Coaching Brainstorm

by BawLa on Nov 12, 2007 11:46 PM PST

With the team in a funk, in limbo, in oblivion, in an unescapable abyss, <enter colorful imagry>, I really look at our leadership. I am not 100% sold that Nolan isn't the right guy, but I am 100% sold on the idea that we need to bring in a real football mind. I watch this team and I can't help but think that they are no better than a pee-wee league team. I ask myself: do they even know how to play football??? Do they know how to play today's football???

This thread is not meant to bash Nolan, but rather to suggest potential options of bringing in a great football mind. Who is out there? Who are the underdog/underappreciated coaches?

With the potential departure of Singletary, who could take over our up-and-coming defense? Who can build an offense that will complement said defense? I think some of the more obvious or bigger names are Bill Cowher and Marty Shottenheimer. Who else is out there? Who could we bring in? Who should we bring in?

Let the coaching brainstorming begin...

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Burned bridges be damned.

I think the 49ers should consider bringing Mariucci back as a coordinator. He was a Walsh/Holmgren apprentice, and the 49ers offense really last thrived under him. If not offensive coordinator, he could be an interesting candidate to replace Singletary as Assistant Head Coach.

His benefit could really be as the OC, though. He could bring the West Coast offense back, which may be better suited for Alex Smith. Alex has a very strong arm, but he's only deadly accurate in short-range (but since the injury, even that accuracy has come and gone). The West Coast offense FORCES Alex to go to certain receivers, instead of saying these are their routes, you choose your target. From what I understand, the progressions in a West Coast offense are very "strict." Smith could benefit from that. Not to mention, Mooch worked with Holmgren to help develop Brett Favre, I think. Besides, anyone who could turn Jeff Garcia into a star should be a pretty good QB coach/OC.

The problem with Mooch is that we get the Norv Turner issue. If the 49ers do well after he joins, he's gone for another head coaching job.

In agreement with BawLa, I'm not 100% sure Nolan ISN'T the guy. I'm not ready to give up on him. As I said previously, it's hard to put ALL of the blame this year on him, as he was dealt a VERY sorry hand in terms of the offense. If he chooses to stick with Hostler after the season is over and Hostler hadn't shown SIGNIFICANT improvement, then I'll start making Nolan shoulder more of the blame. Right now, though, I think it's more in the overall execution of the team, and the offensive coordinator (or even Cignetti, the QB coach).

by sfgfan on Nov 13, 2007 9:05 AM PST reply actions

Agreed and disagreed...

I wouldn't say the offensive hand Nolan was delt was "very sorry." He's got a top-5 running back, 2 decent WRs, one potential long-threat WR he doesn't use, and a QB that could possibly thrive in the right situation. Good coaching could turn that kind of an offense into a success. As far as the OL goes, they did okay last night, and showed some improvement over a few games ago with Dilfer. While Smith does need to be able to recognize pressure, run out of the pocket, and/or call audibles, etc., if the coach could recognize the strengths of the offense and capitalize on them, even a flawed offense could put up some points. Nolan and Hostler do not seem to be able to do this.

As far as new coaches go, I agree that Mariucci would be a welcome addition to OC. I wasn't real pleased with him as head coach, but if his pride could take a hit, I think he'd make a good OC. I also think Cowher would make an excellent head coach for this team. I think Gore would thrive under him, and I think Cowher's attitude that he brings to the game would really give the Niners a much needed fire.

"If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat."

by UnleashTheGore on Nov 13, 2007 11:00 AM PST up reply actions

Sorry hand

When I say he was dealt a sorry hand, I don't mean in terms of talent. Nolan isn't and will NEVER be confused for an offensive mind. That is why Norv was good for him, because Norv was like a second head coach that coached only the offense. With a better offensive coordinator, I have little doubt the 49ers offense could produce. Under Hostler, it's very unlikely (as we've already seen).

Cowher would make a good head coach for almost any team (except maybe San Diego, Dallas, and Oakland). I'd strongly doubt he'd come west-ward, though.

by sfgfan on Nov 13, 2007 11:05 AM PST up reply actions

gotcha

"If it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it's a rat."

by UnleashTheGore on Nov 13, 2007 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

I'm with you...

on Mooch.

