49ers Clubhouse

CBS SportsLine

Inside slant

February 21, 2003

by The Sports Xchange.
After the 49ers passed over defensive coordinator Jim Mora for the head-coaching job, most figured he would soon be leaving the organization to join Steve Mariucci with the Detroit Lions.
But the 49ers did not want to lose Mora, so they declined to give the Lions permission to speak with him.
New 49ers coach Dennis Erickson reportedly was rebuffed when he made a run at Pittsburgh secondary coach Willy Robinson, with whom he has coached in the past. That opened the door for the 49ers to retain Mora as their defensive coordinator.
Erickson had already committed to keeping the team's offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, even before the head coach had met his top assistant.
After the two men spent some time together last week, Erickson told Knapp he would continue in the same role he held the past two seasons under Mariucci. Knapp, 39, will put together the game plan with some assistance from Erickson, and he will continue to call the plays.
"When you're an offensive coordinator and you're working for a head coach with an offensive background, you work under the guidelines your head coach is comfortable with," Knapp said. "I'll definitely get a feel for what Dennis wants and the parameters he sets up."
If Knapp called plays under the direction of Mariucci, who has made no apologies for having an affinity for the run game, then Knapp figures to be calling a lot more passes under Erickson. When he was coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Erickson's offense led the league in passing in 1997.
"Greg and I have very similar beliefs about offensive philosophy and I felt it was a good match for our offense," Erickson said in a statement. "He understands the offense that has been in place here for more than two decades and keeping that continuity was very important to me."
Erickson has retained three members of the offensive coaching staff: Knapp, offensive line Pat Morris and quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner. Those three men will play integral roles in teaching Erickson and the other coaches the terminology of the West Coast Offense.
Erickson promised a more aggressive approach to all phases of the game. He prefers an offense that gets the ball down the field, but some have questioned whether the 49ers have the tools for such an offensive approach.
"We like to get the ball up the football field, along with throwing it underneath," Erickson said.
Quarterback Jeff Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is adept at throwing underneath routes. But at least two assistant coaches on last year's staff questioned last week whether Garcia can thrive in an offense that relies on him to get the ball down the field.
Garcia has been outspoken in his desire for the 49ers to be more aggressive on offense, so he obviously thinks he's up for the challenge. Team general manager Terry Donahue said he believes Garcia will be able to thrive in an offense that place more emphasis on longer passes.
"Throwing it down the field is not always related to arm strength," Donahue said, "it is related to timing and the kind of routes you run.
"When you look at Jeff Garcia and you look at his talent, he went to the 'Quarterbacks Challenge' two years ago and won it. One of the events was how far you can throw the ball. I believe, if you check, he finished second in that event.
"Players like Joe Montana and Steve Young, they don't necessarily have the strongest arms in the league. Players play with different talents within their parameters. He certainly has a good enough arm to be successful. He's an All-Pro quarterback."
The 49ers' defensive approach will probably incorporate more dogs and blitzes into its scheme, if Erickson lives true to his words.
Mora, 41, had at least three teams after him to be their defensive coordinator. He received permission to interview for the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator position. The 49ers denied permission for Seattle and Detroit to speak with him so he could be a part of Erickson's first staff with the 49ers.
"He asked me to be the defensive coordinator and I'm excited about it," Mora said. "I like it here. I'm excited about the direction the team is going." Erickson applauded the job Mora has done since the team started rebuilding its defense in 2000. Last season, the 49ers endured some injuries that especially affected their nickel defense but still ranked No. 14 in the NFL.
"He has helped this defense improve each year and I felt it was best for this team to have Jim remain as defensive coordinator," Erickson said.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.

by The Sports Xchange.

After the 49ers passed over defensive coordinator Jim Mora for the head-coaching job, most figured he would soon be leaving the organization to join Steve Mariucci with the Detroit Lions.

But the 49ers did not want to lose Mora, so they declined to give the Lions permission to speak with him.

New 49ers coach Dennis Erickson reportedly was rebuffed when he made a run at Pittsburgh secondary coach Willy Robinson, with whom he has coached in the past. That opened the door for the 49ers to retain Mora as their defensive coordinator.

Erickson had already committed to keeping the team's offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, even before the head coach had met his top assistant.

After the two men spent some time together last week, Erickson told Knapp he would continue in the same role he held the past two seasons under Mariucci. Knapp, 39, will put together the game plan with some assistance from Erickson, and he will continue to call the plays.

"When you're an offensive coordinator and you're working for a head coach with an offensive background, you work under the guidelines your head coach is comfortable with," Knapp said. "I'll definitely get a feel for what Dennis wants and the parameters he sets up."

If Knapp called plays under the direction of Mariucci, who has made no apologies for having an affinity for the run game, then Knapp figures to be calling a lot more passes under Erickson. When he was coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Erickson's offense led the league in passing in 1997.

"Greg and I have very similar beliefs about offensive philosophy and I felt it was a good match for our offense," Erickson said in a statement. "He understands the offense that has been in place here for more than two decades and keeping that continuity was very important to me."

Erickson has retained three members of the offensive coaching staff: Knapp, offensive line Pat Morris and quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner. Those three men will play integral roles in teaching Erickson and the other coaches the terminology of the West Coast Offense.

Erickson promised a more aggressive approach to all phases of the game. He prefers an offense that gets the ball down the field, but some have questioned whether the 49ers have the tools for such an offensive approach.

"We like to get the ball up the football field, along with throwing it underneath," Erickson said.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is adept at throwing underneath routes. But at least two assistant coaches on last year's staff questioned last week whether Garcia can thrive in an offense that relies on him to get the ball down the field.

Garcia has been outspoken in his desire for the 49ers to be more aggressive on offense, so he obviously thinks he's up for the challenge. Team general manager Terry Donahue said he believes Garcia will be able to thrive in an offense that place more emphasis on longer passes.

"Throwing it down the field is not always related to arm strength," Donahue said, "it is related to timing and the kind of routes you run.

"When you look at Jeff Garcia and you look at his talent, he went to the 'Quarterbacks Challenge' two years ago and won it. One of the events was how far you can throw the ball. I believe, if you check, he finished second in that event.

"Players like Joe Montana and Steve Young, they don't necessarily have the strongest arms in the league. Players play with different talents within their parameters. He certainly has a good enough arm to be successful. He's an All-Pro quarterback."

The 49ers' defensive approach will probably incorporate more dogs and blitzes into its scheme, if Erickson lives true to his words.

Mora, 41, had at least three teams after him to be their defensive coordinator. He received permission to interview for the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator position. The 49ers denied permission for Seattle and Detroit to speak with him so he could be a part of Erickson's first staff with the 49ers.

"He asked me to be the defensive coordinator and I'm excited about it," Mora said. "I like it here. I'm excited about the direction the team is going." Erickson applauded the job Mora has done since the team started rebuilding its defense in 2000. Last season, the 49ers endured some injuries that especially affected their nickel defense but still ranked No. 14 in the NFL.

"He has helped this defense improve each year and I felt it was best for this team to have Jim remain as defensive coordinator," Erickson said.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.