A lot of people expressed concern he hired running backs coach Tom Rathman before he hired an offensive coordinator. Some even thought he had stated last week he would allow the offensive coordinator to make those hires.
That is not what he said at all.
This is Singletary's staff, and if he wanted Rathman to coach his running backs, then clearly he should have been able to make that hire. Singletary did say, however, that the new coordinator would hire a quarterbacks coach.
"Normally, the offensive coordinator that comes in, he has a person that he likes to have with him, and normally that's a quarterbacks coach," Singletary said in his post-season wrap-up press conference on Dec. 31. "That's the flexibility that we have allotted him, whoever that is. So, we move forward with that."
When asked why QBs coach Ted Tollner and RBs coach Tony Nathan were fired, Singletary answered, "Well, because we felt moving forward - I felt making the decision right now that would help us get to where we needed to go. I needed to make those decisions. So, that's why (they were) let go."
Rathman said he has always spoken to Singletary when the two were together, including last summer when the 49ers and Raiders held their joint practice in
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So what do the 49ers do at the coordinator position? Some names might start to trickle out in the next few days. Obviously, it's possible Singletary has targeted one or more of the coaches whose teams are still alive in the playoffs.
But the offensive coordinators are, in all likelihood, going to be off-limits. Why would any offensive coordinator on a playoff team leave his post to become O.C. of the 49ers? Also, teams do not have to give permission for any coach to interview for another job - other than head coach.
Teams generally allow position coaches to leave to become offensive coordinators, though. The most likely scenario is a QBs coach becoming a coordinator. If that's the case, the best candidate might already be out of the playoffs. Atlanta QBs coach Bill Musgrave's team was knocked out on the opening week.
The QBs coaches whose teams are still playing are Craig Johnson (Titans), Hue Jackson (Ravens), John Ramsdell (Chargers), Ken Anderson (Steelers), Jeff Rutledge (Cardinals), Mike McCoy (Panthers), Pat Shurmur (Eagles) and Chris Palmer (Giants).
Would'nt Coach Singletary have a little more pull as far as
getting a guy that normally would'nt want to make a lateral
move so to speak to a team like the 49ers given his gravitas? Pat Shurmur is an interesting prospect to me. What
do we know about him Matt?
Matt, to indicate Bill Musgrave may be the best QB coach available as an OC, suggests you may not be familiar with his history as an OC with Carolina in 2000 or 2001. I can't speak to his reasons for leaving, but he sure left George Seifert with a real problem midseason. I don't know if he would be on the top of my list.
What about ZAMPESE ?
he seems to bbe ready
At this point, I'm pretty sure that Singletary is going to convert the offense back to WCO nomenclature. This is based on hiring Rathman (who has always coached in WCO systems) before hiring an OC, and because Bee-rows has reported that the niners have no interest in Zampese, who would be one of the more qualified Coryell guys available. I thought Ramsdell was a good dark horse before these developments, but obviously if we're looking WCO I don't think he'll be considered either.
I'm with razoreater in that Shurmur & Musgrave in that order would be the best fit in getting back to 49er offensive football in my opinion.
Musgrave, another guy w/ ties to the Niners past. That would be an interesting candidate.
Matt- Does it not seem somewhat starnge that the Niners are not scheduling interviews for the OC slot? I mean this is an important decision that Sing has to make. Have you heard 'anything' about a time table?
An interesting choice might be Ken Anderson of the Steelers. He played under Bill Walsh for four years in Cincinnati ('71-'75). He has been an OC. I don't know if he is even being considered, the name just jumped out at me because he was the QB for the Bengals when the Niners won their first SB. He's been an assistant for 16 years mostly as a QB coach. Anybody know anything else about him?
I would be satisfied with Linehan, but I definantley like the idea of Musgrave. Atlanta's offense is something that I think the 49ers can attain. I think Frank is as good as Turner (if not better) if we get that change of pace runningback, that will boost our running game. Additionally, the offense did a great job utilizing a rookie QB...he was a good looking QB; he wasn't just a "don't-mess-it-up" QB.
