"I am in the mode of more of a traditional style of offense, very much like the style that used to be here when Coach Bill Walsh was here, but in a different mindset. I want to know I have the ability to know that I can run the ball. I want to have the ability to know that I can impose my will on the defense. I want to know that in the fourth quarter, I can run the football. I want to know that when they put eight people in the box, I can still run the football, if I want to." - Mike Singletary, Head Coach
Mike Singletary's offensive philosophy is simple: give the ball to the runningback and pound the defense into submission. No matter what the circumstances, the offense should always be able to run the ball. And why not? What do today's four most successful teams--Giants, Panthers, Steelers, and Titans--have in common? The answer is a stellar defense and a powerful running game. No, it's not flashy nor exciting, but it is proven and effective, and it gives the team the best chance to win. An offense's ability to run the ball at will comes with its benefits:
1. It increases ball security. The less the ball is in the air, the less chance there is that it will be picked off. It also keeps the quarterback safe from constant pressure.
2. It controls the pace of the game. The more the team runs, the longer they will be able to sustain drives, thus keeping the opponent's offense off the field, which in turn keeps the defensive squad fresh.
3. It keeps defenses honest and protects the quarterback. When opposing defenses respect the run, it opens up the passing game. At that point, play action plays become more effective and the QB has more room to throw.
4. It wears down the defense. Imagine having a 230 lb runningback running into you over and over and over again. The best way to neutralize an opponent's pass rush is to pound them with the run until the defensive line is too fatigued to be effective.
Mike Singletary's first step in establishing his offensive philosophy is to hire an offensive coordinator with the mind set of emphasizing the run game. Of course, innovation is crucial in today's league, but above all else, the new offensive coordinator must prioritize a traditional approach and the offense's ability to run. The list of potential candidates vary, but I believe the guy that makes the most sense would be former Rams head coach, Scott Linehan.
Scott Linehan has over ten years of experience as an offensive coordinator and has been exceptional in each of his tenures at the position. His vast experience would greatly benefit Singletary in what will be Singletary's first full season as an NFL head coach. Linehan's most notable contributions have been returning the run games of his past thre teams, the Vikings [12th to 1st], the Dolphins [31st to 12th], and the Rams [346 rushing attempts in 2004], back to respectability. Furthermore, Linehan sucked ass as the head coach for the Rams. With him at the helm, there would be no worries of another team stealing him away after the season and disrupting the continuity yet again. Of course, finding the coordinator is only a piece of the puzzle...
NEXT: Early Look at Free Agency
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Mike Martz
"He wants to run the ball." - Mike Martz, former Offensive Coordinator
Since 2002, the last season in which the 49ers made the playoffs under Steve Mariucci, the team has been plagued by inept offenses caused by pretty much everything that could possibly ruin a team's scoring ability: injuries, bad quarterback play, substandard offensive lines, lack of playmaking wide receivers, horrible playcalling, poor field position due to inadequate defenses and special teams, on and off the field distractions, and a lack of offensive continuity over each season. Entering the 2009 season, the 49ers will have their SEVENTH offensive coordinator in the same amount of years. That's right, SEVEN.
Following last season's debacle at the hands of former offensive coordinator, Jim Hostler, former head coach Mike Nolan brought in Mike Martz to not only save the 49ers' offense, but to also save Mike Nolan's job. Nolan knew very well that he didn't know shit about managing the offense, and it was his inability to do so that was the source of his failures. On the other hand, Martz has been regarded as one of the most, if not the most, brilliant and creative coordinators in the game, albeit the most arrogant and stubborn, as well. This is the guy that thinks anything worse than a top 10 offense is considered a failure [note: the 49ers ranked 23rd this past season]. At the time of the hiring, it wasn't really a bad move at all. After the Hostler fiasco, Nolan needed to do something drastic, and it's hard to find anything more drastic than hiring Martz to revamp the offense. It was refreshing to finally have a playcaller with some credibility leading the way.
Martz's most important job was to utilize the young and talented, yet underachieving players of the offense and to create a system in which they would thrive. What's frustrating is that the 49ers offense IS talented. You look at players on the team like Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Joe Staley, and even Alex Smith, and it just makes you want to pull your hair out watching them underperform week in and week out. Two years ago, Norv Turner proved that under the right system, these players had the potential to run the league over and shoot it out with the best. As brilliant as Martz is, you would've figured he'd be able to do the same, right? Wrong.
While Martz was an improvement over Hostler in every aspect, he failed for all the same reasons that he failed for in the past...
1. He placed too much emphasis on the passing game. Before the season started, it was exciting to imagine Frank Gore being utilized the way Marshall Faulk was with the Rams, however the running game was rarely established. It's hard to get an offense going when you neglect to use your best offensive player. In addition, his aggressive playcalling caused the rate of sacks and turnovers to skyrocket. Early in the season, the Niners were on pace to break the club records for each stat in a single season.
