Don't Forget: Other Teams Are Going Through Their Offseason, Could 49ers Lose Greg Roman To Colts?

by James Brady on Jan 19, 2012 10:30 AM PST in Jim Harbaugh 49ers Coaching Staff

Allow us to take a quick break from looking at the (totally awesome) New Orleans Saints game and, of course, the (infinitely more awesome) upcoming game against the New York Giants for a bit of offseason news. That's right, there is going to be an offseason for us at some point, though hopefully it won't be until some point in February. Around the league, head coaches are losing their jobs and teams are looking to bring in some fresh blood.

Could the 49ers be a candidate to lose some of their coaches to those teams? It's certainly a possibility, with Vic Fangio and Greg Roman both regarded highly, not to mention some key position coaches like Geep Chryst, among others. Thus far, there's been no solid rumors of 49ers coaches going anywhere, outside of the official news of Roman interviewing with Penn State.

One possibility was discussed on Twitter yesterday, and I wanted to open up discussion on it and see what you good folks think. With the Indianapolis Colts being without a head coach and possibly without Peyton Manning next season, some wondered if Roman could be a candidate to take over there. I certainly see it as a realistic possibility, given Roman's history with Andrew Luck, who is the guy that many believe the Colts will take. ESPN even went as far as to report that Luck is the pick, citing sources. So Roman does make sense, on top of the fact that he's on the up-and-up anyway.

Personally, I really like Roman and what he's been able to do, but I would be happy for him if he found a head coaching gig. I'm OK with a scenario in which he leaves because I know the main offensive system will remain in place with Jim Harbaugh, and we've got someone like Chryst on the staff. Especially given the article Maiocco posted yesterday about how Chryst called the final two minutes of the Saints game. How would you react?

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Colts should just go after Shaw if they're going to go that route.

Interesting side note, does all of this mean the Cotls might let Wayne walk? He could turn into a bargain FA for the 49ers. Could desperately use a sure handed big-game tested receiver.

The game isn't played in your mind's eye. Stop telling me what you don't "see."

by whistlingmountain on Jan 19, 2012 10:35 AM PST reply actions

Shaw was Harbaugh's number 2!

It could be a very very busy upcoming weeks for Greg Roman… What is it about Alex Smith’s Offensive Coordinators doing so well after coaching Alex Smith??

Mike McCarthy… HC in GB
Norv Turner… HC in SD
Jim Hostler.. WR Coach in Bal
Mike Martz… Retired
Jimmy Raye… I think his son is doing pretty well…
Mike Johnson… I believe he coached a couple games at UCLA
Greg Roman… ???

by SH0ck-D on Jan 19, 2012 11:02 AM PST up reply actions

I don't see it

Your line of reasoning does make some sense with the possibility of the Colts drafting Luck but I just don’t see it happening. Has Roman been a head coach at any level before? I think we are higher on him than the rest of the country.

by AptosNinerFan on Jan 19, 2012 11:04 AM PST reply actions

Just a topic for discussion

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
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by James Brady on Jan 19, 2012 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

No doubt

Sorry if it came off like I didn’t think it was worthy or something. Just offering my opinion.

I love Roman and would hate to see him go. What really worries me is if he were to take a few guys like Drevno and Chryst with him but again I think we’re safe this offseason.

by AptosNinerFan on Jan 19, 2012 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

Sometimes, the outside world is kinda crazy

The Broncos are seriously concerned about losing Mike McCoy. He has had several interviews and appears to be on the short list for at least one team. He has only been an OC for two years (one historically bad and the other unconventional by today’s standards). I do not see how anyone can look at that resume and think this is the right time to hire him as HC. In a couple years… maybe. You never know…

by Da Bum on Jan 19, 2012 11:32 AM PST up reply actions

This baffles me too....

Reading about the teams interviewing him twice and thinking “who the hell is this guy? It’s not like he turned Tebow into an all-pro.”

by 9thevolution on Jan 19, 2012 11:49 AM PST up reply actions

Its not about what he did with Tebow

It’s probably what he did mid season in turning around the offense to fit Tebows limitation. When you can do that on the fly, and turn a 1-4 team into a playoff team your name should be on some teams radar

"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."

Norm Sloan

"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."

Weldon Drew

by EcERyda69 on Jan 19, 2012 12:07 PM PST up reply actions

Maybe...

