When looking at the schedule prior to the season, it was easy to predict a four-game losing streak at this point.
After all, the 49ers stood little chance at Saints, home against the Patriots and Eagles, and then back on the road against the Giants. Right?
But you could not have predicted what happened leading up to those games. The Saints were playing without their top two targets in the passing game; the Patriots lost Tom Brady and started a quarterback who had seen precious little action since high school; and the Eagles were without four offensive starters, including running back Brian Westbrook.
Then, the 49ers go to
The door was wide open for the 49ers. An average team wins a game. A good team would've gotten a couple victories during this stretch.
What's clear at this point is that the 49ers are not a good team.
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Now, we're at a point where the 49ers come back home to some angry fans - and some more tickets to sell -- to face the Seahawks. If the 49ers lose this game, where do the Yorks and GM Scot McCloughan go?
Coach Mike Nolan's career win percentage (18-37) has dipped below .333. He knows the deal. He said yesterday that the talk about his job security is justified because of his record.
One 49ers source told me yesterday that generally nothing good comes from midseason coaching changes. In fact, no team in the Super Bowl era has ever made the playoffs after a midseason coaching change. But it's gone beyond making the playoffs. The 49ers have to give their fans reason for hope. Ownership has to prove to the team's fans that they're serious about winning.
The Rams are Exhibit A for making a change. Jim Haslett has the Rams playing great football after they dumped the ineffectual Scott Linehan.
Can Mike Singletary, Mike Martz or Greg Manusky produce similar results for the 49ers?
That is the question the Yorks and McCloughan will answer behind closed doors in
I don't believe Nolan has lost the locker room, but you can sense the growing frustration of some of the veteran players. Sometimes a change is needed when the current course just is not working. And you can be sure those conversations are already happening, as the 49ers decision-makers mull their options.
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When asked if J.T. O'Sullivan will continue to be the starter after another game in which he did not take care of the football, Nolan said the staff would watch the film, etc. It's the standard answer, but it was one week after Nolan declared decisively that O'Sullivan was the starter, period.
Martz was not available to the media after the game, but he has been effusive in his praise of O'Sullivan, saying he's going to be a "great" quarterback. It's doubtful Martz feels the same way about Shaun Hill, who has very little contact with the offensive coordinator. Almost all of Martz's attention has been on O'Sullivan once the regular season began.
That's why I would be surprised if the 49ers seriously contemplate a change at quarterback.
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Today is a long travel day back to the Bay Area. Click on the below sentences to read my articles in today's paper:
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PLAYOFFS? (must imitate Jim Mora on this). Do you realize there are STILL people who allegedly say they don't know who they're going to vote for for President? After almost TWO years of this campaign???? And we're waiting for the freaking SEATTLE game to make conclusions about Mike Nolan? Must win? Must win what? Is there ANY actual REAL 49er fan who thinks Mike Nolan may actually be a GREAT coach who just needs some more time and THEN we will be on our way to the playoffs and maybe even a Super Bowl? C'mon Matt and every one else. Stop talking about what Nolan needs or doesn't need to save his job. HE'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH for OUR San Francisco 49ers - OK? The question should be - who should be the next coach? And OF COURSE Nolan should be let go RIGHT NOW. Every game he stays here is just one more game that nothing is being done for the real future of this team.
Matt, I think you said it all with this line: "When looking at the schedule prior to the season, it was easy to predict a four-game losing streak at this point." Is that really where the team should be in year 4 of a coaching regime? Expecting to lose to all of the good teams on the schedule? That defines the Nolan era - losing to good teams, squeaking by bad teams. If I were the Yorks, I would make the move NOW. I can't speak for everyone else, but I quit on this team when they brought Nolan back this year. How come I could see Nolan is a fraud as a coach, and the York's couldn't?
I don't see anything positive that can come from dumping Nolan during the bye. It would just make for a stickier situation at the end of the season when the Yorks have to decide what to do with the interim head coach. Fire Nolan after the last game of the season gives ownership the most flexibility going forward.
"One 49ers source told me yesterday that generally nothing good comes from midseason coaching changes."
since when do any 49er sources know anything about football? i hope this isn't their excuse to remain loyal to nolan.
The team is dropping fans faster than the dow jones index. Less fans is less sales, is less money.
Fewer people comment on the message boards. These are all good things when it comes to putting heat on an owner. My family is close to some of Nolan's family, I know they would love to stay and they all want him to keep his job, but he's been given all the chances to improve.
If only his coaching looked as good as he does in a suit.
Personally, at this point, I believe the Niners will be better off losing the rest of their games and getting a better draft pick. Oh, wait, we've tried that before and drafted a bunch of flunkies. Nevermind...my point is that the Niners season is over, and AGAIN we look at rebuilding. Fire Nolan now, and start the rebuilding process this season.
By the way...
Did anyone watch Jeff Garcia and Antonio Bryant, put an arse whipping on the Seahawks? Jeff has done quite a few great things since he was ousted from the team he loved. It was never a Jeff Garcia problem, it has always been an offensive line problem, Since Steve Young's concussion. They have been putting band aids on the open chest wound all these years.
A team is nothing without an O Line. You can draft all the talented wide outs and QB's, have a top 5 running back, and it doesnt mean crap without an O Line. The loss of Bob McKittrick, was probably more of a tragedy for the 49ers than the retirment of Steve Young.
Jeff wasn't good enough to be our franchise QB huh? We prefer this over Jeff Garcia? Antonio Bryant wasn't good enough to play here either. We had a franchise QB and an outstanding wide out, and they sent them packing.
Matt thanks for stopping by the tailgate yesterday, good to see you as always!
I'm hoarse from screaming at Nolan as they headed for the exit tunnel for him to quit!
Boot The Suit, he's Mike NOpLAN Nolan, he's got to go!
What prep work goes on between games every week?
Single back set for Frank and the best you can get is 11 yds rushing against a team with a short week to prep?
GPS for SURE=Game Planning SUCKS!
Lunacy, use the same plan all the time and expect to surprise someone.
Please Mike, QUIT. Super Bowls to Senior Bowls, this is pathetic.
