Mike Martz met with the media today and was interesting, as usual.
Here are some of the excerpts from his session:
--On his $20,000 fine: "That's something we'll deal with but it's not something to discuss."
--On whether Shaun Hill was as perfect in the first half as his passer rating: "Close to it, yeah. I thought he was outstanding - just outstanding. To manage a game like he did there; he was impeccable with his decisions. He was relaxed, he saw things, the game slowed down for him. The things we didn't see from him early in camp, he has a real good grasp of what we're doing."
--Before his first start you said you weren't sure what it was going to look like. What has he shown you?
Martz: "The thing I didn't know from early in camp and spring, he was still struggling to learn what we do, so it wasn't going to look real good. Sitting and watching J.T. (O'Sullivan) over those weeks, he really absorbed a lot and went to school on what was going on. . . . One thing everybody knew of him when I wasn't here is that he'd manage a game real well. We really needed that. We needed a quarterback to come in and just manage things. He did a great job of that. . . . He's further along than I would've expected."
--On Hill's mechanics: "He's not there, yet. He's a ways away with some of that. We still need to groove him mechanically. Most of the time he's good and then the consistency of his mechanics isn't there yet, and we need to get that wired. He's been doing this so long at a different way, sometimes that's hard."
--Coach Mike Singletary implied that you're so hard on Shaun that when he gets to the game, it's easier.
Martz: "I think that's true with all quarterbacks who are learning to play. You really got to give them a game environment. You're cheating them if you don't. You have to put the pressure on them to make impeccable decisions and get the ball out quick. You work hard to try to create that environment during the week. That's only fair to him. He's handled that very well."
--On Hill not looking great on the practice field but turning it on for games: "On Wednesdays, it's an installation day, and he's not going to look good. Wednesday was awful for Kurt (Warner) . . . Marc (Bulger), Jon Kitna . . . Wednesday is not a good day. We've installed and they're getting a feel for the timing because there are a lot of new things. Thursday they look better and Friday they should look real good. That's kind of how, in general, it proceeds. If you watch him on a Friday practice, he's outstanding."
--On his relationship with Mike Singletary: "I think we're on the same page with everything. It's really easy for him. He's treated me outstanding. We see things the same. He's terrific during the game on the sideline. Really, I told him the other day (that) it's fun to have him on the sideline because he's so under control and we have a nice exchange going during the game.
--On whether he knew Singletary well before he was named interim coach: "No, because he's kind of a quiet guy . . . as I am."
--On cameras catching them in what appears to be heated exchange: "It's just so silly. The thing in
--On whether the offense has been altered since Singletary took over: "No. We haven't changed anything. We haven't approached it any differently. Mike made it very clear when he got the job that he likes what we do offensively. It's new for him, but he likes it. We're both really concerned about the turnovers at the quarterback position, and that makes you want to hand the ball off a lot."
--On the 49ers' reliance on Frank Gore: "These other guys like Jason Hill, for instance, B.J. (Bryant Johnson), Michael (Robinson), they're all starting to step up and take on a role, which takes a lot of pressure off Frank in this offense. When other guys are being accountable and able to make big plays, when you focus on one or two guys and rely on them to win the game with big plays, you may do it occasionally, but it's not going to happen very often."
--On decrease in sacks with Hill at QB: "He sees things quickly and gets the ball out fast. His decisions are quick and he doesn't hang onto the ball. There's no hesitation. That's why I'm surprised. You have to really know what we're doing to be able to do that. So he's further along in that regard than I'd expect him to be. We had a sack last week that was a protection breakdown and had nothing to do with him, so really we should have no sacks after two games. The line has done a good job. We have to do a better job at quarterback, which he has done. The routes are better. It's like we said at the beginning of the year, the first half of the season, they'll learn this stuff and the second half we should really begin to grow and identify those people who can make plays and share the ball around, and make sure Frank is still the centerpiece of the offense. And that's how we approached it, really."
--On Chilo Rachal's possible promotion: "There's a maturity aspect involved. I'm not sure that he's ready. But we'll see how he handles today, too. He's a big, powerful guy who's kind of special, physically. . . . The reflection is nothing that we weren't good there. It's that this guy could end up being kind of special or else we don't make the change there. That's what people have to understand. This is no reflection on what was happening there. We think he might be really, really good."
