Tom Rathman has signed on the dotted line, officially beginning his third stint with the 49ers. The club announced the deal just moments ago. Rathman will be the team's running backs coach.
Also, there are no interviews scheduled today with offensive coordinator candidates. This does not mean the 49ers have not held preliminary talks with anyone; it just means nobody has yet to walk through the lobby of the team's
* * *
Here is some information about Rathman's coaching accomplishments (courtesy of the 49ers' PR staff):
RAIDERS: The team ranked 10th in the NFL with an average of 124.2 rushing yards per game in 2008, after ranking sixth in the league a year prior with an average of 130.4 rushing yards per game. Justin Fargas rushed for 1,009 yards in 2007 and 853 yards in 2008, while playing in 14 games each season.
LIONS: In 2004, running back Kevin Jones rushed for 1,133 yards, including an NFL leading 825 yards on 153 attempts over the final seven games of the season. Jones' rushing total ranked as the highest among rookies in the NFL that year and was the best rookie season by a Lions running back since Barry Sanders in 1989.
49ERS: In five of his six seasons, the team's rushing attack finished in the top 10 among NFL teams, including top-ranked seasons in 1998 (159.0 ypg) and 1999 (130.9 ypg), to go along with a second ranked unit in 2001 (140.3). In 2001, Garrison Hearst, a two-time NFL Comeback Player-of-the-Year, was named to his second career Pro Bowl selection. In 2000, Charlie Garner recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and his first career Pro Bowl selection.
* * *
re: Musgrave
I'll have to completely disagree that he is the best QB coach candidate. The 2000 and 2001 Carolina Panthers (for whom he was the OC) finished 29th in the NFL in rushing, 12th and 26th in passing, and 21st and 29th in scoring.
IMHumbleO, Niner fans really should not be worried about the OC process this early. The season ended about 10 minutes ago, and we're barely into the post season. There are 4 teams out there right now that don't even have HC's. If they're considering candidates who's teams are currently in the playoffs, they'll have to wait anyway. Also, this is something the Niners definately DO NOT want to rush (see Jim Hostler).
Stampeded, your Hostler reference actually provides support for 49ers fans wanting to get an OC hired immediately.
Matt --
Sheft is reporting that Linehan and Rob Chudzinski will be interviewing this weekend.
Chud has a solid background in working with TEs (Gates, Winslow, Shockey, etc.), but the numbers out of Cleveland last year scare the hell out of me.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/01/08/chudzinski-linehan-will-interview-for-49ers-oc-job/
Good point...
Good point...
"Chud has a solid background in working with TEs (Gates, Winslow, Shockey, etc.), but the numbers out of Cleveland last year scare the hell out of me."
What did you expect? They've got an aging running back who is trying to prove that he still has something left, a damn good receiver who has a tendency to drop passes, a TE who was hurt much of the year, a QB who was completing just over 50% of his passes in DA, another QB who only played a few games in Quinn, and then... Ken Dorsey. Look at what the offense did in 2007 before damning him.
I'm not damning him at all. I agree that Cleveland had a lot of problem last year with injuries and underperforming.
I'm anxious to hear who ALL the candidates are before making up my mind.
But right now if it was between Linehan and Chud, I'd take Linehan.
FYI:
"The 49ers will interview ex-Browns OC Rob Chudzinski and ex-Rams head coach Scott Linehan for their offensive coordinator vacancy.
Chudzinski looked like a rising star in 2007, but as Derek Anderson went in the tank in '08 so did his offense. Chud believes in the power running game, which would make him a natural fit with Mike Singletary. The 49ers intend to interview 6-7 candidates before naming an OC, so nothing is imminent here.
Source: NFL.com "
I wonder if the Rathman hire means the 9ers will return to a traditional running offense with a true fullback instead of a TE or LB playing blocking back.
Matt, does the Niners OC choice have any relevence to the Alex Smith situation? I know his contract will have to get restructured, but Linehan said some great things about him before. Do you think Linehan was sincere, or do you think that was "coach speak"?
of course he was sincere, he his a close family friend.....Linehan = OC, A.Smith = QB
The Hostler signing was a totally different situation. We already had our OC (Norv) in hand. Late in the off-season, he jumped to SD to take the HC spot. We ended up the last team that year to hire a new OC. Right now, we're at the front of the line.
This is a real risk teams take in the NFL. Unlike players, staff is generally allowed to exit early from contracts to go to other teams. Above and beyond the Mikes' "philosophical differences", I suspect there was a great deal of concern in the 49ers FO that Martz would jump ship for another crack at HC.
Not that it always matters but Chud and Linehan come from losing organizations."I want winners", Sings famous tag line leads me to believe he is going to try to draw from a consistent winning program, like Pittsburg, Philly,Giants or Titans.
His desision has to be a bit of a stretch,so the OC position is filled for 4 to 5 years,then Rathman can assume the duties for another 4 or 5. That gives us 10 years of stability and corresponding sucess.
PS Sarg19 get off your lazy butt and join in on the blogging
Not that it always matters but Chud and Linehan come from losing organizations."I want winners", Sings famous tag line leads me to believe he is going to try to draw from a consistent winning program, like Pittsburg, Philly,Giants or Titans.
His desision has to be a bit of a stretch,so the OC position is filled for 4 to 5 years,then Rathman can assume the duties for another 4 or 5. That gives us 10 years of stability and corresponding sucess.
PS Sarg19 get off your lazy butt and join in on the blogging
with more underclassman declaring (Maclin, Moreno,Stafford,Wells), either Mays (safety, USC) or Maclin(receiver, Missurri) should be available at 10. Take one of them