Here are some comments from Mike Singletary, J.T. O'Sullivan and Shaun Hill, courtesy of the 49ers' PR department.
* * *
MIKE SINGLETARY
Q: Why the change at quarterback Mike?
Singletary: "I just think it gives us the best opportunity to win right now. I think it brings some stability, some consistency. I think with Shaun Hill, the guys right now overall, the staff, the guys, the players, it gives us the confidence in terms of, 'You know what we are going to keep this thing together and we're going to cut down on the mistakes, the turnovers, what have you and let's give ourselves a chance to win.'"
Q: Do you expect this offense to have a different look now that Shaun is in charge of it?
Singletary: "I can't say that it has a good look. I just feel that right now with him in there, it's just one of those things that Shaun is a natural leader. He leads in a different way. I just think, obviously, with him in there right now, he feels good, there's an energy about it. Going forward, I'm just excited to see what he does with the opportunity."
Q: Do you sense, after the events of the weekend, a different tone today?
Singletary: "I think the guys came out and responded very well. I mean they ran to the ball, they did all the things we talked about last week and they understand the task at hand. They understand where we have to go. They understand where we want to go. These guys want to win, they really do. They want to win. You sit down and have one-on-one conversations with them, they want to win and it's evident by the consistency and the practices that we had from last week and today, and all we are going to do is build on it. So we'll just keep getting better."
Q: Who's your starter at split end? It seems like Josh Morgan got the start but then dropped a slant early in the game and then it was Bryant Johnson who was in for most of the game. Is that a permanent shift or will they be again alternating?
Singletary: "It depends. I think right now, Coach [Mike] Martz wants to really sit back and kind of analyze how everybody is doing. When you have young players...you have Josh. He has a world of talent and when you hear Coach Martz say this guy has more talent than just about any receiver he's ever coached, that's a huge statement. For him it's just a matter of confidence. He is doing great and then all of sudden something happens. He might drop a ball, he may miss a block, and then boom. You just have to work at getting him back. Once he learns that, he's going to be really explosive. I'm really excited about him."
Q: Mike, you played the game. Sometimes when you make changes at positions like the quarterback it makes players realize that you have to be accountable.
Singletary: "Absolutely, that's a huge word that we use in terms of everybody doing their job, building the trust, building the confidence - all of those things you need in order to get out there and be successful. So accountability definitely is a huge word."
Q: A lot of coaches might've said the same thing to
Singletary: "This is a day and time where everybody wants to be so private and 'This is my business and this is...and be nice to the guy.' I love these guys. I really do. At the same time, I know
Q: Is that how you were coached in
Singletary: "I'm a lot nicer than I was coached in
* * *
J.T. O'SULLIVAN
Q: What's your reaction to the quarterback change?
O'Sullivan: "What's my reaction?"
Yes.
"Just disappointed."
Q: Would you look at the quarterback position as still fluid - that there's a chance that you might get back in and play this season?
O'Sullivan: "I think every backup in the league thinks like that. You have to be ready to take advantage of an opportunity if it comes."
* * *
SHAUN HILL
Q: How does it feel to be back in the saddle?
Hill: "It's very exciting. I'm really looking forward to this challenge. I know this team as a whole is not satisfied with how the first half of the season went and we're all excited to get this second half started and get this thing turned around."
Q: Where are you now versus mid-August as far as understanding the offense and how has that progressed since then?
Hill: "Obviously, I feel like I'm a lot further along than I was in training camp in the offense and being able to sit back and watch J.T. in the offense helped as well - to kind of see some of those things in action that Coach Martz was talking about in training camp. So it's been good. These eight weeks I've continued to learn the offense and I feel far more advanced in it now than I was back in August."
Q: It's always tough when they make a change. Has J.T. been supportive of it?
Hill: "Yeah, he's been very supportive. That says a lot about his character. He was supportive during the game as well, and that's a tough thing. It really is. I can't say enough about how great he's been."
