Mike Singletary Approval Rating, Week 9

by Fooch on Nov 10, 2009 9:44 AM PST in Approval Ratings Comment 44 comments

We're back for another week of the Mike Singletary Approval Rating, but the ship definitely seems to be taking on some water. Over at ESPN, Singletary's rating has taken a big dive, dropping from 87% to 68%. The rating here tends to be a bit higher than at ESPN, but I'd still imagine a bit of a drop-off from last week's 90% approval rating.

Since the end of Sunday's game we've had a whole assortment of comments from people complaining about this, that, and the other thing, in relation to the game. People are unhappy with Alex Smith, they're angry with Jimmy Raye, or maybe they even just don't like ownership. What's been most interesting is that people have been less inclined to jump on Mike Singletary. In fact, during yesterday's press conference thread, people seemed to support Coach Singletary plenty.

However, it was LondonNiner's comment in one FanPost that caught my attention because it's an issue that I'd imagine folks need to address at some point:

So is Singletary bullet proof? Is it the case that none of the defeats are ever on him? For the record, I am not saying it is his fault. I’m definitely not saying I want him out. If there was a ‘beginning to waver’ button in Fooch’s next Singletary approval vote, I’d go for that. I would definitely not vote ‘No’.
. . .
But is the tide starting to turn? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe yesterday was the first defeat we’ve had this season when Singletary has NOT confidently predicted afterwards that we’d make the play-offs. Is he starting to doubt himself? It’s a long road back to relevance for this team, never mind dominance, and there can be no doubt that Singletary and Raye have not got the players, or at least the offensive players, to win divisional titles yet. But you DO need to see signs of improvement, and yesterday felt like we’d gone backwards in terms of the aggression, the passion, and the direction … in short all of the things you expect from a Mike Singletary team.

I've pondered the idea of adding some kind of "wavering" option to the poll. However, for a general approval rating, I do think it is best served as black and white. People are certainly welcome to post explanations for their votes, but for the purposes of the poll, I still prefer a straight up or down vote on Singletary.

But nonetheless, I'm curious how many folks are wavering. I'd imagine we'll have a good mix of folks who are sticking with yes, and others who teetered over to the no column. Either way, let's hear what you think.

Poll

Do you approve of the job Mike Singletary is doing as head coach?

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definitely teetering

to the no column. i’m really tired of losing.

"There is no pressure. Pressure only exists when you're not prepared."
-The Samurai

by redrum21225 on Nov 10, 2009 9:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to be optimistic and for sure say YES until

mathematically we are out of the playoffs. Then in that case I will be wavering to the NO side depending on what happens in the next offseason and next season.
In the worst case scenario I’d like to have Singletary around if possible as atleast in an assistant or position coach spot. He can be great at some things but there’s lots of things a Head coach needs to do, we still have atleast the rest of the season to see if he can do that.

by fortyniners on Nov 10, 2009 9:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Can't blame Mike...

I don’t think Sing made Alex throw that pick-6 at the end of the game. Other than that Alex proved that we can drive down the field pretty effectively. Our play calling has gotten progressively better the last few weeks(more pass oriented) and we have had some serious injuries killing our starting lineup. So…I am still on the YES side of the approval rating.

by Rizzo80 on Nov 10, 2009 10:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Still behind Sing

How much time did Nolan get to build this team and start winning? I plan on standing behind Sing till the end of next season at the most. I want to see a strong draft that will fill the holes that this team has right now. I want to see a full season with a QB that they can stand behind. It’s been a while since the 49ers have had 1 QB for the entire season.

by Haggardninja on Nov 10, 2009 10:10 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Fooch ...

… for pulling my comment out and putting it on the front page. I guess I said enough in that post over on mudewada’s FanPost without going over it again here.

For what it’s worth, I would just repeat that I did NOT suggest at any point that I do not approve of the job Singletary is doing. That’s not how I feel. I was only making three points (in my usual verbose, overly-wordy style … blame it on being English …) -

.. Firstly, I am starting to waver a little, and I wondered who else might be; secondly, I’m fascinated by the fact that almost nobody ever blames Sing for defeats, some even saying that he needs time in a new job whilst simultaneously blaming Raye who’s been in his job for less time; and thirdly, I am very interested in the possibility that genuinely all-time great players in any sport do not make genuinely all-time great coaches, or hardly ever anyway. Why is that, and will it affect Mike or will he join the handful of exceptions to that rule?