Take a hint Dr York, HC Linehan got the boot and the Rams win 2 straight against the NFC East. W
What's the say? Change is a wake up call. The Dr. is OUT.
BOOT THE SUIT!
Sloppy Performances are a direct result of poor preparation.
If he stopped worrying about looking so damn professional perhaps he'd learn to manage a roster of talented players and organize a coaching staff to get something that resembles a game day stategy.
Someone, anyone, going to the Seattle game and any remaining home games, call loudly to Boot The Suit and call for his dismissal NOW.
We're on the clock already. Dysfunction Junction.
Anyone notice what the Giants did everytime Justin Smith moved inside?
Ran, with success, to the edge he normally occupied. This constant shifting and motioning doesn't challenge anyone. It leaves us off balance and vulnerable.
I've come to the conclusion that Nolan likes to watch his team play defense, ALL DAY.
Off coverage, no heat, no rest for the defense.
It's a ridiculous display of no vision, no alternative plans, no leadership. I'm feeling more embarrassed for these players having to execute this garbage week after week. Special teams scores more then the defense?
Must Win Matt??? It is BEYOND THAT! Even if the 49ers win a game this week against the Seahawks which they SHOULD WIN no matter who the coach is, NOLAN SHOULD BE FIRED A WEEK FROM TODAY NO MATTER WHAT!! HE IS WHAT HE IS! He will NEVER be any Better than this PERIOD!
If Sunday is a must-win for Nolan, then it's a must-lose for the team, and any hope for a future.
The thing that makes it easier to dislike Nolan is he is an arrogant a-hole. He always throws his players under the bus and never accepts any blame. Well NoWin, YOU drafted the players, YOU signed the free agents, YOU are responsible for coaching them and putting them in a position to succeed. YOU have failed miserably at all of the above for FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS.
Seattle is decimated by injuries so I suspect the Niners will win Sunday. Looking at the season schedule we are will have another losing season. The Yorks will be 2-8 as owners since they took over the team. Eddie D trying to bribe the governor of Louisiana, Edwin Edwards, was the start of the downfall of this great franchise. We have never recovered. We have no control over the Yorks. I looked at the gameday program and they have three pages about the Yorks and one page about Jed. What arrogance without winning!
Joe – Very astute analysis. The Niners have never been the same since Bob left us. Even when the niners were average or wildcard contenders under Mooch, the O-line was always second to none – big, ornery, and full of technique to open holes for Gallopin Garrison, who took pressure off of Garcia.
The one thing I like about Holmgren is that he understands the value of a run game and a talented offensive line. See Shaun Alexander in his MVP year and Super Bowl run. Holms was beside himself when Seattle brass let Hutchinson go –now he's opening highways for Petersen.
You can imagine if the Yorks were to hit the rest button, bring in Holms as coach and GM and the first place he'll look to revamp is our O-line. Gore deserves better than this.
I haven't commented on the blog in awhile. Like the new format, hopefully it will lessen the riffraff. I believe with KezarMike, well said and Marc-NJ49er, you were at the game so you saw it. I'm in Indiana and don't get to see the games other than swearing at my laptop as I watchj the score, hoping against hope week after week. I grew up in Marin and have been a 49er fan since birth. It is truly painful and embarrassing...please Mr. York, do your friggin job! You own one of the most embarrassing organizations in professional sports when viewed from the standpoint of the facilities (I was at Candlestick 2 seasons ago for a game, made me gringe, how feral that place is)and the product on the field, and the reputation of the personnel on the sidelines and in the coaches booth (I am NOT including our beloved players)...We're voting for change in a few eeks in Washington, how 'bout Santa Clara to. Thanks for oyur time.
I want to see Nolan fired now, rather than waiting until the end of the season, not so we can make the playoffs (ha!) and not just to appease the fans. I want to see if Singletary would make a good head coach. We've seen Martz, so there's no need to give him the interim job. And I think Manusky needs to first prove he's a good DC. But I'd really like to see what Singletary can do with this team. It would give the team a headstart on the new head coach decision at the end of the year. And at least it would give some purpose to the
rest of the season. Otherwise, it's just a long, slow countdown to the end of the Nolan era.
I haven't commented on the blog in awhile. Like the new format, hopefully it will lessen the riffraff. I agree with KezarMike, well said and Marc-NJ49er, you were at the game so you saw it. I'm in Indiana and don't get to see the games other than swearing at my laptop as I watch the score, hoping against hope week after week. I grew up in Marin and have been a 49er fan since birth. It is truly painful and embarrassing...please Mr. York, do your friggin job! You own one of the most embarrassing organizations in professional sports when viewed from the standpoint of the facilities (I was at Candlestick 2 seasons ago for a game, made me cringe, how feral that place is)and the product on the field, and the reputation of the personnel on the sidelines and in the coaches booth (I am NOT including the players)...We're voting for change in a few weeks in Washington, how 'bout Santa Clara too? Thanks for oyur time.
KezarMike, the issue isn't whether winning this will save Nolan's job long term. He clearly will need a dramatic and enduring season turnaround for any remote shot of keeping his job into next year.
The issue Matt is bringing up is "if Nolan loses next Sunday, will he be fired on Monday?", as it would be the most logical time for a coaching change if one were to be made.
In other words, its no longer if, but when.
Matt, I heard Holmgren is building a home in San Francisco. Any chance that it's a calculated move? Any chance Eddy D had something to do with it, and had the Yorks hold the gun until this year, so that Holmgren could come back home? Yes I know, Im dreaming a bit... but what else do we have.
Check this article...