Q: After the first game with Mike [Singletary], everything that went on, you see the emotion he has. Is the team feeling a little different right now, this week?
Hill: "Coach Singletary's been around and he's given speeches to the team over the three years that I've been here, or two and a half years at this point. So we know what kind of guy he is. He's been vocal to the team and everybody appreciates it and responds to it - just his honesty and the way he tells it like it is. He's not going to sugarcoat it for you, and I think everybody really respects that and responds to it."
Q: How is this offense going to be different with Shaun Hill leading it?
Hill: "I don't think...the structure is definitely going to be the same. Everything's going to be the same. No matter what, if you put two guys together and they have the same training no matter how long, you send the two guys out there it's going to be two completely different games and that's just the way it is. Guys see things different out there and when you get to the game just play different. I don't know. It'll just be different, that's all I can tell you. Everything's going to be the same, though. It's going to be the same offense, just two different guys play the game totally different, no matter if they have the same training and no matter how long they've had that training."
Q: Two of the team's longest drives came under you in the second half. Are you a guy who's going to have more of those longer, methodical drives?
Hill: "I think a lot of that is a product of how they were playing. They had a pretty good lead in the second half and didn't want to give up quick strikes down the field and things like that - and quick drives. They were going to make us take the ball methodically down the field, and we were going to have to score on every drive. I think more than anything it was a byproduct of how they were playing us at that time of the game."
Q: What do you think the players learn from what he [Mike Singletary] expects?
Hill: "I know one thing that's very evident to everybody is he's going to hold everybody accountable, it doesn't matter who. He was a star in this league and held himself accountable. He expects stars and role players alike to be accountable and do their job. That's one thing I really appreciate."
I love Hill but you have to have an arm in this league. He will certainly win us some games that JTO didn't due to the mistakes, but starting Hill isn't building for the future at all. I hope we find a good QB in the offseason, and I don't mean Alice Smith.
BTW... the 2009 QB draft class looks weak. Like usual we're not only pathetic we're unlucky as well.
Alex Smith will be back.....You can bet on it.
Why are u so hung up on Alice anyway? I wish the girl well. For both this organization and Alice, she should go play somewhere else where there is some coaching continuity. Maybe go and learn the ropes for a while in Dallas, Indianapolis or New England. Who the hell is it helping to have that chick running the show in San Fran next year? It's bad for both the organization and her. Or better yet, she should just retire with the $40M she stole from us these last 3+ years.
I kind of agree with one niner...if martz is here alex might want to stay because he'll actually have a shot at starting, he won't get that anywhere else. Plus having a year to learn an offense and then having the same offensive system in a consecutive year would be very tempting for him at this point. That's a big if though (martz coming back).
Grow up. You are not very funny.
On one hand we have a QB (JT) with a very quick release and a big arm who fumbles and throws INT's yet can make great throws(sometimes) On the other hand we have another QB(Hill) with a slower release who played great against the Bengals last year and ok lastweek who hasnt made the big mistake (YET) ARE WE TOTALLY SCREWED??????
It's one thing to dislike a player and it's another to be a total ass about it. Have some dignity and talk football without sounding like a five year old. And unless you are a York, AS didn't take a dollar from you.
Alex Smith is probably sitting back watching this fiasco with a big smile on his face. Everyone tried to put the blame on him for last year, but it is now apparent that he is way better than JT O'Turnover will ever be. I hope he goes somewhere else and ends up having a nice, long career.
Agree...grow up and quit wasting our time!!
JTO is a journeyman scrub. Hill because of his limited arm strength is only a stop-gap. McCloughan had two highly rated QBs in the second round, Brohm and Henne, and he picks a guard. Our beloved 49ers have become a joke. Hold the criminals accountable, ie John, Denise, and lucky sperm Jed, boycott the stadium and DO NOT renew your season tickets! Look at the Dolphins, 1-15 last year, they spend the money to bring in Parcells and they are 4-4.
