49ers’ main problem is Nolan

By Mike Young  |   Thursday, December 13, 2007  |  Comments( 15 )

San Francisco 49ers
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"Put 'em up ... put 'em up," was a line made famous by the Cowardly Lion in the classic "Wizard of Oz."

It could have served as a perfect quote for the San Francisco 49ers' former No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Alex Smith, who said Monday he would have surgery on his separated shoulder.

"(Nolan) came out and said some things to the team ... I felt it was trying to undermine me with my teammates," Smith told the San Jose Mercury News, referring to coach Mike Nolan.

The miscommunication between player and coach has been well-documented, but Smith's teammates have supposedly implied he's a a coward, which is a new development.

The thing is, Smith isn't alone on his trip down the Red and Gold Brick Road of losing. Right beside him is a complete cast of characters to share the blame.

In the backfield, Frank Gore has been as big a disappointing as anyone, just last week putting two balls on the turf; after leading the NFC in rushing last year, Gore has only surpassed the 100-yard mark in a game once this season.

Meanwhile, the record-setting contract Nate Clements signed (eight years, $80 million) has proved hollow. For that much cash, Clements has not made enough impact plays, coming up with only three interceptions all year on a pass defense that ranks in the middle of the pack in yards allowed and has surrendered 20 touchdown tosses (ninth worst in the NFL).

There are a bevy of 49ers to point fingers at for their 3-10 season, not just the ones mentioned above, but the ultimate source of blame ought to be Nolan.

As a head coach, the well-dressed Nolan has proven to be all flash and no substance. The team's offense has languished at the bottom of the NFL for three years in a row, and Nolan's vaunted defense has given up the more points than a calculator can add up.

Nolan doesn't seem to have the respect of the players and creates battles in the locker room with his own top draft picks. Moreover, he lacks the ability to successfully deal with the media.
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When the season ends for the 49ers, it should be Nolan who feels management's wrath. With him at the 49ers' helm, the organization is going nowhere fast.
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CommentsComments: 15  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Joe		03:57 AM
12/13/2007
Gore hasn't done squat. Don't let Nolan kill his career like he is trying to do to Smith. Hire Singletary as the coach tomorrow...
No.2
Kenny		09:29 AM
12/13/2007
It almost feels like you haven't been watching these games at all. Nolan isn't to blame. Maybe he could have handled Smith's...
No.3
james		01:28 PM
12/13/2007
To KENNY what games have you been watching,NOLAN IS THE BLAME end of story.btw you need to take off those ROSE-COLORED GLASSES
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