Matt Maiocco, The Press Democrat
Yesterday, I wrote Mike Nolan is going nowhere, that I expected the 49ers to retain him as head coach for the 2008 season. Now that he's been given a vote of confidence, there's one point I failed to mention - and this is a big one. A lot of times coaches can talk themselves out of a job. It happens all the time. And over the past couple weeks, Nolan has not done himself any favors with his public comments about Alex Smith's injury, Smith's agent, and his coaching staff.
* * *
The main reason I made the educated guess that John York would stick with Nolan through next season is because I think York is still convinced Nolan's overall plan is a good one. The Yorks hired Nolan to be the central figure in the organization and create the organizational structure. Things were moving in the right direction for two seasons, so I didn't think one bad year would force them to tear up the model and throw it away, while still owing Nolan the final two years of his contract. But it must have been quite alarming to Nolan that Denise DeBartolo York was quoted extensively in today's Chron. There's John, Jed and Denise. John and Jed are around the team. John has not been available for comment, and Jed in an email said this is not his area. Suddenly, Denise is front and center as the voice of the organization. Even though she gave Nolan a vote of confidence, the mere fact that she was quoted on football matters begins to strip away at Nolan's power and control.
* * *
Denise said it is likely that the 49ers will hire a strong GM, according to the provocative article, and that Nolan should no longer have final say in draft and personnel matters. The example given was the Patriots' Scott Pioli, who holds the title of vice president, player personnel. The 49ers already have a vice president of player personnel. His name is Scot McCloughan, and he appears to do a pretty good job. But if the 49ers are looking for a Pioli-like figure, my best guess is that someone is in line for a promotion. Paraag Marathe, the team's director of football operations, is seen by the Yorks as a future star as a general manager.
* * *
Back to Nolan. He is picking fights when he should be taking the high road. Smith found out yesterday his forearm and shoulder are worse than Dr. James Andrews had anticipated, according to a source close to Smith. This comes after Nolan completely downplayed and mocked Smith's injury. ("I'm sore . . . has that affected my performance? Maybe, but I'm not going to talk about it.") The Smith camp contends that the 49ers' staff completely mishandled Alex's rehab. A source close to Smith said he was "lifting to failure" with his forearm muscle group. That means he was lifting weights until he could lift no more. As a primary form of strengthening it is considered ill-advised by many physical therapists, who say a quarterback doesn't need bulk/hypertrophy, he needs control/finesse for throwing. Smith's agent, Tom Condon, voiced these concerns - as well as saying that Smith required a painkilling injection to get through practice last week -- in an ESPN.com report. Again, instead of declining to comment, Nolan decided to take on one of the most powerful men in pro football. "I respect your question," Nolan answered, "but I don't respect the source." Not only is Condon extremely powerful, he is also a person Smith trusts, and someone whom Smith knows has his best interests at heart. Count that as another wedge been stuck between the coach and the QB.
* * *
On Monday, Nolan said he has a better coaching staff than a year ago, that offensive coordinator Jim Hostler is doing "an outstanding job," and he wasn't going to make any changes to the coaching staff. On Tuesday, Nolan hired Ted Tollner to help Hostler as an offensive assistant.
"When it comes to coaching changes, I believe I have a very strong staff, a very good staff," Nolan said in a prepared statement Monday. "I believe the staff is stronger this year than last year. We have come up short on the offensive side of the ball as far as production goes. I have said from the beginning that's a collective problem and I won't change that because it is."
* * *
Up until the past two weeks, the 49ers' problems have been confined to the playing field.
Not now.
* * *
The main reason I made the educated guess that John York would stick with Nolan through next season is because I think York is still convinced Nolan's overall plan is a good one. The Yorks hired Nolan to be the central figure in the organization and create the organizational structure. Things were moving in the right direction for two seasons, so I didn't think one bad year would force them to tear up the model and throw it away, while still owing Nolan the final two years of his contract. But it must have been quite alarming to Nolan that Denise DeBartolo York was quoted extensively in today's Chron. There's John, Jed and Denise. John and Jed are around the team. John has not been available for comment, and Jed in an email said this is not his area. Suddenly, Denise is front and center as the voice of the organization. Even though she gave Nolan a vote of confidence, the mere fact that she was quoted on football matters begins to strip away at Nolan's power and control.
* * *
Denise said it is likely that the 49ers will hire a strong GM, according to the provocative article, and that Nolan should no longer have final say in draft and personnel matters. The example given was the Patriots' Scott Pioli, who holds the title of vice president, player personnel. The 49ers already have a vice president of player personnel. His name is Scot McCloughan, and he appears to do a pretty good job. But if the 49ers are looking for a Pioli-like figure, my best guess is that someone is in line for a promotion. Paraag Marathe, the team's director of football operations, is seen by the Yorks as a future star as a general manager.
* * *
Back to Nolan. He is picking fights when he should be taking the high road. Smith found out yesterday his forearm and shoulder are worse than Dr. James Andrews had anticipated, according to a source close to Smith. This comes after Nolan completely downplayed and mocked Smith's injury. ("I'm sore . . . has that affected my performance? Maybe, but I'm not going to talk about it.") The Smith camp contends that the 49ers' staff completely mishandled Alex's rehab. A source close to Smith said he was "lifting to failure" with his forearm muscle group. That means he was lifting weights until he could lift no more. As a primary form of strengthening it is considered ill-advised by many physical therapists, who say a quarterback doesn't need bulk/hypertrophy, he needs control/finesse for throwing. Smith's agent, Tom Condon, voiced these concerns - as well as saying that Smith required a painkilling injection to get through practice last week -- in an ESPN.com report. Again, instead of declining to comment, Nolan decided to take on one of the most powerful men in pro football. "I respect your question," Nolan answered, "but I don't respect the source." Not only is Condon extremely powerful, he is also a person Smith trusts, and someone whom Smith knows has his best interests at heart. Count that as another wedge been stuck between the coach and the QB.* * *
On Monday, Nolan said he has a better coaching staff than a year ago, that offensive coordinator Jim Hostler is doing "an outstanding job," and he wasn't going to make any changes to the coaching staff. On Tuesday, Nolan hired Ted Tollner to help Hostler as an offensive assistant.
"When it comes to coaching changes, I believe I have a very strong staff, a very good staff," Nolan said in a prepared statement Monday. "I believe the staff is stronger this year than last year. We have come up short on the offensive side of the ball as far as production goes. I have said from the beginning that's a collective problem and I won't change that because it is."
* * *
Up until the past two weeks, the 49ers' problems have been confined to the playing field.
Not now.
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