49ers Clubhouse

San Jose Mercury

Erickson casts sights downfield

February 13, 2003

By Dennis Georgatos
Mercury News
Dennis Erickson won't junk the 49ers' revered West Coast offense, but the newly hired coach has no qualms about pushing it in a different direction.
That direction, specifically, would be downfield.
``When you talk about the offense that has been in place here for all these years . . . why change it?'' Erickson, 55, said Wednesday at his introductory news conference. ``What we are going to do is keep the same terminology, pretty much the same offense, and we're going to add some things. My style of coaching is very aggressive, so we might be a little bit more aggressive with certain things, but terminology and what we do is going to pretty much be the same.''
All of this was music to the ears of quarterback Jeff Garcia. One of a handful of players in attendance, Garcia had been critical of the organization during the coaching search. But he was singing a happier tune after listening to Erickson.
``I like his mentality as far as what he brings and his aggressiveness and attitude,'' Garcia said. ``We finally have a coach set in place. He is somebody that I think is definitely deserving of being here, somebody that I think can take this team to higher and greater levels.''
Terrell Owens, the team's biggest and most temperamental star, was not in attendance, but he was the first 49er to meet the new coach. Erickson said he and Owens bumped into each other Tuesday night on a flight from Portland, Ore., to the Bay Area and, notably, they were not bumping heads.
``As he walked by, he didn't see me, then he saw me and hit himself on the head,'' Erickson said with a smile. ``We had a nice conversation. I really enjoyed it.''
Erickson said his first priority would be to complete his coaching staff. Five assistants who worked under Steve Mariucci already have departed, and some of those vacancies are expected to be filled by coaches who worked with Erickson at Oregon State.
Greg Knapp, who recently was given a new contract by the 49ers, will remain as offensive coordinator, but Erickson hinted that he would be involved in play-calling.
Among others assistants still under contract, it appears Erickson will keep quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner, offensive-line coach Pat Morris and secondary coach Brett Maxie. Less certain are the futures of running-backs coach Tom Rathman, tight-ends coach Tom Batta, and defensive coordinator Jim Mora.
Erickson said he plans to meet soon with Mora, who was among the finalists for the head-coaching job. Team director John York said he hoped Mora would stay with the 49ers, and that possibility increased Wednesday when the Carolina Panthers promoted Mike Trgovac to defensive coordinator. Mora interviewed for that job last month and was said to have a standing offer.
Erickson, a leading proponent of ``the spread offense,'' which features multiple wide receiver sets said he also will meet with Bill Walsh to learn the terminology of the 49ers offense. According to Walsh, the West Coast umbrella is big enough to take in Erickson's variations.
``He'll adapt to the 49ers, and I think he'll coordinate what we've done and what he's done,'' Walsh said. ``He brings a new dimension to our offensive team. We've been concerned about getting the football down the field all last season and I think if anybody can do it, Dennis can.''
Although Erickson will be running an offense not entirely his own, General Manager Terry Donahue said the new coach will ``put his own signature on the team.''
You can bet on that, said Warren Moon, a former NFL quarterback who played under Erickson with the Seattle Seahawks.
``He's always looking to throw the ball downfield, looking for the big plays first. Everything else is secondary,'' Moon said.
Moon, a broadcast analyst, also said it makes sense for Erickson to work his philosophy around the one already in place.
``It's an easier transition to have a couple of people, a couple of coaches come in and learn a system as opposed to having a whole team learn a whole new system,'' Moon said. ``But I think he can implement things from his system into the West Coast system to make it a little more explosive.''
A bigger question might be how effectively the 49ers can go deep with a quarterback not known for his arm strength and a receiving corps not known for its speed.
Donahue said the team would be looking to add speed in the off-season. As for his quarterback, he said: ``Jeff Garcia is a Pro Bowl quarterback. . . . Players like Joe Montana and Steve Young, they don't necessarily have the strongest arms in the league. He certainly has a good enough arm to be successful.''

