Before we get in-depth with the 49ers, we wanted to share this observation about uberintense HC Mike Singletary: Can you imagine having to tell him that his services were no longer required?
Not that there was much chance of that after San Francisco rallied impressively under the Hall of Fame LB, promoted after Mike Nolan was told his services were no longer required late last October. After a pair of defeats to begin his regime, which included a peel-the-paint-off-the-walls press conference following his first game (a 34-13 loss to Seattle that featured Singletary banishing TE Vernon Davis from the sidelines), Singletary's 49ers bravely won 5 of their last 7 to finish a respectable 7-9. That was enough to convince the York family that Singletary deserved more than an interim shot to put the Niners back on the map.
Mention of the York family in regard to the team is important, because there's also been a not-so- insignificant change in the 49er infrastructure. The new man in charge of the team is Jed York, 28-year-old son of Dr. John York (the 49ers' previous president) and Denise DeBartolo York, who is still the No. 1 power in the organization. Bay Area sources indicate that Denise had enough of husband John's quirky and penurious attitude regarding the franchise, and since she had no interest in running the day-to-day operation herself, decided son Jed was a better fit. So, in a sense, Denise fired her husband and hired her son. Really!
Early reviews on Jed's new regime are encouraging. Among other positives, Jed is supposedly the one who resolved the awkward relationship between Nolan and GM Scot McCloughan by canning Nolan. Sources say McCloughan's relationship is far better with Singletary, who, unlike Nolan, is gladly letting McCloughan run the personnel show. That's not to say San Francisco is a lock to return to the playoffs; the 49ers have lost too much in recent years to assume as much. But at least the power structure finally seems to be in line with the way good teams go about things.
Meanwhile, since the marriage between Singletary and last year's o.c. Mike Martz was destined for an early divorce, the 49ers begin 2009 with, we're not kidding, their seventh different o.c. in as many years. Longtime NFL aide Jimmy Raye, whose extensive CV includes 14 different pro football assistant jobs (six as an o.c.), not to mention being Michigan State's QB long ago when the Spartans and Notre Dame played to that epic 10-10 tie in 1966, is the new o.c. at Candlestick. He's under orders from Singletary to change the 49er offensive philosophy from finesse to physical...ASAP. Thus, Raye will coordinate a run-dominated, power attack far different from the ones Martz and preceding 49er o.c.'s have installed in recent years, now designed to milk the clock and distribute passes off play-action that are set up off the run game. Sounds good...but is there a QB who can make it work?
That's a tough question. For the moment, Singletary has penciled in Shaun Hill, with a 7-3 career record, including 5-0 at Candlestick, as the starter. But the thought persists that Hill, a serviceable journeyman whose blue-collar style appeals to Singletary, simply has the job until somebody better shows up. That probably won't be former No. 1 pick Alex Smith or Ball State rookie Nate Davis. It could, however, be Michael Vick, a possibility not dismissed as of early June by either McCloughan or Singletary. McCloughan also presented Raye with quite a gift in Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree, a first-round pick who should immediately move into a starting role opposite ageless Isaac Bruce. Productive Frank Gore (1036 YR LY) remains the featured RB, but with more emphasis on the run and Gore's durability becoming an issue, expect holdover Michael Robinson and Alabama rookie Glen Coffee to assume a bigger share of the load. Singletary also added the quality RT he was seeking to help the ground game with the FA signing of ex-Steeler Marvel Smith.
Singletary has his own ideas about defense (and who, we ask, is going to argue with him about it?), doing away with Nolan's ever-changing personnel groupings in favor of a simplified scheme in a basic 3-4 that will emphasize controlling the run and switch to nickel packages against passing formations. Concerns caused by CB Walt Harris' season-ending May knee injury were somewhat alleviated by signing former All-Pro CB Dre' Bly to a one-year deal, but fellow CB Nate Clements is off a disappointing '08. The strength of the platoon is in the front seven, especially a frisky LB corps featuring young studs Patrick Willis, Manny Lawson, and Parys Haralson.
Bottom line...We suppose there's a chance the late 49er rally for Singletary was a bit of a mirage (they didn't, after all, beat a playoff-bound team last year). But the pieces seem to be fitting much better at Candlestick these days, especially with GM McCloughan (who, on top of nabbing Crabtree, also left the draft with Carolina's top pick next year) apparently pushing the right buttons. If Singletary can sort out his QB issues, the 49ers, who look no less likely to emerge than Arizona did at this time a year ago, might even break their 6-year playoff drought.
