Official San Francisco 49ers Off-Season Thread (5-7): Let's get ready for the Draft!

Originally Posted by 80JerryRice80

Originally Posted by offbad

Mister Friendly
are you Brandon Lloyd?
Click to expand...


If he is then why does he have an avy of a half naked Brady quinn,
Click to expand...
1) didn't notice the avy
2) didn't think about that
laugh.gif



hmm. the next coming of cheezy or jrain then?
 
Originally Posted by offbad

Originally Posted by 80JerryRice80

Originally Posted by offbad

Mister Friendly
are you Brandon Lloyd?
Click to expand...


If he is then why does he have an avy of a half naked Brady quinn,
Click to expand...
1) didn't notice the avy
2) didn't think about that
laugh.gif



hmm. the next coming of cheezy or jrain then?
Click to expand...


roll.gif
, Maybe but I have a hunch that jrain is secretly still on lol.
 
[h1]49ers Team Report[/h1]
[h3]Inside Slant[/h3]
Now that Mike Singletary has taken over as the permanent head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, he has a lot on his plate.

The first order of business for Singletary is to find an offensive coordinator to take over for Mike Martz, whom he fired on Tuesday.

On the outside, Singletary and Martz appeared to have a symbiotic relationship. Martz helped the first-time head coach by taking complete control of the 49ers offense. Martz adapted well to what Singletary wanted to see from the 49ers on the offensive side of the ball.

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But Martz is known for his high-flying offensive approach. And it was clear that Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker from his days with the Chicago Bears, prefers a more conservative offensive approach.

"I believe he will be an outstanding head coach in the National Football League," Martz said of Singletary. "I wish him nothing but the best. I am not what he is looking for offensively. I understand that. This is just a part of professional sports."

Singletary was named 49ers head coach in the moments after the 49ers' season-ending victory over the Washington ********. With Singletary, the 49ers finished the season with five victories in their final seven games.

"I think they've got the right man for the job," 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. "I'm glad he got the job. He deserved it. He earned it."

The 49ers made it official shortly after the game, as team president Jed York announced Singletary as the next head coach in the locker room.

"If you know which way you're going, get it done," 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said.

"He showed that there was a change, but he was able to adjust to the change, step right in and not really skip a beat. The players around him stepped up. The coaches around him stepped up as well. We ended strong, but it's not close to where we need to get. With coach Singletary, we feel that's not going to be an issue."

Now, Singletary just has to find a coordinator to take charge of the offense and build on what Martz began this season.

Former 49ers coach Mike Nolan hired Martz in January 2008 to bring some energy to the team.

Under Martz, the 49ers improved from No. 32 in the league in passing yards to No. 18. The 49ers' scoring increased by more than 100 points, as the club rose from last in the league in scoring to No. 22.

Singletary, whose four-year, $10 million contract as head coach includes the power to hire and fire assistant coaches, said in a statement he said he felt it was best to go in a different direction.

"I do recognize the need for a long-term solution on the offensive side of the ball," Singletary said.

Next season, the 49ers will have their seventh offensive coordinator in seven years, following Greg Knapp, Ted Tollner, Mike McCarthy, Norv Turner, Jim Hostler and Martz.

Singletary will likely seek an experienced offensive coordinator to run the style of offense he prefers, someone along the lines of former St. Louis Rams coach Scott Linehan.

After Singletary took over as the interim coach, he and Martz met regularly to discuss offensive philosophy. In his first game, Singletary benched quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan and replaced him with backup Shaun Hill.

With Hill at quarterback, the 49ers started to employ an offense that stressed the run game, along with higher-percentage passes. While their offensive approaches might have been different, Singletary and Martz appeared to benefit from each other's influence.

"Mike is a good man and a good coach," Martz said. "I looked forward to coming back here, but I understand the situation."
[h3]Notes, Quotes[/h3]
• Quarterback Shaun Hill made a convincing argument for the full-time starting job with his play in the second half of the season. The 49ers were 5-3 with him as a starter, a record that included disappointing last-second losses at Arizona and Miami.

His 87.5 passer rating was the best for a 49ers starting quarterback since Jeff Garcia went to the Pro Bowl in 2001 after compiling a 94.8 rating. But Hill has been given no assurances that he'll return as the starter.

