Manusky named Defensive Coordinator

by David Fucillo on Feb 1, 2007 8:41 AM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

For the collective Huh?! in the crowd, Greg Manusky, formerly San Diego linebackers coach, has been named the new defensive coordinator. After a 12 year playing career, Manusky volunteered at Tampa Bay's training camp working with linebackers and special teams in 2000. The following season he was the Redskins linebacker coach and then was hired by the San Diego Chargers in 2002 as their linebacker coach.

From the little I've read so far, his primary strength seems to be that he is well-versed in the 3-4. Additionally, Sacramento Bee beat writer Matt Barrows says San Diego was planning on elevating him to DC their if Wade Phillips were to be hired by the Cowboys.

This tells me two things (both of which I could be completely wrong about: 1) Going with someone that is relatively inexperienced, Mike Nolan is planning on being in control of some if not all of the play-calling. If he wanted to spread the play-calling wouldn't he have brought in someone with more experience, or even promoted Singletary? And 2) I assume this means Wade Phillips is probably not going to get the Dallas job, even if that was already widely determined.

The big question is what does this mean with Singletary? Is he probably headed to Dallas, is this some master plan to bring in a 3-4 guy while still keeping Singletary around? I must say I'm a little baffled.

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Nolan on KNBR this morning

He said that Manusky would be calling the defensive plays. I guess we'll see how long that lasts.

Also, I'm not sure Singletary is the right guy for a coordinator position. He's been the assistant head coach, so a coordinator job may be considered more lateral and a move up. Also, I've never heard him being referred to as an X's and O's type guy. I could be wrong and he could be brilliant, but that's where my opinion is coming from.

Also, ESPN reported that Singletary was very impressive in his 7 hour interview with Jerry Jones. That could be just "See the Rooney Rule works only for good" spin, but I'd guess that it's probably true b/c Singletary knows what he's talking about and an interview doesn't last 7 hours if it's put on solely to satisfy the league office's racial bean counters.

Bring back Eddie D.

by nostocksjustbonds on Feb 1, 2007 2:11 PM PST reply actions

Re: Singletary

I think Nolan thinks Singletary is actually more valuable as his "Assistant to the Head Coach" than he would be as "Defensive Coordinator". If that "word" around the league about him is true (in regards to his inexperience/lack of X's and O's), then he may be one of those rare individuals who can make the jump from a valuable Assistant to becoming a good Head Coach.

Nolan probably senses this, and it is why he'll keep Singletary at his side until he can't anymore. Now all he needs is for Jerry Jones to realize that Norv is nothing more than a Coordinator, then Nolan will be set.

by sfgfan on Feb 1, 2007 3:48 PM PST reply actions