49er implosion continues

[Russ Smith]

2 big stories in todays SJ Merc about how Alex Smith and Mike Nolan are in disagreement. Nolan keeps saying Smith is healthy and his struggles are not injury related. Smith came out yesterday and said those reports are very frustrating for him because he still does have pain and discomfort in the shoulder so to constantly hear that he's 100% healthy bugs him. one Seattle player said he could see Smith wincing and hear him grunting on his throws during the game and said he's clearly playing injured.

Nolan again reiterated Smith is fine, and then when confronted with Smith's quotes he said "well I wish he'd said that to me, we obviously have a communication breakdown". Nice Zeppelin reference Mike.

Starting to think Nolan's job is in real jeopardy it's pretty bad when you don't know the actual condition of your starting QB. It's a pretty clear sign something is up when the coach and player disagree on the health of the player.

I'm not a huge Smith fan but I do feel sorry for him he's taking a ton of flack here so if he is playing hurt it's unfair the amount of dumping he's taking.

 

[joeshmo]

How many more years are on Nolans contract? Would current management take that hit if fired? Do they still really like Singletary and make him the HC isntead?

 

[Mulli]

How would Singletary improve that offense? I saw Nolan interviewed about his dad last night. Seemed really cool.

 

[joeshmo]

How would Singletary improve that offense? I saw Nolan interviewed about his dad last night. Seemed really cool.

Just thinking about HC replacements. Not OC replacements.

 

[Mulli]

Just thinking about HC replacements. Not OC replacements.

Ah yes. I suppose it would be cool to see Singletary on the sidelines. But that offense is terrible. Why did VD disappear in that game?

 

[earthsci]

Why did VD disappear in that game?

Penicillin

 

[joeshmo]

Ah yes. I suppose it would be cool to see Singletary on the sidelines. But that offense is terrible. Why did VD disappear in that game?

I think Davis is overratted for one reason. I also think he was on something and stopped taking it when he entered the NFL. I think Maryland had a problem back in the day of Merriman and Davis. Plus their OL stinks, their QB stinks, their WR's stink. Dont think Davis will every be anything other then just average in the NFL.

 

[D-Dogg]

San Fran's offense was done when Norv left. Norv is a very good OC, bad HC.

I pointed out in the MNF game that at one point in the third Gore had 72 yards rushing, and Smith 73 yards passing. So on third and short and fourth and short, back to back plays...yep, they passed. The playcalling is terrible and they aren't using Gore nearly how they should be. He was looking strong in that game, 5.5 a carry I think.

 

[Mulli]

San Fran's offense was done when Norv left. Norv is a very good OC, bad HC.

I pointed out in the MNF game that at one point in the third Gore had 72 yards rushing, and Smith 73 yards passing. So on third and short and fourth and short, back to back plays...yep, they passed. The playcalling is terrible and they aren't using Gore nearly how they should be. He was looking strong in that game, 5.5 a carry I think.

At one point SF had a first down and 30 to go. I think Gore got 29 of those on the next two plays.

 

[40yearfan]

Penicillin

 

[JeffGollin]

The Football Jinx Fairy just whispered in my ear, to warn me not to belittle the Niners this year until we beat them.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think Davis is overratted for one reason. I also think he was on something and stopped taking it when he entered the NFL. I think Maryland had a problem back in the day of Merriman and Davis. Plus their OL stinks, their QB stinks, their WR's stink. Dont think Davis will every be anything other then just average in the NFL.

I agree with most points but Davis said the reason he disappeared is that the scheme called for him to help out in pass pro way too much and thus he wasn't in the patterns enough.

He's been pretty outspoken he wants the ball more.

Completely agree on the on something stuff, at least I think he was in college.

 

[Renz]

San Fran's offense was done when Norv left. Norv is a very good OC, bad HC.

I pointed out in the MNF game that at one point in the third Gore had 72 yards rushing, and Smith 73 yards passing. So on third and short and fourth and short, back to back plays...yep, they passed. The playcalling is terrible and they aren't using Gore nearly how they should be. He was looking strong in that game, 5.5 a carry I think.

They did give it to Gore on 4th down on one play inside the 5 and he was stuffed.

 

[football karma]

The injury Leinart got last year, and the one Smith got this year were pretty similiar --

Matt reported not feeling fully 100% until something like 8 weeks later. For Smith to come back in three weeks as "healthy" wasnt realistic.

It does seem like Nolan mismanged the situation -- and really, if he was anxious about his job, I would think losing your starting QB for (lets say) six to eight weeks might buy you a pass from ownership.

The problems with the SF offense are numerous:

1. Overmatched offensive coordinator.
2. Larry Allen hit a wall and isnt even close to the guy he was last year.
3. Ditto for Jonas Jennings (prior to injury).
4. Joe Staley wasnt ready to start.
5. They picked up the worst kind of receivers to help a QB: poor handed, sloppy route runners who are timid across the middle.
6. Vernon Davis is all talk and little show. The classic "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane".

 

[D-Dogg]

They did give it to Gore on 4th down on one play inside the 5 and he was stuffed.

Yeah, at the goalline...4th down, against 9 in the box.. After trying passes when Gore got them down there. Horrid playcalling.

 

[Mulli]

Yeah, at the goalline...4th down, against 9 in the box.. After trying passes when Gore got them down there. Horrid playcalling.

You want them to give him the ball or not? Sheesh!

 

[D-Dogg]

You want them to give him the ball or not? Sheesh!

I want them to give him the ball in positions to succeed. Is that so wrong?

 

[Jetstream Green]

I will side with Nolan. Not too long ago everyone seemed to agree the guy was a great coach but it seems his players do not have the same class he has. His father passed away but he has not given up and was on the field coaching, that cannot be said about his players...they should change their name to the 53 Wankers

 

[PrescottLooie]

Any idea on "possible openings" in the HC ranks ?

I hope there are more decent candidates available than openings so that we can keep Grimm for at least another year. Kinda selfish I know but he's been really great for our OL.

 

[D-Dogg]

You want them to give him the ball or not? Sheesh!

It's kind of like in the Chicago game last year. We gave the ball to edge plenty...over and over again, dive up the middle. Same crap. Urlacher tells him "we know what you are running...I feel sorry for you man."

Horrid.

 

[Renz]

Nolan seems like a good guy and a good football coach, but I agree with Russ that Nolan is in over his head as a NFL head coach.

He seems like too much of a micro-manager and, IMO, he has a tendency to scapegoat others. IMO, he threw guys like Billy Davis and Kevan Barlow under the bus.

Then throw in the fact that he has developed an antagonistic relationship with the press and it adds up to disaster. If you are a winner, like Belichick or Parcells, you can tell the press to shove it, but a new head coach needs to be more media savvy than Nolan is. He gets personal with reporters, like Ann Killion, and lets them get under his skin. I think it affects his team.

That's the way I see it anyway. I think Nolan will be gone at the end of the year, or possibly during the season next year if the S.F. train wreck continues the way it's going.

 

[abomb]

Dilfer is starting Sunday.

 

[Jetstream Green]

In comparison, I think Whis has handle the press rather well. He is rather candid and boring, but it works. I do agree with you, Nolan could have handle the media aspect much better.

 

[Renz]

Dilfer is starting Sunday.

Wow. St. Louis is going to kill them.

 

[Jetstream Green]

That might be hard to do, I think the Niners might be dead already. They should play Python's clip "Bring out your dead" at their home games when they take the field.