Our defense is quite different now relative to Mariucci's time and a Nolan/Mooch fusion could be great for this team.

I wouldn't be that concerned with losing Mooch if he succeeds here just from the standpoint that we need to take advantage of these years we have with Frank Gore.

by BawLa on Nov 13, 2007 12:38 PM PST up reply actions

Mooch.

The thing is, the WCO needs years to teach. If Mooch came in, maybe you could spot him a year, since Smith has had a year under that system (albeit his rookie season). Smith will still probably need at least a year or two under that system.

I'm hoping for prolonged success for this team, not just an eruption while we have Frank. Thats why I mentioned Mooch following Turner. If this team is to succeed in the long-term, Smith needs consistency with a good coach, at least for two or three years.

by sfgfan on Nov 13, 2007 1:00 PM PST up reply actions

You know

I feel the same way. And I waffle on it a little. I like Nolan, and I think that when you let him take his lumps (this season), he's going to be a damn good head coach

But then I look at the offense and I just know this guy is in completely over his head on one side of the ball. Just comlpetely, 100% lost on offense. And we NEED offense....

I like the idea of talking to Mooch, though it wouldn't solve our "run up the middle on second and long" problem. That was a joke. Kind of. Mooch's offense always frustrated me for being conservative at exactly the wrong times, but it was also a dynamic, perfectly capable offense so beggars can't be choosers, right?

But I think about it, and the reality is that we're essentially a year and a half into a COMPLETE rebuild. I say this because Nolan's first year wasn't part of the rebuild. It was the deconstruction. That first year the team was absolutely ripped to its foundation, and then the year after we started building on top of that foundation. One and a half years is practically nothing, and most of that has been spent on the defense. So I'm not sure I can be surprised that the offense sucks.

It means, though, that whoever is coaching this offseason NEEDS to go balls out on the offense.

The problem with replacing Nolan for me is that all of the coaches I'd be interested in are defense first guys. Cowher, I guess, is the most well balanced of them all, but I just have the hardest time believing Cowher might come to town. Outside of those guys you mentioned, I always liked Haslett as a coach (I think he got jobbed in NO, but again - defense). I wouldn't mind Seeing Singletary (of course, who would?). And so on a little like that. No offensive guys, suffice it to say.

I think more than anything, right, I'd like to see a coordinator and some competent position coaches on offense. That I can't think of a good option to take the coordinator position (Mooch aside) is probably more just me not being familiar with the pool of coaches at large.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down. Over and over. / My Blog, For Writers

by howtheyscored on Nov 13, 2007 11:00 AM PST reply actions

Familiarity

Familiarity with coaches is something most fans lack. I admit I don't know much about most of the assistants in the league, just one's the media feel they have to point out.

I think this team really needs an offensive coordinator that is like a "head coach" of the offense. Someone who can take complete control (and trust) from Nolan. Norv Turner was one of these guys, and it's the same reason I suggest a guy like Mariucci.

by sfgfan on Nov 13, 2007 11:08 AM PST up reply actions

Mooch...

If I remember correctly, Mooch never had a solid defense to compliment the offense. We had BY and Peterson on D and aside from them, I can't remember another defensive playmaker during that era. We would always get burned because of our weak secondary.

This defense has more potential and is a couple players away from being a complete defense. We just need a competant enough offense to support/compliment the defense.

by BawLa on Nov 13, 2007 12:35 PM PST up reply actions

Denny Green

I brought up Denny Green already, but mainly I just think Nolan is a great coach for seasoned professionals.

The whole persona is just calm and measured and very hands off, from what I can tell. Our guys, lost and without serious guidance, are going to continue to play like a pee-wee team: uncoordinated and not as a team.

I say Denny Green less as the master of X's and O's, but as a figurehead that can get these guys to start playing together, as a single unit. If we can just get these guys off the ground, the play calling and the strategy will come, especially in regards to our clueless offense and our beleaguered young QB.

Thoughts?

by LA49er on Nov 14, 2007 12:15 PM PST reply actions