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San Francisco 49ers interim head coach Mike Singletary couldn’t have scripted this Week 17 season finale any better. Moments after his team beat the Washington Redskins 27-24 this afternoon, he signed a four-year, $10 million contract to continue as full-time head coach of the Niners. The ink is still drying as I type this. Kicker Joe Nedney, who won the game with a 40-yard field goal as time expired, was one of many players happy with the not-so-surprising announcement:

“He’s honest, intense and forthright. You have to have those qualities to bring together the chemistry of a team.”

As I’ve said in several previous posts, Coach Singletary is the obvious choice for this job. His passion and commitment to the San Francisco 49ers is obvious and I believe he will be a fantastic head coach for a long time. He’s already turned the Niners into winners (he had a 5-4 record) and I believe he has the ability to change the attitude of this organization back to the winning ways of the dominant Niners teams of the 1980s. Coach Singletary has the right to hire and fire his assistants so it will be interesting to see which staffers return, especially pass happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Source: PressDemocrat.com, Photo: Newscom

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Mike Singletary Signs Four-Year Contract

It appears San Francisco 49ers interim head coach Mike Singletary will be named the team’s full-time head coach for 2009. And that announcement could come as soon as Monday, a day after the Niners’ season finale against the Washington Redskins. Coach Singletary impressed team officials during a meeting a couple days ago by outlining his game plan for the 49ers’ offensive and defensive future. Thus, it would seem that defensive coordinator Greg Manusky would stay and offensive coordinator Mike Martz (whose pass happy philosophy clashes with coach Singletary’s) would not. The 49ers can’t sign coach Singletary to an extension during the season, so I expect them to move quickly to sign him before other team’s come calling.

Source: The Sacramento Bee

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Mike Singletary to be Named Head Coach?

Image details: Arizona Cardinals v San Francisco 49ers served by picapp.com

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In offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s new San Francisco scheme, running back Frank Gore will serve the same type of role that Marshall Faulk played with the St. Louis Rams when Coach Martz was spearheading “The Greatest Show on Turf” to Super Bowls XXXIV and XXXVI:

“I think Marshall’s Marshall, Frank is Frank ….. But, there are things that we’ll play to that are really strengths of his. He’s got that speed and explosiveness. He does it all. He’s a physical guy that you can hammer, or you can use him as a perimeter guy ….. He’s a one-time guy. You tell him once, and he has it. That’s really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He’s a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways.”

Oddly enough, Frank is dyslexic. But he hasn’t had any problems in the classroom since joining the 49ers. And Coach Martz’s complex playbook hasn’t thrown him, either. Plus, he has support at the running back position. Newly acquired DeShaun Foster should play a significant role this season and Michael Robinson is an outstanding, dual-purpose athlete with pass-catching ability. I have been talking-up the 49ers this entire offseason. Watch for them to surprise a lot of teams in 2008 and make a strong run for the playoffs.

Source: Sacramento Bee

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Frank Gore is the New Marshall Faulk

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This offseason in San Francisco has offered a lot of hope for 49ers fans, but a big question mark remains at the quarterback position where Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and J.T. O’Sullivan are battling for the starting spot. With OTAs and minicamps complete, it looks like Alex is finally proving why the Niners took him #1 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. Head coach Mike Nolan said:

“(I’m seeing Alex) do things that I haven’t seen him do before, in practice or in games. Alex is very athletic. He probably has the strongest arm of all the guys. He’s really intelligent. Now he’s got to go in there and put in four quarters and move the ball consistently and make plays he should make.”

Coach Nolan isn’t tipping his hand as to who his favorite quarterback is just yet, but it’s pretty clear that Alex has the early advantage. With newcomers like Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson and DeShaun Foster on-board as a supporting cast (not to mention Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and new OC Mike Martz), any of the three QBs will have a greater chance for success than ever before. Certainly, we’re not talking about the second coming of Joe Montana or Steve Young here, but Alex Smith is poised for a breakout season.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, Photo: Newscom

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Alex Smith Taking Charge in San Francisco

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In Arizona, wide receiver Bryant Johnson was the team’s third option behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. In free agency, he was seeking to become any other team’s second receiver. And he accomplished just that today by signing a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers where he’ll most likely start opposite Isaac Bruce. Add do-it-all RB (and leading receiver) Frank Gore plus receivers Darrell Jackson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle to the mix, and the 49ers have a ton of offensive potential. Of course, the key word here is potential. Darrell and Ashley were disappointments in ‘07, but Arnaz (who might just “battle” for one of the top two spots) more than held his own with 50 catches for 600 yards and five TDs.

