By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

49ERS NOTEBOOK

SAN FRANCISCO -- New 49ers coach Dennis Erickson sent mixed signals Wednesday when asked if he plans to retain offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who signed a one-year contract extension shortly after Steve Mariucci was fired.

Erickson, who resigned as Oregon State's coach on Tuesday to take over as 49ers coach, is expected to meet today with Knapp before deciding how he is going to shape his offensive coaching staff.

"He knows this offense extremely well," Erickson said. "I'm not on any kind of ego trip. I want to do what is best for our players and the organization. So, I'm going to visit with him about that and then we'll go from there."

Knapp's future appears to be in limbo with a report that Erickson has offered his Oregon State offensive coordinator an unspecified job on the 49ers' offensive staff.

Erickson met Wednesday evening with Jim Mora, the 49ers' defensive coordinator the past four seasons. If Mora is not retained -- or does not wish to be retained -- he will likely end up on Steve Mariucci's Detroit Lions staff.

Owner John York called Mora twice on Tuesday to emphasize that he wants him to remain with the 49ers. Mora interviewed recently for the defensive coordinator position with the Carolina Panthers, a job that was filled on Wednesday.

Erickson said he will retain quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner and offensive line coach Pat Morris, both of whom are under contract to the 49ers.

Secondary coach Brett Maxie is also under contract, but the Oregonian newspaper reported that Oregon State assistant Al Simmons will join the 49ers as a cornerbacks coach.

The only 49ers coach not currently under contract who is a candidate to return is popular running backs coach Tom Rathman. Tight ends coach Tom Batta has joined the 49ers' personnel department after retiring from coaching.

Erickson said he will bring some coaches from his Oregon State staff with him to the 49ers, including long-time assistant head coach Gregg Smith, who might coach tight ends.

Oregon State offensive coordinator Tim Lappano has been offered a position on Erickson's staff, which means an uncertain future for Knapp. Lappano is a candidate to succeed Erickson as the Beavers' coach. Lappano has coached quarterbacks, running backs and receiver in the past.

Also, Erickson said he will give serious consideration to receivers coach Eric Yarber, a former NFL player who was on his staff with the Seahawks and Oregon State.

Erickson said he is committed to having an ethnically diverse staff. Maxie, Simmons and Yarber are African American.

Erickson will spend much of his time over the next week getting settled and piecing together his coaching staff. He said he does not plan to attend the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, where the top draft-eligible players will gather next week.

CHANGES IN PERSONNEL

Erickson has long been known for his affinity for speed. He wants to put multiple-receiver sets on the field and stretch the defense. That philosophy would appear to spell the end for 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes, who is scheduled to make $2.25 million in 2003.

Stokes was the team's No. 3 receiver behind Terrell Owens and Tai Streets. Streets is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.

"I do believe we have players who are capable of going vertical," 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "It wouldn't hurt us to add a little more speed at the wide receiver position. But that's going to be something everybody has to look at as far as our draft position. I do believe we have receivers who can get down the field. It was just not an emphasis in our offense."

Erickson, who has been known for his single-back sets, said he plans to fully utilize fullback Fred Beasley in two-back formations.

RECRUITS GET SHAFT

General manager Terry Donahue made it clear he did not want to begin contacting college coaches before national letter-of-intent day because of the negative impact it might have on any college or head coach.

Instead, 21 newly signed Oregon State recruits will suffer the consequences of losing their coach just six days after committing to the university. Donahue said that's just a cold hard fact of life.

He said the timing is never right for a coach to leave his players.

He added that the kids were signing to a university, not a coach.

"I used to make the analogy, if I got whacked in a car accident tonight, you have to know that you're going to be comfortable with your school and your teammates and the community you're going to live in and the academic environment you're going to grow in," Donahue said.

Erickson said he was merely following his dream of succeeding in the NFL.

"Sure I did (feel bad)," he said, "because the players are the most important thing. I talked to them about why I made the decision. It was very emotional, but they understood. The players are very goal-orientated and knew that I wanted to have the opportunity to win a world championship."

The Beavers' prize recruit is quarterback Ryan Gunderson, who chose Oregon State over Tennessee in large part because of Erickson's passing game.

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