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/WWHI/2008/wwhi102008.htm
Honestly, I don`t care if we don`t have improve from here until the end of the season. But we look worst every week, we need to give Nolan his walking papers right now. If you don
I agree that mid-season coaching changes rarely result in more victories. Matt, you articulated a non-standings related reason - sending a signal to the fans that you are serious about winning and to remain hopeful. Supplementing this latter theory, making a mid-season change to Mike Singletary makes sense for two more reasons. First, it is a chance, with half the season left, to see what Mike Singletary can do as a head coach. If it is positive, then you have a leg up on next year. And, by including Mike Singletary in the consideration for the full time job the Niners will have complied with the Rooney Rule and can move forward directly with moving to a new "established" or "name" coach if their intention is to woo someone like Cowher, Shotenheimer or Holmgren. Remember, none of these three will be in play, if at all, until the end of the year. And, it appears the Niners will be competing, at least, against Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit and perhaps St. Louis, although I read a report that said Haslett's contract gives him the Rams job if he wins 6 games and he has already won 2, and has two games with the Niners and one more with the Seahawks on the schedule. I deliberately left out the Raiders as none of the "names" are going to coach for Al. For all these reasons, I think Mike Nolan should be replaced next Monday, irrespective of what happens on Sunday against the Seahawks, and Mike Singletary should be named as the new head coach for the remainder of this season. If Mike Singletary is the rising young star some project, we should see it in the last 8 games. If not, move on.
Hey Matt.
If the 49ers change QBs, they're doing what Linehan did and the Bills cleaned the Rams. All Seattle has to do is win, and NOlan should be GONE, and changing QBs will just make it easier. You need to tell your 49ers source that no change means this team is doomed to LA for no voter will pass the Santa Clara stadium issue with BAD OWNERSHIP at the helm. Roger Goodell needs to seriously remove the Yorks as ownership FAST. Right now, the NFL is turning into a wrestling league with the 49ers losing and McMahon at the helm in Nolan...or is it York?
Boot the Suit.
It all starts at the top!! You can see a difference in Miami. When Mr Bill took over the Pats they became good with the talent they had after being crappy under Carol
Let's be frank. Generals lead and win, wanna be's think they can. Difference one walks the walk the other talks the talk. Let's cut the cord Put Mike Singletary in charge and watch the team arrive!!
This team has lots of talent, it is a good football team.
Ah playoffs? Don't talk to me about playoffs, you kidding me? Playoffs? I Hope we can lose another game so we can BOOT THE SUIT!
Fire Nolan!
Fans at the Stick, chant Fire Nolan, Boot the Suit, Sell the Team, Dump York, make a lot of noise by KNBR's flagship station at the 'swing box.' Nolan sucks is also a great chant! I hope Seattle fans stay home so we can have an empty stadium! Matt, if you go, count the fans. No way 70,000 is showing up on Game Day!
I've really had enough. I am far from convinced that the Yorks care about winning. Nolan has lost me and I have been a big supporter up until this season.
My wife and I were already talking about dropping 2 of our 4 season tickets. Now we are talking about getting rid of all of them. The Yorks can try to convince the voters of Santa Clara to build them a big new stadium. But unless they show some commitment to the fans, who'll go?
There needs to be a shake up NOW. The owners need show that they have some guts, fire Nolan and start making moves that show that they care about winning. If not, sell the team and let someone who really cares take it over.
Fire Nolan and Martz. Neither one is the answer. Martz's offensive maybe would work, but not with this offensive line. This line let Gore run for a whopping 11 yards. O'Sullivan has to wait until His receivers are down the field 40 yards. By that time O'Sullivan has already fumbled the ball.
Nolan has had every opportunity. How many seasons do you need? I could do a better job than Nolan.
I wonder if they're going to do a "monday morning presser."I have to get over these Niners; I am allowing them to ruin my weekends for years now.
KezarMike... well said.
As for this being a must win game, must win for whom? If a victory at home against an injury decimated Seachicks team were to save Nolan's job, then the Yorks are not worthy. I hope the players come out this Sunday not prepared to play knowing that a loss is probably the final nail in Nowin's coffin. Since the head coach decided to "stay the course" to another losing season, the "Ownership has to prove to the team's fans that they're serious about winning." If they are indeed serious, then NOLAN MUST GO!!
If the attitude is that this is a must win game, then it's almost acceptable that they lose the previous games. This definitely reflects Nowin's philosophy that he bestowed upon his players. This is the NFL, every game should be a must win!
I am in emotional reservation mode until Nowin's departure, but as a die hard fan, I sometimes cannot control my depression on Mondays after losses like these. Nowin's tenure here has left us nothing but empty hopes and promises only to be rudely awakened by the reality that we are not much better off than we were 4 years ago. Somehow the players and fans have become accustomed to the losing, just to cope with painful losses. We deserve better, much better. It's time for change. Boot the Suite!
This seems like the perfect week to get Hill into the lineup. This is a very winnable game, build hills confidence and then you have the bye week to get him extra reps. If Nolan knows what is good for him, he will make this change. It is his last hope, clearly JTO isn't the answer.
Did anyone check out that Jeff Garcia/Antonio Bryant connection last night? Man...only if...
The mid-season coaching change problem: Despite the votes for Singletary, it is not clear to me that the right coach for this team is inside the orgnization. If he is not, then the rest of the season is going to be trashed when an outsider is brought in. Could the players handle this without losing all pride and drive? Don't know. I would hate to see someone like Gore statrt looking for an escape clause. On the other hand, more of the same is a recipe for operational insanity as well. Between the two, I vote for getting rid of Nolan as soon as a good coach is available, no matter whether inside or outside. Use the rest of the season to start building. But it sure would have been better to do this at the end of last year. One can only hope that the York dynasty gets lucky on the next choice, because we are beginning to look like Detroit--and that is pretty bad.
I think Nolan should go at the bye week. This team seems to be regressing and some type of change needs to happen. I think that when Nolan is fired the Niners should designate Singletary as the interim head coach. Give Singletary an opportunity to show what he can do with a team. If he does well, then you can hire him at the end of the year. But if he does not seem to do well, then you will have the opportunity to hire a new coach in the off season.
Martz should not be head coach, for the simple fact that there would be no one else to run the offense, and to have him coach the team and try to call the plays seems like a recipe for disaster.
As for Manusky, does he have any head coaching experience? His defense has been horrible this year, seeming to also regress while adding talent.
No, give Singletary an opportunity so show if he has what it takes to be a head coach. As an interim head coach for half a season, with no commitments beyond that, there is nothing to lose.
If I were coach... I would recognize that the O Line is the root of the 49ers offensive problems. I like JTO and believe that he can be great. But I would still pull him, and start Hill. Then dummy down the play book, to short, quick slant passes underneath, bootlegs without Davis as the receiver, match this up with a simple and consistent running game, with some direct snaps to Gore and consider using a tight end as a full back, considering the blocking ours can do.
I would bin the Nolan philosophy of "reacting" to the other team. And go back to the Walsh philosophy of scripting our game and executing. Make them "react" to us. To give up the initiative from the start is to begin from a position of disadvantage. I would use my defense to generate the most amount of chaos that I could every down through aggressive and unconventional painfully physical schemes. Finishing hits, tackling to the whistle, hit them till they blow. I would ask Ronnie Lott to come in as a secondary "consultant." and try and bring back some pain at the stick. Make people think twice about catching a pass.
Practices would be very aggravating for the players, with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals, blocking, tackling, catching, ball handling. Focusing on playing quality football for 65 minutes.
Martz would stay, but he would abandon plays with a high percentage of turnovers and sacks. I'd like to trade Vernon Davis though.
On defense, Keith Lewis, Manny Lawson, Dashon Goldson and of course Patrick Willis would start every down..I would consult with Singletary on how to get more penetration out of the players we have. I'd trade Mark Roman and Aubrayo Franklin... busts. I would have to find out if Manusky is calling his own defense or if his has a great deal of meddling from Mike before I determined his fate.
I'd look under every rock until I found the re-incarnation of Bob McKittrick, that is a high quality offensive line coach, with strong bay area roots that I could build a team on for a decade or so.
Interesting comments at profootballweekly re specific criticisms of the 49ers by anonymous scouts:
“I’ve never seen more people play out of position at this level of football than I do when I watch the Niners,” an AFC pro scout told PFW. “A lot of players are asked to perform tasks they cannot do. (ORT) Barry Sims cannot handle one-on-one blocking without chip help. You need two left tackles in their system. They don’t have great pass protectors on the edges, but they constantly expose them and ask them to play on an island. (OLB) Parys Haralson is not good dropping, but they continue to drop him.
“And I don’t understand the logic of not using (RB) Frank Gore to finish games,” the scout added. “They were beating Philadelphia with a two-score lead and 14 minutes to left to play, and they just stopped using him.”
Can someone teach JTO to throw the ball away? What a disaster.
Joe... I was JTO fan all season until his interception on the Giants 20 yard line just before the end of the first half. He had the time, he had Gore open, he had no pressure whatsoever coming his way, he just decided to sling it in the end zone to a receiver that was double covered and Gore was completely uncovered about 8 yards short of that. That, to me reflects he doesn't have what it takes. Sorry Joe, we do have a problem at the OL, but JTO is still no what we need. Honestly, Singletary would be a great option for what we need right now.
Throw it away? How about holding the ball up around his ear, with two hands. The tackles are pushing the ends around him, as they're supposed to, but he's just hanging that ball out there to be swiped away. This is elementary stuff we're talking about here...
Yes--the problem of using good players to do things they are not good at. Coaching failure, coaching failure, coaching failure. Systems do not win games--PLAYERS win games.
Re JTO--he sure did look sick out there, and I have been one of his supporters. Mentally, he was making huge mistakes. Shell-shocked?
Matt, 2 things... 1) Any chance Warhop or Tomsula will be fired midseason? The OL and DL have been atrocious. 2) You ought to look into the rash of staph infections by the players in the NFL. Remember how Nolan reacted when it got out that Morgan and Roman were infected with Staph after the Raiders preseason game? Is there any possibility the NFL has instructed teams to be silent on all the infections? Are they worried about liability?
The attempt to Battle on that post pattern which resulted in the INT was the third this season, on that exact pattern. Why does Martz continue to call for the post in the red zone when he knows that JTO and Battle are not capable of that completion? Battle as to "battle" for the ball and JTO must read the defenses better. Gore was wide open underneath. Oh and letting 10 seconds run off the clock when you've got 50 seconds left and 3 timeouts remaining was just terrible clock management. I want to hear Nolan's explanation on that one.
Serious question for anyone...
IF Nolan is fired, what happens next year?
I 100% think he should be fired, but then what? If Singletary gets the job, and it is determined he isn't qualified, then we lose him next season. If he is qualified, then he remains HC and we lose Martz - which means we lose JTO (not sure if this is bad). then we have Singletary as HC, need an OC and a QB.
If we promote Martz, then Martz is the Head Coach (which is scary), and we either extend him or lose him next season (and again, JTO is tied to Martz).
Manusky probably doesn't deserve a promotion to HC or to be fired, because Nolan is noodling in his gameplan.
So, repeat the question... What happens next year?
Sidenote: How about the Giants D-Coordinator for HC (Steve Spagnuolo).
For all of those who forget Alex Smith was playing behind the same crappy line and had the same results as JTO. Martz's Offense always does this. Give up sacks, put pressure on the defense, and eventually the team managements wises up and fires him.. Hiring Martz was a horrible idea when it happened and it still is. We must sadly admit it was four years wasted under McNolan. Now we sit without a QB, a poor O Line, a poor d line, aging safeties, and no play-makers at receiver. But Denise sure thought he looked sharp!
Nothing can be done to save this season, we need a new Team President. Nolan should have been fired after last season. The Yorks are hopeless inept.
Earlier on I thought .500 wasn't out of the question for this team. Now I'm starting to think differently. J(ust) T(urnovers) O'Sullivan, an offensive line that gets beaten at the point of attack, a defensive line that does a great job impersonating a blocking sled, and a coaching staff that puts the same sub-par product on the field week after week. Yeah, changes are needed. But this thing is like a rotting fish....stinks from head to tail.
No doubt, JTO throwing that INT into double coverage in the endzone with Gore underneath was a bonehead move. But, I don't blame JTO so much. Yes, he is more than struggling, but THEY KNEW HE WOULD! And they still decided that that was an acceptable risk.
Here is what Mike Martz said;
"The biggest thing with JT is, he’s never played, he has had no spring work, relatively little camp work, and he’s running this offense at full-tilt. We haven’t backed off anything or dummied anything. We’ve just let it all hang out. Some of the stuff we’re running, he’s never ran before. So the decision-making process, he’s going to have some real bad errors occasionally. We’ll overcome them and they’re going to become less and less. I just want him to be real decisive and use his God-given talent to read, react and get the ball out quickly like he can do. He’s going to be as good as there is. I think he’s an exceptional player, but he’s going to have some bumps along the road. But I believe he’s going to continue to get better every week.”
