'My style of coaching is very aggressive'
February 13, 2003
By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
SAN FRANCISCO -- Quarterback Jeff Garcia heard the magic words Wednesday from the new 49ers coach.
After growing increasingly disenchanted with the meandering process to replace Steve Mariucci, who was fired on Jan. 15, Garcia said he is satisfied with the selection of Dennis Erickson.
And owner John York, who ousted Mariucci from the post he held for six seasons for "philosophical differences," said the 49ers have hired a better coach.
"I believe we did," York said at the press conference to introduce Erickson to the Bay Area media. "I believe Dennis is going to have a better relationship with the organization, and I think he's going to be much more aggressive on both offensive and defense."
General manager Terry Donahue, who decided on Erickson, said they now have a coach who can take the 49ers all the way.
"I think we hired the right person to lead us to the world championship," Donahue said. "I say that because I think Dennis Erickson is an aggressive, attacking football coach that will give us the leadership and the football decisions we need to get to the world championship."
If there is one point that Erickson wanted to get across, it was that the 49ers will not be passive.
When asked to describe his style of offense, Erickson replied: "I would say it's aggressive. If you want to talk about offense, defense or anything, it's very aggressive."
Erickson promised his team will be in attack mode across the board. He will incorporate his own ideas into the West Coast offense, he said, to produce an offense that will shoot the ball down the field.
"We are going to look at everything and maybe add a thing or two, but it's going to be pretty much the same," Erickson said. "My style of coaching is very aggressive, so we might be a little bit more aggressive with certain things."
That must have sounded like music to the ears of some of the team's prominent offensive players, who last season grumbled that there was a lack of killer instinct. The 49ers lost three games they had led by 10 or more points in the fourth quarter.
But one assistant coach from the 49ers' staff last season defended the offensive approach. He said the 49ers lacked speed at wide receiver to get down the field; Garcia does not have the arm needed to connect on big plays; and their tackles aren't strong enough to supply enough protection on a steady diet of seven-step drops.
Under Mariucci, the 49ers won 22 regular-season games the past two seasons.
But critics suggested Mariucci's offensive approach had turned ultra-conservative. Garcia often talked during the season about his desire to see the offense open up. The 49ers had become a running team under Mariucci, who made no apologies for his approach.
In Mariucci's six seasons with the 49ers, their run attack ranked in the NFL's top 10 four times, while the passing attack broke into the top 10 just twice.
"I think you have to like his standpoint in wanting to have an aggressive offense and defense," Garcia said of Erickson. "He wants to be aggressive all around.
"When you look at our team and the knocks that were against this team, aggressiveness was sometimes a question mark. Not to say that we felt that as a team, but that seemed to be the knock outside of this organization. If Dennis can bring that to this team, can bring a finishing attitude to this team, in terms of philosophy and mentality, then I think that is a great thing for this organization."
Donahue chose Erickson after an interview over the weekend moved him ahead of NFL defensive coordinators Ted Cottrell (Jets), Jim Mora (49ers) and Greg Blache (Bears).
Erickson, who bolted Oregon State on Tuesday to return to the NFL for his second chance, emerged as the choice for the 49ers' job after spending eight hours Saturday with York, Donahue and consultant Bill Walsh in the Bay Area.
On Sunday, the team held a similar interview with University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel, a source said. After just a few minutes, it was clear to the 49ers that Neuheisel, 42, was unprepared for the job, the source said. In a statement released Monday, Neuheisel denied a meeting had taken place.
York and Donahue flew to Portland on Monday to meet a second time with Erickson. The discussions lasted about 90 minutes. The next morning, the five-year deal worth approximately $2.5 million annually was agreed upon.
"Terry was clearly here to pick the best head football coach," York said. "I think that's what he did. In addition, as long as the man fit the organization, I'd support the choice. I think we got the best of both with Dennis."
On Erickson's flight from Portland to the Bay Area on Tuesday night, he had a chance meeting with 49ers receiver Terrell Owens. Erickson coached in the Senior Bowl in 1996 when he was with the Seattle Seahawks, and Owens was on his team.
"We had the opportunity to chat a little bit and visit and it was a lot of fun," Erickson said.
Owens and Garcia have many reasons to be pleased with the selection of Erickson, who is known for his creative scheming in the passing game. In 1997, Erickson's Seahawks had the No. 1 passing attack.
Garcia had been a critic of the 49ers' prolonged search for Mariucci's replacement. He was not overwhelmed when the list of three finalists was announced.
"There was a sense that we were not sure which direction we were headed," Garcia said. "Many of us thought a defensive coach would be hired. With it all coming into place the way it's happened, it's a very positive thing with coach Erickson coming in.
"Obviously, there were probably a lot of question marks where we were going. I think the right guy was chosen."
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