--On Josh Morgan's groin: "That was a really significant injury. I'm not sure we're going to get him back in the near future. . . . That game in
--On Jason Hill: "What Jason's got, he's got some real juice. He can go. The speed involved with Josh and Jason, and the guys we have now, we're faster than probably what I've experienced in the last few years even. These are big guys who can get down the field. The big deal is they don't run fast until they're sure of what they're doing. Now, all that is starting to develop. The anticipation of things is good. The guys are growing. They're getting on the same page and they're excited about playing. When you know what to do and you're sure about it, now you can compete. It's taken a little bit of time, but I think that's where we are."
Sounds like the rapport is building between HC and OC. Good to hear. Now I hope some NFL team is not dumb enough to make Martz HC next year. Otherwise he'll stay put and yell at Nate Davis when the Niners draft him in 09. :D
I'm hearing Martz is gone next year. He was a Nolan hire. Perhaps opening the door for Turner to return? and Alex to revive his career? I'm sure that will cause a few negative reactions on this blog but it really is a possibility. Just look up Gore’s numbers in 2006 before you comment on Norv coming back.
This quote about Chilo is why you don't grade a draft until at least year 3. Martz is a blowhard, but I do love Chilo's potential: "The reflection is nothing that we weren't good there. It's that this guy could end up being kind of special or else we don't make the change there. That's what people have to understand. This is no reflection on what was happening there. We think he might be really, really good."
JVI1979 - honestly next years first 2 picks should be OL and DL in no particular order (unless we sign FA such as Haynesworth). 3rd round QB is an option. My concern with Cassell will be how much the market is offering, I can bet at least 3 or 4 teams will be firing money at him. Let`s just hope that distracts some attention from Haynesworth who would be a serious upgrade to our DEF. With the Nolan era I`ve become clear of 2 things:
1. A SF 49ers coach has to be aggressive in his style of play(whichever it maybe).
2. The offenses biggest priority position wise is to have a good OL. Without one, not even JOE could run a decent offense.
Honestly, Hill will be OK. Smith will be a decent back up, but we don't have our next HOB QB in any of them (at least for now). So draft a QB, but first give them an adecuate OL.
OFF SEASON PLAN
1. Sign Haynesworth
2. If there`s still a hole in the OL, take care of that first in the draft.
3. Then QB and CB in the second and third. Go for depth after that.
AND FINALLY, FOR HEAVENS SAKE RESIGN SINGLETARY AND MARTZ!!!
Norvell will not be back with the 9ers. When he is let go at the end of the season by SD, he will become the Cowboys OC (his dream job)as Jason Garrett will take over as HC.
Matt- A $20,000 fine seems like overkill for Martz's comments. Haven't players put guys out for the year with illegal hits and paid less?
Did Norv ever coach the Niners to a winning season or an offense that wasn't in the lower half of the NFL? Nope!
My goodness we haven't had a over .500 season in 6 years now. I like Coach Singletary a lot, but I want to see WINS against good teams, not the hapless rams.
I like your "OFF SEASON PLAN"...... Haynesworth is a gamble, he wants a contract badly..agressive but risky since he does have character issues....i won't put all my chips in his bucket just yet, there has to be someone else(DT) out that creates fear in the mind of OL.....
Unfortunately, our defense needs to solve that problem now. And if we went for someone in the draft it would take time to develop or it might simply not work at all. I'd much rather draft an OL in the 1st rd and solve the DL with a FA. We have the cap space to do it. In all honesty I just love the 3-4, specially if it used a la LeBeau and besides the coaching, the reason it hasn't worked is simply because we don't have a decent NT.
Tennessee cannot Franchise Haynesworth again, right?
Is Martz still acting like a baby concerning that JTO is not his starter anymore? Martz, take your pacifier and GET OFF The team with an attitude like that! Martz needs to admit that he FAILED with JTO and JTO is NOT a league QB. He should work with Hill and quit getting on his case. Martz obviously never heard of short passing game, inherited by Montana/young/Garcia that only threw deep when they had to, NOT CONSTANTLY as Martz orders his QBs.
I hope Alex Smith stays with the team.
Haynesworth will not be a 49er. I remember fans talking Freeney coming to SF, never happened!
Is it possible the Chargers axe Turner after this season and maybe he returns to SF? I hope that happens. The Fans in SD never embraced Turner as coach and always held the ownership to blame for sacking Schottenheimer after that 14 game season.