"I don't know what to think, to be honest with you. I really don't," Hill said. "You really never know really what the perception is. I feel like I definitely played hard. Sometimes it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but everyone in this league has those moments."

• While the 49ers offense showed a lot of improvement this season, Mike Martz said he expected more.

"We should be a top-10 offense," Martz said. "I feel that we're either a top-10 offense or I failed."

And why did the 49ers fall short?

"There were a lot of reasons, but that's for another day," Martz said.

• Tight end Vernon Davis saw his production drop from 52 receptions in 2007 to 31 catches this season. But he said he feels satisfied that he did what was asked of him. After all, he did a lot more blocking than in the past.

"I'm pretty much happy with what I did," Davis said. "I helped in run blocking and pass protection. I helped the team."

• Veteran linebacker Takeo Spikes, who signed a one-year contract with the 49ers in training camp, made it known that he wants to return to the 49ers in 2009.

Spikes said he believes the 49ers are close to turning the corner, and he wants to be part of the transformation to a playoff team.

"It's not like we need a lot," Spikes said. Then he added a few words directed to general manager Scot McCloughan: "Bring me back."

"I feel like this is home," Spikes said. "And I feel there is unfinished business."

Spikes said he has never regretted leaving a team in his career. He has played with the Bengals, Bills and Eagles. But, he said, this is different.

Quote To Note: "The first paragraph on that page is what we have to do to get the team in the playoffs. Once we're in the playoffs, anything is possible."-Coach Mike Singletary, on his statement that everybody in the organization has to get on the same page.
[h3]Strategy And Personnel[/h3]
The 49ers appear to have a strong nucleus of players that return next season. There are only two starters from this season who are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents: linebacker Takeo Spikes and receiver Bryant Johnson.

On the coaching staff, there is a lot up in the air. The 49ers fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Mike Singletary's first hire is a big one, as he is only going to be as successful as his offense allows him to be.

Coaching Carousel: The 49ers hired Mike Singletary to a four-year, $10 million contract immediately following the team's final game of the season on Sunday against the Washington ********. Singletary compiled a 5-4 record after taking over for fired Mike Nolan. But the 49ers won five of their final seven games to finish the season with a lot of optimism.

Mike Martz has been fired as offensive coordinator, so Singletary will have to find a suitable replacement. One logical selection might be former St. Louis Rams head coach Scott Linehan. Also let go was quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner and running backs coach Tony Nathan.

Free Agent Update: There are no players scheduled for free agency on whom the 49ers would consider using a franchise tag. Takeo Spikes did a very good job this season after signing a one-year deal. He expressed a desire to return to the 49ers next season to play alongside Patrick Willis. The 49ers will likely want him back. Receiver Bryant Johnson played well, but the club is looking to push youngster Josh Morgan into a more significant role. Johnson might find a better opportunity elsewhere. Among the 49ers' other free agents that they would like to sign for the right price are players such as running back DeShaun Foster, return specialist Allen Rossum, defensive tackle Ronald Fields, cornerback Donald Strickland and pass rusher Roderick Green.

Feeling A Draft: The 49ers own the No. 10 overall pick. They will pick No. 10 in all the odd-numbered rounds, and No. 11 in the even-numbered rounds. The 49ers expect to also gain two compensatory picks, giving them nine total draft picks.

TEAM NEEDS

Pass rusher: Whether it's at outside linebacker or defensive end, the 49ers need to find at least one more player on defense to put pressure on quarterbacks.

Free safety: The 49ers' starting safety, Mark Roman, has not recorded an interception in more than two seasons. The 49ers need a presence in the secondary to generate turnovers.

Offensive tackle: While Joe Staley looks to be a pretty good player at left tackle, the 49ers need to find a more reliable player to take over at right tackle.

Wide receiver: The 49ers like what they saw late in the season from youngsters Josh Morgan and Jason Hill. But they can use another playmaker at this spot.

Medical Watch: QB Alex Smith underwent surgery to clean out his right shoulder. He went on injured reserve early in the season with a small fracture. He expects to be fully healthy for the start of the 49ers' offseason program, but it is not known whether he will still be with the team. Smith will have to accept a large pay cut to remain with the 49ers.

WR Arnaz Battle ended the season on injured reserve with a badly sprained foot. He should be ready to take part in all the team's offseason activities.

CB Shawntae Spencer went on injured reserve with a torn ACL. He will have a limited offseason program, but should be at full strength by the start of training camp. Spencer was the 49ers' No. 3 cornerback when he went down with his injury.

RB Frank Gore missed most of the final four games of the season with an ankle sprain. He said his surgeon in Miami will check out his condition, but he is expecting a full recovery in the next several weeks.

WR Josh Morgan sustained a torn groin muscle in the middle of the season. Although he returned to action, he never returned to 100 percent health. He figured to take three weeks of rest to get back healthy.

Mike Singletary said a list of candidates for the 49ers' offensive coordinator vacancy has been compiled. They are going through the process of whittling down the list to a manageable number. There don't figure to be any interviews this week, but the work continues behind the scenes.

So who's on the list to replace Mike Martz? We don't have anything concrete to report. But we can make a few guesses - educated and otherwise.



The first thing you have to remember is that coaches currently employed must receive permission from their teams to interview. No team is going to allow a good offensive coordinator to take another job.



Also, coaches on teams still in the playoffs are essentially off-limits until their seasons have concluded.



Here is a partial list of some possible candidates:



Scott Linehan, former Rams coach: This makes sense on so many different levels. He has been a very good coordinator with a more traditional offense. He seems to be from a run-first mentality. Because of his failings with the Rams, Linehan will probably have to rebuild his reputation for at least a couple years before anyone considers him a head-coaching candidate again. Also, because he's been out of a job since the Rams fired him early in the season, the 49ers had the opportunity to talk with him before Martz was fired. Of course, if Linehan is hired, this would be the second time he will have followed Martz. And that does not bode well for Isaac Bruce. After all, Linehan ran Bruce out of St. Louis, and Bruce is not a fan. But the 49ers aren't going to make a move based on the feelings of a player who does not fit into their long-term plans, anyway. Since Linehan's name first came up, I've gotten indications that he is, indeed, a person of interest inside the 49ers organization. Singletary said Wednesday that he has not spoken to him directly . . . but, perhaps, somebody else in the organization has made contact to gauge his thoughts on coming to the 49ers.



Rob Chudzinski, Browns offensive coordinator: He is one of the highest-paid assistants in the league. At a reported $2.7 million a year, he makes more than Singletary. He is under contract to the Browns for three more years, but the Browns have given all the assistant coaches the opportunity to interview for other jobs after the firing of coach Romeo Crennel. The Browns had a lot of problems on offense this season, but Chudzinski is still a rising star. Chudzinski was on the 49ers' preliminary list of potential head-coaching candidates before Nolan was fired. If Singletary had not done such a bang-up job, he probably would've gotten an interview for the job.



Greg Knapp, Raiders offensive coordinator: He does not figure to return to the Raiders after Tom Cable stripped him of the play-calling duties. Knapp was 49ers coordinator for three seasons from 2001-'03. He believes in the run game, no question. The 49ers rushed for more than 2,200 yards all three seasons he ran the show. The feeling around the league is that Knapp will probably end up as offensive coordinator with the Seahawks under Jim Mora.



Tom Rathman, Raiders running backs coach: He's never been a coordinator in the NFL. For years and years, he's been a blitz pickup guru. He would probably do a very good job. But this might be the biggest hire Singletary ever makes. Might he want to go with someone with a track record? Plus, Al would have to allow Rathman to escape.



Gil Haskell, Seahawks assistant head coach/offensive coordinator: I'll include his name only because I know somebody will ask about him. We don't know for sure whether new Seahawks coach Jim Mora plans to keep Haskell around. But it won't be as offensive coordinator. Haskell, 65, is a native San Franciscan. He has been Mike Holmgren's right-hand man. Haskell helps a lot with scheme and game-planning, but Holmgren is the one who always called the plays.



Maurice Carthon, Cardinals running backs coach: He followed Bill Parcells from job to job for a while. But when he was on his own as Browns offensive coordinator, it was a disaster. He resigned after six games in 2006. Also, the 49ers would have to receive permission from the Cardinals to add him to their staff.



