December 2008 Archives

    Coach Mike Singletary just conducted his after-season press conference, a 30-minute affair that focused on his pursuit to establish an offensive philosophy.

    Coach Mike Singletary is scheduled to conduct his season-ending press conference today at 2 p.m.

    There might be a question or two about Singletary's plan for the future of the 49ers' offense. Check back here some time after 2:30 for a recap of the press conference.

    Coach Mike Singletary is scheduled to conduct his season-ending press conference today at 2 p.m.

    There might be a question or two about Singletary's plan for the future of the 49ers' offense. Check back here some time after 2:30 for a recap of the press conference.

    Mike Martz has been fired as 49ers offensive coordinator. Niners head coach Mike Singletary met with Martz just minutes ago to inform him of his decision, Martz said.

     

    If Mike Martz has been fired as 49ers offensive coordinator, it is news to him.
    The NFL Network is reporting, with "99.9 percent" certainty that Mike Martz is out as 49ers offensive coordinator after a meeting this morning.

    As far as I've been able to gather, offensive coordinator Mike Martz's status with the 49ers remains in limbo. Nothing has happened today.

     

    The 49ers own the No. 10 overall pick in the April draft. Their picks in each round will rotate from Nos. 10 to 11 through the seven rounds. (They'll pick 10th in the odd-numbered rounds, and 11th in the even-numbered rounds.) In addition, they're expecting two compensatory picks.

     

    So whom do the 49ers select with the 10th selection? My answer: The best player available.

    Linebacker Takeo Spikes is beginning to lobby for his return next season to the 49ers. And he has the team's only Pro Bowl player firmly on his side.

    The 49ers finished 7-9 - their sixth consecutive losing season with their sixth offensive coordinator in six seasons.

     

    Coincidence? Hmmmm.

    It's official. Mike Singletary has signed a four-year contract to remain as 49ers head coach for 2009.
    Greetings from beautiful, ahem, Candlestick Park, site of today's 49ers season finale against the Redskins.

    Jed York has been named team president. He was on the field before the game. He said it's a formalization of his role with the club.

     

    Oh, by the way, there is a football game tomorrow.
    Running back Frank Gore went through a limited practice and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Redskins. Gore looked good today while running and making cuts.

    The burden of proof was on Mike Singletary when he took the interim position on Oct. 20.

    Many in the organization felt the 49ers had to hire an offensive-minded head coach at the end of the season, so the club would not run the risk of repeating one of the big problems from the Mike Nolan era.

    Mike Singletary told his players to take one hour out of their days today to focus on football. I'm not one of Singletary's players, but since it looks as if Singletary is going to be around for a while, I figured I'd better follow his directive.
    The 49ers might have a revolt on their hands if Mike Singletary is not named head coach shortly after the season. All signs are pointing that way.

    The Dolphins were the worst team in the league last season. Now, they're one game away from winning the AFC East. The Falcons were horrendous, too. They've already clinched a playoff spot.

     

    So, my question to you: Are the 49ers really that far from being a legitimate playoff team?

    I'm going to make this quick, as I haven't been home since landing back in the Bay Area:

     

    Coach Mike Singletary said he wanted to choke his quarterback. Instead, he decided to bench him.
    It's really, really cold here in St. Louis. Thank goodness, they play football in a dome.
    It's been only six weeks since I did the whole 49ers-Rams matchup exercise. You can refer back to what I did then and it pretty much remains the same.
    The 49ers continue to call it a game-time decision, but running back Frank Gore has gone two full weeks without practicing due to a left ankle sprain.

    There is a different aura surrounding the 49ers since Mike Singletary took over as coach, but it's very difficult to quantify exactly what has happened.

    The 49ers have not always played an exciting brand of football in the past few seasons. One of my neighbors, Tripper, told me last year that he did not always make a big effort to get in front of the TV to watch the games.

     

    He found he had a lot more fun listening to Joe Starkey's descriptions on the radio.

    A lot has happened since 49ers GM Scot McCloughan said during training camp that quarterback Alex Smith would not be back with the team in 2009 if he did not head into the offseason as the proven starter.
    Quarterback Alex Smith said he is open-minded about returning to the 49ers next season, realizing full well that he would have to accept a dramatic paycut.
    Soft-spoken receiver Isaac Bruce was announced as the winner of the Len Eshmont Award today, this team's most prestigious honor.

