The Problem is Singletary

by SSC24 on Oct 11, 2010 11:50 AM PDT

But don't get me wrong - I still like him overall as the head coach, but I HATE the fact that he has input in the offensive gameplan. The eagles loss made me sure that he does. Let me start out by saying that Mike Johnson is a pretty bright guy - he's young, creative (to the point where he'll open up the playbook a lot more than Raye, although a lot of their plays simply suck), and knows where the offense's strengths lie. If it weren't for Singletary giving Johnson an earful about pounding the ball and shoving Gore down the throat of the defense, Johnson would be calling plays HIS way - and in case you don't know what that is, I'm guessing it's something along the lines of

- incorporating more of the spread offense, playing to Alex's strengths

- not calling run plays on second and long, so as to not face a probable third and long, making it an obvious passing situation

-running Gore to the outsides more, and not up the (stacked) middle

I don't know why Sing continues to insist on "establishing the running game." I hope Gore's pair of fumbles proved something to him (although I doubt it). The objective in football is to fool the opposing team by making it face the unexpected. If the opponent has stacked eight guys in the box, you've got to be an idiot if you decide to be stubborn and run. This is the NFL - then aim is to set up the run with the pass; doing the opposite is nearly impossible.

The only message I have for Singletary is this -

Let Mike Johnson do his thing and run the offense himself - the offensive philosophy you're trying to instill is ineffective now and always will be. Get yourself out of the offensive gameplan - stick to defense - or nothing even. Just don't touch the offense.

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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Sing is a motivational HC, not a tactician. He needs to realize this, and soon or else I think he will not be the HC next year. Let Mike Johnson do his thing whether he fails or not. The Niners coaching setup is just as that, Sing as the leader HC, Johnson as the play caller on Off and Manusky as the Def play caller… let be as such and stay out of the way except in leading the team emotionally Sing.

by danknerd49 on Oct 11, 2010 12:00 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, cuz if MJ calls the plays the team wouldn't turn it over.

the problem is turnovers not the offense.

Sing is no dumber or smarter a HC if Clements doesn’t fumble and/or Smith makes one less mistake yesterday. If this team had a better, not great just better, QB then they would be 3-1 and the perception of SIng and his staff would be different even though they are the same coaches doing the same thing. -SpurredOn...

by rlott#42 on Oct 11, 2010 12:01 PM PDT reply actions

Turnovers are what have killed us the entire 5 games.

49ers por vida!!!!!!!!!!!!

by 49erSalvatrucha on Oct 11, 2010 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm sure MJ, without Sing's influence, would keep calling Gore up-the-middle run plays...

there are two of your turnovers.

Bandwagoners are the prostitutes of fandom.

by SSC24 on Oct 11, 2010 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly, and at this point, not a coaching issue.

by rlott#42 on Oct 11, 2010 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I was being sarcastic...lols

Sing is giving MJ an earful about running the offense his (stubborn) way, AKA setting up the pass with the run (LMAO).

Bandwagoners are the prostitutes of fandom.

by SSC24 on Oct 12, 2010 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions

You are assuming

that the HC has nothing to do with turn overs. But I strongly disagree. Great coaches teach players how to hold on to the ball. Runners and QBs are challenged all the time in practice to hold the ball the right way as runners. Belichik in an interview once said they practice WHEN to fight for yardage as a runner and when not to, and when to gamble as a QB and when not to. It depends on the score, the time, the game. Their players learn to think like coaches.

This is definitely not what Singletary is preaching. He is smash mouth. Kill on every play. He seems to be saying fight for every yard every play (that includes Nate Clemens and Gore), even Frank no longer uses his head. And Alex, don’t run, don’t use your legs, and always roll out to the right. Don’t learn in practice how to roll left. And then he does, and then he fumbles. And Singletary freaks out.

He’s a preacher, not a teacher. But we need a tactician who knows how to coach, not a cheerleader from Glide Memorial.