You see they started out the season knowing that he DID NOT have this offense down. Yet they went aggressive and wide open, figuring he would learn it as he went. And now we have what we have.
It was a huge gamble - and they lost.
Now, before his brain convinces him he is terrible, pull him out, let him hold the clip board. Dumb it down for Hill. Quick slants, short curls, pitches, screens, bootlegs, Gore up the gut, and that's all.
The defense is going to have to shoulder the load, get more physical, cause chaos, ACT dont React, dictate your defensive game plan to opponents.
I think both JTO and Smith are salvageable. They need to build a line first that can run the ball, at the same time develop these QB's, but the emphasis should be on the lines.
No one plays well, when they are afraid of getting sacked, no one plays well when it's a one man show. All QB and no line.
Logan - at this point, do you really think anyone in the league is dying to get Martz as HC?
Marco - you say they have no playmakers at WR, but I have to at least partially disagree. We still have yet to see anything from Hill, but Morgan (aside from a few rookie mistakes) is looking very good. Morgan and Hill on the outsides with Battle in the slot COULD be a very good corps.
Former 49ers corner back Eric Davis had some sharp criticism they posted right on the 49ers website.
He also indicated that players were playing out of position. (like the PFW article mentioned above).
I am surprised they put Eric Davis's article on the 49ers website. He even called out Vernon Davis for dropping that pass.
Here's to hoping that owners/players/staff read some of these articles.
Hey Matt,
Do you think your blog gets read over at 4949 Centennial?
yawwwwn...bunch of whinners.....Nolan is going no where!!
Oh my god! Nolan's press conference is soooo predictable.
Is anyone else dreading starting over again? I know that we aren't starting from the same point as we were after Erickson, but this is rediculous. I think they have to hire an offensive minded HC, so there is some continuity on that side. I say dump JTO/ Martz keep Hill as the transition guy and go with a West Coast Style Offense.
Entering week 4 I knew that the following four games would tell the tale on the current 9er team. What I didn't anticipate is how much we were in those games; that several were games we could have won. I've been supportive of Nolan until now, I have not called for his firing. I do now. I figure it really doesn't matter except it gives one of our in-house guys a shot for half a season. What's really going to frustrate me is hearing in the future that we are too many players away from being a good football team to resign guys like Gore and Willis as was done with Peterson. "Rebuilding," here we come again. Dammit!
Well I think the question of whether Nolan was ever the answer has been conclusively answered. The problem is there are no good options. Martz has proved he isn’t much of a head coach and even as OC his apparent smugness and inflexibility are troubling. Singletary hasn’t really shown anything except he was a great linebacker and Manusky, well maybe he can blame Nolan for the poor performance of the defense, but there is still is very little to recommend him. I think they should heed the advice “When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.” Fire Nolan before he does any further harm and appoint an interim caretaker coach. Then go out early and get the best HC candidate available.
Nowin & his suit should've been sent packing at the end of last season. We are already past the must-win stage. what if they win this sunday, he stays on thru the bye week only to start another losing streak and we can all listen to the same-o, lame-o excuses. He really needs to go now, and as I've been saying since week one, give Singletary a shot and start making a list of coach's. Knowing the York's, the thougt of a new coach most likely has not crossed their minds, and by the time the they get a clue, they'll only have one name of that list - Erickson.
btw, JTO 10 INT's, 9 Fumbles in 7 games - yikes, but he's all we got. Alex Smith, JTO, and Hill are NOT the answer for next year. I hear Druckenmiller's agent has contacted the 9ers.
Three points: First, Nolan wouldn't know a "must win" game if it slammed him in the face; the guy still game manages worse than a fifth grader. Second, Nolan's insistence on playing his CBs 10 yards off the line will guarantee failure as long as he's Coach. Third, though Matt thinks Nolan "has not lost the locker room," if seemed evident last week that he had, and those 13 penalties yesterday just reaffirmed things. A coaching change won't save THIS season, but the sooner we get rid of the Nolan stench we'll all be better off.
"Not since the potato famine laid waste to my kith and kin have I espied the devastation similar to that seen on the greensward when my San Francisco Footballing Fourty-niners do battle in contests of footballing.
Perchance it was an affliction of the vainglory, but my prior-season cogitations were of a more auspicious nature than what has come to pass. Few times have my haymakers met their target square. I fear now we even lack the wherewithal to best the Seafaring-hawks in six days’ time.
Yesterday’s debacle against the New Amsterdam Giants served notice that the Fourty-niners are the same squadron of failabouts with or without the contributions of J.T. O’Sullivan. This epiphany gave way to much vexing. On four occasions did I commit fumblications and on two others had aerial exchanges countercepted by opposing footballers. The great quarteredbacking menace Justin Tuck reminds me of the terrors of darkest Africa.
The dolors cannot own us. We are in but Round 8 of a 16 Round scrape. I’ve yet to even festoon the barbed-wire on this bare knuckles. You will see how easy it is then to block the haymakers!
Ho!"
(From KissingSuzyKolber)
rotoworld -
ESPN's Michael Smith reports that 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is "likely coaching his last game" against the Seahawks this week.
"Barring a dramatic change in course," Smith said on NFL Live, "The team is going to relieve Nolan of his coaching duties and replace him with assistant head coach Mike Singletary." It's not a shock after Nolan was nearly fired last offseason. Since Singletary figures to leave Mike Martz and the offense alone, the possible move doesn't have a huge fantasy impact.
????
I was just going to post this. Hopefully it's true...
Michael Smith is a pretty big name guy, so he wouldn't put it all out there for no reason.
NINER FANS, LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! CALL THE 49ERS HEADQUARTERS AND TELL THEM WE WANT NOLAN FIRED NOW! CALL (408) 562-4949. ASK FOR JED YORK, DR. YORK, OR SCOT MCCLOUGHAN. THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS!!!
WOW. I'd love to see it. Wouldn't be a minute too soon for me.
Four straight 2-5 starts and no finish above.500.
This is what Nowin has done for the team.
