RESOURCES
HOME PAGE
49ERS NEWS
EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES
2002 PLAYOFFS
2002 DRAFT
2002 SCHEDULE
2002 ROSTER
2002 DEPTH CHART
2002 FREE AGENTS
2002 ROOKIES WATCH
IMAGE GALLERY
GAMEDAY 2001
2001 PLAYOFFS
2001 DRAFT
2001 STANDINGS
2001 SCHEDULE
2001 ROSTER
2001 DEPTH CHART
2001 ROOKIES WATCH
GAMEDAY 2000
2000 PLAYOFFS
2000 DRAFT
2000 STANDINGS
2000 SCHEDULE
2000 ROOKIES WATCH
CLUBHOUSE FAN'S MVP
HISTORY
49ERS HISTORY
49ERS RECORDS
49ERS LEGENDS
49ERS HALL OF FAME
ALL-TIME TEAM
YOUNG RETIREMENT
FAREWELL JERRY...
PLAYOFFS HISTORY
SUPER BOWLS
49ERS AWARDS
STADIUMS
NFL INFO
RULES
PLAYBOOK
QB RATING
TIEBREAKERS
INSTANT REPLAY
MISC
49ERS BOOKS
49ERS VIDEOS
49ERS POSTERS
OPINION POLLS
49ERS LINKS
MY AWARDS
CONTACT
MESSAGE BOARD
SIGN MY GUESTBOOK
VIEW MY GUESTBOOK
SITE STAFF
E-MAIL ME
           
49ers Clubhouse 

49ers Need To Come Up Big


January 23, 2003

by James Parrott
Clubhouse Staff Writer
 

With no head coach and a skeleton staff in place after the widely-criticized firing of Steve Mariucci, the San Francisco 49ers are in danger of becoming a laughingstock and of falling back into the pack of mediocrity.

That’s not to say that the 49ers were an especially good team last season.

Rather, they were good enough.

Good enough to win ten regular season games and one in the playoffs.

Whoever is chosen as head coach, it is clear that things need to change on the civilized side of the Bay.

Offensively a proper deep threat to give the team another realistic option on the outside is needed. Also, it would be wise to utilize Kevan Barlow more, get Fred Beasley the ball in a position to do something other than convert third and short situations for purposes of versatility and restore the passing attack to it’s former potency.

The latter would mean Jeff Garcia getting the ball to his receivers in the position where they can catch in stride and build up the yards after the catch.

Whoever gets the job needs to improve Garcia’s play which played a part in the team’s inability to win close games against tough opponents.

Defensively, the team with great foot speed needs to regain that extra step that was lacking on pass defense. It probably needs an interior pass rusher too.

The two Philadelphia co-ordinators look to be strong candidates, but neither Brad Childress’ offense nor Jim Johnson’s defense played well as the Eagles choked again when it came to the penultimate hurdle.

This writer has written before that Dennis Green’s previous antics and his last season in Minnesota set the alarm bells ringing.

And the none of the defenses coached by New England's Romeo Crennel, St. Louis’ Lovie Smith and the Niners own Jim Mora were particularly imposing units in 2002.

Regardless of who the successful candidate is, the entire organization needs to take the big step up to serious contender because at present few believe that Jeff Garcia and his offense can win a Super Bowl, the defense scares nobody and the special teams are an increasingly unfunny joke.

Good luck to that guy.


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