It’s time for us to move on. We’re never going to be the Bears. We need to find a coach that can give us a fun and exciting offensive system. Something to get jacked about as a fan. Then watch our defense come alive. We have some really great players. We need a head coach to bring it all together, not scream at players on the sideline and break it apart.

by Since79 on Oct 11, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

It's not really about teaching

players to hold on to the ball. That’s not something I think we should focus on. It’s more of the type of system we have instituted, what personnel we have on the field (Bass, Rachel, Norris) and how they relate to the success of our other players that we should be questioning.

by mr. instigator on Oct 11, 2010 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Rathman is our RB coach, you don't think they work on that?

You talk like you are in the practices, the claims you make are merely assumptions, and you know what they say about people making assumptions. You can fight for yards, and not fumble as long as you carry the ball properly.

You think he is a preacher and not a teacher because of his faith? Lewis said he learned the most from Singletary. That is learned from Sing’s teaching.

You keep talking about the Bears and again i will reinterate, we couldn’t be the bears. Gore is no Payton, and our defense is not even close and Ray Charles can see that. What teams have a fun and exciting offense, is winning RIGHT NOW?? NONE.

by rlott#42 on Oct 11, 2010 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

but who’s to say the offensive philosophy/design/play calling aren’t contributing to those turnovers? Running Gore up the middle over and over again doesn’t help prevent fumbles. Getting a RB who can bounce it outside and step out of bounds and avoid a big hit does.

Having an offense that suits your QB’s strengths will help mitigate interceptions and pressure brought from the defense because Alex will be able to get the ball off more confidently and effectively. Basically the turnovers aren’t DIRECTLY caused by the coaching, but it’s obvious that the system we’re running offensively (and defensively for that matter) are not helping us in the turnover department, since we’re not putting our players in the best environment to be successful.

by mr. instigator on Oct 11, 2010 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Good post...

I respect Coach Singletary a LOT, for what he did as a player, and for what he stands for as a man. That having been said….

What is destroying us is the number of mistakes, most importantly but not limited to turnovers. I coached for a number of years at both the high school and college levels, and it is my undying belief, formed during those coaching years, that a team that continually beats themselves with mistakes is A POORLY COACHED TEAM. Good teams DO NOT DO THAT. Granted that every team makes some mistakes, all players are human beings and are therefore imperfect, but the well-coached teams don’t make many, and not at critical times.

Our offensive play-calling SUCKS!!!!! Raye’s play-calling rated an “F” grade. Johnson has elevated that all the way to a D+, maybe even a C-, but no higher. At one point late in the first half, we had run on EVERY first down, and on every second down with 7 or fewer yards to go. Hell, a Pop Warner coach could easily game-plan against our “O”. However, late in the game on the two consecutive scoring drives, we were in a lot of spread and were quite successful. The last half of last season, the same thing occurred. When will Singletary and our O-coordinator du jour realize that they MUST open up the play book from the get-go if we’re going to have a chance to be successful in the NFL.

After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.

by OldJock on Oct 11, 2010 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

Exactly.

Jimmy Raye’s plays themselves suck, but Alex and MJ can make the most of them, through consistent use of the spread offense.

Bandwagoners are the prostitutes of fandom.

by SSC24 on Oct 11, 2010 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I just watched the Superbowl champion do that to themselves two weeks in a row.

DELETED

by rlott#42 on Oct 11, 2010 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions

BRING IN.....

CHUCKIE, CHUCKIE, CHUCKIE

by SBN_ADL on Oct 11, 2010 2:26 PM PDT reply actions

Why for 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

His offenses were never above 18th in the league. he is not an offensive guru. he is a protect the ball run it and don’t give it away coach. PLEASE.

by rlott#42 on Oct 11, 2010 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Gruden

Is OBSESSED with Alex Smith.. He always has the best things to say about him. If we bring him in our offense will be great. Besides Johnson and Dunn you probably couldnt name one good player off that offensive team that won the superbowl..and alstott. He is the one and ONLY coach i will have faith in to make Alex into the QB we all know he can be because he will give him a chance. Any other coach is gunna dump Alex, draft a rookie, suck for a year or 2, run frank, play conservitive, and the next few years are gunna be just like the last few. If you want this team to win within the near future we NEED to have Smith be our guy. And i think he can be with the right coach. and that is Gruden

by Collin B on Oct 12, 2010 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions