49ers-Seahawks: Mike Singletary Lunch Press Conference

Ted Robinson and Garry Plummer were talking about how Alex Smith was consistently demanding throughout the week that the 49ers open up the playbook for the SEA game. It will be interesting to see if they pursue the same strategy against the Chargers or if we see a reversion to “prevent offense.”

Let’s compare tha man many think out of his element (Mike Singletary) with the man many have considered to be the best HC in the NFC West in recent years (Ken Whisenhunt):.

1. Mike Singletary is 18-20 since becoming a HC. Ken Whisenhunt, during that SAME regular season time frame? 19-19. ONE game better! Only ONE game better!
 
2. Singletary: 3-1 head-to-head against Whisenhunt. Would be 4-0 but for a botched goal line call by Mike Martz. And his 49ers have completely physically dominated and embaressed the Cardinals the past two games.

3. Oh, and Whisenhunt inherited a HOF’er at the ‘most important position on the field’ Kurt Warner. Singletary inherited Alex Smith, who, for all his talent, even admitted today that he’s still learning the position:

“For the first time, at least since I’ve been here, we really let the game come to us,” Smith said. "Everyone just did their job and let the plays come to us.

“The difference — speaking obviously of when I was in there the first six games — we’d have moments out there, but then moments where we’d force the ball, especially me.”

Do the math when you compare the ‘overmatched’ Mike Singletary with the consensus ’Best HC of the NFC West.!

Sing is lucky that he has well-mannered, pliant subordinates such as Alex and MJ who don’t call out his impractical offensive philosophy in his face

1) What does offensive philosophy have to do with whether or not a guy is a good person?

2) Isn’t having players who are not malcontents part of the plan when this team was put together? That’s like saying Belichick is lucky to have Brady. The coaches may indeed be a bit lucky but they also had some say in the types of players they acquired and kept.

Then followed it up with a statement a little while later similar to I’m just going to be me, and not try to change myself.

Good response. Though to his credit I don’t think he uses swear words with them (I wouldn’t be so disciplined).

Kevin Lynch did a radio interview at the top of the hour. Very good top to bottom. Of the many things he covered included how Sing has let go of riding the refs and has actually focused on coaching. His in-game interactions with his players and assistants has matured and become more focused on his job and less on the distractions. Note: this is not a defense of keeping Sing. Just pointing out that he is maturing in his job which will serve the Niners well the remainder of the season and him well in his next job.

I think that’s been his adjustment to the media. I think no canned answers applies more to times like when he was asked about the 18-game schedule and finally answered it with an answer the owners wouldn’t exactly like.

But people that work with, played with and coach with are likely to know the man better than you or me. So I’ll take their knowledge over any fans speculation.

O’Donnell program – I would’ve handled it differently. It’s an example of one of his failings; being too intense and high strung when it comes to football. I do think DO’s question of “What the truth!” was a bit Fox News-ish and thus can understand why someone that had been hammered all day with questions snapped back. Doesn’t make it right but I understand it. He’s not the first coach to be much too terse with a local media person (including the great Walsh). You are a bit wrong here saying that DO had his job yanked. He lost no seniority at this station, got public sympathy from his media buddies and no longer has to do a 5-minute satellite interview every week. Not a great loss on his part and likely an agreed upon role change for the show.

Sing’s pronouncement was at the end of an interview after he had been promoted. He said it as kindly as one can, not exactly bombastic. He had been asked about what kind of coach he would become. His statement was one of confidence and faith. Good for him. I didn’t care what he said then, only what the results would be. He’s likely learned since then that confidence and faith can only carry a HC so far.

I think “team strengths” can be debated all day. Ask ten people here and you’ll get four answers. The strengths you see may not be real, more hoped for. This team has flaws. There is no one scheme that magically makes them 8-5 instead of 5-8. I certainly think that he and his staff know the strengths and weaknesses of these players better than you or I. Perhaps it is you that would be obstinate if you were HC?

I always end up the Sing apologist yet I have no problem calling he and his staff out on perceived weaknesses. I just think the silliness (not all from you) that targets him for yelling too much and too little; his cross; assuming that he’s any more stubborn, egotistical than any other professional head coach; attacking an offensive philosophy that most coaches without a great QB run while misquoting what he said he wants the philosophy to be, and accusations that players have quit on him when the results show the opposite all pile up to bunch of foolishness from people who don’t know better and can’t articulate what their real problem is. A person can be a good man, decent football guy but poor HC without being blamed for everything.

He might be a saint who’s loved by all the players, respected by his assistants and is voted dad of the year. If the team is not performing up to standards and he has no way to address and fix the problems then he must be replaced. That personal stuff wouldn’t matter, yet some fans focus on the personal stuff without any knowledge as to what is accurate, then only ascribe the worst. Seems lazy to me.