2. The same could almost be said of Vernon Davis. In his third year, despite his talent and undeniable passion for the game, Davis has yet to make a significant impact in the passing game. This year, he proved to be a superior blocker, but what everybody is waiting to see is the tackle-breaking, sure-handed freak of nature that dominated the college ranks. One of the biggest questions surrounding Martz was whether he could utilize the 49ers tight ends despite never doing so in the past. While he talked highly of the tight ends, ultimately, he failed to generate any significant production out of them.
3. Martz's stubborness was revealed in his decision to start JT O'Sullivan over Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. While it can be argued that JTO had a better grasp of the offense and gave the team the best chance to win at the time, it's difficult to look at Hill's success this season and to say he would not have been an improvement. With Hill under center, Martz cut down on the seven step drops and played much more conservatively. In doing so, it almost eliminated the two trademark flaws of the Martz system: high turnover rates and high sack rates. For once, he did something he rarely did before: adjust his system to fit his players. It worked brilliantly, but at the same time, it just wasn't Mike Martz.
Now, with Mike Singletary and his smashmouth, ball control, run-the-ball-down-their-throats philosphy on board for the next four years, Martz just seemed like a wrong fit. Singeltary is old-school in every aspect and the team, put together by Scott McCloughan, was made to run the ball. In order to make his mark on the team, Singletary had no choice but to let Martz go. Sure, it disrupted the continuity of the offense AGAIN, but it was a necessary loss that will help build the identity of the offense and lead them back to respectability.
NEXT: The Mike Singletary Offense
Since 2002, the last season in which the 49ers made the playoffs under Steve Mariucci, the team has been plagued by inept offenses caused by pretty much everything that could possibly ruin a team's scoring ability: injuries, bad quarterback play, substandard offensive lines, lack of playmaking wide receivers, horrible playcalling, poor field position due to inadequate defenses and special teams, on and off the field distractions, and a lack of offensive continuity over each season. Entering the 2009 season, the 49ers will have their SEVENTH offensive coordinator in the same amount of years. That's right, SEVEN.
Following last season's debacle at the hands of former offensive coordinator, Jim Hostler, former head coach Mike Nolan brought in Mike Martz to not only save the 49ers' offense, but to also save Mike Nolan's job. Nolan knew very well that he didn't know shit about managing the offense, and it was his inability to do so that was the source of his failures. On the other hand, Martz has been regarded as one of the most, if not the most, brilliant and creative coordinators in the game, albeit the most arrogant and stubborn, as well. This is the guy that thinks anything worse than a top 10 offense is considered a failure [note: the 49ers ranked 23rd this past season]. At the time of the hiring, it wasn't really a bad move at all. After the Hostler fiasco, Nolan needed to do something drastic, and it's hard to find anything more drastic than hiring Martz to revamp the offense. It was refreshing to finally have a playcaller with some credibility leading the way.
Martz's most important job was to utilize the young and talented, yet underachieving players of the offense and to create a system in which they would thrive. What's frustrating is that the 49ers offense IS talented. You look at players on the team like Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Joe Staley, and even Alex Smith, and it just makes you want to pull your hair out watching them underperform week in and week out. Two years ago, Norv Turner proved that under the right system, these players had the potential to run the league over and shoot it out with the best. As brilliant as Martz is, you would've figured he'd be able to do the same, right? Wrong.
While Martz was an improvement over Hostler in every aspect, he failed for all the same reasons that he failed for in the past...
1. He placed too much emphasis on the passing game. Before the season started, it was exciting to imagine Frank Gore being utilized the way Marshall Faulk was with the Rams, however the running game was rarely established. It's hard to get an offense going when you neglect to use your best offensive player. In addition, his aggressive playcalling caused the rate of sacks and turnovers to skyrocket. Early in the season, the Niners were on pace to break the club records for each stat in a single season.
2. The same could almost be said of Vernon Davis. In his third year, despite his talent and undeniable passion for the game, Davis has yet to make a significant impact in the passing game. This year, he proved to be a superior blocker, but what everybody is waiting to see is the tackle-breaking, sure-handed freak of nature that dominated the college ranks. One of the biggest questions surrounding Martz was whether he could utilize the 49ers tight ends despite never doing so in the past. While he talked highly of the tight ends, ultimately, he failed to generate any significant production out of them.
3. Martz's stubborness was revealed in his decision to start JT O'Sullivan over Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. While it can be argued that JTO had a better grasp of the offense and gave the team the best chance to win at the time, it's difficult to look at Hill's success this season and to say he would not have been an improvement. With Hill under center, Martz cut down on the seven step drops and played much more conservatively. In doing so, it almost eliminated the two trademark flaws of the Martz system: high turnover rates and high sack rates. For once, he did something he rarely did before: adjust his system to fit his players. It worked brilliantly, but at the same time, it just wasn't Mike Martz.
Now, with Mike Singletary and his smashmouth, ball control, run-the-ball-down-their-throats philosphy on board for the next four years, Martz just seemed like a wrong fit. Singeltary is old-school in every aspect and the team, put together by Scott McCloughan, was made to run the ball. In order to make his mark on the team, Singletary had no choice but to let Martz go. Sure, it disrupted the continuity of the offense AGAIN, but it was a necessary loss that will help build the identity of the offense and lead them back to respectability.
NEXT: The Mike Singletary Offense
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
