Man, we are so fortunate to have Greg Manusky!

A friend of mine at work brought me his i-phone which had a Sirius program on with Greg Manusky. What a great interviewer! They talked about his defense and his approach to coaching. Manusky said that he feels that the players must have fun since their careers can be short lived. In addition, he mentioned how this squad must be a "team" first to hold the gap, cover the man, attack the ball. If one guy is out of place, then the team fails.

He also talked about Patrick Willis and how he's evolved into this high caliber Pro Bowl backer. How Pat, as he calls him, just immerses himself every year into the playbook and wants to "know" everyone's assignment so he can be prepared no matter what the circumstance. How he just works days and nights to get it "right" in the long run. You could tell he was beaming with pride as he spoke.

Then, Manusky told a tale of the first time he met Davis and Iupati. Davis was inside another room while Iupati is seated waiting his turn. Maunsky comes up and asks if he is doing OK and is everyone treating you right? Iupati of course say yes and that he's excited to be here. To which Manusky responds:

"We are going to kick your ass!" and leaves. At that point, everyone on the show laughs their asses off.



How cool is that? He did the same thing to Davis when he got out of the room. What a comedian. The rooks didn't know how to respond and look dumbfounded. I believe that Manusky will continue to work his magic with this defense. Each year we seem to get better on D by getting better players or getting rid of the ones that continue to disappoint. This year is no different with the addition of Mays and Bowman both of whom where projected much higher based on their talent.

Now Manusky has two more youngin's to mold into his D.

Manusky

What do you guys like about him or what has impressed you most?

did he say that to them at the combine or at the headquarters after the draft? explain the context.

Best Coach on the Niners, and probably the heir apparent for the Head Coach once Singletary moves on.

Originally posted by BurritoSmuggler:
did he say that to them at the combine or at the headquarters after the draft? explain the context.

He said it on the day they came to HQ where the big media festivities took place. You can just tell Manusky loved doing that to them. Man, this cat is quite the character. I remember that NFL ad where he's a Chief and makes a comment about chewing bubble gum and kickin' ass. That is a perfect glimpse into his nature.

Yea can you imagine the scene for Iupati. All the "buzz" going on around him, all the genuine welcomes he receives and then he meets Manusky.

You just got to love it man! This team needs more guys like him! The D seems to permeate the essence of Manusky.

Have fun while kickin' ass! Now that's football!

Originally posted by ninertico:

Originally posted by BurritoSmuggler:
did he say that to them at the combine or at the headquarters after the draft? explain the context.

He said it on the day they came to HQ where the big media festivities took place. You can just tell Manusky loved doing that to them. Man, this cat is quite the character. I remember that NFL ad where he's a Chief and makes a comment about chewing bubble gum and kickin' ass. That is a perfect glimpse into his nature.

Yea can you imagine the scene for Iupati. All the "buzz" going on around him, all the genuine welcomes he receives and then he meets Manusky.

You just got to love it man! This team needs more guys like him! The D seems to permeate the essence of Manusky.

Have fun while kickin' ass! Now that's football!

haha nice. i was gonna say, seemed like an odd thing to say to them before actually drafting them. but you never know. lol

I think he'll be a HC candidate after this year if our team/D does well.

nice info

Thanks Tico

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
nice info

Thanks Tico

I like Manusky a lot. I think he has big potential and he has grown with us. There are still some things I don't like such as playing way off WR's on 3rd and short, we clearly need to work on screen coverage and RB's out of the backfield, prevent-a-win defense when the game is on the line, he still plays a vanilla (predictable schemes) 3-4 at times, etc.

To me, the thing is he's been hand-cuffed by the ineffectiveness of our OLB's save for all the "third down specialists we've had over the years." I think once we get at least one dominant every down OLB, Manusky can grow even more.

He doesn't have to put both OLB's up at the LOS every time (as pseudo DE's). For him to take the next step, he is going to have to learn about/implement more effective blitz schemes (see Jets) b/c we don't have that one dominant OLB. He needs to move these OLB's around, pre snap, rotate between the WILL and SAM (they are "mirror players", etc.).