The Rams are 2-0 after they canned the coach who
couldn't coach, and it's a very strong 2-0, winning
in Washington and against a SB contender in Dallas.
Do the Yorks view winning as a bad thing?
Why are they standing by, silently, hopelessly, brainlessly?
Another freakin' season gone. We all knew it when Mike
Nowin was given a 4th year. How many days until next season begins? That's all I'm looking forward to now.
If I hadn't have given up my season ticket 2 years ago, I would now.
I hope the Rams sweep us, if only to show the Dorks that some good can come from a mid-season change. Geez,
you were in a car with a driver who was asleep at
the wheel, you'd wanna change drivers...well, Nowin
isn't just asleep at the wheel, he's in another
vehicle altogether...we're effectively leaderless.
What a joke, it's like i don;t even know this team I've been suffering so long.
And while I'm at it, great post KezarMike and all you Nowin haters. He's earned our scorn. What an
arrogant b*stard he is. All he does is coach badly, then blame the players for it. Saying we just need to execute better...what a schmuck. God, this is insane.
Nowin is an idiot, and only an idiot supports an
idiot. The Yorks are idiots, but hey, we all knew that already. We went from the best ownership to the
worst ownership...arrrgghhh...
Nolan must be replaced. Why wait? Name Singletary and see how it works out. If Singeltary isn't good head coach material it will be revealed by the end of the year.
So, with the Rams' resurgence after canning their
idiot coach, a sweep of them is no longer a realistic
proposition...therefore, this weeks Seahawks game
is probably the only "winnable" game left. Maybe we might split with St.Louis and sweep Seattle...that leaves
us at a wonderfully pathetic 4-12. Ha, 4-12 is par for the course with Nowin. Geez, I'm so freakin' annoyed and frustrated with this BS. No good coach throws his players under the bus like Nowin does. I think I need to
take a chill pill...anyone got any spare?
ESPN's Michael Smith reports that 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is "likely coaching his last game" against the Seahawks this week.
"Barring a dramatic change in course," Smith said on NFL Live, "The team is going to relieve Nolan of his coaching duties and replace him with assistant head coach Mike Singletary." It's not a shock after Nolan was nearly fired last offseason. Since Singletary figures to leave Mike Martz and the offense alone, the possible move doesn't have a huge fantasy impact.
Nolan countdown is ON! Boot the Suit! Boot the Suit! Boot the Suit!
Geez, I hope so. I'm actually going to pray for it.
A win this weekend does us no good in the long run.
We need Nowin out. Now. Fingers crossed.
We're behind Singletary (why Matt. M. suggested manusky is till a mystery), let's give him a chance before he goes elsewhere to lead another team to the playoffs.
GO SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is absolutely nothing to lose. Singletary gets his chance to shine, the chance that has been talked about for so long. This gives York time to bring in whoever....I know everyone heard the Holmgren talk last night on NBC....but regardless, Singletary has half a season to show his stuff and we buy time in our search for a new coach if he doesn't meet up to standards.
But, if this all hinges on whether we lose on Sunday, then by all means, Go SEATTLE. Unfortunately, with Senaca Wallace at QB, there is no chance of Seattle winning that.
BOOT THE SUIT
BOOT THE SUIT
BOOT THE SUIT
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BOOT THE SUIT
BOOT THE SUIT
Apologies for the repetitive "Boot the suit"
post, just letting some steam off. Go Seahawks, indeed.
I'll gladly take one more loss if it means getting
rid of the cause of all our woes...Mike "Nolearn/Nowin" Nolan.
The way they talked about it last night on NBC, they made it sound like Holmgren was extremely interested in and almost a lock for the possible GM job in SF. I know he just built a house there, I just wonder how much is true and how much is speculation. Where there's smoke, there's fire, they must be saying it for some reason....
No apology needed for a BOOT THE SUIT chant. But about the Singletary rumor--can someone explain to me why he is thought to be head coaching material? I remember him as a great linebacker with great passion and 110% effort --but those qualities do not necessarily make one a great coach. Otherwise my Golden Retriever would be a perfect fit.
PS--That Eric Davis article is great. A new coach, whoever it is, has a lot to work with. And I am glad he did not throw JTO under the bus. Now--can we get on to the new coach?
Hey Mark
Boot the Suit
Boot the Suit
Boot the Suit
It's great we found an agreement.
After reading the comments, it looks like some fans are questioning the benefit of firing Nolan midseason. My take is accountability is a problem with this team. Firing Nolan sends a message to players, fans, and coaches that ownership cares about the team and expects results. No more excuses. IMHO the Yorks should fire Nolan now and all the coaches at the end of the season. I'd like to see Singletary get the interim job but I think it will go to Martz. After the season hire an up and coming OC or a respected coach like Schottenheimer or Cowher and let them fill out the staff as they see fit. I also think the Yorks need to ask around the league about McCloughan and get some informed opinions about his reputation and then potentially fire him at the end of the season as well.
Yes, I think you are right about hiring an interim coach from inside the organization. Otherwise there is just too much disruption. I also think Martz should be kept where he is, not promoted. Too many questions about the offense to justify putting him in charge. But it sure is discouraging to realize that we will in all likelihood be looking at yet another year with a new system and approach next fall. A new coach has to be free to bring in his own people, or we start acting like an Al Davis team. But if I were a player, I think I'd be really, really frustrated and looking for a way out. And that can't be good.
This story is continuing to get legs . . .
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3654269
I love these reporters. "A source". . . Is that Albert Source? Alice Source? Do they have hidden microphones in the meeting rooms? Where does this stuff really comefrom? Matt, you shoyuld write an article about these Mysterious "sources" and at least give us some hints about how the system works.
MM - We need the scoop from you. Smith over at ESPN is reporting that Nolan is gone next Monday:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3654269
the source is...mike singletary!
My "source" says that if the rumor is true, Nolan should have been told before it was leaked, and if he wasn't, the Yorks are real turkeys. This is like Davis and Linehan.
Ok. So maybe Nowin is gone. I like JT some what. But JT O'turnovers might be on a tight rope.
