In the aftermath of a loss to the Chiefs in Week 3, Mike Singletary told linebacker Takeo Spikes that he’d be sharing snaps with rookie NaVorro Bowman the rest of the season.
The move was made to help reduce the wear and tear on the 33-year-old Spikes, a 13-year veteran. Spikes wasn’t initially thrilled about his reduction in playing time, but has since softened his stance, Singletary said today.
“At first Takeo really wasn’t excited about it,” Singletary said. “But when he looks at the film and sees himself play, he really appreciates it.”
Really? Spikes was quite adept at concealing his gratitude today.
On Sunday, Spikes was on the sideline late in the fourth quarter when
the Panthers went on an eight-play, 63-yard drive that was capped by a
game-tying touchdown.
On the drive, Carolina tight end Dante Rosario had a 10-yard catch on
Bowman on third-and-6. On the next play, Bowman was called for illegal
contact on an incomplete pass. Two plays later, Bowman missed a tackle
on a four-yard pass to DeAngelo Williams.
Bowman’s performance on the drive was mentioned today to Spikes, who was
asked how hard it was to watch Carolina tie the game from the sideline.
“It’s tough, man. It’s tough,” he said. “I feel like I’m built for it.
But what can you do? I think at the end of the day when a man has his
mind made up, there’s nothing that another person (can do to) change it.
Until he sees, you know what, that ain’t right.”
That man, Singletary, was asked today why Spikes wasn’t in the game in such a crucial situation.
“I think it’s so much easier after a particular point to ask that kind
of a question, not that it’s a bad question, but it’s an easy question
to ask,” he said. “You know, ‘Why don’t you have that guy in?’ At the
same time, you have guys that are talented and you want to get them on
the field. Obviously, we as a coaching staff feel he has prepared for
those situations.”
Singletary is right. It is an easy question to ask. Particularly since
Bowman was benched after his missed assignment resulted in a 22-yard
completion to tight end Zach Miller with 10:30 left in the
fourth quarter of the Niners’ 17-9 win over Oakland. Three days after
that game — and four days before the 49ers played Carolina —
Singletary was asked why Bowman never returned.
“I think in that particular game,” Singletary said, “Bowman being young
and going against a crafty guy, I just think we decided for this game,
for this time, how about we just back off a bit and get Takeo up a bit
more and let him handle the experienced guy and we’ll go from there. But
I think going forward, Bowman will be OK.”
Or not. The past two weeks suggest Bowman, like most rookies, is
learning on the job — and his on-field education hurt the Niners in the
fourth quarter Sunday.
For his part, Spikes said he’s not pleased with his lack of snaps on
third down, which he’s been ceding to Bowman. He pointed out that his
fourth-quarter interception against the Raiders (after Bowman was
pulled) came on a third-down situation.
“Do I want to play (more on third downs?),” Spikes said. “Yeah. That’s
where I made my name. That’s where I made all my plays. Can I play it?
Man, I don’t have to say it myself. You turn the film on and you know
that. But for some unknown reasons … he wanted to save me for the rest
of the season. But my stance on that is just the fact that if we ain’t
winning, ain’t nobody going to be saved for the season. Period.”
Truth be told, the move to limit Spikes’ snaps looks like the right one.
He hurt his knee in Week 2 against the Saints and averaged 4.7 tackles
in the season’s first three games. He’s averaged seven tackles a game
since Bowman began to play a more prominent role.
The issue, it seems, is when Bowman replaces him.
Should the rookie be playing — and Spikes watching from the sideline — with the game on the line?
That’s an easy question to ask.
And, based on what happened Sunday, it’s an even easier one to answer.
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