How to put gold rush back in the 49ers
How many of you 49er fans out there feel like tossing a football
right through the television? How many of you are actually starting
to believe that there must be a curse of Eddie D that’s out there
or that somebody is sticking pins in a voodoo doll that looks like
John York?
How many of you just can’t take what you’re seeing anymore? This
is the organization that once had opposing teams freaked out on
draft day. Today, this team can’t even earn a first down.
I wish I was dreaming. Instead, the 49ers downward spiral keeps
spiraling out of control to the point where you start to wonder if
it’s going to stop.
How to put gold rush back in the 49ers
How many of you 49er fans out there feel like tossing a football right through the television? How many of you are actually starting to believe that there must be a curse of Eddie D that’s out there or that somebody is sticking pins in a voodoo doll that looks like John York?
How many of you just can’t take what you’re seeing anymore? This is the organization that once had opposing teams freaked out on draft day. Today, this team can’t even earn a first down.
I wish I was dreaming. Instead, the 49ers downward spiral keeps spiraling out of control to the point where you start to wonder if it’s going to stop.
The 49ers are so far removed from their glory days right now that we have to read old newspaper clippings just to realize how marquee this franchise once was – five Super Bowl trophies, a slew Hall of Fame players, a minimum of 10 wins a season for some 20 years, and the accolades go on and on.
The team I’m seeing now would struggle against San Jose State. For years, we got to watch guys like Montana, Craig, Rice, Young, Lott and even Garcia, and the list goes on and on.
After watching the 49ers hapless display against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, I’m convinced that not only is this the worst team in the NFL but this team is arguably the worst 49ers team in the history of the franchise. I feel so bad for Bryant Young, but I’ve decided to do something about it.
Since nobody seems to have an answer for righting the ship, I’ve made a list of the steps that must be taken to get this franchise back where it belongs or at least to get it back on the right track again. Maybe after reading this you could forward it on to the Yorks for me.
1. For starters, get rid of Mike Nolan, necktie and all. This organization was built around Bill Walsh’s West Coast Offense – an offense that relied on the pass to set up the run. Nolan’s offense relies on the three-and-out drive to set up the punt. He’s way too conservative and with the complete opposite philosophy of what this team’s storied tradition was built on. I ask why did we ever let Mooch go anyway? Heck, Dennis Erickson coached this well with 1/3 the talent, salary cap issues, and no money to spend on players – and he was yanked after just two seasons. Nolan is now in his third.
2. When that’s done, replace Nolan with someone from one of the great 49er teams of the past — someone who knew what it was like to win and wear the uniform proudly. Here are some suggestions… Start by contacting Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, Brent Jones, Jerry Rice and Roger Craig – guys like that.
Do you think Ronnie Lott could motivate a defense? Just imagine Jerry Rice coaching the receivers or Steve Young running the offense. In other words, bring in guys that know the system, have strong work ethic and will bring the swagger and expectation of winning back to the franchise.
3. Next, here’s a simple no-brainer. Switch back to the old red and gold uniforms – the ones that every team in the league feared every week for some 20 years starting in the 1980s. The ones that the team wore when an exit in the NFC Championship game was looked at as a failure – wear the uniform the team wore when the mindset every year was Super Bowl or bust. Get away from this shiny crap they’re wearing now and put on the only true uniform of the franchise. The team’s Web site often talks about earning respect and the glory years. Jump start the process by putting on the uniform that everyone associates the franchise with.
4. Here’s a simple one. Get rid of Alex Smith and start playing the third-stringer Shaun Hill right now. Admit that Smith was a $50 million bust and move on. But hurry up and do so before Smith’s QB rating drops so low that you can’t even get a decent draft pick for him.
5. Start running the West Coast Offense again, not some rehashed Baltimore Ravens look.
6. Put Kwame Harris back on the offensive line. Who cares if we get a few more false starts; at least Gore will have some holes to run through and Hill won’t get sacked every time he drops back to pass.
7. In keeping with the theme of bringing back the traditional uniform, start officially calling the park Candlestick again. All the big wins came when it was Candlestick and quite frankly when you average less than 14 yards a drive, the word Monster has got to go.
8. On draft day, bring in a quarterback and also try and sign a veteran like Jake Plummer or someone of equal caliber. After all, Bill Walsh wanted him in a Niner uniform from day one and the team had no problem spending $80 million on Nate Clements, another bust.
9. Also on draft day do what ever it takes to bring in a big physical receiver and an animal at defensive end. Why? The new QB needs someone to throw to and the opposing QB needs to be on his rear end as much as possible.
10. I can’t believe I went this long without mentioning this, which should happen this week. Fire offensive coordinator Jim Hostler immediately. In fact, everyone on the team should have cold-cocked him on the plane flight back from Seattle. The guy was in over his head to begin with and he’s putting up stats that most NFL players haven’t seen since high school.
11. And just for good measure and to make this a top 10 list, I suggest on all third-and-9 plays not throwing a 3-yard pass.
This team is so bad that even those changes might not be enough, but at least it’s a damn good start.
