Here'e a revealing exchange about Mike Singletary and Mike Martz. After the Niners beat the Rams, I asked Singletary what changed for the offense in the second half. After all, the 49ers scored 35 points in the first half but got shut out in the second.

"In the second half we had a little bit of, 'Let's make sure we protect the lead,' " Singletary said. "At the same time, 'Let's make sure we don't turn the ball over.' I think Mike Martz did a heck of a job controlling himself and not winging it out there and making 80 points.  So, I was really proud."

"Did you have to help him control himself?" I asked.

Singletary smiled a long time. He did some throat rumbling. Remember this is the guy who pulls down his pants, so he was working on his own self-control. "You know what," he said, "every now and then you just mention something. It's just, 'Great job.' "

He meant he gave Martz positive reinforcement for not going wild with passes. He meant he kept Martz in check.

That little bit is the essence of my column for Monday -- Singletary has to control Martz, certainly had to control him at the end of the Rams game. Martz loves to go bombs away, but when you have a big lead you run the ball. If Singletary can control Martz when he needs to, the Niners may have something good going. If Singletary can't control Martz somebody has to go.