That said, he was able to get sacks more collectively from the rest of the team last year, get some turnovers, make some clutch plays, etc. He FINALLY started using the middle LB's to blitz more - I'd like to see him use the CB's up at the LOS more, being more physical and THEN running more blitzes (ala Spencer).

I think once we get Mays in there, we'll be able to utilize his speed and quickness more in the box to also blitz the QB which should be very effective.

I think he has most of the tools he needs now save for at least one dominant every-down OLB, so THIS is the year he needs to open it up more and bring the blitz from everywhere on the field and where it should come. If he can do that, we have a shot of being one of the best 3-4 defenses out there and consequently, one of the top defenses, period.

He's still learning too...but I like him and hope he takes that next step this year.

This year should be ALL about dictating the offense and getting aggressive (no more bend but don't break). We spent WAY too much time on the field as a defense and much of that was b/c we couldn't get off the field on 3rd downs.

Originally posted by Leathaface:
I think he'll be a HC candidate after this year if our team/D does well.

I want us to succeed, yet I fear something like that would happen if he were interviewed and offered a HC job elsewhere. I was hoping he'd be a leading candidate for our HC position after Singletary in a few years.

Originally posted by Leathaface:
I think he'll be a HC candidate after this year if our team/D does well.

I personally see Manusky as one of those guys who's always been a coordinator and never really cared to HC, when all is said and done. I may be wrong though. We will see.

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by Leathaface:
I think he'll be a HC candidate after this year if our team/D does well.

I personally see Manusky as one of those guys who's always been a coordinator and never really cared to HC, when all is said and done. I may be wrong though. We will see.

I disagree. He's only held the Defensive Coordinator position for three seasons. Prior to that, he was a positions coach for six seasons.

I think he most compares to Jim Schwartz. Schwartz was the Defensive Coordinator in Tennessee for eight seasons before landing a Head Coaching job. Within those eight years Schwartz interviewed for countless Head Coaching jobs. I believe next off season teams will begin to see Manusky as a candidate.

Originally posted by redrathman:

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by Leathaface:
I think he'll be a HC candidate after this year if our team/D does well.

I personally see Manusky as one of those guys who's always been a coordinator and never really cared to HC, when all is said and done. I may be wrong though. We will see.

I disagree. He's only held the Defensive Coordinator position for three seasons. Prior to that, he was a positions coach for six seasons.

I think he most compares to Jim Schwartz. Schwartz was the Defensive Coordinator in Tennessee for eight seasons before landing a Head Coaching job. Within those eight years Schwartz interviewed for countless Head Coaching jobs. I believe next off season teams will begin to see Manusky as a candidate.

I agree that OTHER teams will see him as a candidate, but agree with WIN in that Manusky seems to be more of a coordinator type. What do I base that on? My own gut. He strikes me like Spagnolo did with the Giants before leaving for the Rams. (Am I right in the scenario?)

I think this year he continues to make a name for himself, but I expect him to want to stay with this team probably until it wins its next SuperBowl. Who knows? Still, I hope he stays with us for a long time like Dick LeBeau who has been the Steeler's D coordinator since 2004.

Dang! That's six years going! C'Mon Manusky, you know you want to stay.

Originally posted by ninertico:

Originally posted by redrathman:

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by Leathaface:
I think he'll be a HC candidate after this year if our team/D does well.

I personally see Manusky as one of those guys who's always been a coordinator and never really cared to HC, when all is said and done. I may be wrong though. We will see.

I disagree. He's only held the Defensive Coordinator position for three seasons. Prior to that, he was a positions coach for six seasons.

I think he most compares to Jim Schwartz. Schwartz was the Defensive Coordinator in Tennessee for eight seasons before landing a Head Coaching job. Within those eight years Schwartz interviewed for countless Head Coaching jobs. I believe next off season teams will begin to see Manusky as a candidate.

I agree that OTHER teams will see him as a candidate, but agree with WIN in that Manusky seems to be more of a coordinator type. What do I base that on? My own gut. He strikes me like Spagnolo did with the Giants before leaving for the Rams. (Am I right in the scenario?)

