Posted By: Sean415 (07/10/2008 8:47:44 AM)
Comment: I have been disapointed with Vernon's opportunities this year. Seems when he finally gets a chance to get the ball he doesn't capitalize on it. He seems to be effective on the swing pass. Don't see why they don't try that more with him and send him deep on a couple of plays a game. VD is such a threat to defenses, because he can cause a large mismatch. Delanie seems to be stepping up, but that should open up more opportunities for VD. I wonder if he is still aching over that hit in Pittsburgh...Martz utilize this guy!

Posted By: Mike in Marin (06/10/2008 10:23:04 PM)
Comment: Mike Nolan has undoubtedly proven to all the faithful he has no idea how to run a team. He is not even a good defensive coordinator and does not know talent either. Please fire him asap and let Martz takeover and still run offense. Martz gets help from Singletary and Manusky runs the D. We got nothing to lose. If for nothing else so we do not have to here Nlans moronic answers after are losses. This weeks famous line was our it is uncharacteristic of our secondary to give up explsive pass plays but it seems to be becoming characteristic, then in another article he says its only 2 weeks in a row so I wouldnt call it characteristic of our secondary. I dont like him as a coach and even less on the radio or tv. The guy should be coaching pop warner!

Posted By: GilroyAl (06/10/2008 10:12:43 PM)
Comment: Attention everyone, VD is not a wide receiver. He's a tight end who's been forced to block most of the time for 4 years because of poor pass protection by the O line. If they got him involved in the passing game early in the game he'd be a lot better. If you want him to develope as a receiver throw him the ball more than once or twice a game. This is just another example of Nolan's coaching staff inability to develope young players. We don't see very much progress in any of young players that were drafted players. Good teams don't draft all-pros in every position, they make their young players better with good coaching. I haven't seen much in Nolan's FOUR years where they've made any of their players better.

Posted By: Darren (06/10/2008 8:22:04 PM)
Comment: Hey everybody. Well, I finally got back to work so I'm a lot more happier that I can work on Sunday and miss out on Nolan's greatest FLOPS as coach. To NolanGoes, yes, that's right 5 and 11 and lo and behold< I ALSO called 5 and 11! I thought we'd best Detroit, check, Rams, probably 2 times, so that leaves us with maybe lose to Seattle for they're be healthier, we probably might beat Arizona...man, these 5 wins are tough to figure out. Now Matt, from what I read on Lowell Cohn about going 2 and 6. do you think the Yorks will sack Nolan by Bye Week? If they don't, we'll lose this team altogether if Santa clara keeps looking our way as losers with a bad owner. What coach calls for constant Prevent Nickel? That's all that is out there, a Prevent on his Nickel.

Posted By: Jose Adrian (06/10/2008 7:48:04 PM)
Comment: Vernon Davis does get the ball, and promptly drops it. My three year can catch a football much better. Heck you could pay me a lot less money and get the same results as the bust Vernon Davis. Cry me a river.

Posted By: niner (06/10/2008 7:02:09 PM)
Comment: i get it now, nolan didnt htink that the pats oc ( won 3 super bowls) woudl figure lets throw toward a 49er cb if he corner blitzes or fakes one. Just becasue everyone knows the niners cant past rush, that they have to take their cb's way on the corner to apply pressure is a secret. You thought wrong like you usually do and got beat. Why continue to BS, you dont coach or gm well.( see what real nfl person can do in Miami)well you atleast conned York, though lets be honest that isnt really too difficult.

Posted By: Ryan in SoCal (06/10/2008 6:21:05 PM)
Comment: Vernon Davis will never become good at the third out of three with Martz as the OC. Should've placed Cam Cameron in the driver's seat of the offense. Look at how he utilized Tomlinson and Gates.

Posted By: RK in LA (06/10/2008 6:00:37 PM)
Comment: No one thinks Vernon Davis being good at "2 out of 3" is really a good thing. This kind of backwards "compliment" tells us, there ain't much good news about Vernon. Nevertheless, we are scoring points. We had 21 points in 20 minutes. It's the defense that's not getting the job done.

Posted By: David (06/10/2008 4:56:42 PM)
Comment: Nolan is the classic "big hat no cattle" coach. Until he's gone nothing will change. Watching the game yesterday reminded me of two important days in Niner history, the day a relative newcomer with an offensive bent was brought in to take over (Mariucci).