But it seems like such a small body of work to hand out a head coaching job for. It would be one thing if other teams were seriously trying to lure him for a lateral move, but a HC job with no real experience, seems like a stretch.

by 9thevolution on Jan 19, 2012 1:04 PM PST up reply actions

I am a Broncos fan

I respect what McCoy has done for us this year… but I feel the same. I would be pissed if my team was considering this (in fact, was pissed when Pat Bowlen hired Josh McDaniels with a similar resume). The Singletary experiment here with our own Niners was a disaster, but you kinda understood why it went down that way. I doubt Jed ever makes that kind of mistake again and Sing may grow into a solid coach someday, but he was not ready. McCoy clearly has more experience, but not enough to justify the interest, IMO.

Ohhh the reverberations of disaster the Belichick tree causes every time one of his underlings is hired anywhere… pure, unadulterated chaos and poison.

by Da Bum on Jan 20, 2012 9:02 AM PST up reply actions

Basically as long as the offense remains in place we won't lose much by losing Roman.

"Coach, we got this. We got this." - Frank Gore
REST IN PEACE MAURICE LUCAS 1952-2010 R.I.P #20
"They responded like mighty men." - Jim Harbaugh

by rise_stand_resist on Jan 19, 2012 11:05 AM PST reply actions

What's an "Off-Season"??????

by AK49e on Jan 19, 2012 11:06 AM PST reply actions

Marty Mornhinweg

Seriously doubt it would be Roman to get the job even if they do intend to take Luck. I’d put my money on Mornhinweg to get the job.

- Previous head coaching experience
- Experience developing QBs (Kolb and Vick)
- Brings offensive system that would suite Luck’s play style.

by 9thevolution on Jan 19, 2012 11:13 AM PST reply actions

I think...

Out of the two Niner coordinators, Vic Fangio is the sleeper who might get approached more for possible head coaching jobs, or even Brad Seely who wears the “Assistant Head Coach” hat on top of being the ST Coordinator.

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by LooseCannon79 on Jan 19, 2012 11:16 AM PST reply actions

I think Fangio's too old...

I don’t know his exact age and am too lazy to look it up, but the trend in the NFL is too hire young, up and coming assistants. Fangio’s proven to be a good coach and DC, but I don’t see him leaving, which is great for the 49ers.

"The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before." ~Steve Young #8

by Young_To_Rice on Jan 19, 2012 1:43 PM PST up reply actions

For the record, I feel like the Colts will hire Mike Zimmer. They'll go with a defensive guy in my mind.

More than the chance that Roman goes there, I was more looking to discuss how ya’ll would feel if we lost Roman.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
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by James Brady on Jan 19, 2012 11:19 AM PST reply actions

I mentioned last week I don’t think it would be a huge issue. The whole offensive staff seems to work together calling/creating plays. I would think a guy like Geep Chryst would step in without much disruption.

Attack this day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. ~ Jack Harbaugh

by Virginia9er on Jan 19, 2012 11:20 AM PST up reply actions

I think of our head coordinators

I’d be more concerned if Fangio left.

extrabaggs
"Just your typical Giants scoring rally: A faceburger on the basepaths, two errors from the second baseman and a bases-loaded balk."

by Badly Browned on Jan 19, 2012 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

Yup, Fangio or Seely leaving would be a huge blow...

Chryst, Donatell, and Leavitt are also guys I’d hate to see leave SF. Harbaugh has a great staff right now and hopefully they get at least a couple of years together before they get poached or leave for greener pastures.

"The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before." ~Steve Young #8

by Young_To_Rice on Jan 19, 2012 1:46 PM PST up reply actions

Fangio

If he was going to get a HC job wouldn’t he have gotten it by now? I mean at this point in his career?

by AptosNinerFan on Jan 19, 2012 11:23 AM PST reply actions

I’ve been saying this all season, I don’t see him becoming a HC at this point.

Attack this day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind. ~ Jack Harbaugh

by Virginia9er on Jan 19, 2012 11:24 AM PST up reply actions

Based on Harbaugh's comment regarding Vic's legacy being a great DC

It does not sound like Vic WANTS to be a HC. I am sure there are opportunities, if he wants them, but I get the sense that he likes what he is doing.

by Da Bum on Jan 19, 2012 11:28 AM PST up reply actions

Not necessarily...

