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Nolan could be gone after this year
By David Zizmor November 19, 2007 |
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To start on the issue of the San Francisco 49ers, they have 100 yards less than the average offensive team in the NFL and while the 49ers were better than their own personal average, and the 49ers have played well below the average. The 49ers have not been able to convert touchdowns and when they do which was a long time ago in the middle of this incredible eight game losing streak, the one man who has been taking the brunt of the blame for the poor play is Mike Nolan, San Francisco's head coach. The death of two of San Francisco's former head coaches Bill Walsh and Nolan's father Dick Nolan certainly marked the Niners with a tough season already. When the Niners lost 13-9 to a struggling St. Louis Rams team at home you have to ask yourself how worse does it get? The 49ers are tied with St .Louis for the worst record in the NFC and after not scoring a touchdown in 11 quarters Nolan said in his press conference "I've got no clue what’s wrong" coming from your head coach that had to give you that "are we there yet feeling" when asking yourself if the season is over yet. Nolan after the ball game not only had no answers and this was that one ball game after losing seven straight going in that he as head coach had to prove to the team and himself that he can pull out one in the win column. The critique of the coaching and the way that Nolan and his assistants handled the team alone could be reason alone that when a team is going bad and headed for the worst record in the conference Nolan and his staff could be pounding payment after the next six games are finished off or sooner. An all around bad year for Nolan after losing his father in the middle of the season and the day before a Monday Night game two weeks ago in Seattle. Nolan said the passing of his father at the time did not break his focus and he had to keep his concentration for the game at hand. If Nolan bombs next week in Arizona for a ninth straight loss there is also talk the 49ers may not wait until the end of the season to sack him. Earlier in the season 49ers star running back Frank Gore talked about how poorly offensive coordinator Jim Hostler was setting up the offensive plays for the team. Gore said it got so bad that the offense didn't know what was coming next and why would Hostler call for a running play when some plays called for long yardage that required passing. Hostler is a friend of Nolan and to expect Nolan to fire Hostler was not in the picture but that thought now might include Nolan himself and Hostler as the game coming up is the make or break game if the 49ers lose in Arizona. If the Niners lose on Sunday that would mark the first time that any 49ers team had lost nine straight in team history since Paul McCulley the 1978 head coach lost eight straight for the team record. Nolan now has only one way to go when the singing of the anthem is done on Sunday in Arizona and that's get a playbook that's going to get the club scores from the jump start of the game. The Niners who are expected to start Trent Dilfer again will have to set up plays that can get receivers the ball and that they can break and cut and get some yards and most important scores Its that fundamental and it's not that difficult because if the Niners try to make it a difficult game they'll find themselves in the same predicament they did in the last eight games before and maybe with a new face as head coach marching up and down the sidelines the following week. The 49ers play Arizona Sunday November 25th in week #11. David Zizmor covers Niners football and co-hosts Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. |
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