I catch a lot of heresay about S. Hill not having the ability to throw the "long ball." Where does this come from and how do people know this if the guys only started 2 games in his whole career...anybody?
Mark and Walshforever, don't be so down on Shaun Hill. This guy has averaged a passer rating of nearly 100 in the 4 games he has played with the Niners and is 2-0 as a starter. He is a good manager and doesn't give games away. That's more than you can say about JTO and the majority of Quarterbacks in the league right now. There are only about 5 elite QB's in the entire league and we aren't going to get our hands on one of them any time soon. The next best thing is having a QB that is a good game day manager, supplement that with a good running game, and build a solid defense to help them. That is what the Titans have done this season, and it is a lot more achievable than finding the next Tom Brady. Matt, your thoughts?
Stampede, I'm with you! Enough with all the nay-saying! The guy has never been given a real shot (Shaun Hill). Nolan wouldn't give him a chance most of last season while Dilfer was stinking up the place week after week. And he was shorted again this season during training camp. Let's see what the guy can do!
1. Alex will get another chance somewhere. Could be here for less money, whether Martz is stil onboard or not, could be SD with Norv, could be elsewhere. But he has to much raw talent for someone not to take that chance. Now whether his arm can recover and whether he can learn not to be a 'first, never make a mistake' Nolan Weenie, thats questionable. I think most of us would agree, he would have been better off somewhere else the last few years. Nolan hosted a clinic in how to ruin a QB who had some hurdles to overcome system-wise to be an NFL QB anyway.
2. Hill now has his chance. He has less arm strength, but that isnt everything. Lets wait a few weeks and see how he does. I prefer the WCO anyway but we'll have to see how the whole thing shakes out with the system and politics.
3. JTO had his upside, he just got overwhelmed with the decision-making process an NFL QB has to master. Quick release doesn't help if the guy freezes and holds the ball till judgment day, hoping for a play that isn't there. But considering the weak O-line and limited tools at his disposal - not forgetting that Martz largely took Gore out of his toolkit several games - he was far from good, but not quite bad enough to be completely written off. Its a long season. We have weak pass protection. We may not have seen the last of JTO just yet.
4. The good news is, we might actually have a coach who commands some respect. As has been seen in Miami and STL, that can make a lot of difference. We're NOT going to win a lot of games this year anyway - we have a very flawed roster - but the foundation might be there to at least BEGIN to turn this disaster around.
Stampede, your question is quite legitimate, and since I have recently commented on Hill's weakness in the long pass game, I will tell you what I think I remember: First, few (or no?)long competions when he played last season--though of course we had almost nothing in the way of deep threat receivers. Also, however, and more to the point, I believe Matt's evaluation of the 3 QBs in training camp last summer was that Smith(1) and JTO(2) clearly had the real arms--w/better accuracy at distance. If I am mistaken in this, someone please correct me.
Grumpy Guy: Amen.
Stampede..Matt reported it during the QB competition. Said something to the effect that he struggled with his accuracy & effectiveness throwing the deep ball. People who've seen the training camps & reported it on blogs have said the same things.
I bought the kool aid too on JT but this switch HAD TO be made before the team pulled a CODE RED on his a** in the locker room. Big kudos to Coach Singletary. Hill surprised me this last game. That intermediate throw to Jason Hill had some good zip. He's got good command & really manages the game well. Ball control, keeping the chains moving, the Offense in a good rhythm, & giving our Defense some rest is what this team badly needs right now. And the guy is putting up points on the board!
I like what Coach Sing said that he might use both QB's once JT gets to mending his ways. We'll see. I'm interested to see how Hill competes finally starting on games that matter (the season not yet lost) & not playing from behind with the game even at 0-0 with the Defenses gameplanning & really coming after him. Even if it happens to be for a game or 2+ it's good to sit JT down to think about how to help & not hurt the team with those ugly reckless killer INT's.