But it could very well be that he has no aspirations of being a head coach (fingers crossed). There’s something to be said about a guy who knows what he’s good at and is content in his place within the coaching ranks.

Who's Got it Better than Us?
Follow @LooseCannon79

by LooseCannon79 on Jan 19, 2012 11:37 AM PST up reply actions

Agree on Chryst

Should Roman get a job somewhere else, it seems evident that Chryst is next in line for the OC job.

Should Vic go, it seems like Tomsula is next in line.

Which side of the ball would Seely go to?

by t p on Jan 19, 2012 11:38 AM PST reply actions

Vic and the defense

While we’re seeing a legendary season from the defense, I can’t help but think that the steps taken on that side of the ball are attributable to many factors:

drafting of aldon smith
addition of donatell to the defensive coaching staff
emergence of the ST unit (seriously, what an amazing season from these guys)
etc……

Vic has been masterful in creating coherent game plans. i hope that he’s mentoring…should he find work somewhere else.

by t p on Jan 19, 2012 11:43 AM PST reply actions

Donatell is absolutlely key...

Look at the transformation of the 49ers secondary, especially the development of T. Brown and Cullliver (not too mention Rogers and Goldson having Pro Bowl years) and you see the immense value of quality coaching.

"The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before." ~Steve Young #8

by Young_To_Rice on Jan 19, 2012 1:47 PM PST up reply actions

How do we even know Roman would want Luck at #1

Harbaugh wanted to run a system with both RG3 and Luck. RG3 got away. Maybe Roman knows what so many others dont. Luck is a bust waiting to happen, RG3 isnt.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jan 19, 2012 12:12 PM PST via mobile reply actions

are we forgetting something here...

RG3 is a Heisman winner; & unless I’m mistaken, Heisman winners just flat out do not succeed @ the NFL level…history doesn’t lie…

by Doni S on Jan 19, 2012 12:30 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Unless they're defensive Heisman winners (Woodson)...

"The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before." ~Steve Young #8

by Young_To_Rice on Jan 19, 2012 1:48 PM PST up reply actions

If Roman bolts

I don’t think Chryst goes w/him; Harb’s would likely promote him to OC; & I think Fangio is staying regardless of whatever offers he might otherwise receive

But…I don’t think Roman is on any1’s radar @ the moment; he’s only been w/us 1 season and it’s been a medium-avg. offense @ that…a 48 point game & (2) +30 point games isn’t exactly something special to write home about; granted, we lost Morgan in the Tampa game & Braylon didn’t pan out which left our passing attack kinda murky; now after next season, with a full offseason, that’s something else

by Doni S on Jan 19, 2012 12:24 PM PST via mobile reply actions

I dont see this happening

but out of the big three, Roman would be the one i would be the least worried about if we lost him somehow

by KGboomer on Jan 19, 2012 12:30 PM PST reply actions

It wouldn'tbother me if Roman left.

I haven’t been to high on the playcalling this season especially in the Red Zone which could be explained by the lack of offseason and the fact that the playbook is still being perfected. As others have said, the system will stay the same it would just be a different guy calling plays and I would be ok with that.

by downsos on Jan 19, 2012 12:46 PM PST reply actions

I THINK THERE GOING TO HIRE A COLLEGE COACH

Nfl network is saying there going after a college coach and maybe a arenea football coach i think roman is safe for now

by armando925guerra on Jan 19, 2012 12:46 PM PST reply actions

How about a contrarian opinion?

I have done a lot of homework on the Colts in the last three weeks. Here are some off-the-wall predictions:

1. With a “rookie” GM, Irsay will not let Grigson hire a HC without prior HC experience … probably NFL-level … and, it will not be a big-dollar guy.
2. That would rule out Roman, Fangio and Zimmer. My best guess is Mornhinweg.
3. There will be massive roster turnover and position switches in the off-season, including Saturday retiring and both Wayne and Mathis leaving via free agency.
4. Manning will be back … and will be the starting QB in September (which would NOT sit well with Luck).
5. I think that there is at least a 50% chance, maybe higher, that Andrew Luck will NOT become a Colt.

by 49erFanSince1950 on Jan 19, 2012 1:04 PM PST reply actions

by ak4niner on Jan 19, 2012 2:59 PM PST reply actions

mike singletary

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
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by James Brady on Jan 19, 2012 3:23 PM PST up reply actions