In the end, nothing really changed for 49ers

By Chris Cluff  |   Thursday, January 03, 2008  |  Comments( 5 )

San Francisco 49ers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
So, as it turns out, nothing really changed.

Sure, the San Francisco 49ers gave Scot McCloughan the title of general manager and the power to fire Mike Nolan. But, as Nolan himself said, he remains the "one voice in this organization, and the face."

That's the result of two days of meetings involving owner John York, Nolan, McCloughan and others. In the end, York decided to change only the power structure, flip-flopping the hierarchy between Nolan and McCloughan. Now the 36-year-old McCloughan will have final say on personnel decisions, and he will be expected to make the difficult call of firing Nolan if the coach once again fails in his job.

But could McCloughan fire the man who hired him in 2005? It sure doesn't sound as if he would want to contemplate it.

"It was a big part [of the decision] that Mike Nolan would be around, because I totally believe in what he started here," McCloughan told reporters. "We're all in this together, and we want to make the best decisions together."

The two have collaborated to make some good moves, particularly last offseason. Nolan managed to talk longtime defensive tackle Bryant Young into returning for one more year, and they re-signed cornerback Walt Harris and running back Frank Gore. Then they landed the best free-agent cornerback, Nate Clements, along with safety Michael Lewis, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain. They cut trouble-making receiver Antonio Bryant, then brought in veterans Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie. Then they put together a very good draft, selecting stud linebacker Patrick Willis and tackle Joe Staley in the first round. Willis led the NFL in tackles and made the Pro Bowl, while Staley started all 16 games at right tackle.

But Nolan and his coaches, particularly the inexperienced Jim Hostler, could not translate the great offseason into the expected playoff spot. Instead of contending for the NFC West title and the playoffs, the 49ers collapsed. They finished the season on an eight-game losing streak that yielded a 5-11 record -- two games worse than their promising 2006 record. Hostler, who headed the league's worst offense, became the scapegoat for this dismal season when Nolan fired him Wednesday.

The losses weren't the only reason Nolan's job was on the line. He also mishandled starting quarterback Alex Smith, who lost most of the season to a separated throwing shoulder and thought Nolan had sold him out. Nolan's ability to repair that relationship will play a large role in whether the 49ers can succeed next season. So will his choice of a new coordinator.

If Nolan can't fix the broken offense and his relationship with Smith, McCloughan will be expected to dismiss the coach, who has two years left on his contract.

Nolan knows it but doesn't seem too worried.

"I believe a coach is one year at a time always," he said. "As long as I have a contract, I'm the head coach here."

Well, after two days of deliberations, Nolan still has a contract and is still the head coach.

As it turns out, nothing really changed.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (5)

About Chris Cluff

Chris Cluff spent 10 years as an editor and sportswriter for The Seattle Times. He was a key figure in the newspaper's coverage of the Seahawks, particularly during their Super Bowl run in 2005. He also has written two books on the Seahawks: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding,...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report