But to tell you the truth it's really sad being a Niners fan right now. And when we thought our luck was going to change with Nowin, it didn't. Now you're telling me we have to start all over again? It's a tough time being a fan of this team. I have spent so much time and $$$ on this team, that I think I'm going to take a break from buying any 49er stuff at all!! Until they turn this thing around. It may take 5-10 seasons from now if that's how it's going to be. It's a sad sad day being a Niners fan.
This team won't change with Dr. Dork and Co. in there.
Have you heard the 49ers fired Mike Nolan? How come there's no mention of it on here?
ESPN just reported that Nolan may get canned tonight... Just saw that on the MNF pregame show. Something about being in meetings all day today?
"FOXSports' Jay Glazer reports that the 49ers have decided not to wait for their Week 9 bye to fire Mike Nolan. Glazer says he is out as head coach effective immediately.
The Niners let the news leak out a week before they planned to take action, which would have made the entire week and next Sunday's game against Seattle a circus. Assistant head coach/linebackers Mike Singletary is expected to step in. Nolan took over with the organization in shambles and is a good football coach, but didn't get results after a promising 7-9 2006 campaign. His record ended up at 18-36 in four seasons. Nolan is certain to find work in 2009, probably as a defensive coordinator, and we suspect he'll be a head coach again at some point."
Nolan out Singletary in!
It's official,
Nolan is out & Mike Singletary has agreed to a contract as the new head coach of the 49ers.
NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!!
NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!!
NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!!
NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!!
NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!! NOLAN IS FIRED!!!
IT WORKED FELLA'S!!! THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO VOICED THEIR OPINION AND CALLED IN TO ASK FOR NOLAN'S FIRING! DARE I SAY, MY STRATEGY MADE A DIFFERENCE! THE 49ERS HEADQUARTERS WERE SWAMPED WITH PHONE CALLS THIS AFTERNOON! :)
Good luck Coach Nolan, but please give up on the head coach idea. Maybe one of the York's do have some balls (Denise?). Well, the season is (now) not over, and hopefully Singleterry can put some pressure on this team to perform better. I now have some hope for this season. Niners over Seattle by 28. Go Niners!!
There is a football GOD after all!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for either Cowher or Holgrem next year...
The thing that is really troubling to me is that it sounds more like Singletary has been awarded the job, and they are making it sound as if it is BEYOND the remainder of the season, as if he is THE NEW HEAD COACH PERIOD. This I do NOT like, if that is true. Singletary should be given an opportunity to display better coaching than what we've had and to turn things around, but to just annoint him the job beyond this year would be a mistake....why would York limit himself by filling the spot so soon? Wouldn't make sense to me. Right now I'm just hoping that isn't true. Hopefully Matt can shed some light here....
Wow! The Yorks actually got this right. Thank you!!!
9er1 - I hadn't heard it that way. I sure hope not. He should be interim coach. Then reassess at the end of the year.
He is the interim coach for the 2008 season, as confirmed by his agent. Don't start any rummors based on how you are reading between the lines guys!!!
SanFranMan - I completely agree. I'm hoping I'm wrong there, I was reading between the lines with what Mort was saying, he was saying that ownership was in negotiations with Singletary for the job of Head Coach. This doesn't sound right to me, unless they mean just till the end of the year and not beyond until further evaluation, however, Mort didn't say that. He just said Singletary was the new head coach. I'm not sure if it is common practice to start negotiating with a candidate who is filling a promotional spot like head coach on short notice like this? I just don't get the negotiations thing....sounds very long-termish to me.
Mike- that all sounds fine, but the problem is nowhere in any of Mort's info whatsoever did the word INTERIM come up. THAT'S why it's a bit concerning. Mort never mentioned the word "interim" one time, he just said they were in negotiations with Singletary to take over as head coach. Now, it sure could mean interim, but since when do they "negotiate" new contracts with "interim" head coaches?? I don't remember Tom Cable negotiating a new contract, and I don't recall Haslett being in negotiations for a new contract....but Singletary apparently is, according to Mort.
9er1 - Not saying he IS going to be the HC long-term, but it wouldn't surprise me. He was interviewed once, but the reason he wasn't offered the job was because he didn't have a 'group' he wanted to bring in. Here, he's got the group that's been here and we can't know whether the two Coordinators can mesh. Even if they were to offer him a one or two year contract, that wouldn't mean he would play the whole thing out.
Mike- that sounds fine, but nowhere in any of Mort's info whatsoever did the word INTERIM come up. THAT'S why it's a bit concerning. Mort never mentioned the word "interim" one time, he just said they were in negotiations with Singletary to take over as head coach. Now, it sure could mean interim, but since when do they "negotiate" new contracts with "interim" head coaches?? I don't remember Tom Cable negotiating a new contract, and I don't recall Haslett being in negotiations for a new contract....but Singletary apparently is, according to Mort.
I'm just glad this is done. I am not sure if this will help JTO and the offence though unless and Singletary puts his foot down and gives the ball to Gore!
Shootme - yeah but what I don't like about that is if they offer him a one or two year deal, then he is THE COACH and we will have to go through the firing/hiring process all over again if this doesn't work out. Much easier to just hire the guy as interim. Man I really hope they did this right.
ESPN.com is also on board with the Nolan firing and reports that Singletary has agreed to replace him. Singletary and the Niners are working on a long-term deal, according to the self-proclaimed worldwide leader.
I don't like the sounds of "Long Term Deal". Why committ yourself and limit your options?!?
Although JTO knows this offense and is more of a Martz style QB, my honest opinion is that Hill gives us by far the best chance to win at this point. Even with Hostler as the coordinator last year he still had over a 100 qb rating, and JTO just turns the ball over WAY too much.
What better options are out there? Cowher doesn't sound like he wants to coach for another year or two and Holmgren wants a GM position, not coaches position. How many better options are out there that would actually want the position? NOT a college coach, either... that, historically, is a really bad idea. I wouldn't mind Kiffin, actually. Regardless, without all of the details, this is all conjecture.
SCM - not if Martz doesn't change his offense. Hill doesn't really have the arm strength to perform in that offense. Not to mention, it won't really matter if the O-Line is still allowing the kind of pressure they've shown so far.