So, the 49ers haven’t exactly assembled a dream team of available free agents, but they sure have upgraded last year’s promising roster. I spoke with TE Vernon Davis just a couple weeks ago and he was excited about the offensive improvements at that point — new OC Mike Martz, Isaac, RB DeShaun Foster and OL Justin Smiley. I think the Niners have met their wide receiver needs (they also have speedy Jason Hill who was hurt for much of last season) and can now focus on other positions in the Draft — unless, of course, they get a tremendous opportunity with the 29th pick in the first round.

I think the most interesting part of this upcoming season for San Francisco will be the quarterback competition between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. Alex was drafted to be the face of this team, but he’s in serious danger of losing his starting spot without being injured in the process. In fact, my money is on Shaun Hill coming into camp ready to lead this team. Last season Shaun completed almost 70% of his passes in three games. He had five TDs with only one INT and a 101.3 quarterback rating. He’ll be entering his seventh NFL season (with NFL Europe experience) and could be primed for a breakout season with the additional weapons around him.

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Bryant Johnson Agrees to Terms With 49ers

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Vernon Davis is covered with tattoos and muscle. He looks like a professional bodybuilder. So he fit right in at the site of our interview, the 2008 Arnold Sports Festival Expo. With his shirt off at 6′3″ and 252 pounds, it’s pretty obvious he’s carrying single digit bodyfat. That’s why Under Armour has him wrapped in chains dragging heavy tires around in their commercials. He looks like some kind of sculpture.

Vernon also plays football for the San Francisco 49ers, owners of a colossally disappointing 5-11 record last season after being hyped as a team to watch in ‘07. I even predicted they would make the playoffs. Nevertheless, they finished at or close to the bottom of the NFL in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category. Amidst the turmoil that was a forgettable 2007 campaign, tight end Vernon Davis emerged as the star the Niners thought he could be when they drafted him with the sixth overall pick out of the University of Maryland in 2006. Vernon more than doubled his rookie season totals catching 52 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns. “I’m a lot more comfortable with the NFL now,” Vernon revealed. “I feel like I’m a veteran now. I know the game. I know what to expect. I know what I should do. And I know that I’ve gotta be accountable and step up and make plays when my number’s called.”

Yet somehow I feel Vernon has only scratched the surface of what he’s capable of. The future is his and the future is exactly where his focus is. Vernon and the 49ers have forgotten last season. “We’ve already put 2007 behind us,” he said confidently. “We’ve already made some nice moves picking up Isaac Bruce and DeShaun Foster. Now we’re just trying to get things rolling. We’re trying to get things together, get to the playoffs and make it to the Super Bowl.”

So much for short-term goals, but such is life in the NFL. Every season begins with hope and every team has a shot at being the best, including the Niners. San Francisco already boasts a talented core with two quality QBs (Alex Smith and Shaun Hill), a Pro Bowl-caliber RB (Frank Gore) and a bunch of good defensive players led by Patrick Willis and Nate Clements. Incoming are a slew of free agent acquisitions (namely the aforementioned DeShaun Foster and Isaac Bruce, as well as Allen Rossum and Justin Smith) that are primed to turn things around. Plus, new O-coordinator Mike Martz brings his wide-open offensive philosophy to the Bay area. “In this system, you have so much flexibility within the numbers that you can be creative with a guy like Vernon Davis,” Coach Martz told the San Francisco Bee in January.

Vernon is entirely ready for the changes and is hoping to contribute even more in 2008. “I’m excited about the new guys,” he said, “but I’m also excited to get more involved in the passing game as I think I should be. I’m ready to help this team win as much as I can. Coach Martz called me when he first got the job and said how he was also excited to get things moving.”

That process begins now and for Vernon, it begins in the weight room. While it might appear that Vernon’s physical prowess is simply good genetics, the truth is he works his tail off all year to stay in the best shape he can. But Vernon’s workout program changes from in-season to off-season. “When I’m not playing football, I lift harder but I don’t run as much as I do during the season,” he explained. “Then I’ll take two days out of the week to focus on my skills — catching the football and things like that.”