Matt, how much of this article can you confirm? There's a lot of it that is quite the opposite to what I've been hearing over the past few months:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqwI4kAUIlN8KFIcla6q69w5nYcB?slug=ms-morningrush102708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
OMG, the Draft classes for the past 4 years could have been chock full of diamond blue chippers, where are we now?
Best Player Available=Scot-Noplan's evaluation process.
Until we learn to find pieces to build the perfect beast, we'll continue to wander around the Senior Bowls and Combines looking at stats.
I hope Singletary gets the gig and has more involvement with the selection process next Spring. We need guys with Heart, like Patrick, and more of them.
oneniner....I'd love to bet that Alex Smith will be back with 49ers next season. Unless he restructures his contract to be closer to the veteran minimum NO WAY he comes back. Feel free to let me know what you'd like to wager.
I read somewhere that Hill's softer throws might make it easier for VD to make some catches. Dunno if this has any validity, but we can hope? Wish?
We've all been here, regularly discussing the state of our franchise for years now.
We came to the conclusion that Nolan had plenty of faults, stuck with his guys too long and, refused to change business as usual.
Singletary is equally as green if not more so, but possesses a strong will, a glorious amount of respect earned on the field as a HOF LB, and if nothing else, has the attention of this roster right now.
Until ownership demands better results from the roster they pay for, this mess will perpetuate itself.
Singletary is at least credible, forthright, and determined to win.
Leadership is clearly in his makeup, Nolan simply wore the title.
Give him everything he needs to bring this roster together and don't just assume he's here for 8 weeks. The man speaks from the heart, he'll make mistakes, he'll make adjustments.
I like his fire, however, he's gonna need a strong front office.
Therein lies our problem.
A good franchise is a total package.
York is slowly realizing the mistakes that were made and hopefully is working hard to correct them.
Right now, we have youth if nothing else.
It's a long way from getting out of the diapers right now, but Singletary will demand that each and every guy on this roster puts in the work needed to get there.
We suck right now, but he's wasting no time in redirecting the troops.
Something Nolan couldn't seem to accomplish.
Whether we go 3-5, 0-8 or anywhere in between, the reward will be continuity and team chemistry. If he develops that and gets the cooperation needed from the coaching staff, this mess is halfway to becoming respectable IMO.
Watch STL, no heads hanging, guys flying around, everyone fighting to win. Started with a leadership change.
You want the division? 2 more against the Rams, 1 against the Cards. Concentrate and match their intensity, sweat the details and see what we're made of.
Well let's see how Hill does when a team isn't playing a soft defense protecting a lead? I think he will do better but I doubt he is a long term solution at QB. Truthfully we are right back where we were in 2003 when the idiots wouldn't pay Gracia. NO QB! Calling Smith Alice is unfair. Don't forget Nolan was responsible for not giving him receivers, OLine, and any continuity at OC! Has any other QB done any better? It was Nolan who lied to us that Smith wasn't hurt. Try throwing with a shoulder separation! If one actually went back to 2006 and examine his performance prior to his injury he was progressing. Eli was having the same problem. Steve Young says it take 4 years to learn the QB position. Alex Smith, IF he is healthy might still be the solution because he is the most talented of the three. Don't keep saying he wasn't tough because of what that loser Nolan said. The Niners need to fire Scott McCloughlin. Then let a real GM evaluate Smith. We may not have a choice, without a QB we are still years away. There is no free agent QB waiting out there. Smith may still be our best option when he is healthy and doesn't have McNolan around with a real NEW OC. Martz was a waste, just like many of us predicted.
