Teams have won the Super Bowl without being run dominant, especially in San Francisco. I believe that the most important thing about running is the ability to move the pile and to be able to run in short yardage situations and around the goal line. I also think its important to be able to run when games are in the balance as a means to change momentum, preserve the legs of a defense, and establish offensive continuity.

The 49ers have some very interesting wide receivers. Frank Gore has been durable in the league, but he blew out both knees while at Miami. I guess I wouldn’t be all gung-ho about running the ball either. Gore didn’t have all that many carries this season, so maybe that’s the wave of the future in SF.

Harbaugh sounds as good as anyone else. After all, he did beat USC.

It isn’t official, but reports of Singletary’s contract was over a week ago. And Martz is still twisting in the wind by design, because Martz is looking for another job with the new openings made by firings on Monday. I believe he has given Martz a window to look for a job elsewhere without the public humiliation of being FIRED– especially by a African-American authority figure.

Martz and Marinelli clashed in Detroit. Marinelli wanted to run more, and it lead to more srtife, and two short years later Marinelli is gone. Singletary and Martz clashed as Martz tries to turn a turnover machine Shaun Hill into the next Kurt Warner circa 2001..it’s not going to happen!

Martz has always wanted to be ‘the man’ and thought he had the job when Nolan was fired, but San Francisco management saw something in Singletary that they didn’t see in Martz. The ability to keep everybody focused, and Singletary’s experience as a former player garners more respect. Martz had his chance in St. Louis and BLEW IT. The job was virtually given to him by the then-retiring Dick Vermeil earlier in the decade. The Rams maintained their offensive aggressiveness, but everything else fell apart when Lovie Smith left and then the special teams became one of the worst in the league.

And finally this statement. Singletary was slammed in the media when he lost his first game, and he has tried to CALM DOWN his rhetoric in front of ESPN because the second it comes out of his mouth, it is on SPORTSCENTER…

However, here is a tamer quote: “Anytime we go out, and I’ve got to be honest, in terms of running the ball, I’m not just so gung-ho on running the ball,” said Singletary. “I want to run the ball. I think that is the game of football. But when it comes down to it, I believe that you have to do whatever it is that helps you win the game. To me that’s smart football.”

****

Here’s one article from the San Francisco area newspapers…

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/29/SPL5150KE5.DTL&type=49ers

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/news/newstest.aspx?id=4196705

****

And let me further add. This is just my opinion, of course.

Singletary wants to build a staff that he trusts, and if he can draw former Bears who had been former assistants elsewhere (i.e. Ron Rivera or Jim Harbaugh) he would. Don’t be surprised if you here Jim Harbaugh’s name in the future as an offensive coordinator. Harbaugh was a rather successful head coach at Division 1-A San Diego in which he garnered a 29-6 record with dual threat QB Josh Johnson (now 3rd string QB at Tampa), then he was hired by Stanford. However, at Stanford, he has struggled as a head coach in the tough PAC-10 with a 4-8 and 5-7 seasons. Could Singletary lure him to be his offensive coordinator? And with Harbaugh’s experience with dual threat QBs would this put them in the sweepstakes for either Mike Vick and/or Vince Young and/or Troy Smith or even a Tim Tebow?

Singletary’s window to succeed is short in a mediocre NFC West, but can do damage with a few shrewd choices?

You raise an interesting question. Some teams have the draft philosophy of looking mostly for upside and athletic ability, while others tend to favor on field production at the collegiate level.

Do you have a preference? What’s your squad again?

What about Singletary? Which way do you think he’ll go?

Patrick:

You are the man. You always have good news (except for your death of the Black QB/manager thing ). This Martz news is like “Happy New Year.” That was a bad match. Singletary needs an offensive coordinator that will maximize the impact of his defense by keeping them OFF the field and minimizing turnovers.

GN, Martz has been reported out for over a week now.

“…and I am also glad to hear Mike Martz won’t be on the staff next year.”

Where’d you hear that?

Mizzo, since the Eagles are in the playoffs, does this secure Fat Boy’s job for another season?

I let those bigots have it cursing them out and everything. I have been banned a few times on the Eagles forum for letting those bigots have it. I get down and dirty with them too. They want to say all types of ignorant mess………well I can get ignorant right with them and I have no regrets.

“Doesn’t surprise me. Of course, some idiots would rather their team lose with a white guy that can’t coach, than win with a black guy who can get the team to play competitive football.”

Yeap Kos couldn’t agree more. The same could be said for black QBs too when it comes to these idiot fans.

Also congrats to Singletary the brotha deserved it.

Doesn’t surprise me. Of course, some idiots would rather their team lose with a white guy that can’t coach, than win with a black guy who can get the team to play competitive football.

There were some so-called Steeler fans that didn’t like when Tomlin was hired last year. With every loss, you hear he can’t coach and that he didn’t deserve the job. Most have been quiet this year, with a few getting their courage when the Steelers lose a game. They can’t deny that the man has gotten results that warrant him being the right choice for the coach of Pittsburgh. The way the 49ers played for Singletary down the stretch, I’m sure he’ll prove that he is a better coach than probably at least over half of the coaches in the league.