I am abstaining from voting this week. I can’t bring myself to vote No, because I love Singletary and I want him to succeed. But I cannot hand-on-heart vote Yes this week either. I’m just not sure. But I could be wrong, and loads of people on here know loads more than me anyway, so my view is irrelevant, it’s more the subject that interests me, and observing behaviors of other fans after defeats.

"This could be another Very Special Team" ... Superbowl winning Niners lineman Dan Audick ...

by LondonNiner on Nov 10, 2009 10:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It’s strange, but I actually feel more confident in Singletary following this loss than I have maybe all season. I’m not exactly sure why. I think that when I take a step back and remember that he’s actually learning how to be a head coach on the job, as we speak, it helps. I don’t think that when he was hired, he was prepared for the job. I don’t think he had the experience, the knowledge, or the skill required to succeed immediately. I thought we’d see some real growing pains. And last year, I think we really, really did.

This year what I’m seeing is a guy who appears to be completely dedicated to improving himself as quickly and as completely as possible. He’s humble and open to change. And he’s not just open to change, he welcomes the opportunity to do things differently and to challenge his current mindset if he’s presented with something that demonstrates that mindset is somehow deficient. He’s not afraid to make personnel changes, but he takes his time and works deliberately when deciding who gets playing time. He’s become much better about making irrational, in the moment decision.

I think what I saw this week was a guy who realized that the offense needed to perform differently in order to perform better, and he committed the team to that idea. He did, perhaps, push too far in the other direction, but I’m positive now that he’s not only capable of seeing that but also willing to adjust for it.

I see a guy who has completely revised the way that he deals with the team both on the field and off to accentuate the aspects of his abilities that were making guys better and to stop doing the things that were acting as distractions for everybody.

I still think he’s a major work in progress as a head coach, and I think we’ve seen the results of some of those growing pains in some of the losses we’ve taken this season. However, I’m very encouraged by how far he’s come and how far he seems willing to continue to go.

I know we lost, and that sucks, but I love that he’s trying to find ways to change the formula without blowing up the lab. And soon, I hope, he’ll hit on that magic formula.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2009 10:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Should be

He’s become much better about NOT making irrational, potentially damaging in-the-moment decisions.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2009 10:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Great points...

…I, too, have been pleasantly surprised by Sing’s willingness to change when things aren’t working. And we’re so close…I have this feeling our frustration will explode on Thursday with a blowout against the Bears.

by Bigmouth on Nov 10, 2009 10:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

by Bob On The Coast on Nov 10, 2009 11:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

NO VOTE

it is time to rise above as he says. If this is when he’s at his best……then lets start winning.

by zonedogs on Nov 10, 2009 10:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I voted yes mainly because...

…of the way Sing put that douche Cohn in his place.

by Bigmouth on Nov 10, 2009 10:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

hahahha

that was funny.

by ZonaBacks10 on Nov 10, 2009 12:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sing addressed that on his Tuesday morning radio show

Which was a good overall interview but his answer about dealing with the media broadly and Cohn specifically was well done.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Nov 10, 2009 1:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

can you listen to those online?

like if you miss them and want to hear it later.

by zacksf on Nov 10, 2009 2:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

Sing does an interview every Tuesday morning on the Murph & Mac Show. Here’s the link to their page and his interview is a couple options from the top.

http://www.knbr.com/pages/murphandmac

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Nov 10, 2009 7:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

right on, Bigmouth. Cohn is a major douche.

by zacksf on Nov 10, 2009 2:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

with howtheyscored quite a bit. For me, I felt it was pretty clear after the Rams game – where they kept our offense scoreless in the first half – that the offensive ‘formula’ that Sing and Raye had planned on using simply was not going to work. They kept with it for a while, but it really was not going anywhere. It is a shame that Gore doesn’t have a better line, because I really think that he could be putting up numbers with any other back in the league if he had the blocking.

What I was afraid of was that Sing and Raye would have stuck with the original design for the entire season, despite the losses piling up, and then possibly having another offensive coordinator for another year. By no means am I huge fan of Raye, but if no one wanted the job last year, why would anyone want it this year? At least we can have some continuity, and the thing about Raye that I always held on for hope was that he did seem to be flexible enough to do whatever worked, which is exactly what Sing said.