Hey you,
First, I want to start this letter off by saying it was nice seeing you Sunday. I really did have a good time at the beginning but like so many times before it just gets weird and sometimes really bad at the end, with me yelling and screaming. I didn't even drinking this time, so we know that's not the reason. I wanted to do this in person, I did but I just felt like it was something that needed to be done now and since I wouldn't see you again until after your bye week, well... I am doing it now. Listen, its really not you... Its me. It is. I just don't really have the time in my life to continue to wait for you to start winning. Every off season I wait and watch diligently as you tell me how much better you're going to be and that you really are trying and then EVERY season I am left depressed, embarrassed and disappointed. Well I think its just gonna be best for me to send you all of your stuff, the jerseys, the ticket stubs and if it was possible for you to mail me back all of the lost time I spent trying to be the best fan I could be, that would be great! Sorry, that was cruel but I'm just so done right now... Remember all of the crazy times at the beginning? You were wild back then! You had a string of 17 seasons where you won at least 10 games and how can we not forget all of the amazing trophies and records you broke... Ah, those were good times. We couldn't get enough of each other, I would see you on ESPN everyday and you really took care of yourself back then, Pro Bowlers galore, big free agent moves that actually worked out and that swagger; man you had a swagger.... Now you barely have 2 Pro Bowlers and 1 of them is a punter.... A PUNTER, you never had to punt back in the day. I just can't do it anymore San Fran, the downs just are too severe and its been a long time since I've had an up. I watched you Sunday actually lose to a HORRIBLE Sea-chickens team and well, it was the last straw. I knew when JTO through the pick for the touchdown that this was gonna be the last time we did this, I mean formally. Sure we can be friends and I imagine I will see you from time to time on the ESPN highlights and I do have a couple 9ers on my fantasy teams so we still have that to chat about but really this is a weak mans attempt at closure. I know I probably will still check up on you and I ask that you not email me because I don't want to be tempted to just be disappointed again. You have a lot of work to do on yourself right now and I hope you do... If you ever clean up your act and really live up to your potential, you know where to find me.
Disappointed Fan
Geez, and I thought I was taking it too seriously. . .
Its a good move to change QBs, I think Hill did a good job in managing the game and JTO needs to start from page 1 again. It seemed like the team was headed in the right direction in the beginning but fell apart quickly after the DET game, then they started looking like DET. The fact is they have a good chance in winning the division if they win 6 out of 8 but might as well go 8-0. The thing is theres only 3 more home games out of 8 games, actually that doesnt even matter they just need to win. The next game vs ARI is a MNF game so the 49ers need to come out scaring people and the teams. The 49ers need to dictate and dominate instead of being on the back of their heels all the time.
I think the plan Mike is trying to devise here is to play defense and employ a ball control offense.
It's a novel concept and probably a very clear message to Martz that we're not going to have QBs learning on the job and giving away scoring opportunities.
I'm hoping the bye week is devoted to zone blitz schemes and press coverage, while the offense works on run blocking and short screen packages.
Given the limitations on Shauns downfield arm, just keeping the opposing defense on the field for long drives will be a major improvement.
Frankly, I could accept FGs a little easier if we spent 6-8mins getting there while hopefully holding a lead. Consider it a slam dunk if we hold AZ to less then 24pts while we find a way to score 27.
Shaun Hill starting = "Umbrella of Caution." Singletary becomes HC and we're suddenly cool with reverting to the Ravens JV squad?
Wow...JTO did not have much to say. WEll, I feel like we are at back to the end of last season, when Shaun Hill won us a few games...and left us wondering what he might be able to do.
I am excited to find out...and on national TV (I don't have to a sports bar & convinve people to switch a TV to the 49ers game).
Hill has a different style than JTO or Alex. It's not a bad thing at all...it's just different. For whatever reason, the offense seems to respond to his style. He makes quick decisions, and gets rid of the ball. Arm strength is one of the most overrated aspects of being a successful QB. Best example I can give you is Joe Montana. He didn't have a strong arm...but, he was extraordinarily successful in Coach Walsh's WCO. I'm not comparing the two...only pointing out that you don't need to have a cannon arm to succeed in the NFL. Shaun won't turn the ball over much...and that fact alone will allow him to sustain drives and get points. It'll also give the beleagued defense some much-needed rest, and keep the opponents' offense on the sidelines.