Brian Billick, former Ravens coach: He was a successful head coach, compiling an 85-67 record and a Super Bowl title in nine seasons. He has an offensive background, but the Ravens were a defensive-driven team. There's no reason a person with his track record should go back to being a coordinator. I would think he'd either want to be a head coach or a talking head on TV.

Jim Fassel, former Giants coach: There's nothing gimmicky about his offensive approach. He wants to be a head coach (who doesn't?), and he's reportedly been a pen pal of Al Davis in hopes of being considered for the Raiders job. Would he want to return to being a coordinator?



Mike Shanahan, former Broncos coach: There is no chance he's taking a coordinator's position with anybody. His next coaching job will be as a head coach.



The other category, which does not make much sense to me, is the young QB coach who has never been an NFL coordinator. But why would a neophyte head coach take on a coordinator who has never done it before? Sounds like it would be inviting a Jim Hostler situation.



Nevertheless, among those candidates are Saints quarterbacks/passing game Pete Carmichael Jr. (might not fit the mold because Singletary wants a run-oriented scheme); Panthers passing game coordinator/quarterbacks Mike McCoy (same drawback as Carmichael Jr.); and Titans quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson (assistants from the Panthers and Titans staffs could be attractive because of those team's strong running philosophies). He's not young (55), but another possibility could be Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. Both Carmichael and Clements are out of the playoffs, so they could conceivably be hired right away - as long as their clubs allow them to leave.

The 49ers could dip into the college ranks to find a coordinator. This seems less plausible. Nowadays, there seems to be little resemblance, offensively, between what works at the college level and what's done at the pro level.



I'm kicking myself today for failing to ask Singletary if anyone from his current 49ers staff would be considered for the coordinator position. The answer is probably not. After all, Mike Nolan only promoted from within (Jim Hostler) after he had no other outside options following Norv Turner's late departure in 2007.




By the way, stop with the Brandon Lloyd talk, that dude is a bum.
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The nucleus of the 49ers roster should remain intact as only two starters in 2009 have contracts set to expire at the end of February.

Here is a run down of the team's contract situation.



Unrestricted free agents

The 49ers have exclusive negotiating rights to these players up to the opening of free agency. Then, these players would be free to sign with any team.



LB Takeo Spikes He made it know Monday that he wants to return to the 49ers, and would regret not being able to play alongside Patrick Willis for another season. Spikes turned 32 a couple weeks ago. But he proved he still has something left. He made $1.68 million last season, and I can't think of any reason the sides should not agree to a one- or two-year contract.



WR Bryant Johnson He started 12 games this season, but did not round into full shape until the second half of the season. He sustained a hamstring strain in training camp that led to all kinds of other leg problems through the first part of the season. It was a disappointing year for Johnson, who had hopes of putting together a big season under offensive coordinator Mike Martz and earning a lot of attention on the free-agent market. Still, Johnson was the team's second-leading receiver with 45 catches for 546 yards and three touchdowns. He played last season with a $2 million contract. The 49ers are intent of moving Josh Morgan to a starting role. For the right price, the 49ers should want to bring back Johnson. But can he find a better opportunity elsewhere?



RB DeShaun Foster He was signed as an insurance policy for Frank Gore, and Foster looked good in the final three games of the season when Gore was nicked. Foster had 39 carries for 156 yards in games against Miami, St. Louis and Washington. He also proved to be a capable receiver out of the backfield. He is definitely worth bringing back to continue in his backup role. He made $1.9 million on his one-year deal.



KR/PR Allen Rossum He is 33 years old, but Rossum did a lot of good things in the return game. He ranked sixth in the league in kickoff returns with a 26.8-yard average. If he had enough punt returns to qualify, he would've been No. 2 with his 14.9 average. The 49ers need better depth at the return positions, but Rossum is worth another short-term deal.