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

By Dennis Georgatos
Mercury News

Dennis Erickson won't junk the 49ers' revered West Coast offense, but the newly hired coach has no qualms about pushing it in a different direction.

That direction, specifically, would be downfield.

``When you talk about the offense that has been in place here for all these years . . . why change it?'' Erickson, 55, said Wednesday at his introductory news conference. ``What we are going to do is keep the same terminology, pretty much the same offense, and we're going to add some things. My style of coaching is very aggressive, so we might be a little bit more aggressive with certain things, but terminology and what we do is going to pretty much be the same.''

All of this was music to the ears of quarterback Jeff Garcia. One of a handful of players in attendance, Garcia had been critical of the organization during the coaching search. But he was singing a happier tune after listening to Erickson.

``I like his mentality as far as what he brings and his aggressiveness and attitude,'' Garcia said. ``We finally have a coach set in place. He is somebody that I think is definitely deserving of being here, somebody that I think can take this team to higher and greater levels.''

Terrell Owens, the team's biggest and most temperamental star, was not in attendance, but he was the first 49er to meet the new coach. Erickson said he and Owens bumped into each other Tuesday night on a flight from Portland, Ore., to the Bay Area and, notably, they were not bumping heads.

``As he walked by, he didn't see me, then he saw me and hit himself on the head,'' Erickson said with a smile. ``We had a nice conversation. I really enjoyed it.''

Erickson said his first priority would be to complete his coaching staff. Five assistants who worked under Steve Mariucci already have departed, and some of those vacancies are expected to be filled by coaches who worked with Erickson at Oregon State.

Greg Knapp, who recently was given a new contract by the 49ers, will remain as offensive coordinator, but Erickson hinted that he would be involved in play-calling.

Among others assistants still under contract, it appears Erickson will keep quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner, offensive-line coach Pat Morris and secondary coach Brett Maxie. Less certain are the futures of running-backs coach Tom Rathman, tight-ends coach Tom Batta, and defensive coordinator Jim Mora.

Erickson said he plans to meet soon with Mora, who was among the finalists for the head-coaching job. Team director John York said he hoped Mora would stay with the 49ers, and that possibility increased Wednesday when the Carolina Panthers promoted Mike Trgovac to defensive coordinator. Mora interviewed for that job last month and was said to have a standing offer.

Erickson, a leading proponent of ``the spread offense,'' which features multiple wide receiver sets said he also will meet with Bill Walsh to learn the terminology of the 49ers offense. According to Walsh, the West Coast umbrella is big enough to take in Erickson's variations.

``He'll adapt to the 49ers, and I think he'll coordinate what we've done and what he's done,'' Walsh said. ``He brings a new dimension to our offensive team. We've been concerned about getting the football down the field all last season and I think if anybody can do it, Dennis can.''

Although Erickson will be running an offense not entirely his own, General Manager Terry Donahue said the new coach will ``put his own signature on the team.''

You can bet on that, said Warren Moon, a former NFL quarterback who played under Erickson with the Seattle Seahawks.

``He's always looking to throw the ball downfield, looking for the big plays first. Everything else is secondary,'' Moon said.

Moon, a broadcast analyst, also said it makes sense for Erickson to work his philosophy around the one already in place.

``It's an easier transition to have a couple of people, a couple of coaches come in and learn a system as opposed to having a whole team learn a whole new system,'' Moon said. ``But I think he can implement things from his system into the West Coast system to make it a little more explosive.''

A bigger question might be how effectively the 49ers can go deep with a quarterback not known for his arm strength and a receiving corps not known for its speed.

Donahue said the team would be looking to add speed in the off-season. As for his quarterback, he said: ``Jeff Garcia is a Pro Bowl quarterback. . . . Players like Joe Montana and Steve Young, they don't necessarily have the strongest arms in the league. He certainly has a good enough arm to be successful.''

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