As a diehard 49er fan, I will root for this team with the same fervor whether they are playing under or over .500 ball . I am not one of those phony, imposer fans who squeal when things go well, and cry foul when things go bad. I am the same all the way, although I have my moments of frustration even desperation. We all want to see the San Francisco 49ers retain back their championship form, and continue the dynasty.

I genuinely back all of the 49er management and put my trust in them, the team are in capable hands. I like the idea of Jed York taking up the leadership and running things.

Sometimes we just need to make a bold move, like snatching Terrell Owens (T.O.) just for a one year, because we all know he would be a steal as he has a lot to prove in order to stay in the NFL or to play for a NFL team. But the disruption T.O. is, the Niners are equally served by not having him on the team. The 49ers will snatch a couple of really good free agents or players who were released and hit paydirt with the draft, the outlook remains very optimistic.

Our new head coach Mike Singletary, whom we call Coach Sing, has made some offensive-minded coaches wary of his gung-ho approach over smash-smouth football and a power running game. Offensive coordinators love to throw the ball. They are hired based on their quarterback's stats and the production on the offensive side of the ball. But Jimmy Raye, our newest and latest Offensive Coordinator, as enthused he is about the power running game, understood and agreed with Sing's power running game philosophy, it wasn't hard for him to because generally when we play NFL football, we don't hand off the ball on every play. The bonus is that we will still throw the ball, and that is the beauty of Sing's power running game philosophy. We want to prove that we not only can throw the ball, but we can run too, and run at WILL.

As a fan, naturally, I like big name players. I like flashy wide receivers who showboat their prowess, with the ball in their hands prancing in the end zone. There is no bigger thrill than seeing sleek catches and the run after the catch. As a result, I hope that the ever-productive Isaac Bruce stays on with the Niners. He doesn't show off, but he is a big name and the top 5 receiver in the game, active or inactive. We do need a Randy Moss or a Terrell Owens, even a Chad Johnson. The reason players get let go, because the team as a whole have strong ties with the community, participating at charity fundraisers, and they have important sponsors or endorsements to foster, but these players are able to start over in a new city, with a new team and their own advertising agenda. They are not let go because they have lost a step. Every team has to protect their fan base and community ties. Even the team chemistry has to be portered over.

The old adage, "I am a possession receiver," is getting old. Any college receiver drafted into the NFL can be a possession receiver. I want explosion, the impeccable route running, the powerful receivers who can bowl over an opposing player as well as elude them. We need all of our receivers to be possession types, because we will not throw as much due to a more balanced array of a run and pass game. We need to make something out of the catches instead of just the 'POP" and "THUD." As a receivers coach, one wouldn't want his wide receiving corps to be stopped in their tracks when they catch balls.

That makes the power running game more effective, if our wide receivers can be as physical, too.

If anything, Coach Sing will inspire all of his players to step up and finish games on a strong note everytime, games will be played hard all four quarters.

My hope for this year, is for the SF 49ers to stop all opposing teams on their tracks, taking off their masks and exposing them.

Literally.

Raye has 12 years of experience as an Offensive Coordinator in the NFL, a track record that if looked at statistically, an upgrade over the previous OC's that either walked away from or were fired by the 49ers management, in addition to his 30 years as a coach.

Some of the successful Offensive Coordinators have been successful in the NFL due to their creativity or unique ability to have great chemistry with the starting quarterback, developing the back-up quarterbacks to maintain the high level of play, spending countless hours shoring up the offensive line just for that purpose. 

Raye comes in as an extremely experienced offensive coordinator, but can he open up to the passing game, make the crafty calls, utilize the personnel the best way it can be, and include a little creativity in his play-calling schemes?

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to become too predictive even if our intent was to befuddle defenses by both running and passing the football. Will Raye keep opposing defenses on edge, or better yet, lull them to sleep downfield while boxed in against the run? Will he be smarter than we estimate, and leave opposing teams wishing they didn't underestimate him?

Sing knows football, and by hiring Raye he is not mistaken.  It might not come out as glamorous as Martz's offense was but over the past couple years the 49ers have developed a mentality that moving the ball downfield with good game management was sufficient enough until all the right personnel is set into their place. This is not just some random act of over-confidence changing the face of the team. Sing has to put into play his philosophy and prove that it works. It's about running the football and getting the football into the end zone at all costs, even if it takes the running game to another level.

It's time to get back into championship level the 80's 49er's had, if we can maintain the intensity Sing tries to instill and much more, let's not the glamorous aspect of the game warp the thinking, the motto, and the vision we have now. We need both a star receiver that is very clutch, and a star running back (that we already have in Gore), to make Sing's offensive philosophy work. And a quarterback who is not restricted to the running game mentally but ready to throw the ball downfield when his number is called.

It's about preparation, and Sing's team will not fail the players as astute they are in preparing the team for game day, and it's up to the personnel to buy into the newly anointed offensive philosophy that probably has Gore pumping iron and ramming into the meat ribs at the Butcher's shop as we speak, pumped up for the prospect of barreling through defenses.

Bam! Yes, the butcher's table was pounded by a butcher's knife, and whoosh, the opposing defenses will be dissected with a clean surgical cut, defenses will be surprised even with Raye making the chess moves.

Because, it was all planned, let's start grading all categories with all straight A's. If not, at least, Sing's team will be relentlessly pounding with the run game.

But that's not all to it. We will score one way or another.

If that helps to win games, maybe Raye will dust off his anonymous status and become more recognized or renowned for his offensive machine than his longevity as a NFL coach. Or just for his experience. It's time for experience to pay off.

And it's time to become a commodity, not a liability so that the front office has to drum up yet another Offensive Coordinator.

With Singletary's emergence as the latest Head Coach, coupled with the latest Offensive Coordinator change, put an interesting twist to the 49er philosophy. Over the years, Offensive Coordinators postured, miked, yelled x and o's into oblivion, and grimaced over their offensive troubles to no effect.

Then Sing, the new Head Coach immediately in charge, set some new standards, one of which is the most important- FINISH GAMES. It doesn't mean finish your gatorade and giddyap back to the field, pulling up your socks. It means maintain the same or more intensity throughout the game til the final ticking seconds. Hold up in the trenches the whole battle. Being that NFL football is such a violently collision sport, we need an "Army general" to come in and bark the orders, set every man in his right place, and teach his players to be able to finish the games on a strong note.

But this article is about why we chose Raye and how the newest offensive coordinator fits the bill. The most pressing issue was finding an offensive coordinator that would line up with Sing's offensive philosophies which stress a pounding running game that is relentless and which is an extra incentive to pull all the strings, opening up the pass game in all its' precise dissection of perplexed defenses scrambling to contain both the running and passing games. Bringing Raye in enables the offensive side of the ball to be run with great experience, unleashing the great players we have on roster to freaky proportions, utilizing the running game at will against opposing defenses who will bite and succumb to the passing game at times, because Gore will run with a full green light and at will, which forces defenses to decide how to approach it as the game is played.

Why was Raye relatively unknown considering the fact he has 12 years of experience as Offensive Coordinator (OC)?

First off, he served as OC or a coach for many teams, not just one team over the past decade. When coaches work for so many teams, sometimes they get lost in the shuffle. Obviously when a NFL team has continued success in the playoffs, these same coaches will be in the limelight always and toasted for their success. Raye's offensive teams have been average at best, he is not glamorous as an OC. Raye will not coach a quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in one season, that is for sure, because the running game will be pounding the trenches, at least with the 49ers. Also, his offenses have not always been top-ranked or the greatest show on earth, not much ado but Raye has the heart of a lion, something that Sing was looking for.

Look for a McMahon type of quarterback in the fold, he was a strong and tough resilent player who had success both with his quarterbacking and being such a good leader that everyone played well around him. McMahon embodied what the team was about, what Singletary was about, and now with Raye becoming OC, Singletary will be embodied with like-minded staffers all ready to implement the game plan that fully compliments Sing's coaching style, everyone are not only on the same page, but in the same philosophy trait.

The previous candidates interviewed before Raye was hired dropped out because Sing's philosophy was too old-school for them. My opinion is that, returning back to smash-mouth football with old school coaching might be the push to having better than a .500 season and possibly into the playoffs, with the players and personnel the 49ers have. They also dropped out because they did not want to wait while the parade of potential candidates postured for the job.

What I am saying here, Sing's creation of smash-mouth football might work with Raye in the fold, because of his experience as OC and his philosophy, although his past offenses was not run-centered statistically, his philosophy will enable Sing to carry out his vision for the Niners, because he did run the ball, and understood the effectiveness of forcing defenses to play both the run and the pass.

Raye as an extremely experienced OC will not misuse personnel but play to their strengths which is exactly why Sing acted in declaration of having a run-oriented offense by hiring Raye. The previous candidates realized during their interviews that Sing was completely set with his criteria for this offense, and that they probably would not stay for the length of time necessary to see the offense through. One year is not ideal for any offensive scheme with the revolving door of offensive coordinators coming in and out, which is why Raye's record and willingness to honor the full contract stood out compared to all the previous OCs in post-Mooch era, enticing Sing to go with Raye.

Is it an act of desperation, white flag waving to the enemy? NO and NO. That is not Sing.

Sing is pulling a Patton.

not a team that makes us RAISE hell, cussing.

Or brings us to DESPAIR as we try to REPAIR things,

I could make a ROCK song out of this, but I'd get DOCKED,

Good or bad, there are songs to WRITE,

and maybe a rock star can DRINK SPRITE..

and put us on the BRINK of FRIGHT TACTICS and poor LACTIC TOLERANCE

for all this DULL, lulling, BULL.

