball over).
The offense is a whole-nother story. I don't know what the problem is. For an offense that is so predicated on making a read and throwing the ball to a spot, why are so many sacks and turnovers caused by JTO holding the ball or making the wrong read? I thought he won the job because he knew the offense and had a quick release? I don't do much game planning outside of Madden 08 (no I haven't bought 09 yet), but to me, a back field with Robinson and Gore, behind a two TE set of Davis and Walker would be a nightmare for a defense. You flex any one of the four and you instantly create a mis-match for the safeties and LB's. At the very least you leave Davis out there (he is as good a blocker as Bajema and almost as good a receiver as Walker, not to mention he showed yesterday just how dangerous he can be with the ball), split another WR and take what the defense gives you. Oh, wait, I just described the West Coast Offense, which for some reason has become a four letter word with Nolan.
Wow, that was a lot to type, I guess I could have just gone with "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different results".
Signed,
One Insane Niner Fan
It's interesting watching the body language of Nolan and Martz during the game yesterday. Nolan was obviously angry, occasionally spitting out expletives. He was anything but cool. Martz loves to strut around, very pleased with himself. I don't think Martz is the genius everybody believes he is. With an inexperienced quarterback you shouldn't be devising these complex plays and formations. Having three-man shifts at the line of scrimmage have cost the niners at least one time out a game. And some of his play-calls have put JTO in third and long situations. I don't think either of those coaches should be around next year.
The quarterback committed three turnovers in the fourth quarter against the Eagles. That’s two interceptions and a fumble – all of them coming with the 49ers within a touchdown or less.......and you are blaming the coach?.....That was why we lost!!!!
O’SULLIVAN’S FOURTH QUARTER TURNOVERS
Week 1 vs. Cardinals: Fumble with 1:57 remaining.
Week 2 vs. Seattle: None
Week 3 vs. Detroit: None
Week 4 vs. New Orleans: Interception with 9:48 remaining
Week 5 vs. Patriots: Interception with 2:55 remaining
Week 6: vs. Eagles: Interception with 6:23 left; fumble with 3:11 left; interception with 48 seconds left
My suggestions are...fire Mike Nolan, fire the def coordinator, and hmmmm...keep Martz in for now. He has bad time mgmt skills as far play calls go but the offense overall is MUCH improved, although that may be attributable to a great extent to improved quarterback play. Believe it or not, O'Sullivan is a much better QB than A Smith ever was. I think the niners will be a sub 500 team with Nolan in there. Nothing much will change in mid-season now. If we get a new coach, it should be after the season. Teams generally don't improve with a coaching change in mid-season. If things stay the course, however, I just don't see the niners playing that much better. Again, they should just put me in as defensive coordinator haha.
JTO has a good arm, scrambles well and not too much, and has shown ability to learn from mistakes. He is still getting used to the starting role, and to new receivers, some of whom are not running their routes correctly. We do not need a QB change. The coaching is a different situation. BOOT THE SUIT! And get someone in their who can temper Martz's innovations with some basic up-the-gut football.
Let me point out just a few things.
First, is JT O’Sullivan a great QB? No, but is he the best the 49ers have right now? Yes. So for everyone clamoring for his head, I ask you, “Who do you want as your QB?” Shaun Hill? Jamie Martin? The fact is, the 49ers should have seen the possibility of Alex Smith not progressing enough and drafted a QB this past year. They didn’t see that, so we are now stuck in this current situation. JT should not be a starter in the NFL, but guess what, he’s the best they have until next season when they draft or sign someone.
As for Nolan, he should be fired, he should have been fired last season. As for the question of what does firing him mid-season accomplish, it signals from the Yorks that this isn’t acceptable and from this point on, everyone is on notice for their jobs. Give Singletary, Martz or Munusky the interim tag and go from their. Let’s see what they accomplish, and what someone else can do with this team.
Want my recommendation? How about Lane Kiffen? How about Musgrave, the OC down in Dallas? Cowher? There are plenty of coaches out there, both young and old, experienced and non, offensive and defensive-minded. The Yorks should have a “just in case” list for coaches, if they don’t that is a big mistake.
For those people calling for Mike Holmgren, I’d be all for this IF he only wanted to coach. I don’t see him wanting to do that, I see him wanting to be both coach and GM or in a Parcells-type situation as president. Look past the glory of when he was here with the 49ers. As a coach, he’s done a nice job. As a GM he’s done VERY bad. Take a look at the drafts he oversaw, very, very poor. And that is what I’m afraid of. Bringing him in as anything more then a coach is giving into the nostalgia of what it was like to have him here before, and not taking into account what he’s done as a GM.
As for the future of the 49ers, what are the three biggest weaknesses right now? O-line and D-line. And guess what, they just spent their top 2 picks this past year on those position, and they can’t even get on the field for anything more meaningful then a few snaps. Heck, if they weren’t going to draft anyone good on the lines, couldn’t they have at least grabbed D. Jackson? He may not help the lines, but he’d be a lot more exciting to watch then K. Balmer and C. Rachal leading the cheers on the sidelines.
Note to oneniner,
The coach that you speak of (Nowin), is almost singlehanded responsible for the destruction of Alex Smith's career to this point, or weren't you watching last season? Nowin also made the decision to bring in Nartz, and is ultimately responsible for JTO as the starter. So please don't talk to me about Nowin not deserving blame for this. What is his record as head coach again? He owns this mess, like it or not, and he needs to be outta here now.
Can we also please get back to putting players in positions that they can thrive in? Anyone remember that Manny Lawson was beast of a defensive lineman coming out of North Carolina St.? Rushing the QB is what vaulted him into the 1st round. Now he is asked to play OLB, because it was in the best interest of the 3-4 scheme. Now that the 3-4 is virtually gone, why can't they have Lawson rush the QB? He had 10.5 sacks as a senior, his pressures, knockdowns and stops behind the line were outragous, and now he's being asked to cover TEs and RBs, great use of a great talent Niners.
Matt:
Everyone (including me a lot lately)sits back and watches the slow demise of this franchise and then vent to high heaven about Nolan's short-comings. And it begs the question: I see the problems, you see the problems, non-football experts see them - and I understand on occasion, even Stevie Wonder sees them - so the question is - what is wrong with the vision of the Yorks? And an even larger question: do you or any of your peers EVER have access to the Yorks? If and when you do, what, if anything, are you able to gleen from their utterances is their state of mind as far as how disgusted us fans are with this pathetic product they are shoving down our collective throats? Please Matt, please find some subtle way of informing them of our instense distaste and disgust with "all-things-Nolan"
Thank you, Sir.
Sammy Moore Jr
O’SULLIVAN’S FOURTH QUARTER TURNOVERS
Week 1 vs. Cardinals: Fumble with 1:57 remaining.
Week 2 vs. Seattle: None
Week 3 vs. Detroit: None
Week 4 vs. New Orleans: Interception with 9:48 remaining
Week 5 vs. Patriots: Interception with 2:55 remaining
Week 6: vs. Eagles: Interception with 6:23 left; fumble with 3:11 left; interception with 48 seconds left
.......Which mistakes has he shown the ability to learn from?......JTO sucks, worse than a rookie A.Smith......THERE IS NO DOUBT A.SMITH WILL BE MUCH BETTER IN THIS OFFENSE
As I've been saying since the beginning of the season & from what I saw on Sunday nothing has changed, it's the line play on both sides of the ball that's costing the 49ers victories. Yes the O-line did a better job of opening holes for Gore but they keep having problems with consistent pass protection. And with a very inexperienced QB in JTO what happened in the 4th QTR was not a surprising outcome. He's not a player who can win games all by himself but that's exactly the position the coaches put him in on Sunday. As for the defense no pressure or sacks = no victories plain & simple. The 49ers simply don't have the players to get to the QB.
Nolan has taken the Niners from being among the 2 or 3 worst teams, to about one notch above that level. There are probably about 6 to 7 teams that we could beat consistently this year. When Nolan says there's a long season ahead, he is sooo right. Long, hard and painful.