With some losses, the approval rating always drops, but it is in the transition that I find hope. Of course it is not very smooth, doing this in the middle of the season, but I think its much better than trying to force it between the tackles with a banged up o-line. We are 3-5, and the playoffs are looking pretty unrealistic at this point, But Sing’s job definitely doesn’t stop and he is making adjustments. They wanted to build the team around Gore, but they didn’t have the line to do so, and now they have got to do something else, and that is what they are doing. I was never really on the Sing bandwagon, and was very cautiously optimistic, but this change gives me a lot more hope and trust in Sing than the season opening win against Arizona, where Gore had 30 yards on 22 carries. That is nothing to build your offense around – not to mention that Arizona’s run defense has since been exposed. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season regardless of our playoff chances, and hoping to see more of Sing in the future.

by Red23 on Nov 10, 2009 10:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

yes, they are making adjustments

and good point about the Rams game. I personally can’t believe how slow our offense has been to pickup and learn Jimmy Rayes system…the digit is not that complicated. Martz offense was far more complex and yet our offense did execute plays (when JTO wasn’t getting stripped). The play execution was downright terrible for the first several games, but I think against the Titans we really started executing plays much better. Maybe now they’re finally “getting it”.

by jviet on Nov 10, 2009 11:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Kind of hard to blame the guy and there was reason for the optimism at the beginning of the season

frankly, some of the things that seemed solid at the start of the season have proved to be mirages like:

1. thinking that the O-line would do well based on the new offense only to have them stink up the joint.
2. Thinking Hill would be more effective in throwing the ball, yet the opposite occurred. What happened to the gritty Shaun Hill from the games at the end of last season?
3. RB’s as ineffective as they were (on average after stripping out Franks long TD runs)…see O-line above
4. Offense picking up jimmy Rayes system MUCH slower than all of us thought…though now I think good things are beginning to happen…the execution of plays on average seemed much better this last game than all priors combined.
5. The rash of defensive injuries we seem to be accruing
6. Having a mid-season QB change to a different style of QB who does different things well and bad than the prior one.

I’m sure there are other things but going into the season we all had reason for playoff optimism. Now it’s realization that some things are worse than they appeared and so need more work to correct. It will happen and we are doing some things well and getting better in others…I’m actually more optimistic now because things are clear what we do well vs what we do not do well. The issue is that we’re playing teams right now that are simply cumulatively better on average than we are and thus we’re not getting the wins.

I feel better now about where we are and think we can get our act together and make a run and rattle off some wins.

I also think that definitely we’re the one team that nobody really wants to play..

by jviet on Nov 10, 2009 11:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Are Playoffs The Only Measure Of Success For This Year

Not that I have given up yet but I think the team is playing better than they have in a few years. They have been in most of the games till the end. I have seen a lot worse 49er teams in the last 38 years.
I say give Sing and his crew at least this year and next to get the system and players in synch.Wonder where the team of the 80s would have ended up if they hadn’t given Walsh a couple years.I will believe as long as the players continue to support Sing.Pass me a cup of that Koolaid.

by 9ersince71 on Nov 10, 2009 11:20 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree. Much of what Sing is learning this year from his team is what they can do.. and WHO will do it.

The 2010 draft and FA will be focused more on who and what Sing needs to have this team succeed as a team.

He is doing a good job as most of the players are giving all they can.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Nov 10, 2009 3:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here we go..

I stay with “Yes” because the team is obviously prepared. The defense has yet to allow an opponent to score on their opening drive (only team in the league for which this is true). The offense did score this week on their opening drive. The team, unlike past seasons, is constantly in position to win. They’ve led at the half and in the 4th quarter in 6 of 8 games. They’ve had a chance to drive for the win or get a stop to win in all but one loss. The losses were not about any strategic error he or his staff made.

At some point, either the players are good enough and need to show their ability and maturity and do as they’ve been coached, or we have to admit that this team is not good enough in those few key positions that close out games: O-line, pass rush and/or QB. That’s a GM issue not HC.