Posted By: NINERMD (06/10/2008 4:41:59 PM)
Comment: MATT SF: HIS TEAMS TANK BECAUSE HE NEVER CHANGES HIS SCHEMES UP AND DOESNT USE HIS TEAMS FULL POTENTIAL. HE HAS GOT TO GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (06/10/2008 4:37:01 PM)
Comment: Oneniner - there are NO audibles in the Mike Martz offense. The whole basis of his system is that the options are right there within each play call, but there are NO verbal audibles where the QB will change the play at the line of scrimmage and run something else. Secondly, JTO has had a number of impressive long touchdown drives in EVERY GAME that resulted in quick TD's and every single head coach we have played thus far have brought these up in their Wednesday conference calls. Off the top of my head there was the five play 75 yard drive in the opener against AZ, a four play 80 yard TD drive against Seattle that took a minute, he had a 3 play 72 yard TD drive against Detroit and another 12 play 77 yard touchdown drive against Detroit, there was a 6 play 97 yard TD drive against the Saints, and we had an 11 play 80 yard TD drive against the Pats.

Posted By: Matt SF (06/10/2008 4:31:47 PM)
Comment: Here's a typical Nolan season: 2 sloppy/lucky early season victories followed by October and November swoons followed by 2 or 3 "garbage time" victories. Why do his teams totally tank in Oct and Nov?

Posted By: oneniner (06/10/2008 4:29:58 PM)
Comment: Did anyone notice the pats went on it on 4th and goal with a 3 point lead.......Will Coach Nolan ever do that?.....(I am sorry Coach you losing the faithful)

Posted By: oneniner (06/10/2008 4:26:42 PM)
Comment: GREAT POINT - "A good offense wears down a defense while controlling the clock and the tempo of the game. The objective is to win games, not score a ton of points. Martz's offense is nothing but a high risk joke that only seems effective to fantasy football fans and madden fanatics. Anyone who knows football knows that this is not how an effective offense is run."........i totally agree.

Posted By: oneniner (06/10/2008 4:24:46 PM)
Comment: You don't win games in the NFL by just depending on a long pass. The patriots just showed us they could win by not throwing deep every play.....all those drives you mention have one huge play in them, when his he going to dissect a defense, make them pay...not just relying on a long deep ball which is really a tease.......without the deep passes, we will be 0-5...that is a fact.....our offense lacks ball control because our QB lacks the intelligence to manage a drive.

Posted By: oneniner (06/10/2008 4:19:49 PM)
Comment: okay lets talk facts...just plain facts.....Name one DRIVE by JTO you could say ..hmm this guy creates fear in defenses...just one?........talking about facts the weapons we have in offense is much better than what A.Smith had his second yr and we won 7 games, ...there were games i recall were won by A.Smith himself. ....our problem on offense is not making those long passes, its managing a drive...HOW COME JTO CAN"T CALL RUNNING PLAYS FOR GORE?.....IT'S HIS SECOND YR IN THE OFFENSE AND HE STILL CAN"T RECOGNIZE WHEN TO AUDIBLE TO A RUN ....HOW COME ALEX COULD DO THIS BUT 32yr old JTO CAN'T DO THIS ?.....

Posted By: Robert (06/10/2008 4:14:05 PM)
Comment: Lawson and Davis strike me as two players who have been severely underutilized over their careers. Shouldn't we have picked up a player who we planned on playing more than just 1st downs and special teams over Lawson? Or instead of VD, maybe a pass catching WR, or an OL? I'm not saying these players are busts, they clearly have what it takes to be stars, but they aren't being used properly. to me, it's a sign of poor coaching/gameplanning.

Posted By: NolanGoes (06/10/2008 4:13:01 PM)
Comment: Looking at the rest of the schedule, it looks like maybe 3 more wins: Seahawks at home (?) and two rams games. Tough to see other wins unless there's an upset and who among feels confident of these three? That give a 5-11 season.

Posted By: Jackson (06/10/2008 4:03:40 PM)
Comment: Nolan essentially has one week to get something right. If they lose to Philly in the same fashion, and there is no reason to believe they won't, then he pretty much has to be fired...probably during the bye week. This is year 4, these are his players, this is his defense, and they are not very good....what else needs to be said. I was pulling for Nolan when he first got hired, but it is evident that he doesn't have what it takes to be a successful NFL head coach, so it's time to move on...not that victories will necessarily follow, but we've seen enough of this show. They gave McCloughan the oft-referred to trigger, it will be interesting to see if he uses it on his friend...he won't have much choice unless he takes a page from the Ford's book of how to ru(i)n a franchise....or did the York's write that book?

Posted By: Lee (06/10/2008 4:03:22 PM)
Comment: Matt Did you get a chance to talk to any of the players today, to see if they were as down today as they were after the game yesterday? Gore and Willis not answering questions Sunday may be an indication that they and the other players are quickly losing faith in Nolan, which may support a mid-season change in Head Coach.

Posted By: 49er Rick (06/10/2008 3:56:43 PM)
Comment: When I was at the game I had a great idea how to get Veron involved in the passing game, just throw him the ball! feel free to pass this on to Nolan, I know it will be a new concept for him. It is a shame they will wait to the bye week to fire him. Poor game management, lack of half time adjustments, not utilizing players correctly. These have been and are his trade marks. He will not change. This is the time to be agressive and sack him!

Posted By: Josh Bart (06/10/2008 3:52:03 PM)
Comment: Matt, After 5 games what is your honest opinion of Martz and his offense? I have thought for a long time that he was the worst coordinator in the league. Scoring as many points as possible does not make you a good offense. A good offense wears down a defense while controlling the clock and the tempo of the game. The objective is to win games, not score a ton of points. Martz's offense is nothing but a high risk joke that only seems effective to fantasy football fans and madden fanatics. Anyone who knows football knows that this is not how an effective offense is run. We have one of THE BEST RB'S in football. Feed him the ball and let him control the game. Put us in managable 3rd down situations so we can stay on the field and pass the ball with a purpose when the situation dictates. Martz has no idea how to manage a game and has been a failure. Why do you think he was fired by the worst team in football and was available to another team with an awful record?

Posted By: BHF (06/10/2008 3:34:04 PM)
Comment: Oneniner-you think JTO can't lead a drive? You're not watching the games. Here's five: NE 11plays,80yds TD AZ 9plays,69yds TD NO 6plays,97yds TD DE 12plays,77yds TD DE 6plays,53yds TD

Posted By: Cyrus (06/10/2008 3:29:08 PM)
Comment: Totally agree with Ryan. It seems like the more the team tangibly invests in a player (money, high draft pick), the less it invests in putting that player in a position to succeed. Why do they need to draft a TE #6 overall to block most of the time? Why do they need to invest a 1st round pick on a LB to play 1/3 downs max?

Posted By: TX Niner (06/10/2008 3:19:43 PM)
Comment: Isn't Nolan's comment about Davis yet another indictment on the drafting and coaching ability of this regime? Smith was mishandled, Davis can't catch, Lawson can't get on the field! When Davis was drafted and Nolan was questioned about taking a TE as the #6 pick his response was something to the effect that not only did we get a great blocker we got "the best receiver in the draft". Huh? Now after three years here the guy can't catch?! Who is evaluating these guys? Smith had bad mechanics and couldn't throw, Davis is drafted as a receiving threat but can't catch and Lawson is drafted as a rush linebacker but can't put pressure on the QB!! Give me a break!! By the way, when does Jerry Sullivan get put under a microscope as well? We've drafted or signed as free agents at least 10 receivers "with potential" since he's been here and none have stuck!! "one of the best coaches in the game" my arse. You'd think one of his pupils was productive SOMEWHERE. Nope. What the hell?! I've resigned myself to hoping for two blow-out, embarassing losses so the Dork's will fire Nolan at the break. Sad part is I don't know if that will help! I'm so depressed...

Posted By: 49erJeff (06/10/2008 3:19:02 PM)
Comment: I'm so used to this team losing it doesn't bother me anymore. I mean common we've been losing for the past 7 seasons now. What else would you expect on a Sunday? A win? Yeah right!. Let's just call them the SF vanilla 49ers. Pathetic this team is. Just pathetic. Glad I don't attend home games. It just aint worth giving $$ to this crappy team and owner.

Posted By: Sal (06/10/2008 3:14:30 PM)
Comment: The problem with VD is all the coach allows him to do is block! Period. Look at other TE'S that have Talent and they line up at split end, when the team goes into 4 WR's VD comes off the field. Terrell Owens has Many balls thrown his way, many are dropped, but he has talent and when he catches them great things happen. VD has a 17 YPC avg. Just throw him the dang ball. Yesterday in the red zone, VD stayed back and blocked and other TE's went out to run routes. This is just plain crazy coaching, unless you want VD to leave and finally "Catch" on with another team that actually believes in him and works with him.

Posted By: Tim (06/10/2008 3:08:38 PM)
Comment: Ok, I fully expect Mike Martz to be the head coach at some point this season. For whatevever reason, I still think Nolan has his hand in the offensive play calling at certain times throughout the game(unacceptable as far as I am concerned). I think the majority of 49er fans will agree that we have seen enough of Mike Nolan the last 3 seasons to come to the conclusion that he isn't "Head Coaching" material. Combine that with the fact that he seems to get outcoached by the opposing staff week in and week out leads me to believe that Nolan won't survive the season, nor should he be allowed to. Listen, I am sure Mr. Nolan is a very nice guy, he's just not an effective NFL head coach. Time to turn the page and cut ties...it's time!

Posted By: Fire Mike Nolan (06/10/2008 2:52:13 PM)
Comment: creeper: I think Lawson is doing poorly because NOLAN , as with EVERY other player, doesn't know how to use him. Nolan and the Yorks (and possibly JTO) are the problem here.

Posted By: Jed (06/10/2008 2:48:22 PM)
Comment: Matt - Can you name one thing Mike Nolan adds to this team which others couldn't? Anyone? Please, just one. Seriously. For those who ask "what will firing Nolan get us?", I'm sure Herbert Hoover felt the same. Gimmick or not, canning Nolan now (rather than in January) may give the players a jolt and free minds to try new things. Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Kelly Gregg, Bart Scott, Suggs, McAlister, A.Thomas - not running through that tunnel. If we can't name one thing Nolan might do well in the coming weeks, then get busy living now or get busy dying for next season. p.s. If Alex Smith wasn't hurt, I'm sure he'd toss Alex in ... and then blame Alex for letting teams throw bombs and run all over his schemes. "We're limited in what we can do on defense, from the standpoint of being able to blame Alex."

Posted By: 4th&40whiners (06/10/2008 2:47:03 PM)
Comment: what was suppose to be the strength of this team this year ... the defense .... they suck. This is reminiscent of Nolan's 1st year .... offenses would piddle around to get to 3rd down because they know the 9er defense would give up the big yards ..... know one to blame on this one but the coach

Posted By: Ryan (06/10/2008 2:44:06 PM)
Comment: What kind of insane logic is that? Davis was drafted to be the top receiver on the team. In that regard he is 0 - 1. Billy Bajema is a 7th round pick and blocking tight end. The fall of Vernon Davis is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the past couple weeks. We already watched Alex Smith turn into a bust before our eyes this year. Now Manny and Vernon are close behind. Alex we were ready for, many even expected it but I just can't understand how you can not throw him the ball (and how VD can not catch the damn ball either.) The #1 question I get from non-49ers fans is "what's up with Vernon Davis?" And I keep making excuses but something has got to give. If Nolan makes it past the bye week he is Wayne Fontes - reincarnate.

Posted By: Jake (06/10/2008 2:42:31 PM)
Comment: I was front row at this game yesterday, JTO is the ONLY guy who would have survived this game. Smith or anyone else we had would have been sacked 8+ times again. JTO is fine, the OFFENSIVE LINE SUCKS, and the DEFENSE is TERRIBLE. That is 3 30+ point games given up by the defense and they were horrible against Arizona as well. If Nolan can coach the defense any better than this, than what the Hell is he still doing as the 49ers head coach because he sure can't do anything else right!!! If they lose to the Eagles, another game they should win just like they should have beat the Patriots, especially now that Westbrook is OUT, Nolan should be FIRED a Week from Today. If they lose that game, this season looks bleak. They have to get it to 4-4 at the bye to have any chance for a second half run.

Posted By: Nevyn (06/10/2008 2:30:34 PM)
Comment: Such a silly response from Nolan. You can get "2 out of 3" from a 7th round pick. In fact, we did (Bajema).

Posted By: Dino (06/10/2008 2:20:32 PM)
Comment: Matt, any chance for another Q&A session this week? I think it's a good idea after a loss. It gives us a chance to vent a little. Thanks.

Posted By: NolanGoes (06/10/2008 2:05:34 PM)
Comment: The season will dictate whether he goes or stays. I am stupefied by the latest pillory of Smith. Give it a rest. it's beginning that he's starting to blame him for not only last year but also his career here. Not looking good is it.

Posted By: oneniner (06/10/2008 2:05:09 PM)
Comment: vlad - " Question really is does he have the talent to reduce the number of interceptions".-....NO HE DOES NOT.....Dude is old, what is that saying about an animal never changes his stripes.....that was why he has been cut every where he went.....All i hear is they are working on them.....Alex Smith was never this careless.... This is a no-brainer, the guy can't freaking lead a DRIVE....name on DRIVE this season you could say hmm...looks like we punished the defense......I am really excited about this eagles game. I have no doubt we are losing, I just need JTO to perform a miracle so i can change my tone...plz JTO, Pleeeezze JTO - i really wanna support you. GIVE ME SOMETHING.

Posted By: Mike in SF #2 (06/10/2008 1:56:58 PM)
Comment: AZTEC - You took the words right out of my mouth. I was emotionally down last night/this morning thinking the exact same thing. Its getting tough-. Every single year since 2003 I have been thinking/hoping this was the year we would turn the corner. I'm still waiting and hoping!

