Is he a CEO head coach who gives his assistant coaches complete autonomy in developing the game plan or does he take an active part in setting the tone for what he wants the 49ers with their X's and O's?
I asked Singletary today about his role. Here was his answer:
"What I do on Mondays, Tuesdays, my focus is mainly on the players and the staff. Where are they? Because I want to make sure that Greg (Manusky) and Mike (Martz) aren't coming in here thinking, 'Man, we're just not very good. We don't have a chance.' So the game plan is going to reflect that. The way they going about doing the game plan is going to reflect that. The way they respond to their coaches is going to reflect that. I don't want that.
"My job is to make sure that our coaches, every one of them, how attentive are they? How focused are they? My job is to make sure that as I look at those players that they're on one accord. That they're not separating and going into their own little corners and cliques and whatever, and making sure I keep them together. Just keep bringing everybody back together and then overall let Greg and the staff, I'm in the room when they're talking about doing this and doing that, I just sit back and think, 'We need to think about this. We need to think about that.'
"Mike Martz is a little bit different, but I'm in that room listening to the things that they're thinking about doing or think that they can do. But I have more one-on-one (time) with Mike Martz so that I can talk about, 'Let's talk about what you're thinking about.' Because Mike Martz is the guy that he's been doing it for so long and he pretty much knows exactly what he needs to do and what he wants to do so that's more of a one on one.
"(With) Greg, it's more of the staff, more of the defensive staff because that's the way we've always done it. So my job, as I said before, CEO or however you look at it, my job is to make sure that the environment is right. To make sure that the mindset is right. And as I look at the game plan and talk to Mike Martz about, 'This is what I think. Tell me what you think.' And we kind of go through that. And as I look at the defensive staff, that's a little bit different because we have more input from everyone. So I just make sure that, 'We need to think about this. We need to think about that.' "
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I like Mike!
I hope Singletary can stay. I think he has what it takes long term. Let him put together a staff & hopfully McCloughan can get him some OL, DL and safties. A big play receiver wouldn't hurt either.
To be honest I don't have a clue what a successful head Coach in the NFL does with the game plan development. It would be interesting to find out what other coaches do or have done in the past. I imagine a coach like Payton in NO would be quite different from Belichick. I think we need to know if Singletary's inexperience with the Offense will be a liability. I like Singletary a lot and want him to succeed. However we can't make another 3 1/2 year mistake.
Mike is a father who understands behavior and personalities first and foremost.
Successful 'CEOs' listen and delegate and play to strengths.
I would allow Mike another year to have full control and chose his assistant coaches before tossing him to the curb for lack of experience.
One very important ingredient he shows is the ability to get attention and response from his players.
He's got my vote.
This team is more talented than most people think. At least that is my opinion. But how does any team win without a good defensive line? This team can not stop the run with the current meat in the middle. We have to shoot gaps. Sing and Manusky are doing a good job with what they have. We need two good old fashioned, massive two gapping, NTs. We will not win until we get a couple. All defenses need to be stout up the middle, even 4-3 defenses. I beleive that if we get us a dominant D-line we will be play-off bound. Going anywhere in the play-offs would require better play from the O-line and the QB position. But concentrating on D-line will, at least, get us into the play-offs!
Touche` Berger, Fat Men in The Middle!
Protect the QB, Pressure the QB. Hold the Middle, collapse the edges.
That is, most definitely, the formula for playoff appearances.
Who did the NY Jets spend money on last year? Faneca, Kris Jenkins, Damian Woody, Calvin Pace.
They came in and complimented young OLmen D'Brick and Mangold.
Add a veteren QB in Favre and they are a 1 year turnaround team.
Another important ingredient they possess is a good young secondary, flying around making plays.
We really need to consider Nate as an enforcer at FS being the QB of the secondary and getting stronger faster press cover CBs.
We really are not that far away IMO.
The Jets have four first round draft choices on their O line.
The jury is still out on Singletary. I have yet to see him win games. He's beaten the lowly Rams. I am concerned about his ability to know the X's and O's., about his ability to know which defensive or offensive schemes work best against another team's offensive or defensive schemes/philosophies. That's what good coaches are paid to know. Singletary's style is based on emotion, motivation, and team cohesiveness, all of which are very important. But in addition to these qualities, he needs to know and apply the best offensive and defensive schemes and strategies to beat other teams. To a large extent, he seems to delegate the development of schemes/strategies directly to his staff, and occasionally asks questions about them. A successful coach needs to be more hands-on. But as I said earlier, the jury is still out on Mike.
Genghis-
I think that the X's and O's factor in the NFL is so overrated! You don't get to the top position in all of sports if you don't know the x's and o's. The greatness in coaches comes out by getting everyone to play at a high level game in and game out. Look at all the greats from Walsh to Belichick, they surround themselves with excellent cordinators and put a system together that is far superior (from ownership down) to the rest of the teams. The niners did it and now the patriots have done it along with a couple other franchises. Nolan was on his way, he had to major faults: 1, he did not find an elite QB 2, he did not maintain an offensive cordinator for more than a season.
Singletary will (if given the chance) correct this. He knows the importance of the QB position and its up to mcloughan to find a QB.
But to say he does not know x's and o's- he is in the hall of fame, he has to know something.
just my thoughts nothing personal just giving feedback
We knew going in with 'Sing' that he would be the teams 'fire-starter' and motivator. Bill Walsh (and perhaps Mooch) may have been the last coach who took a proactive approach with the X' and O.' 'Sing' no doubt has 'veto' power and the final say on all game plans, and I honestly believe that he has all the confidence in his coaches. Having the respect of your team should never be taken lightly in this day of the 'highly sensitive and volatile' athlete. We are just a few good players from becoming a respectable and competitive football team. I say the Niners give 'Sing' a full season with all the horses in place and then make a decision after 2009. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU MATT, AND TO THE 49ER BLOGGER FAMILY!
We've all heard the cliche` game of inches I'm sure. Good teams are always on the plus side of making the move that matters, before the other guys.
Rhythm, timing, a chemistry.
If Haralson goes into Romo, instead of past him, the throw to T.O. doesn't get off. There's the inches the matter.
We're a collection of Best Players Available but, as Marco from Stockton mentioned, Jets with 4 first Rd Draft picks on the OL show how much line play means when those inches matter.
@ Marco: There is an excellent profile on Bill Parcells that followed his day-to-day when he coached the Cowboys: What Keeps Bill Parcells Awake At Night
Every dark night is followed by a bright sunny day. So, patience and attention is required and things will be fruitful in near future.
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John Assam
One thing that a lot of people have missed in this recent economic down turn is the fact that in-game money for all of the massive mutliplayer online role playing games has not been effected. I guess it just shows how strong and stable the computer game industry really is.
Virtual Currency