DT Ronald Fields He did not make much of an impact this season, ranking 14[sup]th[/sup] on the team in tackles. He was stuck behind starter Aubrayo Franklin, who got the vast majority of the play time. The 49ers would want to bring him back, but it's would have to be at a price they name. Otherwise, Fields will get a chance to test his worth on the market.:



QB J.T. O'Sullivan Because he signed a one-year minimum deal, the 49ers can't re-sign him until after the start of free agency. After a handful of games, it looked like that might be a factor. However, with Martz gone as offensive coordinator, O'Sullivan almost surely will not return, either. Coach Mike Singletary has already talked about brining in a quarterback to compete with Shaun Hill for the starting job.



CB Donald Strickland The 49ers really like Strickland, and this season we saw why. He does a very good job as an extra defensive back. He's a very solid player as a reserve, and he's not afraid to stick his nose in there. He's 28 years old, and the 49ers would like to bring him back to complete for a job in training camp. Again, there's no reason the San Francisco native should not be able to strike a deal to return. Strickland allowed the 49ers to create a $7 million cap credit in 2009 when an outlandish incentive (15 blocked punts) was inserted into his contract that was not attained.



DE Roderick Green He had the best chance of his career to show what he could do as a third-down pass-rusher. However, Green was unable to get steady pressure on the quarterback. He recorded only 3.5 sacks. This is another of those spots that Singletary singled out as a position of need. If Green returns, it will be with a lot of competition.



TE Billy Bajema It's getting to the point in which Bajema is getting a little too expensive for his role. He made $927,000 this season as a blocking specialist.



OT Damane Duckett He spent the season on injured reserve because of an August knee injury. The converted defensive lineman spent the entire season rehabbing his injury at the team's facility. That would seem to suggest that he'll be brought back to see if he has developed enough to earn a roster spot.



TE Sean Ryan He did a pretty good job as an H-back/fullback type. However, Ryan was inactive for the final game of the season. They might address this area in the draft.



QB Jamie Martin He turns 39 in February, and will not be back.



Restricted free agents

The 49ers do not have any restricted free agents because in 2006, the team began doing four-year contracts on draft picks. So the 49ers won't have another restricted free agent from an original draft pick.



Exclusive rights free agents

This player has fewer than three years of accrued NFL service and the 49ers own exclusive negotiating rights.



FB Zak Keasey He was doing a pretty good job as a blocker and on special teams before experiencing a season-ending torn biceps tendon in October. The 49ers will likely make the small investment to tender him a contract, and he should be back in camp.



* * *



In addition to the other free agents, these two veterans, who have finished the past two seasons on injured reserve, have salaries that would need to be re-worked in order for them to return:



QB Alex Smith He is scheduled to earn $9.625 million in base salary. If released, he'll account for a $5.333 million cap hit.



OT Jonas Jennings He is scheduled to $4.2 million in base salary. If released, he'll account for a $3.484 million cap hit.


* * *
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I'm a little bored right now, just searching some NFL Mock Drafts:

http://www.nfldraftdog.co...s/2009_nfl_mock_draft.htm

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[/td] [td]10[/td] [td]CB, Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State[/td] [td]I was surprised Jenkins didn't enter the 2008 NFL Draft, where he would have been a top 20 selection. Jenkins won the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award. [/td] [/tr][/table]
http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2009.php

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San Francisco 49ers: Taylor Mays, S, USC
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San Francisco's line can't pass block to save its life. But if the top tackles are off the board, they may look at Taylor Mays.

Mark Roman, whose contract expires after the 2009 season, has been awful this year. Perhaps more disappointing is that second-year Dashon Goldson hasn't been able to leapfrog him on the depth chart. Taylor Mays, whose combine workout will cement him as a top-10 prospect, would be a tremendous upgrade for the 49ers.

http://newnfldraft.com/


10. San Francisco 49ers: Taylor Mays, FS/SS, USC

The 49ers get a freak athlete and great play maker in Taylor Mays for the 2009 NFL Season. He can pair up with any other safety and play both FS and strong safety because of his intelligence, size and speed. He reminds me of Laron Landry a little bit because he is hard hitting and very athletic.


