There is, however, one unquestioned leader in the organization.
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Question: Who do you see as the player(s) on our squad now who are most respected and embody the kind of internal makeup that establishes them as unquestioned leaders? (Hightop)
Answer: That's a very good question, and one that's not easy to answer.
When I first started showing up around this team, there were leaders throughout the locker room. Those leaders - Tim McDonald, Steve Young, Gary Plummer, Jerry Rice, Ray Brown and, later, Derrick Deese and Jeremy Newberry, among others - took on important roles of policing the locker room and setting the tone for the team.
Leadership is difficult to define. Whatever it is, I know McDonald had it. Before him, there was Ronnie Lott, who might have been the best leader in franchise history. McDonald was soft-spoken, yet wise and forceful. Lott was fiery, serious and commanded respect from everyone, including the coaching staff.
If you asked me which player is the best leader in this current 49ers locker room, it's very difficult to answer. Linebacker Takeo Spikes might fill that role in the most traditional sense. He is a veteran who does his job well and has played in Pro Bowls. That's a good start. But he's also well-liked and extremely charismatic.
Most of the other players you would put into the "leader" category are cut more out of the Bryant Young model - and that certainly is not a bad thing.
Young was not a born leader. He worked hard, gained incredible amounts of respect among his peers and grew into that role. B.Y. set a great example and let his actions speak for him. That is the way I see such players as Patrick Willis, Justin Smith and Nate Clements.
Offensively, Shaun Hill and Frank Gore are very good leaders. One 49ers insider has told me on several occasions about Hill's presence around his teammates on the sideline and in the locker room. He can be forceful and demanding without being a jerk. He has very strong people skills.
(In comparison, Alex Smith believes the best way to lead is to take care of his business on the field. If he has something to say to a teammate, he's going to be very discreet. He said it is important for him to be who he is and not be a phony. Click here for more of Smith's feelings about leadership.)
Gore is not as verbal, but he does have some strong innate leadership skills. When something needs to be said, Gore is not shy about getting up in front of his teammates to say it. There is no doubt the game of football is very important to Gore.
Left tackle Joe Staley is showing more and more signs of becoming a leader, too. And he'll be expected to grow into more of a leadership role now that he's signed through the next millennium.
Receiver Isaac Bruce is a reluctant leader. He takes his job very seriously, for sure. But he is a loner. I'm not sure I can envision him standing up and saying what's on his mind. Bruce does not pal around with the younger receivers. Heck, there are a lot of times he doesn't even stand next to them on the practice field. But if the youngsters pay attention to how he runs routes, and they pick their spots to ask him questions, I'm sure he has a lot of knowledge to share. In that context, Bruce is a leader.
There are a lot of different kinds of 49ers leaders who, potentially, can add something.
But the way the 49ers are built right now, the most important leader is - without question - the head coach.
Mike Singletary might not be a player. But with the credibility he has within the locker room, he can wield more power among the players than any other coach in the league.
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Very interesting entry; perhaps Singletary's large influence can allow time for others to continue their growth into leaders in the BY mold.
I also find this entry interesting in connection with my thoughts about the recent Alex Smith SI.com article. After reading that article and this entry, I think there is only about a 10% or lower chance that, absent injury, Alex Smith beats out Shaun Hill for the starting QB job at the start of the season. Singletary has said the team will determine it and Smith's intrinsic weakness seems to be his inbility to inspire and lead others while that is a Shaun Hill strength. Smith will need to dramatically outplay Hill to win the team's vote of confidence over Hill - I believe that team confidence in the QB is the magic in the huddle to which Singletary refers. I just don't see it happening unless Hill gets hurt.
Hey Matt, I was wondering if Paryz Haralson has shown any leadership tendencies. It would have been tough for him to do so prior to now as he was only a role player, but as the team's sack leader and an emerging impact player on D, has he been more vocal? As memory serves, he was the first player in Vols history to be a team captain as a junior, and was considered the meanest player on their D. I'd think he'd be one of the young guys to start stepping forward. I also see Lawson and Robins as natural leaders. Are they stepping into that role?