    Linebacker Patrick Willis made the NFC Pro Bowl team for the second time in his two-year career. He has been elected as a starter.

    There are few things, it seems, in my personal life that aren't in some way connected to this job I've held for one-and-a-half decades. Please allow me to tell one of those stories.
    There are 22 players on the field, and that's a lot of people to watch when viewing a game live. I hear there are football coaches who can watch film and have a pretty good idea how every player on the field fared on any given play without rewinding and viewing it multiple times.

    While I was 38,000 feet over Albuquerque today, Mike Singletary had his typical day-after game press conference.

    Vernon Davis wondered why he was not on the field for the final crucial play today in the 49ers' 14-9 loss to the Dolphins.
    Check here throughout the day for updates from the 49ers-Dolphins game.
    The much-anticipated NFL regular-season debut of running back Thomas Clayton might happen tomorrow.

    When it comes time to fill out my ballot for postseason awards, I have a pretty good idea whom I'm going to tab as "Comeback Player of the Year."

     

    Right now, Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant has my vote.

    Receiver Arnaz Battle will miss his fifth game in six weeks on Sunday in Miami due to an aggravation his mid-foot sprain. Meanwhile, running back Frank Gore is questionable with his left ankle sprain.
    Coach Mike Singletary gives a status report on some of his injured players following Thursday's practice.
    Coach Mike Singletary gives a status report on some of his injured players following Thursday's practice.

    Running back Frank Gore still holds out hope that he can play Sunday when the 49ers go to his hometown of Miami to face the Dolphins.

    Let's talk about the middle of the 49ers' defense, especially nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin and middle linebacker Patrick Willis.

    The Jaguars plucked defensive lineman Attiyah Atiyyah Ellison off the 49ers' practice squad. The 49ers filled the opening by signing fullback Carl Stewart, an undrafted rookie from Auburn.

    Coach Mike Singletary met with the media this morning to discuss several topics of interest with the 49ers set to play the Dolphins on Sunday.

    The 49ers have confirmed a Press Democrat report that offensive coordinator Mike Martz is no longer a candidate for the San Diego State head-coaching position.

     Just spoke to a source close to Mike Martz who tells me the 49ers offensive coordinator is no longer a candidate for the San Diego State job.
    Mike Singletary talked about Vernon Davis being the best blocking tight end he's ever seen, his gratitude toward Mike Nolan and many other topics today during his usual day-after game press conference.
    After the 49ers' thumping of the Jets, here are my thoughts on the futures of Mike Singletary and Shaun Hill.

    The 49ers today lined up against a good team from the AFC -- the team that entered the day leading the East division, no less -- and thoroughly dominated.

    Check here throughout the day for all the updates live from the 49ers-Jets game at Candlestick.

    There were a lot of other duties that took precedence today.

    Cornerback Nate Clements did not practice today - heck, he did not practice all week - after undergoing surgery to insert one pin and two screws into his broken right thumb.

     

    Mike Singletary can make a stronger case on the field Sunday against the N.Y. Jets for earning the 49ers' head-coaching gig for next season.
    The 49ers just concluded their Thursday practice, and Mike Singletary has met with the assembled media.
    O.C. Mike Martz held his bi-weekly meeting with the media today. He spoke glowingly of center Eric Heitmann and evaded any questions about his coaching future.

    The Miami Dolphins, whom the 49ers play next week, claimed 49ers receiver Chris Hannon off waivers today.

     

    Coach Mike Singletary did his Wednesay morning gaggle with reporters.
    So how is Shaun Hill looking to you now?

    The 49ers placed linebacker Ahmad Brooks back on their 53-man roster this morning, waiving receiver Chris Hannon to make room for him.

    One of Mike Singletary's first moves after taking over as interim coach was to add former NFL official Ron Blum to 49es' coaching box on game days.

    OK, you can go on about your day. I'm back home from the weekend excursion to blustery Buffalo.

Who is Matt?

Matt Maiocco is in his 14th year covering the 49ers. He has reported for The Press Democrat since 2000. He is a three-time winner of Pro Football Writers of America awards. Rotoworld.com ranked "Instant 49ers" as the No. 2 NFL team blog in the country in 2007. Maiocco has written two books, "Roger Craig's Tales from the 49ers Sideline" and "San Francisco 49ers: Where Have You Gone?" Matt can also be heard regularly on KNBR (680-AM) during the season. He is also been added this season as a regular guest on ESPN's "First Take."