http://www.draftcountdown.com/sub/Mock-Draft-A.php


9 SAN FRANCISCO 49'ERS: SAM BRADFORD, QB, OKLAHOMA
It may be difficult for the Niners to take another quarterback in the Top 10 after getting burnt with Alex Smith but they can't let that affect their thinking. If by some chance Sam Bradford falls into their lap they need to take him. It's as simple as that. The Niners have plenty of needs and they could legitimately go in
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a half dozen different directions with this pick but as I always say the "Golden Rule of the NFL Draft" is that unless you already have a franchise quarterback you don't pass on one. Sure Shaun Hill has done a decent job for the Niners at times but is he really the type who can lead a team to the Super Bowl? Probably not. Bradford is just a redshirt sophomore but he has been nothing short of prolific for the Sooners the past two years and if he opts to enter the '09 Draft he could be a Top 10 pick. Maybe even Top 5. There is plenty to like about Bradford, most notably his accuracy, but it's important to keep in mind that he is far from a sure-thing. When you factor in his relative lack of experience and questions about how he will adapt to a pro style offense it's not a stretch to suggest that Bradford could be a boom or bust type of prospect. The 49'ers could also be in the market for an offensive tackle, a cornerback or a pass rusher in round one but since Bradford is available everything else can wait.

http://www.draftking.com/nfl/2009/mockdraft.shtml

10. San Francisco 49ers - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
Perhaps more than anyone on this list, Aaron Curry has *played his way in 2008 into being a potential top ten pick. At 6'2" 245 pounds, Curry runs a 4.6 40 and has an incredible knack for finding the ball. Having him and Patrick Willis in the same linebacking corps could be helpful for the 49ers as they look to rebuild on a disappointing 2008 season.

http://www.thefootballexpert.com/mockdraft.html
[size=-1]10. San Francisco 49ers -[/size] [size=-1]Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois*[/size][size=-1]
This decision was extremely difficult, with the 49ers with all sorts of needs including QB, OT, OLB, and CB. I made my decision based on value and depth at the position. Vontae Davis is an elite CB and besides Malcolm Jenkins is the only other one considered a lock to go in the first round. [/size] [size=-1]Davis is the ideal shutdown cornerback at 5-11, and 4.35 speed. He is what NFL junkies label "playmaker." Flashier than Malcolm Jenkins, but probably not as consistent. Even though Jenkins will most likely be drafted first, Davis has a higher ceiling and probably will be the better pro. Davis would team up with Nate Clements to create a solid CB duo and also be on the same team as his brother Vernon. Aaron Curry, Rey Maualuga, and OT Jason Smith are also possibilities.[/size][size=-1]
[/size]
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Malcolm Jenkins or Taylor Mays comon down
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The last time we drafted a CB from Ohio State, we got a bum.

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Mays all day.
 
i'd love to have Mays on this squad

but IMO ahmed plummer was far from a bum!
he was good in coverage and an above average tackler. he was just injury prone.

he was far better than that dickweed webster we had playing opposite him for so many years.
from what i see, spencer and plummer are about the same player.

didn't clements go to OSU? i think winfield did too..

but gamble sucks an assload
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You must not remember the same Ahmed Plummer that I do. I remember him sucking in coverage and collection pass interference penalties like they were going outof style.

Clements did go to OSU but we didn't draft him. He was already established and we're paying him a lot of money.

Jason Webster was pretty bad, but then we replaced him with Mike Rumph. Talk about a bust ... Well, actually on second thought, Rashaun Woods is a bigger bust.
 
Originally Posted by ady2glude707

Plummer was not a bust
Antoinio Langham and Mike Rumph were far worse
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I didn't call him a "bust," I called him a "bum."

There is a difference.
 
[h2]Hill Hijacked[/h2]
Less than 72 hours into his tenure as head coach, Mike Singletary ran head-on into his first blunder. At his Wednesday news conference, Singletary said with a straight face that Shaun Hill would have to compete for the job he so expertly proved he can handle.

Singletary has already set the pre-conditions for an abysmal offense next season with his overarching philosophy to adopt a ball-control run-oriented scheme and now he's introduced instability at quarterback. Add an inexperienced offensive coordinator and the 49ers will push the replay button on the 2005 and 2007 seasons when they floundered with the worst offense in football.