Going forward, I'd like to see Hill be the starter, and have them draft his successor which makes Musgrave's experience with Ryan that much more valuable.
Ken Anderson is an interesting and somewhat intriguing choice. He's been around the game his whole life, played quarterback at a high level, and obviously he knows the importance of a strong running game based on his association with the Steelers.
He also fits Singletery's plan of having some continuity at the position, since Anderson will not be on anybody's list as a head coaching candidate in the near future. Matt, have you had much of a chance to talk with Anderson during your travels, and what is the impression you have of him based on your own information and what you have heard around the league?
Matt, it seems strange to me that Singletary would hire a QB coach to be an OC and then expect him to bring a QB coach with him. Wouldn't that be more likely for a previously establish OC (ie Linehan)?
I think Matt, Reno Roy and dcsham are on to something. Anderson not only was coached by Walsh but was the young qb who lead the new baby Bengals to success and the SB against Walsh's Niners in 81. I suspect that Singletary also played against Anderson, who was a Pro Bowl QB during that same ERA. And, under Anderson the Bengals also had a power running game. I think Anderson may be the dark horse in this race.
Question: Matt, it seems strange to me that Singletary would hire a QB coach to be an OC and then expect him to bring a QB coach with him. Wouldn't that be more likely for a previously establish OC (ie Linehan)?
My response: Well, I fully expect Singletary to hire someone who has previous experience as a coordinator. This is an important hire, and the 49ers need to bring in somebody who they know will not be overwhelmed by the duties. But even if he hires a QBs coach, that person would still want to bring in somebody he trusts to help install the offense he wants to run. --Matt M.
Question: Does it not seem somewhat starnge that the Niners are not scheduling interviews for the OC slot? I mean this is an important decision that Sing has to make. Have you heard 'anything' about a time table?
My response: I'll be surprised if the 49ers are not scheduling interviews. They just haven't announced any formal visits, yet. --Matt M.
I suspect the delay has more to do with Singletary taking a New Year break with his family than anything else. We can take the "we need him yesterday" with a big pinch of salt. It's corporatespeak.
Matt, could you tell us what Sing ate for breakfast. Did he actually eat one? Is he going to eat one tomorrow? I'm concerned that he hasn't mentioned his eating habits in his plans yet. What kind of a coach are we gonna have who doesn't eat right. Is he following a WCO based diet? Anybody out there know of an obscure but famous diet guru we can recommend to him?
Comment: Matt, to indicate Bill Musgrave may be the best QB coach available as an OC, suggests you may not be familiar with his history as an OC with Carolina in 2000 or 2001
My response: I didn't exactly mean that Musgrave would be the best candidate as O.C. I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of all these coaches whom I've never met. I mentioned Musgrave because he has been an O.C., he is now a QBs coach, and he is available after the Falcons were eliminated last week. Also, of course, there are the 49ers ties. --Matt M.
Excellent observations Matt!
Coach knows what he is doing!
A few random thoughts...
I wonder how much if at all McG is influencing Singletary on the coach firings. I can see where Sing might have direct knowledge of Tony Nathan and his capabilities but RBs were hardly the 9ers problem last year. Jerry Sullivan always seems to get a free pass even though the receiving corpse has been below average for several years.
Perhaps McG and Sing already had Rathman in the bag before the firings were even announced. Apparently, there is no Rooney rule for position coaches. If you're going to attempt to equalize the hiring process it seems odd you'd only protect the least common job. I guess that rule is only for PR.
Matt, I apologize if I implied that you should have known about Musgrave. My comment was only for the purpose of providing insight. The only history he has is with the 91-94 49er teams. He may have acquired several skills over the years from several short stints with 6 different NFL teams, and a stint in college. It is interesting that he, I believe, would have been hired by Bobby Petrino, another coach who felt it was okay to leave a team during the season.
Too late to apologize. You've p**sed him off!
Comment: Matt, I apologize if I implied that you should have known about Musgrave. My comment was only for the purpose of providing insight.
My response: No apology is needed. I knew exactly what you were saying. I just wanted to bring a little more clarity to those words I wrote early, early this morning. --Matt M.
Thanks!