I think Matt stayed overnight in NYC. He was on ESPN this morning. I thought Nolan should have been fired last year. According to Ralph no one told their flagship station KNBR about this to confirm it. Apparently 49ers panicked after ESPN reported it.
The Yorks in their tyically manner even screwed up this firing.
shootme - but hill is much quicker getting the ball toto the reciever making the o-line play less important, half or more of jto's turnovers are because he holds on way too much. I don't think hill has the arm strength but at least the turnovers would go way down. I think hill gives the best chance to win
Can Matt--or somebody--try to figure out if Singletary really wants this job, or just feels that he has no choice? And how about the players--is this a change they approve of? I don't at all mind giving big Mike the chance, especially if the chemistry with the team is right, but he is taking on a lot and it would be nice to know that he thinks he is ready rather than just stuck with a team in in a mudhole such that someone has to get out and push.
Where is Matt?
Yes--where is Matt? We news junkies are desperate for some inside info!
yeah that is the question, Everybody and their brother is chimming in except our Matt!!
he must be sleeping off the Jet lag...
Pat - Martz LOVES the 7-step drop. I'd venture to say this is why Hill isn't 'his guy'. JTO makes some horrible decisions, but Hill just doesn't fit Martz's offense. Who knows, maybe JTO would be less mistake-prone if he were running the "west coast" offense, with more quick passes, screens, and dump-offs. The o-line play is imperative BECAUSE of Martz. Again, not defending JTO, nor condemning Hill. Oddly enough, a healthy Alex Smith would be the epitome of the "Martz-system guy". Strong arm, doesn't turn the ball over, mobile...
JTO has problems reading the safeties, the entire defense really, i have yet to really see him point out blitzes and slide the blocking to account for the blitz. Last year. Hill would use his feet better than JTO, but also went through his reads very quickly and found the open man, unlike JTO who throws to the person the play is designed to get the most open, he forgets to look at the coverage or use that timer in his head for the time the rush will get to him.
I agree I think Alex could of done well in this system...on another note if we win our remaining games we'll be 11-5 and playoff bound! Lets go Singletary!
espn is reporting Nolan has been fired.......i really think this is a mistake....but Nolan did make the mistake of not sticking behind A.Smith...so he did make his bed with JTO.....JTO is the reason we are losing...its just the fact.
Finally, Nolan is fired. They should have done it right after last year, and gave it to singletary that way he can bring in his own OC, and DC (which thought he would bring Ron Rivera as his DC). Besides Ronnie Lott he would be great head coach. Anyways, let him ride the final games and hope he can ride the ship. Also, here is a cool link I found on the Mercurynews.com about Singletarys roots going back to Late Great Bill Walsh.
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/2008/10/20/singletarys-coaching-roots-go-back-to-walsh/
I would have given a chance to Mike Martz instaed of Singletary to see what he can do.
We need somebody with head coaching experience
Before anybody thinks this is a ruse:
Matt Maiocco goes home at 5pm, and probably didn't get the news until he was on the road. Not sure if he was hearing the news on his radio.
Mike Sando probably went home as well.
The sources of this information are NOT FALSE!
Chris Mortensen, ESPN
John Clayton, ESPN
Michael Smith, ESPN, and at 6pm, Michael Smith was on the Razor and Mr. T show.
Jay Glazer, Fox Sports, and at 7:34pm on the Mercury News, Tim Kawakami states Mike Nolan talked to Fox Sports.com and said he was fired and espn.com reported that Mike Singletary is replacing him.
Associated Press report on Sports Illustrated, CNN, Nolan axed.
6:44 pm, Ray Ratto puts out a report for the Chronicle tomorrow
Dennis O Donnel left a breaking news on the CBS5 site, probably reported it on the Sporting news/beginning of news.
KNBR has been on it since 5pm, and took me 45 minutes to get on Damon Bruce's show.
Mike Nolan IS GONE! FIRED! SACKED! Boot the Suit!
Nolan is gone, a breath of fresh air! Someone please close the "Umbrella of caution" and let the some aggressiveness enter the house.
Great article by Eric Davis on the 49er website here at http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8992619&st=usb+storage&lp=6&type=product&cp=1&id=1218007086102
Guys, relax on JT. He is doing very well for what has been asked of him. Remember, a QB is a partial slave to the performance of his O-line!!! It is impossible to play QB well if your O-line can't keep defenders away from you for any length of time or prevent them from being pushed-back into you. Make a not to watch the O-line of Seattle next weekend and you'll see what I mean.
The last thing I want to say is that it is ok to lose in the NFL so long as your team plays tough and hangs in there and appears to get better...it happens. This might describe Nolan's first two years on the job. What is unacceptable is to lose and look awful while doing so. That shows that the problems more is a leadership/coaching issue and pretty much sums up the last two years of Nolan's tenure and why it was a good decision to make a change.
It is unknown whether Singletary will do well, but what we'll want to see is the improvement, toughness, and tenacity of the team overall.
I think Singletary is just what the doctor ordered
for this team. He is a great motivator and it will
be interesting to see who he hires and fires with
respect to his "staff". Good riddance Nolan and I
hope the next to go at the end of the year will
be Scotty Mac with his replacement being Mike
Holmgrem.
Matt, be sure to ask Singletary what he will do to make sure that the Bill Walsh philosophy of "beating the other man to the punch" will be taught and implemented if it is not already (it does not appear to be). I'm sure he will know exactly what you mean considering that he played (and lost) against those great Niner teams from the 80's.
This was the best move the 49ers could make. But it seems that the move wasn't made the way it was intended. And this isn't the first time significant news has leaked out of 49ers headquarters. The niners have a mole!
I wonder--Is A. Mole related to A. Source? More Seriously, I just hope something good comes of this mess. If Big Mike can get this team to function like it should be able to function, he will be everyone's hero--but he sure has his work cut out for him. I wonder how the relationship with the players will evolve. We have key key players on both sides of the ball who are hugely important to the future of the team, and they need to see some light at the end of the tunnel. I would sure like to see us play well, and win, next weekend.The offense, in particular, needs to show that they can be relied upon for 4 quarters and turnover-free possessions. The game plan needs work--or will Martz be pouting because he wasn't given the reins?