Good Stuff Matt,
Do you think Crabtree will be signed before training camp? If he is not, how does that immpacr the growth of the young wr core?
melting in dallas
karma
With the Niners being such a young team, I think its really good they have an HC like Singletary. Even coaches like Manusky and Rathman seem to embody similar coaching charactaristics to the HC. Like "birds in the nest" this Niner team is, and when the time is right, Sing will kick 'em in the butt and watch 'em soar!
With Parag at the helm of the negotiations, have no fear that Crabtree will be in camp. Parag gets it done every year
Thats a Great piece of info bro. Good stuff. I hope this guy is as nasty as you remember him being. Im not big on college football so that info is cool to me. I really believe (and pretty much said this in every blog last year) that with a pass rush and that waste of space roman outta the line up (zero picks in 2 years is damn near impossible, you think a ball would bounce to you on accident!) this is no doubt a top 10 and even a top 5 D. I smell the playoffs this year!!!!!!!
Interesting topic Matt. Leadership is important, yet sometimes it's overhyped. I personally believe that leadership must be established on the playing field before it can receive credibility in the locker room. Steve Young had the capacity to lead, but could not take that role until Joe Montana was gone and he won games, thereby winning over his teamates. Manny Lawson in my opinion shows good leadership characteristics, but because he's been hurt and unable to establish himself on the field, his voice will not carry much weight in the locker at the moment. S.Hill may have his teamates ears as long as he wins, but if he begins to lose, his leadership 'cred' will evaporate. Anyway, time will tell... GO NINERS!
Leadership is an innate ability to not only persevere through adversity but to thrive in it. Mr. Montana is the best example. Mr. Lotts' leadership began with selfless sacrifice of the body for the team with the intent of demoralizing the adversarys' will. I believe Mr. Willis will be the next leader of this team carving out his own legacy for the San Francisco Forty Niners.
I respect Bruce tremendously, but I don't think he is a leader. I know there's the old saying, "leading by example", but that's such a mild form of leadership. With the intensity and high level of professionalism required to succeed in the NFL, I would expect every player on my team to lead by example, so the true leaders are the ones who step up and do much more. Bruce is almost an anti-leader in that sense.
Well said NoFrets.
Thanks for considering the question Matt. Coach Singletary's resolute and enthusiastic engagement with the great sport of football bear witness to the hard work and industry required to realize the leadership function.
Too bad about Bruce. I felt that his largest contribution would be in helping the young guys to develop and learn. If he is not into that (and missing workouts), I think the team should reevaluate his importance.
With Jones, Morgan, Crabtree, Hill, Ziegler, and Battle, is there really room for an ageing vet that is unwilling to take on the role of a mentor?
I see last year's captains (Heitmann for offense, P-Willis for defense, M-Rob for ST, W-Harris the union rep) to be deserving team leaders.
Walt probably ranks tops in seniority; he has willingly assumed command upon joining SF in '06. Eric won his 3rd straight McKittrick so the OLs respect him; I also like how he took the initiative to welcome Balmer last year. (It look Heitmann maybe a year, but he's surpassed the anointed Jonas Jennings as Newberry's true successor.)
Norris, Battle, Clements & Nedney are the other survivors of Nolan's discarded experiment of shop (positional) captains in 2007.
Beyond then, Lawson/Gore (Ed Block), Bruce (Eshmont), Spikes/Ulbrich (Hazeltine) & J-Smith (Bill Walsh) were also separate recipients of various 9er awards, & thus commendable for leading by example-production.
Got the feeling Singletary casts a big shadow on all the personnel, though.
Magic in the huddle doesn't necessarily come from a vocal guy. It comes from the confidence the players have in the QB's ability. If they know a QB has the ability to get the job done, that will inspire the other players to do their best. From what I understand, Smith is very calm and cool in the huddle, especially in stressful situations. That can be just as inspiring (or more inspiring) than "We want the ball! We are gonna score!"