Originally posted by jimbagg:
The cupboard is not totally bare on this front. I believe that the position coaches are the developers, while the HC, OC, and DC are responsible more for use, not development. Here are some good development jobs:
DL Coach Jim Tomsula - Sopoaga lost a year to a bad back, and was just flailing around until Tomsula became the DL coach. Marked improvement in Sopoaga, so that he can play effectively at 2 positions (NT and DE). Now Tomsula has Balmer entering his 2nd year and showing marked improvement. Franklin improved after Nolan left and Tomsula convinced Manusky to use Franklin mostly as a 1-gapper, where his quickness could be exploited. Tomsula is a teacher.
TE Coach Pete Hoener - harnessing the unbridled and undisciplined Vernon Davis would have been a huge challenge for any position coach. And Hoener has needed a direct hand from Singletary to get it done, but Hoener has developed Davis, first as a blocker and now, it's clear that Davis' receiving skills have been markedly upgraded. The turnover in OC's and how they chose to use Davis, has masked this development. Also Hoener has successfully converted WR Walker into an effective TE, plus Hoener has developed low draft picks/UDFA's into effective blocking TE's (Bajema, Finley, Pascoe). Hoener is a teacher.
WR Coach Sullivan - I've not been a fan of Sullivan for much of his stay, but it's important to separate the talent level of the player from the development effort of the coach. Sullivan sets a high bar for acceptable play. Only Battle, Hill and Morgan seem to have been able to exceed that bar. Many have fallen short, which I attribute to talent limitations. Battle, Morgan and Hill are all very effective downfield blockers, a developed skill, and disciplined route runners, another developmental skill.
LC Coach Tarver - share the credit with Singletary, but the development of Haralson, a 5th-round pick has been steady and solid. Willis has also developed in terms of play recognition and pass protection. Lawson is a lightning rod for criticism in the eyes of some fans, but when he plays, his coverage skills, tackle-for-loss play and backside rundowns on plays to the weakside, are all strong developed skills. Too bad Jay Moore hasn't stayed healthy enough to join this trio. McKillop will be another good developmental example by 2011.
Failed developmental coaches:
Warhop - total dud in OL development. Foerster showed some skill in late 2008.
All the RB coaches. This is now fixed with Rathman onboard.
DB coaches - Still suspect. Most of the starters have been bought in FA, not developed. Goldson, Brown and Smith are the test tube babies for this season.
I can agree with most of this.
However Foerster sucks. We have guys playing out of position across the Line. If Foerster was even halfway serviceable he would have been able to see this halfway through his first season. But instead it's epic failure through his second season.
The DB coach could be okay so long as Goldson Smith etc continue to make strides. Goldson is even learning to get physical with the Receivers so I think that will start to get around the rest of the unit.
I like Rathman and think he;s a hell of a coach but c'mon when Gore was out we had no run game. Whether that is on Foerster and the OLine or not, there were several times when Norris couldn't pick up one yard. Rathman has to do a better job of bringing along the younger guys. Hopefully Brit Miller will be given a chance in Camp. I think that he could be a hell of a backfieldmate of Franks. Similar to the Craig/Rathman stable.
And Hoener is proving to be a HELL of a TE coach. Delanie Walker is a hell of a tandem TE adding pressure to the Opposing Defenses. Too bad he wasn't used that much in the last 5 games. I think hat had more to do with injury than play calling though.
~Ceadder