The target of my affections in the pro game are the once great San Francisco 49ers. I know that they have been well, quite shitty as of late. Okay, the last decade. Last Friday, the latest reconstruction project began with the hiring of former Standford head coach Jim Harbaugh. I feel that he is very capable of doing a great job, but there are a few glaring problem spots. So, again for my sanity I would like to explain how I would bring the glory back to the so deserving 49er nation. Okay, before I go on, in my world I would like to eliminate the terms "epic" and when referring to a teams fan base as a "nation." So to quote Pharaoh, "So let it be written, so let it be done!"
So, we have a new coach, but he has no coaching staff, and a few player issues to tackle as well. We will start with the coaching staff.
Harbaugh, did a great job at Stanford, ran a pro style offense with a great QB in Andrew Luck. He has been saying repeatedly that he wants to get back to the "West Coast Offense" since it was made famous by Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh (RIP), in an odd side note, the "West Coast Offense, was created in southern Ohio, while Walsh was an assistant to Paul Brown in Cincinnatti. Any way, we need an offensive coordinator who is, as my people would say is "dyed in the wool" with this offensive philosophy. The problem with this is that most of these people are already currently employed by a team already, or in the booth for the four letter word network.
Some of the names of potential candidates for this job scare the be-jesus out of me. Mark Treasman is my main concern here, he already had one stint as the OC with the niners, that in my opinion is one of the main causes for the colossal (thought about using epic, but in this space that word doesn't exist) failure that has plagued me for the last decade. He has been a coach in the CFL for the last few years, and has done pretty well for himself. He is coaching in the Canadian Football League, he had to find a league where the field is wider and longer to thrive. So in closing, Treasman? No.
Mike Johnson was the OC last season under the former regime, and once the handcuffs were taken off of his play calling didn't do a bad job. He (Johnson) has some history with Harbough dating back to the end of his playing days. He knows the offensive talent base better than anyone in the franchise, so familiarity is good.
My dark horse here, is Ralph Friedgen, the former head coach at the University of Maryland, he is currently available, and has extensive history and knowledge of the the West Coast offense. Friedgan, comes from the Coryell-Gilman branch of the offense, and has had success as an OC using this offense. He also was Vernon Davis' coach at Maryland. The only problem is that with Nike taking over the outfitting of the NFL., finding official clothing big enough, since all Nike clothes run small. I can comment on this because I too, am Nike sized challenged. Needless to say Friedgan, would be an interesting fit, plus he has very good knowledge of the current college game, and could prove helpful at draft time.
As for the defensive side of the ball, I think we need to actively go after Rob Ryan, the soon to be former DC in Cleveland. Ryan runs a base defense of a 3-4. This is the same base that Greg Manusky has run for the past few years. We have the athletes for this defense.
In my opinion the only glaring weakness is at CB. Nate Clements was at one time a top 5 CB in the NFL, but his age is caught and passed him by , and Shawntae Spencer is terrible, sorry nothing witty to add, he is just that bad. DL line wise we are OK as well. Re-signing Aubreyu Franklin is a must. Justin Smith at DE is very good and Ray McDonald, Isaac Sopoaga are good at DE. Without question our defensive strength is at LB. Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Navarro Bowman, Manny Lawson & Parys Haralson. I challenge you to find a better group anywhere in the league. The future at safety is set as well. Dashon Goldson is improving every game, and given time Taylor Mays will live up to his hype. Until Mays is ready Chuck Smith out of Oklahoma can more than do the job.
Other candidates are Vic Fangio, who was Harbaugh's DC at Stanford, and has lots of experience on the pro level, he too is a 3-4 guy. Fangio, is a hot commodity right now, Dallas is also interested in his services as a DC for new head coach Jason Garrett.
Position coaches are also very important to the organization. The 49ers have some of the best guys at position coach. Tom Rathman hopefully will remain as the RB coach. Noone knows the West Coast Offense better than Rathman, plus he has done a great job with Frank Gore over the past few years. Jim Tomsula, is the DL coach, the organization is very high on him, and acted at the interim coach in the week 17 win over the Cardinals. Mike Solari, who is the OL coach, is as good as it gets at this position. With a very young OL consistency is a must. These are the three coaches who I think, we CANNOT lose.
Now we need some players, in spots as well. So here goes...
The most important player in the game is the QB, and guess what? WE DON'T HAVE ONE! The 49ers haven't had one since Steve Young retired. So where do we begin in mess? There are two players currently in the league that I think we can get and it won't cost us an arm and a leg.
Quarterback
Kevin Kolb, who is currently the back up in Philadelphia. Kolb, is a very good young QB, who can move in the pocket, read coverage packages, something that Alex Smith is painfully bad at doing, and is very confident. The Eagles offfense is what could be called the grandson of Bill Walsh's offense. Here is a deal that I think we could get him for. The 49ers should offer the 7th overall, and their second round pick, for Kolb, and the Eagles first round that is somewhere around 27th overall. Hell even throw in a future second round pick. For the simple fact that if the 49ers can the division the next few years, which is VERY doable, the caliber of player from the bottom half of the first round to the top of the second isn't much of a drop off.
Josh Johnson is who I am really wanting the 49ers to pursue. Johnson, is currently the back up QB in Tampa Bay. I think this guy's upside is off the charts. I seem to remember the 49ers going after another QB that played for Tampa, remember Steve Young? Now, I am not saying that he is the second coming of the Hall of Famer, but as Deion Sanders said recently, "The cupboard at QB is Old Mother Hubbard bare!" I think we could possibly get him for a second round pick this year, and just for giggles throw in an incentive draft spot. With a legit throw/run threat at QB this team could be a contender not only for the division, but for the conference.
Fullback
The 49ers have had a history of having very smart, physical FB's. These men include, Tom Rathman, William Floyd, and currently Moran Norris. Moran is in his second tour with the 49ers, and is a great back. Norris, however is getting old. I have a crazy idea, that I think may just work, and solve several problems for opposing defenses to scheme against. Move Anthony Dixon to FB. He has the size, power and knowledge of the offense to be a threat. People will think that I am a nut for suggesting this but, Rathman was a blocking threat for Roger Craig, as well as a threat as a receiver out of the backfield. William Floyd was the exact same way. This idea will work if they allow it to.
Kicker
Cut Joe Nedney, and keep Jeff Reed. The Steelers jumped the gun on this one, and it will be for our benefit.
Cornerback
For all intentsive purposes we do not have any. So there in lies the problem. A somewhat pricey solution on one side could be the signing of free agent CB Nnamdi Asomugha. This guy is worth the money, and he is in the top three of all CB's in the game today.
Prince Amukamara from the University of Nebraska. he is the best CB in the draft. If you can get a QB without giving up the 7th overall pick this is our guy.
I know that write ups like this are all "pie in the sky" delusions, but I feel that all of these things are very doable.
Now it is time for the 49ers to start getting rings for that other hand.
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