Because, I am FULL of it about the fact the 49ers LACKED the DANCE..

And because being rendered dumb, we SLACKED off on our CHANCE..

And off to FRANCE Nolan is...

While Singletary re-examines his backside and his FAITH, the team has to determine if "Singletary SAITH so," because nobody wants people to tell them, "I TOLD you SO."

The RED and GOLD is going to GO under five hundred, and lo, it's time for us to go to BED and stop thinking about who STOLE the game from the 49ers,

as deep their HOLE is,

even what their ROLE is,

how to DOLE out touchdowns instead of being STOPPED at the one-yard line, I'd have HOPPED over the TRENCHES,

and let Nolan and the FRENCH MUSE...

as we USE our weapons BETTER..

Not a MICHAEL Robinson or by WASTING 23 seconds..

MICHAEL Jordan BASTING the rims wearing no. 23 is more of a go-to than Robinson will ever be...

If Martz gets SMARTER, Robinson will be BARTER BAIT.

Worth the WAIT, though!

Up to date as a new 49er running back since the beginning of the season he only has 11 rushes for a measly 26 yards, so who is he, what is his role with the 49ers and why only 26 yards rushing in 8 games played with the 49ers? He was a fairly successful running back with a different NFL team (Carolina Panthers), he had 850 more yards in a 16 game season with the Panthers last year, as opposed to his 26 yards in 8 games. That shows his yardage totals for 2008 in a 16 game season is on pace for 52 rushing yards!!

Yes, 52 yards. Just, if his role continues that way, or if he keeps exhibiting his inability to find the holes. If I wanted to have an attitude about it, I'd declare loudly that he sucks. But is he relegated to the role of a running back blocker for Gore? Or to blocking other players while serving as a decoy running back?

Or this whole thing is not a decoy?

Well in any case welcome to the 49ers, because they are not doing too well, either.

But I am not satisfied with my welcome to the 49ers, because I don't want the 49ers to sign any player who will not factor at all in any of the games they play. I want every player to have some impact on the team which is the necessary component to create nutrients to build a potentially championship caliber team.

So where does that leave Foster?  I'd like to see him to average 50 yards a game, and let Gore romp his way to over 100 yards every game. Just give me 50 yards, Foster, and I'll be happy.

And a touchdown, thank you.

First here I am going to go into a litany of what the 49ers need to do to return back to their winning ways, then I will analyze the upcoming 49ers-Cardinals game on Monday Night Football, the gladiator arena of all sports, and in terms of spectators, there are Monday Night Football fanatics, especially those that look for the Budweiser commercials and play it out as if it was inspired by the iconic Monday Night Football beer choice, Budweiser.

Singletary need to give Martz the green light to go to the air on Monday Night Football television. That will be intimidating enough for the speedster Cardinals, because they are more of an offensive team than a defensive team, at least in my opinion. Fitzgerald needs to be shut down, and Bolden is priming to make a comeback, so he needs to get double coverage. In my opinion both Fitzgerald and Bolden are legitimate threats. They will score if the 49er secondary doesn't close up on them. They are the best wide receiving corps in the NFL, at least that is what I think, and if the 49ers secondary suffer miscommunication or lapses with their defense, they will be scorched for touchdowns by them.

49er quarterback Shaun Hill, in addition to throwing crisp passes and avoiding interceptions, he needs to turn up a notch because if the Cardinals' passing game elevates, the 49ers have to, too. He needs to do a great job of managing the game and create multiple scoring opportunities.

Frank Gore, our best running back and an extremely talented at it, powerful at the line of scrimmage and by breaking tackles and transporting himself through holes. He needs to break 100 yards to help the team gain high total yardage in this game which is necessary to counter all-pro receivers Fitzgerald and Bolden. I cannot stop talking about these two receivers because they can make the big play anytime that can hurt the 49ers' chances of winning. Clements and corps must stop them head on and stifle their WR threat.

I would like to see Tollner more involved in the Martz offense because he can coach the players more while Martz does the play calling and the tinkering with the schematics of his offense.

Zeigler has been signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and I think it is a move that will help the 49ers because he did extremely well during the preseason and we need to get back to that rolling tempo. Zeigler is a good receiver and can pull off some great plays that brings the 49ers back into the lead.

I think the score will be 31-20 49ers. Hill will throw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, with a couple by Gore and perhaps Davis, with one interception, his first of the season. Jason Hill will have a 89 receiving yard game and Isaac Bruce will have 76 yards, with Davis grabbing 35 yards and Zeigler getting 40 yards, and  the rest spread out with a couple others on the receiving end.

Gore will run for 103 yards, and have 55 receiving yards for a total 158 yards accrued in the mismatch against the Cardinals.

And Singletary will pass out some Armani boxers to his team in gratitude to the team for allowing their minds to be imprinted by his infamous pants down dramatic demonstration during a halftime pep talk to his team in the locker room, perhaps to promise them the reward of Armani bathrobes to cover up their asses, if they came back to win the game, or at least close out the game with pride and integrity.

If not this time, next time will be pride and glory.

And if this time it's all pride and glory, it's on Monday Night Football!

It's on the house.

Ho Humm.. Ooops. Why I said oops? Because Mike Nolan  chose a new offensive coordinator, and some new weapons.

Now new Head Coach Singletary is left to salvage what is left of the season, with quarterback O'Sullivan having thrown most of the season away, with his inconsistencies.

Isaac Bruce, one of the top receivers in the game, since his 153 yard explosion of a game, has been generally quiet, simply getting into the end zone at times, but he needs more yards, because that usually means more damage has been done.

Bryant Johnson who? I think we all can recall he had one 78 yard receiving game. Other than that, not much. Was he doing better with the Cardinals as the 4th receiver than he is as the 2nd receiver with the 49ers?

Arnaz Battle, he has been around but...same result this year as the previous years...

O'Sullivan is a culprit of creating turnovers either by fumbling or getting intercepted. If he secures the ball and makes the throws he can make, he will look more like a pro bowl caliber quarterback. Some efficient quarterback with high rating scores are the ones that avoid interceptions even turnover rates. That is why Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz brought with him O'Sullivan into the fold, because he has that potential. O'Sullivan has found himself into a predicament where he is not helping the team win.

Martz has the offense but not the right players for it. O'Sullivan can fit in with the offense but he has areas of weakness that has to be disposed of before Martz realizes he is not the right fit as quarterback for this type of offense. We need a quarterback that can escape the pass rush and one that will not throw too many interceptions, and one that can throw the ball downfield, who secures the ball the way he is supposed to, and who can scramble if he has to. O'Sullivan can be brilliant on one play and utterly stink in the other. He'll take it away from you and in another, give you a gift wrapped in a bow. I kind of wonder if he wears his own socks...because, he stinks up the place and doesn't look like himself, the dazzling self he was during the preseason.

These coaches and players were brought to the team for the sole purpose of winning, which has not been achieved. There are never enough spark-plugs to make it a smooth running engine of a team. We need to close it out with the final nuts and bolts and make sure it is a well-oiled machine which makes everything work. It takes BOTH the coaches and the players, EVEN the support of the team management, to make it work.

When the 49ers were running up scores 30-plus points or more, Mike Nolan's job was safe. When they had their rug pulled up from under, from O'Sullivan's poor showings in the regular NFL season, Nolan got fired immediately before the bye.

Singletary yet again, is not an offensive-minded coach, the departed Nolan wasn't either, so the offense is completely in the hands of Martz. The head coach will only make quarterback switch decisions if he thinks it is necessary as sometimes offensive coordinators are loyal to their quarterbacks despite their performance. The OC can see how the quarterback is progressing but the head coach wants RESULTS. But, Singletary may make better game management decisions than Nolan did.

Return of investment is what everyone wants all along, we sign players to a multi-million dollar contracts because we expect a huge return of investment (ROI). Losing badly by giving away the ball and creating penalties that we can prevent is NOT a ROI. It's a dead giveaway.

Remember NFL stars say "I want my MONEYYYYYYY!!!"

I say, and we say, "We want our MONEY'S WORTH!!!!!!!!"

And we all want our return-of-investment. No shit. We have to start winning.

Or nobody will want to sign with the 49ers, either.

Both.

Given that anybody else pulled the stunt, pulling down his pants, there would be endless echoes of snickers bouncing around, but guess who pulled the gutsy stunt, pulling down the pants (with the boxers left on, whew), it was hall-of-famer Mike Singletary.

Singletary is excused, because he gives great pre-game pep talks, with a powerful way of giving speeches to the team. He is a great coach, a dynamic one, and one with a great commanding figure,  especially when he is on the field and in the clubhouse,  all the players listen carefully.

Due to the pants down fiasco, there might be some head shaking and criticism, but most will concede that Singletary is more serious than that and means business when he says it, which comes from his heart. He didn't do it as a joke, but as a literal visual aid to jolt his team back to their senses and to teach his players to start putting back on the game face, how to build up their adrenalin levels. Singletary did admit it was a bit overboard for him to drop his pants down in front of his team like that, but he wanted to bring across a point, he was willing to sacrifice himself a bit for the sake of the team.

Singletary has the next eight games to prove that he can coach in the NFL level and possibly guide the team to a turning point. He will tone it down but he will continue to try to motivate his team into playing a higher level of football.

