Matt, do you know what date the Niners hired Hostler? How soon do they need to hire an OC before it is a rushed decision and there might be problems as a result?

Question: do you know what date the Niners hired Hostler? How soon do they need to hire an OC before it is a rushed decision and there might be problems as a result?

My response: Jim Hostler was hired Feb. 28, 2007. Once it gets to the combine, about three weeks from now, teams are reluctant to grant permission to their assistant coaches to interview for other jobs.

As some have pointed out, Singletary can always promote RBs coach Tom Rathman. We already know Rathman and Singletary think alike when it comes to their preferences for tough, physical football. --Matt M.

This is becoming an embarassment.

In my opinion hiring Rathman as OC would be a disaster. First, he's not qualified. Second, he holds a special place in most 9er fans hearts. It would be a very difficult situation to see "one of our own" treated with hostility by the fans and ultimately fired by the organization. Third, I just can't take another season of horrible football. The organization should consider my feelings when making this hire... (that was a joke - kinda).

I don't know whether Tom Rathman would be a good OC or not, BUT we do know one thing - he's BEEN there, with Bill Walsh, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. He KNOWS what the Walsh offense looks like anyway. I can't believe he would just run an offense with heavy running and a "game manager" QB (one of the most useless terms employed in watching football, by the way). He must know that you need a dynamic and robust passing game to win in today's (last 30 years) NFL. I'd be happier with him than the other prospects. Of course, as was once said, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so we won't really know how any of these guys will do until they DO it (and we get some better players - and we do need to look at the QB position).

Matt, is there any more word about Paul Hackett?

Gotta laugh at ourselves about how clueless we all are about this. We have nooo idea who Singletary has in mind and he is evidently not feeling any pressure to name someone just to satisfy our curiousity. Good for him. Fact is that someone will be the OC, will be calling plays, and if they win games we'll be happy no matter how crazy the hire looks, and if they lose games we'll be mad no matter how genius the hire looks.

Question: is there any more word about Paul Hackett?

My response: Although he was discussed behind closed doors (probably hundreds of "candidates" were talked about), I never heard they were going to bring him in for an interview. Whether that changes now, we'll have to wait and see. --Matt M.

Matt, It seems to me that the first mistake that the 49ers front office has made in the OC hiring process was actually leaking the word that they had offered Linehan the position. To leak that information before Linehan actually accepted the position is a rather fundamental PR mistake, because of the blowup factor, which occurred.

Now, at this point, given the amount of time that has passed, it seems reasonable to speculate that the job has also be offered to others that turned the 49ers down. I don't see how this development can be seen as anything else but a wakeup call. Of course, it is the owners that need the wakeup call, and history has proven that our owner knows it all, no need for a wakeup call.

Gary Plummer anybody?

How about hiring a GM and head coach who have the experience and reputation to be able to hire a talented OC without turning it into the embarrassment we're witnessing with our team?

Everyone needs to consider Kansas City, though. They hired Scott Pioli, who many thought could come to San Francisco and help us make better choices, including head coach and the coaching staff. Now, it took him what would seem to us as being forever in deciding just to fire Herm Edwards, and now they're messing up the interview process and still don't have a head coach.