I’ll also add that Sing has kept his word from the offseason (and repeated since then, yet people choose to ignore it) when he stated that though he wanted the ability to run the ball when he needed to, he was not a three yards & cloud of dust guy. He would do whatever it took to win. That he has changed QBs, rotated RGs (until injuries kept that from being possible) had Raye open up the playcalling, started Crabtree, chose Spencer over Bly and elevated Brown over Clements, tells me that he will make decisions based on what’s best. The decision to not play Jason Hill more is the only one I don’t understand.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Nov 10, 2009 12:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I voted no

Caving in to critics has proven that Singletary’s weak. This caving cost us the game against an easy team. We’ll be lucky to win another game.

by Ovalshine on Nov 10, 2009 12:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

agree

I find it a little unnerving that he’s strayed so far from what worked. the games were like chess matches early in the season…even against the rams. Niners play field position football and get the early edge, and wear the defenses down.
IMO, no team that lets Alex Smith (and i don’t care what incarnation of Alex) throw the ball nearly 2x as much as Gore runs it, is well coached.
Singletary has control of the locker room, it’s time for him to get control over the coaches booth.

by t p on Nov 10, 2009 12:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

mind you....

that’s 2x as many passes in a game in which we were AHEAD for more than a half.

by t p on Nov 10, 2009 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What was happening early in the season was not working. To my mind, we were having success despite it failing to work.

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2009 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Even the right strategy will not win every game.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Nov 10, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

+10

doesn’t anyone remember “3 yards and a cloud of dust”? Everyone was crying because despite the long runs, every other play went no where.

The defense won the game against Arizona. Even though Hill had a nice drive late, it was put in the D’s hands (like the MInnesota game…look how that turned out…you can’t wait until the last second and then say “WIN” every time)

Gore’s long runs and the defense won the game (basically by taking Hasselbeck out, along with playing well) against Seattle.

St. Louis was simply not adept enough to beat us even though the offense couldn’t get out of it’s own way.

We need to minimize the turnovers and control the ball while making some plays in the passing game. Basically a nice mix of the two styles we’ve played offensively this year.

So change was needed…perhaps we just changed a little too much too soon.

by Tre9er on Nov 10, 2009 2:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Singletary just needs to

stop playing to appease and start playing to win. We play that kind of offense Thursday, expect at least 5 INTs. That kind of offense guarantees high turnover stats with the talent we have. It’s impossible to win with it. Singletary should know better.

by Ovalshine on Nov 10, 2009 4:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't go that far

I’m not gonna go and say what he strayed from worked. Even with the wins, the offense needed to be better, but it was never due to a lack of pass plays. In all but one game (that one game being a win and even then it was 50-50), we passed more than we threw. So, it had nothing to do with running the ball too much. If playcalling was an issue there, it was less to do with when we ran and more to do with how we ran. It’s one thing to predict when a run play is coming, it’s another to predict where it’s going or for that matter, who’s getting the ball.

The main culprit to people in regards to the loss was that we didn’t execute well enough. The truth is that’s what always has been the problem, except this time, the scapegoat was removed from the argument.

by Ovalshine on Nov 10, 2009 4:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta stay with Mike;

Look, the Niners are decimated with injuries on both sides of the ball and the lack of execution in critical situations is the players issue. The fact is that other than the Atlanta game the team is competitive. They might not be ready for prime time but I see a trend in basically the right direction.

by Natural Red on Nov 10, 2009 12:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Teetering, but still support Singletary

Hope this turns around with a victory over the Bears.

"I never watched baseball on TV. It's slow and boring. I'm not a fan. Never was." - Jeff Kent

by Yoyo on Nov 10, 2009 12:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm still on board....

but I’d say a wavering button would have been checked if it were available.