Singletary is sane. He pulled a far-out move, maybe a little too far , but he did it with a sound mind and a round butt, his own brand of far-fetchedness.

As some snickers can be heard in some circles, respect will be given to Singletary because he is capable of bringing change for the better, he knows how to coach a team despite adversity; he was a pro bowler while playing for the Chicago Bears and helped them to get to he playoffs. Now as a head coach, can he do the same thing?

Singletary is the perfect choice to lead a team despite adversity.

When we come under such an offensive system the Martz offense provides, we need to become true students of the offense. Because if you try to do too much, you get sacked. If you try to do too little, that's not what the offense represents. And if you are in the middle, not too little or too much, it's too mediocre for a flashy offense.

And if you turn over the ball trying to run this offense, then you need to be benched, because it's all about winning and all about being the best offense in the NFL, possibly, in the history of the NFL. Martz has such a vision.

Do we?

Well it depends how badly we want to win. And sometimes when we want to win badly, we force the ball and turn it over. That is part of O'Sullivan's struggles, secondly, it is one of the reasons he always was benched in his entire NFL career. Coaches have seen his errant play at times and poor decision making, trying to force the ball instead of managing the ball game AND letting things happen in a smooth flow.

O'Sullivan is talented. He's good. He's a pro bowl-caliber quarterback. He is on his way. But what can he do while he is being benched in favor of Shaun Hill?

LEARN.

Let's go back to my quote in the "What Will We Get out of Singletary?" fanpost where I described basically but most acutely what he will bring to the shaken franchise, the San Francisco 49ers,

 "I write as I have SEEN, heard, witnessed, and researched on Mike Singletary who is as good they come, probably the most fiercely competitive up to date, he is going to strike a fiery note when he starts singing as the 49er's new head coach. "

Indeed, Singletary has taken the microphone and he has started singing. And it's a fiery note. Davis gets both a penalty and a boot from the field for a playful poke, and O'Sullivan gets benched in place of Shaun Hill, who came in to play a better managed game.

When you turn over the ball, it becomes a thing where you become the casualty, because of the inability to hold on to the ball, or to better protect it. It draws the ire of the coaching staff and fellow teammates, because they have to feel more invincible than this, their vulnerability are exposed if you cannot protect the ball.

So  that is where Hill comes in, Singletary is giving him the chance to just to do a better job of managing the ballgame as a quarterback, O'Sullivan's play was just too errant for him to continue at this point, the message the new head coach is giving is, we have to start winning games. It is by a marked improvement in game management from the huddle.

It is true Singletary cannot continue to publicly discipline his players in front of 70,000 fans, but he wanted to send across a very clear message that he will not tolerate players that contribute to attitude that leads to losing. It's about the team, not about their own self-centered selves. The TEAM wants tickets!! Not just you, me, the rest of the team, or the newly promoted to head coach Singletary, but everyone in this room! And if you are going to be the one to ruin it for all of us, so that we cannot get our family or friends tickets, then just turn around and walk the other way out of the stadium into the desert.

Ok?

Singletary is obviously A-OK with it. He'll echo it, with a booming voice exuding a sense of authority and an old-school nonsense approach, he was embarrassed by the 49ers' pathetic lifeless performance, almost sheepish but annoyed, he laid down the law during and afterwards. It's turning into the wild west affair, and will continue to be, until his players get the message.

It's been a long time coming, that guy Singletary, from the moment he took the reins of the 49ers, if he couldn't win in his debut as a head coach, at least he was able to motivate the players in working on correcting the trend of losing and turn it into winning ways. It's on its' way.

As I said, he is old-school and that is the approach needed in any effort to turn around the misfortunes of the 49ers back into the traditional winning ways, the vision Mike Nolan brought to the team when he was hired, the torch has been passed to Singletary. The difference Singletary brings is a more tougher approach and better motivational skills needed to lift up the 49ers at some turning point. Nolan endorsed Singletary for the head coaching position, not because he will carry the team as the motivational speaker, but because he has the commanding figure to bring change and lift the team upwards back into a winning tradition. It might not happen in the first couple of games, but Singletary will keep on preaching until they all get it.

Sometimes it takes old-school mentality to stop the losing ways, and the process is painful and demeaning sometimes, the way Vernon Davis probably felt when Singletary ordered him off the field, my hope is that Davis will respect him with admiration for having the stomach to make such moves in front of all the fans and players, and learn from it. Davis knows Singletary is a hall-of-famer, and he cannot discount him despite the fact he thought that was new for a coach to ban him from the field for such an infraction (15-yard penalty for poking a player in the facemask), Davis' reaction was that it is the way Singletary coaches.

Was that a good reactionary response?

Singletary's was good, and the right one, even as people speak in hushed whispers that we don't do that to grown up men who are NFL players.

49ers, stop turning over the ball like giving away carrots, the game is not to be played as if rabbits were all over the field. It's a game where we go to steakhouses, not crawling and feeding off the garden. We have to play like real men and protect the ball, and protect the quarterback, and catch the ball, and steal it, whatever, but take possession of the ball and move the ball.

Singletary is bringing a fresh infusion of the feeling we are not a charity anymore, giving away wins. Singletary will motivate his players to earn their wins. If other teams want to beat the 49ers now, they have to keep in mind Singletary refuses the notion of being a charitable 49ers because he does not want to give any leverage to any team that looks to keep walking over their red carpet.

As long Singletary keeps his disciplining ways in check, the 49ers will respond to what he as their new head coach brings.

Let's rock. Let's play smash-mouth football, and discard our barbie dolls. It's a man's game now.

And maybe a couple of apologies to debut with.

I write as I have SEEN, heard, witnessed, and researched on Mike Singletary who is as good they come, probably the most fiercely competitive up to date, he is going to strike a fiery note when he starts singing as the 49er's new head coach. He is a man all players admire and respect and Nolan strongly endorsed Singletary to take his place, if he didn't Nolan would be "deeply disappointed" in Singletary. At that moment it was Singletary's cue to take the job because he would not have to deal with any opposition from Nolan. Naturally we want a blessing from the departing coach. Right?

One summer I went to a 49er training camp, I had a ticket printed out for admission, and saw all the players, some of which no longer occupy the Niner roster, it was in the beginning of Alex Smith's career, the "glory days" with Kevan Barlow taking the backfield. I could see Nolan and his skinny legs skimper over from one end of the field to the other end of the field to meet with groups of players, wearing shorts but wearing cool sunglasses. He had a funny walk, but he effortlessly moved around coaching the players.

I couldn't imagine Nolan in his younger days as a pro football player, I cannot even fathom Nolan as being explosive in his earlier days, he probably was a good athlete who knew technique, thus translating his experience into coaching role, which later eventually evolved into a head coaching gig with the 49ers, recording a dismal won-loss record during his tenure as head coach, going 18-37. Who wants to say that Mike was worst than his father, dick?

I was under the ilusion of Nolan's dapper dress style, or rather, under the delusion of its' dazzling representation of a team with inept follow up during games which count more than the dress itself. I'd rather have a sweatshirt wearing head coach who helps us win games than a dapper dressed coach who was lacking in areas we needed as the final ingredients to WIN. He has the Godfather mentality in dressing up but missing the killer instinct. The new coach is totally different, but nonetheless a great friend of Nolan's, with great mututal respect for one another, but Singletary is one of a kind. He dresses more casually but coaches with more fervor.

Singletary has the killer instinct. That will be the missing link to a championship one day. The players will pick up on the killer instinct like picking up the scent from the air, the players will start lurking and stalk opposing teams. Singletary is a great motivator. They will grind it out for him, they would have for Nolan if he was given more time, but the 49ers decided Nolan must go. Here we move on with Singletary and his hall of fame credentials will rub off the 49ers, I believe.

At the training camp I saw Singletary coaching the defense and as a Deaf person who is fluent in American Sign Language, I studied his fierce hand signals taking shape as he was directing his players on footwork and hand techniques, and the movements he wanted the players to make. He was a very good communicator when he was coaching the players, his arms were always moving, his finger pointing where the players have to go to, the field was a flurry of activity, with Singletary coaching.

Imagine what Singletary could do as head coach, taking it to another level.

Well, well, well, what of the brillant suit and ties Nolan wore? Now that Nolan has been fired, I would like to echo quotes I made earlier way before the firing. This fanpost will be a collection of some of the quotes I made in the past about both Nolan and Singletary.

Quote from article titled " Nolan's Culpability,"

"Nolan has been pathetic when it comes to head coaching, but I honestly felt he brings good chemistry to the team by the way he helped build the current roster, the team is underperforming and not playing to their capabilities. We have a great team, great characters, but we need them more alive on the field. Our play is basically dead. A fish here and there but then, nothing.

We are going to let the all-pros kick butts of those responsible for the team's decline in play and let matters be handled in-house. Nolan will just sit in his office wondering how to make his team a better team- WHEN A MUCH IMPROVED GAME MANAGEMENT SKILLS CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN. If he cannot provide an answer to that question, Nolan and his family is going to take a trip to Switzerland, to quietly celebrate Nolan's...

Firing."

Now he's fired and can take his trip to Switzerland. If he has read my article he has me to thank for the suggestion to try the chocolates in Switzerland and be mindful of the fact that every resident of Switzerland has/owns a firearm inside every household. Don't be shocked.

Back to USA, I would like to state another quote I said a few days before his firing:

"Nolan do something about it~

Or, take a hike..shoes all muddy, for all I care. "

Well, Nolan, thanks for complying with my wishes for taking a hike. I trust that you are wearing your suit and tie, shoes shined. Good luck and have a nice day..

Only that your tie is probably a different color by now.

First of all, don't stand pat on 3rd down about to be demolished by a defensive end who knew our weakness on 3rd downs. Be a playmaker! No matter what our offensive line is experiencing or the sputter of our defense, we still have to go out and make plays. What, am I going to wait for Popeye to pop put of the water from the boat and flex his biceps before I do it? No!

And don't divert from the game plan. Trust the game plan and go with the play-calling, only a swing of things can make things happen. Route running has to be perfect, and it's up to the quarterback to deliver it.

J.T. O'Sullivan is a streaky quarterback, he gives us some glimpses of greatness, then brings us to murky waters where he has times of despair with a pairing gift, a bunch of interceptions that were thrown as if they were completions. But if he continues a long streak of dazzling playmaking, he will get back on the road to success. He needs to be a little more savvy in the huddle because the team goes out confident that the quarterback is in control and will put the ball into their hands. We need to be able to step out on the field knowing that our quarterback will manage the different looks of blitzes and still deliver the ball exactly as the play calls for, perhaps with some adjustments made.

I feel confident with Shaun Hill, he demonstrated something special in the middle-to-end of last season by staging wins and good stats, that's the very reason we keep him in the wings. Some players feel it's a don't-don't when it comes to being benched or becoming benchwarmers. It's the feeling it's either this or cooking s'mores over the bonfire, that's shit to me. I want the s'mores and be a hell-raiser on a football field, be a tailgate party crasher. Not relegated to eating sunflower seeds all day long. I have a game I gotta play.

And I'd go with Hill if not for Jamie Martin. I just am banking on O'Sullivan getting on a roll and some wins after the "Patriot experience." And the "Saint experience."

I am sounding like a Niner writer who has never even been to a Niner training camp, much less borrows cliches exclaimed by others, but the real Niner truth is that I do know 49er football.

And how they need to win.

Gore must get the ball. Must. He's a gamebreaker, a winner. There is no way to look for others to throw to, because Gore will catch it and make it bigger than it is, unless it's Isaac Bruce.

Bruce is heading for a big year but he needs to get the ball more consistently and at least score a touchdown every game if possible,  he needs a few more 100-yard receiving games. As long both Gore and Bruce gain over 100 yards, we want Vernon Davis, Arnaz Battle, Bryant Johnson,  and others to contribute.

And eliminate the turnovers, penalties, even dropped balls, and we are up a notch. That's the name of the game.

We need to beat the opposing team physically, technique-wise, we need our motor running the full four quarters. We cannot be hoodwinked anytime we are on the field.

There are so many things I can think of and I hope all our 53 players tried to think of the same things this week while preparing for the NY Giants, instead of playing the playstation or visiting their girlfriends.

They need to let loose their hormones, or keep it in check, whatever works.

Nolan's Culpability! That headline should be printed on any major newspaper and I authorize them to, if they want to!

Nolan's game management is ahem, like running Pop Warner football thinking everybody else are idiots too while everyone can see what an inept game management Nolan is doing, he just cannot see that everyone is watching each and every call Nolan has ever made and the 4th down calls, the um, challenge calls..and more. I mean Nolan is a good coach but...

Need I say more? Well, Nolan chose Alex Smith as our no. 1 draft pick, a bust but now some of us are wishing he was healthy so he could bump O'Sullivan. Wishing the bumped on the about to be bumped, that makes it for a strange parallel to abysmal performances that keep on happening no matter who is behind the helm, an O'Sullivan or a Smith, at this point, it doesn't matter.

Only someone who can evade the pass rush and throw on the pressure pinpoint what the game plan calls for, then we might be able to start winning games.  O'Sullivan is getting sacked too often to succeed at the NFL level. He needs 300-yard games.

Nolan has been pathetic when it comes to head coaching, but I honestly felt he brings good chemistry to the team by the way he helped build the current roster, the team is underperforming and not playing to their capabilities. We have a great team, great characters, but we need them more alive on the field. Our play is basically dead. A fish here and there but then, nothing.

We are going to let the all-pros kick butts of those responsible for the team's decline in play and let matters be handled in-house. Nolan will just sit in his office wondering how to make his team a better team- WHEN A MUCH IMPROVED GAME MANAGEMENT SKILLS CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN. If he cannot provide an answer to that question, Nolan and his family is going to take a trip to Switzerland, to quietly celebrate Nolan's...

Firing.

Nolan has many good qualities which I desire for the 49ers to continue as a tradition, I'd like every head coach be required to dress in suit and ties in every home game. I'd like a head coach to foster a closely-knit clubhouse with strong chemistry. I'd like the players to believe they can perform at the highest level they can and that they have the feeling they will win every time they step out on the field. But Nolan's game management has us lost on his game vision and seriously, we are thinking what the 49ers need to do to make a drastic turnaround from the downhill descent into the bottom of the class.

Two San Francisco  class organizations, the San Francisco Giants of MLB, and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, both have invested millions in free-agents and draft picks only to have busts, for the 49ers I am thinking Alex Smith, and the Giants, I am thinking Barry Zito. I am already thinking that the money we paid out to Barry Bonds was the best money we have ever spent. Bonds took us to the World Series, that we can boast.

But what else? Invoke memories of Steve Young carrying the victorious Lombardi Trophy, flashing a smile? The house tour of Alex Smith's new house as if he was prophetically laughing all the way to the bank? Seeing the ridiculous game preseason training camp fights Davis starts while during the regular season we have yet to see much of Davis?

Nolan is like deer staring at the headlights of an incoming SUV vehicle. He has to make the biggest decisions in his career to salvage his coaching job with the 49ers. He is staring at the face of a 2-4 record, which was not what we expected entering in the 2008 NFL season.

Win a Super Bowl, I'll take a house tour then. Until otherwise, I don't give a shit about you, what your wardrobe looks like, or ask you how often the laundry is done every week and see what a huge pile of undies there are..get the picture? Every day presents the dilemma of more dirty laundry to air..that is what it is like in full season with the 49ers. You have to air your laundry, because if you're not doing good, you are in deep shit. I'm glad I am not the 49ers trainer because I would have to wash their dirty-for-nothing uniforms. I rather wash the winning uniforms.

It's like having kids mudslinging around and coming home and you as a sweet parent, pretending to go "dear son, get inside and take off your muddy clothes, I will put in the washer for you right now," you pretend you are sweet but eventually you will have had enough of all this MUD all over the house..

Nolan do something about it~

Or, take a hike..shoes all muddy, for all I care. 

Just when I had a feeling the 49ers defense would step up in the Eagles-49ers game, I was wrong- the Eagles scored 40 points. Exactly what 49er head coach Mike Nolan says, that who has the most points wins the game, the Eagles did just that.

So much for Nolan's statement, and so much for my prediction that Vernon Davis would get over 100 yards (he got 78), and I predicted for Gore to have over 100 yards, he ended up with 99 yards. Ha. Like he read the blog's fanposts and saw mine and laughed at me. And got 99 yards instead of the 109 yards I predicted for him. I guess I was close enough, but here's Gore is laughing at my face. Go away. Get 109 yards next week, ok? Might be enough for a win.

Well, here's to Mike Nolan the ill-fated head coach of the 49ers: tick, tock, tick, tock! Time is running out.  Birds going clackety-clack. Nolan needs to come up with something instead of coming out on the press conference conceding defeat, but come out a winner. Nolan needs to evaluate what is not working and get rid of the problem and bring in new people.

Well it's that or it's his job. Get to work, boy. It's business.

First off, I predict the score will be 37-17. One score will be by DeSean Jackson, but Gore will dominate the game with Bruce and Johnson both having big games. The 49ers will throw away the ball more as the Eagles do a lot of blitzing, the sacks hopefully will be minimized to just two. The 49ers have to throw down the middle in order to win. We have to throw spirals into spots, we need to utilize our speed in separating from the secondaries and running into the end zone.

Again, I expect some of our playmakers to have big games and O'Sullivan will throw for 275-plus yards, maybe hitting 300 if he has a really good day. While we try to minimize sacks, we will also be trying to minimize turnovers that has been killing us, and our secondaries have been burned one time too many, we need to be more of ballhawkers aggressively. We need to get our hands on the ball, block it, deflect it, intercept it, and catch it. The offense needs to keep the defense in the wings on the sidelines while the offense does some trickery by running and throwing the ball.

O'Sullivan needs to be aware of who is open because he has one of the quicker releases in the NFL, and has the most completions 20 yards or more.

Vernon Davis also needs a big game. It's time for him to catch the ball and score. He has sheer speed and easily separates himself from defenders as the sun from the horizon, he has that kind of shift into higher gear. Use him, damn it. I want to see 100 yards from Davis today.  It's possible for Bruce to have a 100 yard game, with Davis getting 105 receiving yards, and Gore will run for 109 yards, with 65 yards receiving.

The 49ers will have 400 total yards today, but it remains to see whether the Niner defense can hold down the explosive Eagles. That's an area to improve on today.

And it's a very important game for Nolan. He cannot afford to lose today. The media won't let down on him if he loses.

Tom Landry, the former coach of America's favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, dressed in a suit and tie like Nolan does, only that Tom didn't do what Nolan does- lose. Landry was one of the winniest coaches in history of the NFL. And he wore a hat too, which Nolan doesn't.

Now I am going to get my lunch and snacks for the 49ers football game. To celebrate, or as a consolation prize.

Nolan, get your thinking cap on and start winning games.

Everybody, take a good shot of expresso and remember it was Randy Moss of the Patriots who had the most touchdowns ever in one season, 23 touchdowns in the 2007 season. Of course Moss is going to saunter into the red zone with the ball in his hands. Who else?

That was why our defense had a huge responsibility in their assignments to stop Randy Moss cold, only they didn't, they opened the gate and watched while Moss strolled by. What excuse do we have?

None.

I am placing blame indirectly on the 49ers, as they are my team and they deserve the blame for the loss. One cannot allow a great player to have his dance. I can say Jerry Rice's career is complete, because he had his dance. But watching Moss have a field day closing the game, shutting the door effectively on the Niner's faces, making our beloved team realize they have a lot of work cut out for them down the road, just dampens my hopes for the 2008 season. It's still too early to call off the season, but if we keep losing, we go deeper in the hole, and it's not a place where I want to be.

Nolan might be the best losing coach ever, because he has built his team to the point of hot streaks where the 49ers can pull together a string of wins and 30-plus scores, but the 49ers in a new offense, are still sputtering and putting the final pieces in place, soon the 49ers will be off and running, it is just a matter of when. Nolan doesn't really have that much waiting time, because the 49ers management is tired of losing and on a 4th consecutive losing season, they might think changes are needed. Nolan is sinking early in this season while the 49er's offense is showing promise; he needs to start winning in order to keep his job.

Nolan is a class act, coupled with how he wants to dress in the games. The Yorks buy into his philosophy and dress code, along with some knack inherited from his father, the late Dick Nolan. The Nolans were always mired in losing seasons, stuck in its' mud, but if the Yorks are willing to be patient, and the team continues believing in the vision both Nolan and Martz has set before, they might start winning.

O'Sullivan had a great preseason, showing flashes of greatness, but the circumstances of early 2008 season has shut down O'Sullivan, he has endured almost 20 sacks to begin this season with, while the touchdowns were thrown as often interceptions were. It's hard for him to find the opportunities if he is repeatedly sacked. He needs more protection in order to find his receivers and start the playmaking. There has been too many turnovers over the last several games which needs to stop, effective immediately.

I keep saying that Gore needs to run for over 100 yards in order to win. Gore barely broke 54 yards in this unpatriotic game, what, is that enough to win? With zero touchdowns? Battle was in position to pull off some big plays, but, they hardly materialized. No receiver caught for over 100 yards.

I predicted the score would be 38-31 49ers. Instead, the score was 30-21 Patriots. I was close enough, when I predicted the Patriots would get 31 points, they got 30. Instead of 38 points, the 49ers only got 21 points.  Not enough to win football games, apparently, and that is the SOB story the 49ers have to tell today when the sun rises. Get your kleenex ready. It's a crying day.

Every Sunday is. All the more reason why we should go to church.

Hey it's time to come out of the trenches fighting and showing who is the boss. The 49ers are a potentially playoff-caliber team and we need to start winning games to prove that. It's time for technique to show up and for the defense to be at the right place at all times, the offense needs to click today, including the running game.

It is the day when Vernon Davis will have a big game. O'Sullivan will give Davis a few chances to do some superb route running and get big gains as a result. They have been practicing, in fact so it is just a matter of time when they start hooking up in games. I am looking for Davis to have a couple 100-plus yard games, maybe several, but all the receivers will be vying for catches by being at the right place as I said for both the defense and offense to be in. Davis cannot continue to make the drops, they make him look bad. He needs to develop more of an instinct when to lunge for the ball. He has the speed to separate himself from defenders but the matter is to lunge for the ball when it is slightly, just slightly overthrown, he should have the built-in instinct to lunge for the ball in order to catch it instead of falling behind and making it look catchable but slipped through his fingers.

That's one course for Davis to cross, and once he does, he will become the "invincible" because of his sheer ability to separate himself from secondaries.

Today Frank Gore will do some lead blocks and gain 90-plus yards today and I am hoping he goes over 100 yards because it would tighten the bolts on the game for a pulled out victory. We need the running game going and the passing game perfectly sandwiched between pockets of time when Gore or DeShaun Foster gets the ball.

I expect O'Sullivan to throw for two touchdowns and for the backfield to have one touchdown and one defensive touchdown from a turnover the 49ers created. I expect the defense to make a big play or two.

I want Clement to step up because of his huge salary, he needs to make a couple of big plays when it counts. We need leadership in the secondary despite who's playing. We need to create things just for the sake of it, to stir things up and get the offense going. We have the offense, we just need to penetrate defenses and get rolling that way. I am looking at who gets paid the most and expect these players to step up. The highest paid players are franchise-type players. Let them run the show.

Bruce will haul in a touchdown. He's good for it, so he will have his thing done in the end zone. He is just a precise route runner that he is able to find himself on the receiving end in the red zone. Battle will continue to have good games since his recent 120 receiving yards in the last game against the Saints. I would like to go back to Davis, he has a responsibility to make catches today. He needs to go over that hump.

Whenever Gore makes a long gain, it will provide an electrifying spark at times when the 49ers machine slow down. People are going to be running for their exact destination to make a play happen, all day long, with O'Sullivan making at least 40 or more passing attempts.

My final conclusion is that the 49ers will defeat the Patriots 38-31.

I have a final assessment of what it is GOING to take to keep O'Sullivan alive., which is why I felt compelled to do a fanpost on Fooch's latest article because I have more to say than a comment will allow (at least I am thinking that way).

49ers Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz's offense is a high-powered type of offense that can both move the ball and score, it  creates more high scoring games as it was proven over the preseason when the Niners scored 30-plus points each game, that it thrives in the Martz offense. The 49ers are trying to keep the scoring prowess rolling into the regular season, which is proving more tough, for a variety of reasons:

1. Mike Martz should adopt a hybrid offensive scheme that is exactly the same except for changes with the offensive line protection of the quarterback. Such a hybrid system will position the offensive line players better, putting them into position to protect the quarterback better. Changes in the line, you know? We have to stop the pass rushers cold.

2. The blames partly goes to the offensive line and the other blame goes to the quarterback.  O'Sullivan needs to make quicker decisions when he is pressurized or being sacked.

3. Kitna has been sacked, no solution to the problem, Bugler has been sacked numerous times, too, and no solution was created. Are we about to enter into the 2008 NFL season without a solution to the offensive line breakdowns and poor QB decision-making, allowing the same trend to continue until it breaks O'Sullivan's body finally? People say he is strong, even O'Sullivan says he feels strong (short of saying that he's invinceable), but no human can withstand such pounding day in and day out unless he has some superhuman resiliency that possesses the incredible guy. I mean, J.T. is on pace to break the record by the quarterback who has been sacked the most in the history of the NFL, whoever that might be. I don't want to guess because the most-sacked leader of a quarterback's wife knows how many purple bruises her poor hubby has. That's ouchy sex, man.

4. Tell me, how can we run such a particular kind of offense Mike Martz brought into town, effectively booting the quarterback into the ice tub after each game, without any protection of the starting quarterback? We can run it, but not without a price in having to pay for it, and it literally becomes a waiting game or even a contest to see which quarterback can rebound after being hit in the entire season. There should be a Mr. Tough Guy Award for quarterbacks who keep on bouncing right back up after every sack, look at the punishment they take daily, they ought to be rewarded for it.

5.  I believe that Frank Gore needs to run the ball more often, because there will be holes for him to run through. Every game Gore ran for over 100 yards, the Niners usually win. Let's cite the case of the game the 49ers played versus Detroit, defeating them 31-13, Gore had 130 yards, and O'Sullivan threw for a prudent 189 yards and two touchdowns, zero interceptions. I'd rather have a game like this than a 257-yard passing game with 6 sacks, and two or three interceptions. And boy, Gore ran. Ran over you, me, and anybody.

Besides it lessens the chances for sacks to happen.

6. This is the kind of offense which you cannot just allow incompletions. Vernon Davis needs to start catching the ball. He is fast enough to go after balls that are slightly over thrown, and he needs to adjust when it is under thrown, and when it's thrown into his lap, he needs to catch it! Not bellow at the top of his lungs because he gets so hyper even if it is just one catch and one yard shy of the first yard. I rather see him howl after his third touchdown in as many quarters, he'll deserve it and Nolan won't make him sit down. You get to the end zone, you can pretty much do anything you want. But if you create continuous missed opportunities, well shut up and play, or bellow and get benched for the rest of the game. That's his choice, Davis has to choose whether he will bark loud for himself or stay hushed for the team. We have to focus man, so we can win. I appreciate Davis getting excited after catches but he needs to back it up more- and preferably, at the end zone during road games so he can smirk at the fans there.

7.  Throw away the ball. Hold on to the ball. Throw a completion. Pass rush comes back, throw away the ball. There's always next time and if he holds on to the ball that's not only on his own expense, but the expense of the 49er investment in O'Sullivan. We have our hopes pinned on O'Sullivan's playmaking ability, and we need him healthy to achieve our objective- getting to the playoffs and beyond.

8. Route running is the KEY to the Martz offense, yes. No doubt about that. This offense is based on timing, on mutual trust between everyone involved especially the quarterback and the person on the receiving end. If you are a little off the route, it causes the quarterback to hold on to the ball longer, and by then the offensive line will crumble allowing the pass rushers to apply intense pressure to the quarterback.

These are my 8 points, in honor of Steve Young's jersey number #8, that best illustrates what issues we have with the sacks problem, if O'Sullivan was superman, then these 8 points become a non-issue. But Steve Young factored, he played until all the sacks he suffered caused one too many a concussion, and O'Sullivan, as long he continues playing under the Martz offense, will be next up to retire from getting concussions too frequently.

I wouldn't be suprised if concussion injuries are concealed from any injury report so they won't lose that quarterback too soon even before the season gets thoroughly underway. That is just speculation on the part of a simple fan as I am, being fanatically eloquent as well.

I believe the end result is that the best way to avoid the sacks is to get rid of the ball as fast we can, whether by throwing or handing off the ball.

As usual my predictions lasted accurately for the first three quarters, but concrete was poured in the 4th quarter rendering them invalid. I predicted a 38-21 score 49ers, but the Saints ended up climbing to a 21 point lead and finishing up in a grandeur style 28-17. So much for the Niner defense and the turnovers I predicted will not happen, but happened anyway.

The Niners ended up with zero sacks and turnovers in consecutive quarters in the red zone area. O'Sullivan faced a strong pass rush, getting sacked six times in the process of throwing for 257 yards in the game.

Can we imagine seeing O'Sullivan having an off-day while the ever efficient Brees is breezing through spreading the glory. Well, O'Sullivan had an off-day, throwing for two interceptions in the red zone painfully. These two mistakes among others killed the 49ers. We cannot commit tunovers in a league filled with good quarterbacks, especially with a top-rated one as Brees, because he will burn you. Brees is too good to pass up good opportunities, which the 49er defense gave, and took advantage of them helping himself to servings of 49er defense to dissect. 

If this must be an off-balance day for O'Sullivan, let this be the one so he can come back strong next week. When we come back strong, we will pulverize opponents as if we are teeing golf balls. O'Sullivan is entitled to an off-day especially since the 49er offense averaged 30 points a game during the preseason exhibition games, and nearly continued it fully during the opening of the regular season. I have to give him credit for that. Let's just move on from the Saints-49er fiasco of a game into a demolishing of the next team in line.

The 49ers' Frank Gore, if he ran for over 130 yards (to match last week's totals), he would put the offense in field position to score more, despite gaining 82 yards today. Gore is a great player, but the quarterback has to put the ball into the receiver's hands in the red zone instead of getting off the mark. We can't win games everytime an interception is made by the opposing defenses. It always marks the turning point of the game, turning the tide, the pulling the rug from under you.

I predicted Arnaz Battle would get the ball and throw it, but he gained 120 yards receiving instead. Mentioning him in my prediction had some sense of intuition, knowing he somehow would be involved in today's game plan, which came to pass.

O'Sullivan, thrust into the starting quarterback's position after being benched for years, for different teams, is now comfortably nested in the boundaries of the San Francisco 49ers. Although things may go well for several games, O'Sullivan was bound to have a rude awakening at times, even Nolan, the head coach. It's not a pleasant loss but sets them back, they will have a whole season to prove they are legitimate playoff contenders.

Brees, go away. See ya next year hopefully (not).

We are going to move on and shake the dust from our feet, it is time to wash the uniforms for a fresh new set for next week. Even the stinking stocks from that game, so it will be a fresh new start, O'Sullivan is going to throw for touchdowns instead of interceptions. He will continue to make mistakes but not at the level of the game against the Saints. He will start minimizing them while continuing to throw for touchdowns, accruing yardage.

O'Sullivan is no Joe Montana or Steve Young, but he holds his own and has his own style which is a little closer to Young's. He is turning out to be a good player, but we just have to eliminate the turnovers and hit our spots. There will be great games to follow, starring O'Sullivan but we have to wait until next week to continue his saga.

Several players stood out with their play but it's a team effort and we have to find ways to win instead of getting blown away by other teams. Is it cockiness coming out of a high scoring preseason, or is it magic that is fading as they play the more formidable opponents? If I started the swagger in the preseason, I would carry the same swagger in the entire season! WE are allowing the opponent's game plans throw us off track.

They better do some serious game planning this week, because losses pile up tossed like body bags, and we cannot afford to feel the weight, that kind of pressure, because everything falls to the shoulders of the coaching staff.

Watch the game films, fellas. Instead of being dissected, it's time to dissect wide open the film clips, breaking everything down to the last jot and tittle.

Whatever it takes to win. And hey, Vernon Smith and O'Sullivan, get back out there practicing connecting on bombs.

So we can pull the trigger next week and say hello to our opponent while all they can do is watch...

and fall.

What, Drew Brees is behind the helm as a top five NFL quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, and he will be facing the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday.

Will he dodge the stout Niner defense with an existing pass rush and an untested secondary with some rookies?

Somewhat, yes, but ideally, the Saints' offense have to remain on the field longer than the 49er defense to have any chance of winning.

The 49er's phenom quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, a protege of Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz, can be compared to Steve Young, whose jersey is scheduled to be retired October 5th, in one way:

They both have quick releases, finding the wide receiver instead of holding on to the ball too long. That was Alex Smith's problem, he held on to the ball too long, but our new starting quarterback O'Sullivan makes his reads fast.

Fast enough to possibly beat the Saints, and put them to purgatory.

Frank Gore, one of the top running backs in the game, appears to have regained his form he had in his record-setting year of 2006 (when he ran for a club record 1,695 yards), being inspired by the former Marshall Faulk who also ran under Martz's much-heralded offense. He's hitting the holes and providing his team great field positions.

As Rossum put it, "the 49ers have barely begun to delve into their playbook," the whopping Niners have a whole season ahead of them to show them all the tricks of their trade. Next up to do a reverse play will be Arnaz Battle or Michael Robinson, and you'll see Battle make a throw in this game. They'll need a lot of tricks to dupe the Saints into selling their souls.

It will be an interesting game for Josh Morgan because he has lost some pounds (15 or 30 pounds) since the 49er-Raiders game, will his strength hold up? He may be faster, but he'll be tested on if his sure hands are for real.

Since Bryant Johnson will be a game time decision on whether he'll play, that brings the Niners to an advantage because Saints will rely on game planning but we still have to do the same because we cannot underestimate Brees who is a Pro Bowler. It will be an high scoring game because we have two quarterbacks who are rising to the occasion this year, one a veteran and one who has been around, but been on the bench for most of his career playing for multi-teams.

Gore has been a central part of the offense, he reminds me of Roger Craig because of his total yardage, both running and receiving the ball. That makes the Niner offense much more difficult for the Saints to quench all the fiery darts, the 49ers can only shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers, and that is not going to happen.

O'Sullivan's confidence is building, that is the challenge the Saints will have, it will be Bree's job to guide his team to a victory, the ball will go to Reggie Bush, a difference maker, and O'Sullivan will lead the 49ers to a victory if he hits his targets all day long combined with the strength of the running game. Sorry for Bush. He's a great player, and can beat the 49ers anytime. That is why I am going to rely on O'Sullivan to have a big day tomorrow.

I think the score will be 38-21, 49ers. My prediction for the Saints getting only 21 points is a little far-fetched with a Brees-Bush tandem, but I am trusting that our rookies (such as Reggie Smith) will step up, and that we will utilize all of our best players, with the drawn plays perfectly executed.

My guess is that head coach Mike Nolan will be using his toothpicks more often, because of all the media interviews he'll be conducting after the game.

Go Niners!!!

This game reminded me of the time when Daniel, the prophet from the biblical times, was thrown into a Lion's den to be eaten up- only to have their mouths mysteriously shut, rendering them harmless to Daniel.

Only this time it was the 49ers versus the Lions, and it was not a mystery, but seen before thousands of fans and millions of viewers, who all watched the hapless Lions being rendered harmless to the 49ers.

Last week it was J.T. O'Sullivan's big game, this week it was the workhorse Frank Gore.

Next week it might just be Josh Morgan's turn to penetrate defenses that have no idea whether to contain the aerial attack or stop the running game, because one or the other opens up. It's like stepping on water sprinklers only to be squished in the face by another.

Only that it's not summer anymore, but the fall season, and the 49er offense is full-fledged and feeding off each other, with Gore a happy camper and most deserving of the MVP award of the game. In the AP news article written by Beachum, this is what Gore had to say:

"We’ve got so much stuff in our offense now,” said Gore, sounding like a kid describing what’s under the Christmas tree. “It felt so great to move the ball like that. The pass game is a whole lot better, and the more we throw the ball, the better it is for me in the running game."

It is not about spreading the ball to all the receivers, tight ends, and running backs, but it was all about opening up the game for others. Martz has a field day with this offense with O'Sullivan as the General, with many others joining the ranks to beat the crap out of anybody who thought otherwise.

O'Sullivan not only managed to rise to the upper-echelon class of quarterbacks, but managed to surface as a popular choice in Fantasy NFL league. Want to be right on the money, pick O'Sullivan.

Gore is turning out more freakish than Marshall Faulk ever was, as the aerial show gave way to the next show, the running show.

Will Kicker Nedney ever recapture the so-called "glory days" doing much of the scoring with his field goals in the Martz offense? Nonetheless, Nedney is certain to be a fellow happy camper like Gore is, because the 49ers are successful with this newly installed Martz offense as opposed to Hostler who didn't find the same success doing Norv Turner imitations. I don't know whether Hostler was too stoical even conservative, but that is ancient history. Hostler is probably milking cows, being squished milk on his face by teats while the Forty Niner world moved on without him.

And I am a happy camper, content without the forgotten Hostler, and I am ready to kiss Martz's ass.

Gore is, too, Bruce is as well, even Nolan is probably kissing Martz's ass too.

It's fun. It's gonna be a fun season. Eddie DeBartolo is probably talking to the mirror in his room, pretending to hug all the players and run across the field after a victory. He probably even has play money poured all over his room, in pretending to lavishly treat his players while the 49ers roll their way to the championships. I think DeBartolo is having fun.

While the Yorks are smiling and toasting each other on their success, Bill Walsh is not only rolling over in his grave but paying ghostly visitations.

While Alex Smith bangs his head on the wall, lamenting "what could have been!!??"

As some of you may know, I have been a lifelong 49er fan since my defection from Raider Nation football, I am a diehard fan. I have watched many, many 49er games on TV from the 80's till now. I have seen the fluidity of all the star wide receivers who simply strode to get to their destined spot and run after the catch. I have seen them all, from Solomon to Battle.

But Isaac Bruce? The Rams star wide receiver? A byproduct of the high-powered Martz offense? On the 49ers squad? So does that mean we can start comparing Bruce to Rice, the all-time 49er great?

Well (swallowing), actually Rice is, and will always be, the best. Seeing Bruce getting 153 yards stride by stride against opposing secondaries is just something I will never forget. Seeing Bruce do that in a 49er uniform, I thought that day would never come.

For years I have secretly been an admirer of Bruce, every Sunday I would look in the sports section of the newspaper to see how Bruce did. I saw perhaps almost forty 100-plus yards games Bruce had. Yes, nearly forty. And he has been a very consistent high performing wide receiver all these years, and now that he is with the Niners, lo, Bruce caught for 153 yards already!

For those who are cynics of the success of the former Ram WR, this year you will be disproved by all the yardage Bruce will accrue. When I read about Tim Brown of the Raiders, he'd get 80 yards. Bruce would get 180 yards. That was the impression I got over the years reading about Bruce's prowess as a fleeting wide receiver, and I am sure enthralled with the idea about having this guy with the Niners. It was a good move by the 49ers to sign Bruce and start him. I think this move will save Nolan's job for the time being, as long everybody stays in sync, but Nolan is treading on thin water these days. I cannot read the minds of the 49er ownership, but if Nolan changed the team into legitimate contenders, why fire him?

Although I was disappointed the 49ers didn't get James Hardy in the draft, I am very excited about the pieces of the puzzle that has been added to the 49ers. Once everyone knows what their role is, there is no telling how far our beloved team will go. I am hoping the playoffs and the Super Bowl. I am hoping we end up sending five players to the Pro Bowl. I am hoping O'Sullivan continues his hot streak the entire 2008 season. There are plenty of toothpicks for Alex Smith to fiddle around with while he waits to recover from the latest shoulder setback, watching the 49ers do well without him.

It's like as if the ex-wife was doing well without her former husband, particularly her love life showed a lot of increased activity with her new man..

In our case, it''s O'Sullivan, our new man. We'll become star-struck by O'Sullivan, the more he throws 300-yard games.

Increased activity.

Now, is it real that the 49ers are now 1-1, playing .500 ball, actually should have .1000 percentage by now if not for the season opener loss versus the Cardinals?

The very scenario has played out, to the satisfaction of O'Sullivan after Nedney's kick went in from 41 yards. Just a few moments ago Nedney missed a kick but he stayed cool and delivered the second kick successfully. You couldn't script any better than that, missing a kick but coming back to kick a field goal to win the game. It's like as if the quarterback missed his top target but still got him at the end. That was how the 49ers bounced back.

The 49ers are the team to beat this year because the Martz offense is rolling, turning into a high-powered offense with all the weapons we have, believe it or not. People don't put much stake in Jason Hill, Josh Morgan, even Isaac Bruce in a 49er offense, but with Martz's scheme, the ball must be delivered from point A to point B, period. There is not another expectation- just run your route, and if the quarterback throws it where he is supposed to be, you'll get the ball and do what you can with it.

Whether it's Morgan or Bruce, O'Sullivan has the skills to deliver it. He is a sleeping giant awakened by being handed the quarterback job right to his hands. He will reach his full potential as he starts each game, he made beautiful throws today. I don't think I have ever seen Alex Smith throw as good as O'Sullivan did today. The team is going to rumble with him behind the helm as the starter. Smith was coming along, but the one who stays healthy and is a playmaker will have the starting spot, anyway.

I am a little bit stunned in the manner O'Sullivan joined the 49ers after Martz got named as the Niner's offensive coordinator, because it became obvious the team wanted players who already knew Martz's offense to get off to a rolling start and give the Niners a chance to break .500 ball and start winning games.

Or Nolan would have been told to take a hike, with the Niner victory his job stays secure. I don't think Nolan would get fired during the season, the 49ers brass will gather during the off-season and discuss any improvements with Nolan during 2008 and discuss the negatives too and make their decision then. Nolan's job security is really a non-issue until the season gets fully underway, we can truly judge after five games. Two games doesn't really offer much to gauge on their performance, because one game could have been one they should have won.  It's safe to say after five games, really. But I think this is the most hot 1-1 record of all NFL right now, Gore transforming to a Faulk imitation and Bruce reinforcing why he is one of the best wide receivers to play in the NFL.  When I watched Bruce, I was reminded of Jerry Rice. Bruce was doing all the things Rice did. I think the Bruce-Johnson WR tandem is a credible threat to opposing teams. Johnson will have bigger games than this one, and Bruce can reap 150 yards any day.

Vernon Davis will stretch the field with his raw speed and make plays. Some days others will be more dominant, but Davis will have his breakout days. I mean, with this offense, the quarterback has many options. Whether it be Gore, Davis, Johnson, Battle, or Bruce, O'Sullivan is not going to pretend he doesn't have targets. Even when Morgan scores or if Zeigler returns to the roster, O'Sullivan is going to live up to his reputation as a playmaker.

49er fever is going to spread this year as O'Sullivan continues his quest for yet another championship, whether it is the regular NFL, or NFL Europa. The 49ers have found a championship caliber level player, and installed him in the offense as a starter. Good move.

Even if I was an Alex Smith fan, it still was a good move.

My prediction today for a score of 35-10 came up short but only by two points. Right, I missed by two points. The 49ers had 33, Seahawks 30, the Seahawks scooped up exactly twenty more points than I predicted.

All that counts is that the 49ers WON, squashed the cockiness of Seahawks by deflecting them into another direction- a LOSS.

I did predict two scores by Gore, he scored just one. At least he scored.

I also tried, while crossing my fingers, to predict a first touchdown in the NFL by Josh Morgan, but actually it was Bryant Johnson, who we got from the Cardinals, who caught the touchdown.

Predictions aside, I think O'Sullivan is proving to all of us that Martz and corps made the right choice in choosing O'Sullivan as starting quarterback. Did I just make it sound like "Martz and corps" are the decision-makers? No, it was the fact that Nolan, McCloughan, Martz, and Tollner all made the decision unanimiously and collectively as a joint administrative and coaching decision. They all knew O'Sullivan would give the team the best chance to win.

And what's great about this team, we are strong at nearly every position, and the quarterback position has elevated from Alex Smith's downfall to the rise of O'Sullivan, gallanting streaming the sidelines jockeyed to help the 49ers win.

Martz is pretty giddy happy to have Gore as an existing offensive threat, even Kicker Joe Nedney, who comes through nearly every single time.

What helps is that both the offense and defense contributed- If the offense was a little shaky, the defense picked up, and when the defense was shaky, the offense picked up.

I predicted 70 yeards for Bruce, as I knew he would get that or more, and it turns out he's got 153. As he got the Seahawk secondary's number, he had my number too. He got 70 and 83 yards more. And think of it, 83 is Arnaz Battle's jersey number. And I mentioned Battle in my predictions. I may be predicting inaccurately but all the signs around me are telling me that I am on the right track!

Bamm-Bamm not only brings a player down, he brings the ball up and scores!

Didn't the 49ers score over 30 points twice, in the preseason? I can see the Niners scoring over 30 points five times this season. I can see seven more 300 yard games for O'Sullivan, barring injury. I can see Shaun Hill polishing his fingernails while Alex Smith bangs his head on the wall, wondering "what could have been?"

And I can see Josh Morgan getting his first touchdown catch soon..

Sooner. And hopefully, on a full moon.

The first thing that comes to mind, why are coaches so keen on keeping Isaac Bruce's legs fresh for the 2008 season by benching him during most of the preseason games? Because, he knows what to do after earning 14,000-plus yards in his career from his prowess as a wide receiver?

I just felt that O'Sullivan should have had an opportunity to develop chemistry with Bruce before the first game of the 2008 NFL season was played out between the 49ers and Cardinals. That would have put 7 points on the board, at least. Bryant Johnson did a good job, but that was his first real game, I'd liked to have seen Johnson accrue more yardage in receiving, the same with Bruce. It's important to see the passing game really open up.

I was pleased with Gore, that was a nice first run for a touchdown. Awesome. We all know that Gore is not going to carry us to the playoffs, there has to be a complete chemistry between O'Sullivan and all the wide receivers who get their X and O's in the huddle. I want to see more plays carried out, more passing attempts, O'Sullivan only had 20 pass attempts which isn't really up to par with the number of pass attempts a Martz offense would normally call for.

While O'Sullivan did extraordinarily well during the preseason, he needs to stay with his hot streak and carry it over to the regular season, in order to give the 49ers the best chance to win. Win or lose, the preseason is designed to allow teams to carry over any success into the regular season. That is why some NFL coaches prefer seeing 6-game exhibition schedule during the preseason, when in fact there is only four. A team like the 49ers could use six.

I can't wait for Josh Morgan to show up again, he just needs to get his hands on the ball. He has the legs for the run after the catch.

This will be an important week of practice, because to be successful in 2008, we need to start winning games.

And early in the season.

What was your favorite gold west song? Here are some excerpts of some famous 49er songs. I chose a few excerpts here from the Old Settler's Song:

"I've traveled all over this country
Prospecting and digging for gold
I've tunneled, hydraulicked and cradled
And I have been frequently sold.

When I looked on the prospects so gloom;
The tears trickled over my face
And I thought that my travels had brought me
To the end of the jumping-off place.

I staked me a claim in the forest
And sat myself down to hard toil
For two years I chopped and I struggled
But I never got down to the soil."

It illustrates the outlook when miners realized it just takes luck to find the gold, it can be work without reward for a season. After all the toiling the 49ers management did, they pulled a caper with some key additions to the roster that strengthens all the way from top to bottom.

Only now the 49ers are beginning to have its' dividends paying off with the addition of new players to the roster: Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, Justin Smith, Josh Morgan, Ahmad Brooks, Kentwan Balmer, Chilo Rachal, Barry Sims, Reggie Smith, Allen Rossum, J.T. O'Sullivan, Takeo Spikes, DeShawn Foster, and Cody Wallace.

This is our new roster now, with our current and veteran corps teaming to be a threat to any team, offensively or defensively.  Now we stake a claim, and let's get down to the soil!

They are proud of being 49ers and only they will relish, when they finally wear the helmets with the 49er logo and the 49ers uniform, in full attire officially. These guys are now officially 49ers and they are going to mow the grass for us. Let's put aside bickering and start cheering for every time the ballhawkers scoop up the ball or make a precise route scoring in the red zone.

In 49er uniform. With cheering fans. With an head coach that knows after tonite, he can settle down like an old settler, with a cup of wine and some italian sampling dishes and smile at his wife.

Says Nolan, "Wifey, I am soaring. Like an eagle. As a 49er. We will have a better year! Drink to it!"

They deserve such a rendezvous after some serious assembling of new 49er crew members who know both the offense and defense. It's the piecing together of a crew that can bring the team to the Super Bowl, or at least produce some pro bowlers.

Why am I so high on the 49ers, even if the 49ers are one KEY piece missing away from the Super Bowl? I just assume, that as long J.T. O'Sullivan continues to produce, the wide receivers will be in position to score, and the defense will be clamping down on opposing offenses, we'll still get to the Super Bowl.

But a KEY piece wouldn't hurt. Right?

Nolan, if you get that KEY piece as an addition to the 49ers, you can have your dessert along with your wine. Your night doesn't have to end right then. That's my toast for you in 2008!

Since Mike Martz arrived the emergence of J.T. O'Sullivan as the new starting quarterback has shook things up; Alex Smith is now relegated to a back up role, the highest paid backup quarterback in the NFL, with the odd man out, Shaun Hill a distant third on the depth chart.

Martz means business. He isn't here to pat his quarterback's fannies but to whip them into football shape and make them eat and drink the Martz offense into all knowledge of it and implementation of the game plan. He is not into "the I like your doll and do you like my doll" business. That's a long foregone business. He knows who has to be his man and will prove it by giving the guy the feasible amount of reps, give him the feeling he's the starter and give him a chance to showcase his offense. And O'Sullivan delivered, showcasing the Martz offense to pleasing of the 49er brass; the decision to start O'Sullivan was unanimious.

What a perfect scenario. It's almost as if the whole scenario is easing us in the transition from Smith, starting quarterback the past 3 years, to O'Sullivan, who has not started. O'Sullivan with his knowledge of the Martz offense, eased himself into the role of starting quarterback by looking like a veteran, where Smith looked like the rookie who is still trying to adjust.

Martz and corps are now moving forward from the past follies of trying to throw the football, and throw more touchdowns this year. No more ineptness in the making of an offensive formation in adding to the playbook, the system is built into your mind and you just perform the way you are supposed to, the touchdowns made. You were shaped and molded during the summer, during training camps, now you are fully chiseled and shaped, show everybody what you are made of. Did you train for endurance? Did you increase muscle mass? Are you explosive?

Those are the questions they will ask you. That is why the fellows that made it through the cuts are the ones whose work ethics convinced the coaches to keep them on the roster. Everyone loves a hard worker. That is how we build a championship team, every player a hard worker and coming together in cohesiveness of a true unit, all in the same page and same spirit.

We see the names of players that were cut. They did exceptionally well during the preseason but still got cut. That hurts. The only time we don't want to be coaches are when the cuts have to be made. Some players the 49ers cut loose, are great football players. Cuts are not the easy, obvious choices, but the most painful. Think Zeigler. He performed extraordinarily well for the 49ers only to be cut. I hope we get him back. Sometimes clubhouse chemistry and the relationship between players and their coaches factor on who win the spots and who gets cut. It's a numbers crunch.

The only time the 49ers have to be obligated to Smith, is if he starts throwing touchdowns in droves, and play superior to O'Sullivan.

You don't come to camp looking feeble. Which is why I am so excited about the San Francisco 49ers, because they have coaches that won't allow you to come to camp looking feeble, anyway. If you look the part, you take the part and just do it.

What is interesting to note, is the fact that O'Sullivan has made others look better than they ever have been, because he makes the throw and makes everybody look good, we can see that the offensive line is doing their job, in protecting the quarterback so he can follow the game plan.

If Martz was to be successful, it will come through because of his playbook. That very scenario is mapping out in the 2008 NFL season with the 49ers.

Martz was a good choice to lead the offense, and Martz means business.

Fellas, 49ers or all the way to the Raider's black..ha, just kidding.

I am up in red and gold! Yay! This year has a good yield, the fruit will be bountiful, chilled and ready to eat! Let's have fun this year...let's munch on..

Only that I am going to do predictions. Yup, Pr-edictions! Boldly. Smack in the face of successful predicting. Have fun with me!

My prediction for the 49ers game versus the Bears  score, was initially 34-7 (predicted before the game), and the 49ers-Bears matchup produced a 37-30 score. I would have stood correct on the 34 score, but the 49ers went for a kick for an extra 3 points on the board to make it 37 points, three more than I predicted.

I am on the right track, at least. I have no illusions about 49er football for the 2008 season. The Martz offense will steamroll the 49ers into a winning season.

Or high-power it!

Next up is the San Diego Chargers, they are a formidable team, with the likes of Tomlinson and head coach Norv Turner. It will be a good game for the 49ers, because they are battling for the final roster spots, so the game won't be played with caution. It's an all-out battle for the TED position, the wide receiving positions, other intangibles such as the offensive line, now that the quarterback position is settled, as O'Sullivan deserved the award of the quarterbacking job.

The score will be, as I predict, will be 27-21 49ers.

Earlier before the preseason began, my mouth began running off and I started to predict who would become starters, who would star for the 49ers, and who would suck so bad, that when the player is on the field, it would be bathroom trips for the fans.

And before I give the double whammy, other fellow NinersNations commentors and fans shot back at me with "what do I know about 49er football" when I made my predictions.

I predicted that O'Sullivan would have a strong chance of being named the 49ers' starting quarterback, even though I had stated a couple of times that it was Alex Smith's job to lose. I favored O'Sullivan from the very beginning, and from the media, it sounds like O'Sullivan is a front-runner to start in the 2008 NFL season. Nolan is playing "I dunno yet," but in reality he knows who will be the starter. He has to keep the quarterbacks in the dark in order to keep them on the competitive level and to be fair to all three starting quarterback candidates.

I even declared that Rossum, the kick returner, would be a boost for the 49ers, I kept raving on how fast he is and that his speed would be an upgrade to the 49ers. Several people retorted back to me, that speed doesn't make the player as good as those who know what they are doing on the field, and that game speed is different from clocked speed. But I knew, my friends..Rossum bolted to the end zone for a touchdown in a beautiful, spinning manner, just as I predicted. Track stars can do that as long they can follow the lead of the blockers. It's all about seeing the field. Rossum is both extremely fast, he can see the blocking and the holes created for him. I am really excited to have Rossum on our roster this year, barring injury.

I also mentioned the Martz offense and the importance of understanding the offense. After the Niner victory over the Packers, it is apparent that the offensive players are beginning to grasp the Martz offense and taking advantage of the opportunities it creates. I have goosebumps not only on my arms, but on my balls too.

And oh the defense! We don't have to moan waiting for the defense to get back on the field, we can eat our popcorn watching both the offense and the defense shine!

What I mean by double whammy, I am going to continue making predictions, and those predictions will come true. If Smith gets the starting nod over O'Sullivan to begin the season with, it's only because it was Smith's job to lose and because of his game management skills, Smith is capable of moving the offensive team down the field.

O'Sullivan is a playmaker. If Nolan sees him as giving the team the best chance to win as a playmaker, he'll win the starting quarterback's job. That is what Smith needs to do, put points on the board with his throws.

Or the backfield has to do it for Smith. If Smith can help run up the score by both throwing and handing off the ball, it will be a double whammy for the opposing defenses.

Which is exactly what I want. And currently, O'Sullivan is the one making the plays.

And delivering the double whammy.