Fueling his physique as a member of Team EAS, there are certain products Vernon’s got to have in his nutritional arsenal. “I don’t think I can live without the Myoplex® shakes or Muscle Armor™ because both of them are vital to my health,” he said. “I feel I need those to not only get ahead on the football field but also to get ahead in life.”

Visit Vernon online at his official MySpace site or his Team EAS page.

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EMQB Interview: Vernon Davis

The Detroit Lions fired offensive coordinator Mike Martz on Wednesday. Today, I get a press release from the Lions saying O-line coach Jim Colletto had been promoted to the OC position replacing Coach Martz who “will not be returning to the team.” That’s a nice way of announcing someone was fired.

Coach Martz was supposed to bring his offensive genius to Detroit, the same one that pioneered the St. Louis Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” teams. And with all-world rookie receiver Calvin Johnson being added as the final piece of the puzzle, the Lions’ offense was supposed to run like a well-oiled machine.

And it pretty much did through the first half of the 2007 season in compiling a 6-2 record. But things fell apart during the playoff push and Detroit lost seven of their final eight games to finish a miserable 7-9. Someone is to blame and whether it’s fair or not, that someone was Coach Martz.

Apparently it’s going to take two minds to replace him, however. While Coach Colletto will be the offensive coordinator, receivers coach Kippy Brown will take on a role known as assistant head coach/passing game coordinator (additionally, Shawn Jefferson was promoted to wide receivers coach). Too many cooks in the kitchen? We’ll see, but one thing’s for sure. Detroit’s going to need to lose their negative identity. Will a new OC and passing game coordinator make that happen? Only if they can change the attitude of some of the players on the team. The Lions are still loaded with offensive talent. They just need someone to convince them they are the “new Detroit Lions.” It looks like the Cleveland Browns have managed just such an identity overhaul. The Detroit Lions need to follow suit.

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Detroit Lions Fire Mike Martz, Jim Colletto Takes Over as Offensive Coordinator

“We couldn’t be more excited to get Calvin Johnson. Our organization felt really comfortable to draft not only what we thought was the top player in the draft, but also one with great character. Calvin is going to be a big part of getting us to where we want to go. Calvin is going to team with Mike and the rest of this offense and turn it into one of the most dynamic offenses in the league.”

Detroit Lions OC Mike Martz and QB Jon Kitna (photo DetroitLions.com)

The addition of Johnson to Martz’s offensive system, dubbed “The Greatest Show on Turf” when he coached in St. Louis, has Lions fans excited and should already have defensive coordinators worried. In the week leading up to the draft, Martz left hand-written notes saying “Please draft me” for Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli and joked they were from Johnson. Martz said:

“That’s how excited we were about him. He’s just a dynamic and explosive player with unlimited ability in terms of what he can do for us on the field. He has the character we’re looking for and he will help this team win. I think he’s the best wide receiver in the draft that I’ve ever seen. I’ve never been so excited for a season to start.”

Martz, who spent seven seasons with the St. Louis Rams as offensive coordinator (1999) and head coach (2000-05) before joining the Lions last year, has high expectations for his receiving corps as Johnson and newly acquired Shaun McDonald join Pro Bowl wide receiver Roy Williams (NFC-best 1,310 yards in 2006) and Mike Furrey (NFC-high 98 receptions in 2006). Martz really likes his top four receivers and says they could equal or be better than the best he’s ever had. That’s saying a lot because he coached perennial All-Pros Isaac Bruce, Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt in St. Louis as the Rams became the first team to score at least 500 points in three consecutive seasons.

This team reminds me somewhat of the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who drafted Randy Moss as the final piece of their puzzle en route to a 15-1 regular season and subsequent appearance in the NFC Championship game. The only difference? The verdict is still out on the Lions’ offensive line. Minnesota had the best O-line in football that season and as the foundation of any team, the Lions will need to be sharp there before any of these “skill” players can do their thing. And as much as I’ve hesitated to give QB Jon Kitna my full endorsement, the guy’s a leader and a battler and given the time to throw the football, he should also thrive with these weapons at his disposal. He may even be a fantasy favorite in 2007. Yes, these are the new Lions. Hear them roar!

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Lions Ready to Roar?