Tough starting out strong, having a weak middle, then finishing strong with nothing to shoot for. It get’s old and happened with Nolan and a little with Erickson.

by hudd07 on Nov 10, 2009 1:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

wavering is for

fools and loser fans…….real niner fans see that there has been a major change in the main fact that watching niner games is a lot funner then it was in the past 5 years….a lot of good things can come from sing…i cant wait for the next seasons to enhance a little more on the subject! go sing!

by Sammallory on Nov 10, 2009 1:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

YES

I will Give Sing at least until the middle of NEXT season before i even consider waivering. For one thing, Now i am watching every game with much interest and thinking that they should win every game and am very upset when they loose. Lets be honest in the Nolan Era i would look at next weeks schedulle and wonder to my self “who are we going to get beat by this week?” and not be suprised when they lost (Only when they won). The fact that this is no longer the case in itself has baught Sing at least Two full years with me to build this team from the wreck it was in.
I understand being upset by a loss but atleast give the guy a full season (dont count the last half of 2008) to see where we end up before demanding his head.

by DCSMITH722 on Nov 10, 2009 1:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

this is year 1

we were lucky to finish close to 500 last year. The off season was ground zero for the Singletary plan. We’re headed in the right direction and it won’t be measured directly by wins yet this year. Especially with the injuries because we haven’t had enough FA periods and drafts to add depth at key positions. I’ll be watchign the off-season intently and yes I would expect us to win 9-10 games next year for sure.

by Tre9er on Nov 10, 2009 2:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I voted yes

I think Sing has actually done a really good job adjusting to what’s been given him. The offense looked really good yesterday. We have a struggling secondary but we’re so thin there that I don’t know what else we could do to fix that except fix it in the off season.

I think we’re headed in the right direction even if it’s bumpy right now.

by smileyman on Nov 10, 2009 2:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

much too soon to evaluate or criticize

In my opinion, Singletary’s one clear mistake this year was the comment on the masthead: “we’ll see them again in the playoffs”. A little hubris and bluster there. Not really his best style.

Overall, I love Sing and hope the he becomes a great coach. I will give him a year or two at the least. There is a learning curve. SO far I like most of what he has done with young players: Jason Hill, Crabtree and Alex Smith. He knows in his gut this is a rebuilding year and we need to develop young people.

I think Sing and Raye should take the heat for conservative play calling and let Alex Smith develop at the ideal pace. Don’t placate fans. Keep your own council and ignore the criticism.

My impression following Sing’s career closely since about 1985? or so, is that he is very intelligent as well as highly competitive and driven. Whether he can identify and develop talent like “the genius” (Walsh) is anybody’s guess. I hope so.

by zacksf on Nov 10, 2009 2:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yes

Hell Yes

"Optimist Prime"
"Child Please" -Ochocinco

by rlott#42 on Nov 10, 2009 4:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A 1st or 2nd year coach should not be judged based on won-loss record,

in my opinion. He should be judged more on player development and team ethos.
Regarding Sing’s contributions to player development:
Willis, A+
Davis, A
Gore, A
Crabtree, A-
Alex Smith, A-
Jason Hill, I (incomplete) —hoping for some improvement here before a grade is assigned…

There are more, of course, but I’ll stop here.

by zacksf on Nov 10, 2009 8:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Chiloh Rachal: F?
Kentwan Balmer: F-?

(Just playing Devil’s Advocate… think nothing of it.)

Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.

by howtheyscored on Nov 10, 2009 9:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd have to give Alex Smith a B at best

You’re generous.

Willis—A
Davis—A
Gore—A
Crabtree—B (3 catches for 30 yards isn’t an A performance)
Alex Smith—B (he did pretty well, but he also threw three interceptions)
Jason Hill—B (for catches for 50 yards and 2 TDs. He didn’t make any big mistakes. The only thing I can fault him for is his ridiculous TD celebration.)

If we’re going to grade the O-line

Barry Simms—A (He’s done a really impressive job filling in for Staley)
David Baas—B (He was responsible for one of the sacks on Alex Smith. Other than the he’s done a pretty good job. Most of the pressure comes from the right side, not the left.)
Eric Heitmann—A (He’s a solid center who makes few mistakes. You can’t really ask for more)
Chilo Rachal—F (Lots of pressure was coming from the right side of the line.)
Adam Synder—F (Same comments as for Rachal. Snyder also was called for a false start on Sunday)

by smileyman on Nov 10, 2009 9:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Chilo has improved a lot

I would give him a D+ or C- and give him the benefit of the doubt that he is a 2nd year player with a 2nd OC. From what I remember he hasn’t really been missing his blocks. Snyder, can hold a block for half a second at the most. I think he is holding this offensive line. I thought they were on the verge of getting better than Pashos got hurt. That was a setback.

Go 49ers

by iaalexeeff on Nov 10, 2009 10:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs