49ers’ Singletary makes his mark in loss to Seattle

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Monday, October 27, 2008  |  Comments( 6 )

San Francisco 49ers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
New coach, new quarterback, same result for the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco kicked off the Mike Singletary Era against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the only other NFC West team that had looked worse than the 49ers heading into the game.

Now the 49ers can lay claim to the NFC West’s worst team after they fell to 2-6 on the season with a 34-13 thrashing at the hands of the Seahawks. It was so bad for San Francisco that Singletary put his first stamp on the team by pulling ineffective, feel-good-story quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan and replacing him with backup Shaun Hill.

O’Sullivan had come from nowhere to win the starting job under previous coach Mike Nolan. Singletary (and all of the San Francisco fans who had to stomach his performance) grew tired of O’Sullivan’s mistakes; as a result, the coach benched him in the second quarter after two fumbles and an interception.

Singletary also made it clear to the San Francisco fans and players that this is his team when he ordered All-Pro tight end Vernon Davis off the field and into the locker room after Davis got a personal foul for slapping a Seattle player in the third quarter.

The 49ers are a mess right now. They have lost five-straight games after starting the season 2-1. The playoffs are totally unrealistic.

Singletary is known as one of the toughest linebackers the NFL has ever known. The former defensive leader for the Chicago Bears will be forever known for the intensity of his eyes as he was scanning the field looking for the next ballcarrier to destroy.

Unfortunately for Singletary, he can’t lace up his cleats and help the 49ers get it done in San Francisco. What Singletary can do, though, is let his players know that it will be done his way or no way. Singletary made it clear against the Seahawks that he is going to hold players accountable and, win or lose, create an environment in San Francisco where the rules will be followed.

It might be too late for Singletary to turn things around in San Francisco this season. At 2-6, the 49ers do not have a very favorable second-half schedule, facing teams with a combined record of 31-28. However, any turnaround is going to have to start over the next two games against divisional opponents Arizona and St. Louis. A loss in either of those two games all but assures the 49ers of another postseason at home.

No matter which way the 49ers go from here this season, it looks like they will do so under a new quarterback. After replacing O’Sullivan in the Seattle game, Hill was effective by completing 15 of 23 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. O’Sullivan had dug a deep hole, but Hill was impressive after he came into the game.

Singletary has yet to name Hill the starter for the Arizona game this week, but you can go ahead and pencil him in. Now, if Hill could only play defense . . .



Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (6)

About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report