I recently read somewhere, maybe here, that the 49ers have more players playing out position than any other NFL team. If that's true, Coach Singletary's ability to judge talent will soon be revealed by immediate personnel changes. It also begs the question, who is playing out of position or, put another way, who should be replaced by someone else on the roster? Matt, you are probably in the best position to comment. Certainly the change at quarterback is revealing and, in my opinion, necessary. It may be that Smith is the solution--despite aforementioned disparaging remarks in this blog.
Finally, of all the people on earth that it would be unwise to antagonize, Coach Singletary is on the short list.
For those talking about arm strength... there's this guy down in Miami right now having a great season. Poor arm strength, yet very accurate and doesn't turn the ball over. I think I'd rather have that (along with Gore and a solid defense) rather than a squad like oakland led by one of the strongest, least accurate arms in the league. Arm strength doesn't really have a lot to do with stretching the field, either. Any QB in the league can throw the ball 40-50 yards down field. That's not a question. Arm strength comes into play primarily on out routes, where the ball needs to be thrown on a rope to the sideline so the CB can't jump it. As long as Hill can INTELLIGENTLY throw a 10 yard out pattern, he should be able to run a capable offense.
Matt - thanks (to your people) for finally fixing the comment section! It's nice being able to see all of what I'm typing ;)
That's a foolish thing to say when Alex will stay with the 49ers in 09. Why should he go to antoher team? Take the pay cut and stay on this team. The 49ers WON"T lose money, and we need all the money we can to get FAs and draft choices. We have NFC North/AFC South/possibly the last place teams in E/S and our crap division.
I think a lot of people are going to tune in on Monday just to see how well Sing conducts himself and the team after this weekend. I'd love to see some sort of coming out party, but I'll keep my expectations realistic- and hope for a close game.
Darren and oneniner - why are we still talking about Alex? Turner? You guys are living in the past. Can we move forward? Please? You guys sound like broken records. Is there someway to block your comments from my computer? The solution to our problems are not with them- they had their chance- lets move on....Geezus.
Seriously Darren/Oneniner, why are you guys so hung up on AS? Did you see something the rest of us didn't that would show him to have potential? I'm not being sarcastic here; every future great player shows us glimpses of stardom even when they haven't put it together yet. As I look back at Smith's games I don't see anything that would get me excited. Some point to that opening night in 2007 when he led the Niners to a last second victory against the Cards- but I look back at that game and see pretty average to below-average stats. His best play was to run the ball into the end zone. Where are the glimpses of eliteness we should have seen in 3+ years of him at the helm?
OMG Ponies, Smith was at the helm for 2 years and 3 games. First year was a wash, because the 49ers were godawful. Year two he showed clear development under Turner. Year three he went 2-1 before being crushed by a Seagull and going out for the season. Year four he never had because JTO wrestled the starting job away, and now he's on IR. It's fine (and even healthy) to move on, because Alex Smith is never going to start for the 49ers again. I'd just say, don't fool yourself into thinking the kid has failed outright. On the other hand, he's done extremely little to show he was worthy of a 1st-round pick, or will ever be great. Only time will tell with this guy. It's not something you really need to worry about, though, because there's a 99.9% chance he'll be gone next year.
I'm with Hill, I don't know what "manage the game" means either. I suspect it's BS. I suspect Singletary means a QB that doesn't turn over the ball. In which case he should say that.
I've always taken the moniker "game manager" to be the opposite of the "gun slinger". Doesn't have a cannon of an arm, but is far more accurate and less turnover-prone. Whereas 'gun slingers' chuck the ball all over the field with mediocre accuracy, hoping the the good outweighs the bad (see Favre, Elway), 'game managers' thrive in the west coast - style offense (see Montana, Garcia, Pennington). You can win with either, so long as the 'gun slinger' throws more TDs than INTs. My two pennies.
Blessed investment, thanks for giving me a good laugh! Very funny. Please do not hurt yourself, though.