I think this year he continues to make a name for himself, but I expect him to want to stay with this team probably until it wins its next SuperBowl. Who knows? Still, I hope he stays with us for a long time like Dick LeBeau who has been the Steeler's D coordinator since 2004.

Dang! That's six years going! C'Mon Manusky, you know you want to stay.

why would he ever leave the best linebacker to ever play in NFL?

Originally posted by NCommand:
There are still some things I don't like such as playing way off WR's on 3rd and short, we clearly need to work on screen coverage and RB's out of the backfield, prevent-a-win defense when the game is on the line, he still plays a vanilla (predictable schemes) 3-4 at times, etc.

The onus to execute is largely on positional coaches and players. Reading a screen is based on the front seven and how quickly they can read the play as it develops. As the defense is rather aggressive (and not vanilla as you point out), players will tend to bite on such plays. Manusky can't shout at a defensive end to extend his pursuit during the middle of a play.

Originally posted by NCommand:
To me, the thing is he's been hand-cuffed by the ineffectiveness of our OLB's save for all the "third down specialists we've had over the years." I think once we get at least one dominant every down OLB, Manusky can grow even more.

I'd like to think that ranking third in the league in sacks would have appeased fans clamoring for more of a pass rush, but I was mistaken. Every down outside linebackers are a rare commodity in the NFL. Players like Elvis Dumervil and DeMarcus Ware might pile up sacks, but they're also marginal in pass coverage and run support.

Originally posted by NCommand:
He doesn't have to put both OLB's up at the LOS every time (as pseudo DE's). For him to take the next step, he is going to have to learn about/implement more effective blitz schemes (see Jets) b/c we don't have that one dominant OLB. He needs to move these OLB's around, pre snap, rotate between the WILL and SAM (they are "mirror players", etc.).

Manusky has made it a point to emphasize unpredictable formations in his defense. To an end, the 49ers had six players with 4+ sacks last season. Citing the Jets in your own post, New York posted just three players with 4+ sacks, finishing 18th in the league in that category. The Jets succeeded last season largely by the use of a one sided zone coverage scheme. This was accomplished by the presence of Darrelle Revis.

Originally posted by NCommand:
That said, he was able to get sacks more collectively from the rest of the team last year, get some turnovers, make some clutch plays, etc. He FINALLY started using the middle LB's to blitz more - I'd like to see him use the CB's up at the LOS more, being more physical and THEN running more blitzes (ala Spencer).

Get some turnovers? How about 33, which was good for sixth in the NFL. I know your answer to everything is just run more blitzes, but blitzing also comes with a price.

Originally posted by NCommand:
I think he has most of the tools he needs now save for at least one dominant every-down OLB, so THIS is the year he needs to open it up more and bring the blitz from everywhere on the field and where it should come. If he can do that, we have a shot of being one of the best 3-4 defenses out there and consequently, one of the top defenses, period.

He's still learning too...but I like him and hope he takes that next step this year.

You've just repeated everything you said previously, so I will too: 7th in YPP, 6th in First Downs, 6th in Rushing Yards, 6th in TO and 3rd in Sacks. Manusky took a defense that was ranked among the worst in the league in 2006 and has since turned it into a top ten ranked unit.

Originally posted by NCommand:
This year should be ALL about dictating the offense and getting aggressive (no more bend but don't break). We spent WAY too much time on the field as a defense and much of that was b/c we couldn't get off the field on 3rd downs.

Part of running a defense is knowing when to be aggressive. Simply blitzing all day won't solve some of the issues (many of them fabricated) you've brought up. Also, the 49ers ranked 17th in the NFL in DTOP. This was largely based on the ineffectiveness of the offense, which punted a league high 99 times.

As a reminder, the Jets went into the playoffs blitzing all day and gave up 362 yards a game.

Originally posted by ninertico:
What do I base that on? My own gut.

I tend to believe in history and statistics rather than a fan's gut.

The fact is, as a defense continues to improve in as much as the 49ers' has, that Coordinator will begin to receive interviews.

History has dictated this.