One of the most important moves by the 49ers in the past 6 years was made before this weekend's game vs Seattle. The firing of Mike Nolan came just one day after another disappointing loss, this time to the New York Giants. The Nolan era will not be remembered for much, except for the fact that the team is in better shape now than when he was first hired. The 18 wins, bad personnel decisions via free agency and the draft, and horrible decisions during games on Sundays. Those factors alone will make anyone wish to forget the 4 years of futility. "The decision was difficult, because Mike has been both a friend and a valued coach of our team," said Scott McCloughan, who was hired by Nolan but was promoted to general manager last year. "My first obligation is to do what is in the best interest of our fans and the entire 49ers organization."
That obligation led McCloughlan to turn to assistant head coach Mike Singletary. Much speculation throughout the year pointed to a Martz promotion if Nolan was to be given the ax during mid season, or after the year if the offense showed much improvement. The former Rams coach and Lions assistant was passed over for a man who has never been a coordinator in the NFL. Being a coordinator first and then moving on to the head coaching job is not always a successful transition. There are have been coaches with no experience as a coordinator that have had some recent success in the league (Herman Edwards for example under Tony Dungy in Tampa as a defensive backs coach, Andy Reid has had a long run in Philly, and Jim Zorn has a winning record so far) and then there are the experienced veteran coordinators who have failed miserably (see Marty Mornhinweg or Cam Cameron). It's not all about the "coordinator" experience, rather it has more to do with who the coach is and what experiences they have had throughout their career, playing or not. Singletary in the past was a linebackers coach in Baltimore when Nolan was defensive coordinator and came to the team when Nolan was hired. He was passed over by the Bears when they had no staff openings and he had a failed attempt several years ago to be the head football coach at Baylor, which was his Alma matter. Within the past couple of years he interviewed for several NFL gigs but then too was passed over. His time is finally now and it couldn't have come at a better moment. The 49ers are still rebuilding, ridding themselves of yet another coach that has failed to deliver the success the team had during the Walsh/Seifart era. For Mike Singletary this interim job should be permanent.
His current career coaching record now stands at 0-1 following the horrendous loss to an injury depleted Seattle team. The game wasn't close, far from it, and perfectly showed what type of shape the 49ers franchise is currently in. A 34-13 drubbing came at the hands of a team entering the game with just 1 victory on the year and without its pro bowl quarterback. The game didn't get much better from there as the 49ers trailed 20-3 before halftime and never showed much hope afterward. So why does an interim coach deserve the job after his first ever game with a performance such as that? Well he made changes, possibly big changes to a team that needs to go in a different direction. Tight End Vernon Davis was sent to the showers before the game ever ended due to what could best be described as a "bad attitude". Several other players on the team said that this type of behavior from the former 6th overrall pick was nothing new and that he always got away with it under Mike Nolan. Talk about a snap back to reality. Davis has been such an underachiever since the 49ers drafted him in 2006 (you don't draft a TE that high to block) and the fact that he isn't even the best player at his position on the team makes this move look good. Perhaps Singletary overreacted, maybe the punishment didn't fit the crime but even still it was something fresh to see. Another fresh start for the 49ers came after Mike Martz protege J.T. O'Sullivan was benched after yet another turnover. We can talk about the mistakes O'Sullivan has maden during his first year starting but that would be like asking George Bush to say the alphabet. In came Shaun Hill, fresh off 2 solid wins toward the end of last season and a new contract entering this year, to relieve the wounder journeyman. Hill was 15 of 23 for 173 yards with a touchdown, not solid numbers by any means considering what the game turned into, but still showed some hope that this season can be saved somewhat. After the game, in which Singletary had a "coors light" moment during a press conference, Hill was announced as the starter for the team after next week's bye. "When you look at J.T.'s capabilities and the arm strength and all of those things, you'd say, 'Hey, maybe that guy gives us the best chance to win,'" Singletary said, according to the Associated Press. "But if you look around the league, there are guys that are very talented, very smart ... but they can't play quarterback. J.T. has done a good job. He's just been inconsistent." You have to wonder if Mad Mike (Martz) still backs the Singletary hire now, afterall it was Martz who brought in O'Sullivan and convinced Nolan he was "the best qb he ever coached". Good luck to Shaun Hill he finally gets the chance he should have had in training camp, sorry Alex.
Singletary has taken charge of the team, allready made several changes, proclaimed there would be no room for "cancers" on this team and more moves could be on the way. Several more players could find themselves on the bench and if that is what it takes for the 49ers to finally go in the right direction then so be it. Singletary brings intensity like he is still that pro bowl linebacker for the '85 Bears and the players will respect him (they have no real choice). The 49ers haven't been the same team for what feels like 10 years. Coaches like Mariucci, despite his playoff appearances 4 times in 6 years, Dennis Erickson, and now Mike Nolan were push overs, soft coaches open to abuse. It's never the smartest of moves to be your players best friend. Despite the tough exterior of Mike Nolan, he reportedly was softer than a silk pillow. Mike Singletary is like that snickers bar you forgot you put in the freezer 6 months ago, tough. Forget the notion that tough, yeller type coaches can't be successful in today's NFL because they certainly can be. Which is the exact reason why San Francisco named him the interim coach it was something that they have needed for years. Perhaps this rebuilding can finally be finished in time before the next olympics. With Singletary at the helm, it may not take 5 more years.