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sfchronicle

Shaun Hill deserves better

Singletary justified his decision to tell Hill to compete for the job by saying that competition was the "greatest thing in the world." That's not so at quarterback. The team went through a tortuously long, three-way quarterback competition last summer and then declared J.T. O'Sullivan the starter. That damning competition eventually led to Mike Nolan's ouster, a brutal 2-7 start and another lost season.

The competition was handled awkwardly, with Nolan telling the media the reason he was sitting Hill during the apex of the training camp was because Hill had a "tired" arm. That was news to Hill. With O'Sullivan getting the majority of the first-team snaps, Nolan kept saying the competition was still open. Through the ordeal, Nolan certainly lost the confidence of a key constituency, his quarterbacks. He also lost trust with the media, a group that put little credence in what he was telling them. When O'Sullivan then faltered, Nolan was exposed for the last time and fired.

Now, Singletary is stepping right back into that fiery cauldron. Say, for example, the 49ers sign Matt Cassel as a free agent. To get him, they'd probably have to pay him three times the $6 million, three-year deal they paid Hill last year. Then they go into a competition with a new offense, and we saw what Hill did last training camp with that scenario. He was awful. He was slow to adapt to Mike Martz's schemes, and if not for Alex Smith's bizarre, season-ending shoulder injury, Hill would have started the season as the third quarterback, even though he has proven since then to be the best of the three in game situations.

It sets up another situation where Hill might be the best quarterback but might not get the chance to prove it.

What kind of message does that send to the rest of the team? Hill came in and immediately reversed the 49ers' fortunes. As a starter playing behind a league-worst pass protecting line, without a deep threat or star receiver, Hill led this sorry offense to a winning record with two fourth-quarter comebacks in eight games, and two more that should have happened except for disorganization by the offensive coordinator. In the process, he grew into a popular team leader, with the team's best offensive player, running back Frank Gore, paying Hill the ultimate compliment whenever asked.

"Shaun Hill, he's a football player," Gore kept saying. The cryptic comment means that Hill's tough, competitive and resourceful, attributes he proved repeatedly.

Hill also did what inexperienced quarterbacks are supposed to do. He got better. Look at his games against Arizona and Dallas. And then pop in tapes of Hill against Washington. There's undeniable growth. Now Singletary is possibly putting a developing quarterback, a league rarity, on the bench.

Certainly, Hill is no strong-armed, quick-triggered Dan Marino type. Some throws he just can't make. If he escapes the pocket, he doesn't have the arm strength to huck the ball 40 yards on a line to a receiver sneaking behind the defense. But he makes up for that failing with accuracy, vision, pocket presence, decision making and running ability - five out of six ain't bad.

Remember Hill succeeded in an offense that was a horrible fit for him. Constant seven-step drops put the short-armed Hill at a disadvantage that he consistently overcame. Imagine Hill in a run-first offense that put him in third-and-short where his mastery of the short passing game could make the 49ers difficult to stop.

Singletary wants a run-dominated, clock-monopolizing offense and he has the perfect quarterback to run it. Singletary should be going out to find an offensive coordinator who can tailor an offense to what Hill does best. Instead, Singletary is telling Hill he'll have to compete for a job under some unknown coordinator who will bring in some unknown offense. And it's possible the 49ers will spend precious salary-cap resources on a free-agent or highly drafted quarterback, while needs at tackle, receiver, pass rusher and the secondary possibly go unaddressed.

Singletary undoubtedly deserves to be the head coach, but not more than a week into his full-time job and he's sending the 49ers down a street the team has already gone down before; a street that leads to an abrupt and career-killing dead-end.



I feel bad for Hill. I hope we stay away from Cassel, he is a system QB and 49ers will not have a system to suit him like how the Pats have.
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The niners need to replace Roman with a play making safety and I would love for them to draft Taylor Mays from USC. I also like the idea of moving WaltHarris to Safety and drafting Malcom Jenkins. Its a longshot but I wouldnt mind. Man we need help in so many places. This is what I think we need:

QUATERBACK
Playmaking #1 Wide Receiver
Monster in the Defensive Line
Right Tackle (I hate Barry Sims!)
Safety
 
I was watching Madden Nation the other day...

Dude made it all the way to the 'chip with the 9ers
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Too bad he lost though... In typical Mike Martz fashion - Not using Frank Gore
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