Posted By: sro_pet (06/10/2008 1:56:28 PM)
Comment: Can you list the pluses and minuses of a mid-season coaching change? Do they generally work out and specifically would a Martz for Nolan trade out bring us closer to the playoffs this year and in the future?

Posted By: oneniner (06/10/2008 1:53:59 PM)
Comment: what happened to the JTO passer rating?....i thought this was a must keep stats....lol..ha ha ha...did i just read JTO leads the league in INTERCEPTIONS.......lol....giv me a break, i bet none of the JTO supporters will bet he won't lead the league in int's at the end of the yr....his play is below the expectations of a starting QB.....its funny how nobody is blaming his int's on other people?...all of you pretending to be quiet, instead blaming defense.......i can't wait for next sunday....JTO needs to prove to me he deserves the starting qb position..(sike i already know he doesn't..ha ha ha).....jimmy johnson's defense is going to eat him alive with the blitz.....talk about a REAL GPS game....not trying to figure out where we belong in the league but how much have we improved from the unforgettable trashing by the eagles last time we played them.....anyone remember that game?...this is goin to be so exciting.

Posted By: Rame (06/10/2008 1:49:24 PM)
Comment: "--Despite two rough weeks, Nolan said it is important to remind his team that it is still in the thick of the NFC West race. The 49ers are just one game behind the division-leading Cardinals." ---- I can't help but think that our standards should be a bit higher. Winning the NFC West, then getting crushed by a wildcard team from another division in the first round of the playoffs isn't much of an accomplishment in my view.

Posted By: GW from Santa Rosa (06/10/2008 1:45:07 PM)
Comment: I watched Nolan's Monday press conferences for the last two weeks. Now I'm getting more and more depressed. There are two themes that I believe I heard in both that concern me. First of all, as far as the defensive problems, it's not the coaches fault. There were errors in technique, etc. Doesn't that sound like he's blaming the players? Secondly, I've heard him talk a lot about "keeping the play in front of them". That sounds like a passive thought, as in don't be aggressive, just be safe. Up until this offseason I have supported giving Nolan the chance to turn this around. He's made improvements to the team. But I have come to the conclusion that he can't effectively coach the team he has created. Mostly because he doesn't have a philosophy that allows to players a chance to show what they can do. So Matt, am I too far off in my thinking about what Mike Nolan has been saying?

Posted By: vlad (06/10/2008 1:44:18 PM)
Comment: I have lost hope in the catching ability of VD. As usual I hope to be wrong but I don't think what he had to catch yesterday was terribly difficult. When we spend hours discussing the details of his failures to catch, that reminds me of the hours spent in trying to see great QB potential in Alex Smith. Looks hopeless to me. This is all a matter of talent. If we had several players at the level of Franck Gore, things would be different. As far as JTO, the jury is still out but so far the interceptions almost nullify the great passing plays. Question really is does he have the talent to reduce the number of interceptions.

Posted By: bigbrian (06/10/2008 1:42:07 PM)
Comment: Matt, NFL head coaches Linehan and Kiffin were fired this season. Nolan may be fired midseason. Is it worth it? Has there been a NFL team that improved greatly after replacing the head coach midseason?

Posted By: creeper (06/10/2008 1:41:17 PM)
Comment: The season is not close to being finished yet but it is becoming clear to me that both VD and Lawson are about to be labeled as busts. VD was supposed to revolutionize the way the tight end positioned was played. I've been pulling for him since he came here and he has been mediocre at best. The book is still out on Lawson because of his injury but if he were a dominant player he would not be on the sideline when they go out of their base package. Nolan is a coach who doesn't understand football as a whole. How can you hire a coach who knows so little about offense and barely knows the others teams players names? He was known for being a good defense coach and this defense he put together was known for bending but not breaking. To this point all the do is bend like a rubber band. We spent years gearing up for our own version of the vaunted 3-4 defense only to drop it in a heartbeat.

Posted By: darth_kai (06/10/2008 1:37:39 PM)
Comment: When Nolan said, "It was evident a year ago where our shortcomings were." Did he point a finger out himself? Was he looking in a mirror? Just asking.

Posted By: AZTEC (06/10/2008 1:29:24 PM)
Comment: 3 complete seasons with Mike Nolan .....ZERO of them winning......the 4th isn't looking too likely either. Man I really feel for some of those players who are taking these losses alot harder than I am on Sundays.....man are my afternoons depressing when the 49ers lose...it's almost not worth dedicating so much passion for the team....but I'm such a DIE-HARD that I can't stop loving the great memories and hoping for best. Matt- "WHERE HAVE MY 49ers GONE?"