Another game, another loss. Head coach Mike Nolan's seat is getting warmer and is on the brink of losing the team. Is it time for Nolan to go? Many in the Bay Area believe so.
What constituted Nolan getting another shot? Nolan's best record as 49er head coach was 7-9, not exactly a winning season. When is enough, enough?
Nolan's game plan and conservative defense played a huge role in the 49ers' losing ways. His meddling of coaching personnel has hindered this team and his time is now coming to an end in San Francisco.
Although firing Nolan mid-season may not be the recourse the 49ers want to go, but a change is necessary if the 49ers are to return to their glory years, which almost seem like an eternity ago.
With Mike Holmgren leaving Seattle at the end of the season, the 49ers should highly consider hiring Holmgren and bring back some of that glory day luster. Holmgren was the 49ers' offensive coordinator during the Joe Montana era and has three Super Bowl appearances under his belt as a head coach, winning one with the Green Bay Packers in 1996.
Although the 49ers' offense has been decent this season, a return to its roots is necessary. The 49ers are known for its West Coast Offense, not Martz's wide open style. With Holmgren, the 49ers would return to this style of offense, the same very offense that aided in the 49ers winning five Super Bowls.
This has been a dark era for San Francisco football and Nolan has not helped the situation any. Fan support is starting to falter and there's the possibility that games could be blacked out next season if things don't turn around soon.
The 49er defense has been porous. This is Nolan's specialty and he has been unable to come up with game plans to stop opposing offenses. A defensive minded coach is supposed to have his unit on top of things. Unfortunately, Nolan and his defense simply cannot get the job done.
Quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan has been average at best. Although he has shined at times, he still gives up too many turnovers. Nolan obviously did not have a real back up plan if Alex Smith was to fail (which he did) and now the 49ers are stuck with a journeyman quarterback that is starting.
Ever since Steve Mariucci was fired, the 49ers have gone nowhere. Times during the Mooch era don't seem too bad now as we actually got into the playoffs and contended. Although Mooch's teams weren't championship worthy, at least they competed.
After another loss to Philadelphia where Nolan mismanaged another game to another loss, it may be time for the 49ers to consider a change at the head coach now. Fire Nolan now, have Mike Martz finish out the season as interim head coach and snatch up Mike Holmgren in the off season sounds like a good plan to me. A return to our roots is necessary for this team to survive for the future.
Although this may seem like a brash idea, the team is truly going nowhere and a shake up is necessary. Nolan is obviously not the man we thought he was and is a waste of coaching space.
With Nolan's apparent departure soon, one can only wonder if the assistant coaches will be let go as well. If Holmgren is picked to be the successor, there is a plethora of capable assistant coaches that are well versed in Holmgren's style of football. Former coordinators Greg Knapp and Marty Mornhinweg come to mind immediately. Who knows, maybe George Seifert can be brought out of retirement to run the defense, a Seifert specialty.
Speculation abounds as Nolan continually scapegoats other players for team failures. However, when it all comes down to it, it's the head coach that is ultimately responsible. Nolan is the man who we should be pointing fingers at.
A change is necessary. Bring on Mike Holmgren.
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Grant
Nolan must go, ok, but bring in Holmgren and institute the west coast offesne? The NFL has caught up to to that now, and the WCO has prompted the "Tampa-2" retaliation. What the 49ers need is someone to issue in a NEW era and someone who is innovative in their own right.
Oct 16, 2008 at 7:45 AM
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Rick Reulecke
Although I like your article, the idea of Mike Holmgren as our coach next year is not going to happen. Number 1, Mike Holmgren has already stated that he plans to take 2009 off to contemplate things. I like the idea of Seifert as our D coordinator, and Mike Singletary as head coach. Get rid of Mike Fartz (never cared for the man) stir clear of Marty Mornhinweg, and bring in a capable and seasoned O coordinator. We have the talent...all we need are capable coaches that know and understand the X's and O's of football. And PLEASE NOT ANOTHER SUIT!
Oct 14, 2008 at 7:50 PM
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jerry roman
CHALLENGING THAT FIELD GOAL AND LOSING YOUR LAST CHALLENGE AND TIMEOUT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT NOLANS COACHING ABILITY .IM GETTING TIRED OF WATCHING OF THIS GARBAGE.I WISH EDDIE STILL OWNED THE TEAM BECAUSE IT DOESNT SEEM LIKE THE YORKS CARE ABOUT WINNING.ITS TIME FOR NOLAN AND THE YORKS TO HIT THE ROAD
Oct 14, 2008 at 5:24 PM
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niner
if you were the owner wouldnt you want to say something to the fans? If Mr D ( eddies and denises dad ) was here, both york and NOlan would have been replaced 3 years ago! Now we just continue to suffer. This is pitiful.
Oct 14, 2008 at 5:11 PM
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Mike in MD
I agree w/Terry. Give Singletary a look. Manusky would be my other choice but I don't know how much he's been handcuffed by Nolan so no one 100% knows his mentality or style of playing but the Defense SUCKS which brought some doubt on him. I don't trust Martz as the HC who has a bad rep. Keep him at OC where he excels. He manages games BADLY. We need someone who can motivate, coach, develop, & be able to manage games to give our players a chance to win them. I've always been a Holmgren fan but lately he seems to be losing his touch & his team seems SOFT. He's definitely a huge upgrade (ANYONE WOULD) over INCOMPETENT LOSER Nolan but I'd like to see some new blood but still a proven guy. I do like Cowher as an option. Scotty I'm borderline on because I don't know how much Nolan still influences him since he was the GM in the beginning. He needs to ACT ON HIS OWN otherwise we need a total overhaul next season. New GM, HC, OL Coach, re-evaluate everyone, & get rid of the Nolan average favs!! Rebuild the O/D Lines, a future franchise QB, & bring in more TEAM SPEEEED!! Build the team around Gore, Staley, VD, BJ (#2), Morgan, Battle (#3-4), JSmith, RMcD, Willis, Clements.
Oct 14, 2008 at 3:55 PM
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Terry Marshall
When you live in the past you kill your FUTURE!Mike Holmgren is one of the coaches Mike Nolan can beat,fire Nolan after he gets off of that plane from NY after the Giants whip our team 42-12 replace him with Mike Singletary,who the players respect and at the end of year search for a head coach.
Oct 14, 2008 at 11:01 AM
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