George Seifert

Originally posted by DesiDez:
In defense of Seifert, he did start the the whole merry-go-round of defensive substituitions and defensive specialist that you see today. So when guys like Ahmad Brooks gets sacks on third downs, you can thank Seifert for that.

My only gripe with him is the 92 season, and being ousted from the playoffs by his former assistant, Holmgren, in 95 and 96.

I'd say that the third down pass rushing specialist really started with Fred Dean in 1981 and was another Bill Walsh innovation. Seifert was the Defensive Backs coach in '81. No question Seifert was a great Defensive Coordinator. I'm just not sure I'd credit him with that particular innovation.

Damn good DC, but completely over his head as a HC. Best thing he did was to try to change nothing about Walsh's blueprints, just keep it rolling. He then went to Carolina and set NFL record for consecutive losses, oops! Damaged the Niners before he left, by his inability to keep Charles Haley (one of Walsh's unappreciated strengths was handling "special" players), and had a hand in botching the Plan B loss of Ronnie Lott. Sorry, I don't have any special place in my heart for Seifert.

The greatest respect for George but...

WE SHOULD'VE PROMOTED HOLMGREN OVER GEORGE!

I liked George, but hard to judge him when he was handed a team that could almost run itself. I then look at his time at Carolina and go ewwwwww.

Originally posted by WINiner:
Siefert sucked when he didn't have the best talent in the league and an owner that spared no expense.

I apreciate him, but think he is one of the more overrated HC's in Niner history.

I mean look at the talent, and the assistant coaches that he had to work with, how could he have NOT be successful?[/quote]

To some degree, I can correlate the emphasized above to the SB Switzer won with Dallas. I am not sold either way on Seifert as a HC, considering he had lots of success with us but, in comparison, failed miserably in Carolina.

George Seifert= Jim Caldwell. They took over teams that were already great.

It's nice to see Seifert get a little recognition for his own accomplishments without connecting Bill Walsh to him. It's hard to make the separation, but truth is, he was a great coach. Many say he just mantained the dynasty, but does anyone have any idea how hard that is? If it were so easy, why don't we see other teams with the nearly 20 year run that the 49ers had?

The 1989 49ers were still Bill Walsh's team, but no team, in modern football had as dominating a playoff performance as the 49ers did that year. That team was coached by George Seifert.

He averaged about 12 wins per year for his 8 seasons at the helm. Many teams are wish they could get 12 wins once or twice in 8 seasons. His teams made 5 championship game appearances. The bar was set so high, that I believe it was really under his watch that simply making the NFC Championship truly became a disappointment. I'm not one too spectulate too much, but honestly, if Craig doesn't fumble, I say we would've beaten the Bills in the Super Bowl (even with Young as the QB).

The Carolina thing didn't do him any favors and many of us fans may remember the Seifert years with a lot of disappointment because of the championship game losses and upsets at home, but what he did was great, and a good number of us probably wish that all we had to complain about was "another NFC championship loss."

Caretaker.

Originally posted by aiiyiiyiii:
Caretaker.

Caretaker? For eight years? That sounds dumb.

There was a five year gap between Superbowls that Seifert coached in. The team roster was quite different in that second Superbowl. He only missed the playoffs once over a eight year period as head coach of the 49ers, in his 3rd season...with a 10-6 record. Over eight seasons, the 49ers w/l record was 98-30 in the regular season & 10-5 in the post season.

Doesn't sound like "just a caretaker to me". It takes real ability to keep a team going great for eight seasons. Contrast that with Bill Callahan who inherited a Gruden Raider team & took them to the Superbowl in his first season, then went 4-12 the next year.

If it's dumb to suggest that Seifert coasted for years with Walsh's team, and the truth is that he was some great coach, then how do you explain his face plant in Carolina immediately afterward..

People sometimes don't realize what a juggernaut Bill Walsh built here. Seifert did a great job keeping it on the track for as long as possible, right down to copying Walsh's practice schedules and every other routine.

After Walsh left, Eddie's money flowed without limits, no salary cap and no free agent too expensive to acquire.

Sorry, but Seifert was a caretaker.

Originally posted by aiiyiiyiii:
If it's dumb to suggest that Seifert coasted for years with Walsh's team, and the truth is that he was some great coach, then how do you explain his face plant in Carolina immediately afterward..

People sometimes don't realize what a juggernaut Bill Walsh built here. Seifert did a great job keeping it on the track for as long as possible, right down to copying Walsh's practice schedules and every other routine.

After Walsh left, Eddie's money flowed without limits, no salary cap and no free agent too expensive to acquire.

Sorry, but Seifert was a caretaker.

So, does that mean every other coach that was successful by learning from Walsh were also just caretakers. Even though they were successful with different rosters using his methods, like Seifert?

Originally posted by PatrickWillisHOF:
George Seifert= Jim Caldwell. They took over teams that were already great.

youre comparison is spot on...

if Caldwell goes on to win the super bowl this year, and then wins 6 of the next 7 division titles, along with another super bowl, and averages a 12-4 record in those 7 years.

come on dude....Jim Caldwell hasnt even completed his first season yet. belittling Seiferts accomplishments to comparisons of Jim Caldwell is ridiculous. Caldwell needs 84 more regular season wins to tie Seifert.

Originally posted by DesiDez:
In defense of Seifert, he did start the the whole merry-go-round of defensive substituitions and defensive specialist that you see today. So when guys like Ahmad Brooks gets sacks on third downs, you can thank Seifert for that.

My only gripe with him is the 92 season, and being ousted from the playoffs by his former assistant, Holmgren, in 95 and 96.

the 92 season when we went 14-2 for the 3rd time in 4 seasons? tough critic.and in 95 and 96 we went 11-5 and 12-4. if those are the critical years, i think he did pretty darn good.

Originally posted by BobS:
I think his failure in Carolina damages his legacy.

going 8-8, 7-9, and then 1-15 with absolutely AWFUL teams doesnt damage his legacy at all. his legacy is winning 98 games in 8 seasons with 2 super bowl rings and 7 division titles.

people seem to forget he inherited a Panthers team that had JUST started as a franchise a couple years before. he had nothing to work with. i remember those Panthers teams. George Seifert was not their problem. but, when your team goes 1-15, you gotta go regardless.