It may not matter next year, but McClouhan is quoted stating that AS will not be back with the 9ers as a back-up. I say it may not matter cause I doubt McClouhan's job is secure.
Shootme, that makes sense in general but I'm not sure it makes as much sense in a Martz system where the QB really doesn't have much discretion. He throws the ball where Martz tells him to.
I'd be interested to hear what JTO says when Singletary tells him to be a better game manager. Might be amusing.
ALEX SMITH IS A COMBINATION OF JTO's GUN_SLINGING and HILL's SHORT PASSES-MANAGIN THE GAME, HE DOES NOT TURN THE BALL OVER LIKE JTO AND HIS MORE AGRESSIVE THAN HILL.......DON"T FORGET HE HIS WAY YOUNGER THAN BOTH MEN.
ummm.. huh? smith's career YPA is comprable to frank gore's YPC. for you einsteins out there that's not very good for a QB. that does not make him a gunslinger either, genius. if i were to compare him to JTO and Hill I would say he lacks JTOs big-play ability in favor of Hill's game-management skills. But he doesn't have the arm to be able throw a pass to a receiver running up the sideline, curl or out. so what you have really is a combination of Hill's weak arm and no confidence and presence in the pocket. While JTO's presence in the pocket is poor, his confidence is pretty good actually. He doen't look scared out there like Alex does. Alex doesn't have a single attribute you can characterize as that of a solid QB.
Realfan, I would venture to say that the INTs weren't what got JTO benched. If it weren't for the league leading sacks and fumbles, he'd probably still be the QB. INTs can be attributed to the 'gun slinger' mentality along with the fact that he's still not completely comfortable in the offense. Any QB who leads the league in sacks, fumbles, AND interceptions is bound for the bench... and the doghouse.
Wow, you know your comments are just plain negative. Why do you even bother reading this blog and then spewing your nasty comments on here? Are you even a true fan? I doubt it very much. I for one am tired of seeing people like you just puke these kind of comments on here. It's been hard enough to be a 49er fan the last few years without your low self esteem to be laid out for everyone as well. Go home and find someone to hug you so the rest of us don't have to listen to it.
Calling Alex Smith a 'she' is just plain stupid, regardless of how you feel about the guy's abilities. Do us fans a favor and leave already.
wow, you are correct on this -..."leads the league in sacks, fumbles, AND interceptions".....Has any QB in the history of the nfl done that?(through 7 games).......well said itsmechris
won't it be fun if we end up making the playoffs.....Gore is really playing great this season.
Yeah he really did get the shaft in TC. The whole "arm soreness" thing...eh, left a little to question. Hill's been patient, and I believe that good things come to those who wait. GO NINERS!
No MarkW, no correction needed cus you're absolutely right. I've read and heard the samethings you have leading to the popular belief about S.Hill. However, it's also been said S.Hill is not a "practice player," essentially he doesn't look as good in practice, but when he gets in games, something clicks. Marshall Faulk didn't lift weights in college, but was rediculous toting the rock. My point is, some players aren't "practice all-stars," which in a lot of ways is not good, I understand, because you should practice how you play. But some people are just gamers, I think Hill MAY be a gamer. BUT...we shall see.
Because it's called SUPPORTING THE PLAYER YOU TAKE IN THE NO. 1 DRAFT and when you SIGN THE PLAYER TO A 5 YEAR DEAL, YOU KEEP SUPPORTING HIM AND NOT BURY HIM like a Mike Nolan wannabe!
If it turns out Alex Smith's shoulder was messed up due to Nolan, due to Martz and his work ethics, I don't support your notion to get rid of Alex. I won't have us wasting good money cutting a player like that and it spills over to the FA or the drafted player we need. We got Oline and Dline needs and a #1 Wr need in the draft.
09:
Do not take a WR in the lower round, take him within 3 rounds
Do not go round 1 or 7 with QB if that is the choice.