Re: Il Lato Giusto Della Baia - Nebbia fitta sulla baia. Ma fitta fitta eh!

[Jeremy]

Pace non è mica eterno...
Prima o poi dovrete porvi il problema della sua sostituzione e, credimi, Kwame sarebbe la scelta più azzeccata. 

[KingKaiv]

Pace non è mica eterno...
Prima o poi dovrete porvi il problema della sua sostituzione e, credimi, Kwame sarebbe la scelta più azzeccata. 

Spero che sia un problema da pormi il più tardi possibile. E poi non possiamo certo privarvi del vostro fiore all'occhiello. Mi auguro che Staley ci metta mooolto tempo ad ambientarsi tra i pro.

[chinasky]

Guardate come arrivano gli abbonamenti dei Bears!

[Jeremy]

Ma le scelte non le firmiamo primo del trainng camp?? 

[vestanik]

Ma le scelte non le firmiamo primo del trainng camp?? 

E' quello che mi stavo chiedendo anch'io!

[Angyair]

Fa' che resti un dream :gazza:

E poi dove lo mettiamo con Pace-Barron?

Chi? Alex "False Start" Barron? :paper:

[Angyair]

Ecco in conclusione una panoramica sul nostro coaching staff, interessanti in particolare le parti su Manusky e la sua difesa, Singletary (prossima HC in qualche team l'anno prossimo) e su quello che ha influito anche nella scelta dei nuovi OC e DC.

There are a lot more questions than answers about two of the coaches filling key positions on the 49ers' coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Jim Hostler and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky are in their first years in their current roles, and nobody knows for sure how they will carry out their duties on game days.

* * *

One thing that was noticeable during this offseason was the on-field involvement of this year's defensive coordinator.

Last season, it was apparent who was in charge. It was Mike Nolan's defense, for sure. At times, trying to find defensive coordinator Billy Davis was like playing "Where's Waldo?"

But Nolan was mostly silent and in the background during the offseason camps, while Manusky was running the show. Let's make no mistake, Manusky is going to be running Nolan's defense - not Wade Phillips' defense.

Nolan said Phillips' defense has not changed much in 20 years. While Phillips' principles are obviously sound, Nolan said he prefers to adapt his 3-4 scheme to reflect the individual strengths of the players on his team.

I know little of the particulars about Manusky's beliefs and how he expects to call a game, but the defensive players spoke a lot about being put into spots to make a difference. I think it will be an aggressive-style defense. Nolan plans to allow Manusky to handle the play-calling chores. He also planned for Davis to do the play-calling, but he ultimately stripped Davis of those duties and took over the defense when he saw things breaking down.

* * *

Nolan needs to step back from the down-to-down micromanaging of the defense to spend more time on being a CEO on the sideline. There have been times during his two seasons with the club where it has looked as if he's been distracted on the sideline with some of his game-management decisions.

There is little question, though, that Nolan works hard at his craft. He prides himself on being prepared and anticipating any difficult decisions before they occur. Every Saturday during the season, he meets with his coordinators to discuss situations that might arise in the following day's game.

Nolan's most controversial decision last season was his call to kick a short field goal to give the 49ers a four-point lead over the Rams late in the game in St. Louis. The 49ers had a fourth-down-and-an-inch play.

As I wrote at the time, I thought the 49ers should have gone for it. But I did not believe it was as indefensible as others seemed to think.

To wit: The 49ers' defense had not allowed the Rams to drive any length for a touchdown; Frank Gore, who had returned to the role as the short-yardage back, had to leave the game due to a leg injury earlier in the series; Michael Robinson, who had struggled in short-yardage duty, was stuffed on a third-and-1 run; and guard Larry Allen was slow getting up one play earlier and the team called a timeout prior to Robinson's run. Those were some of the factors that went into Nolan's decision.

Nolan later said he second-guessed himself about not trying to put more pressure on Rams quarterback Marc Bulger after the field goal. The 49ers primarily sat back and played coverage, allowing Bulger to dump the ball off underneath. The Rams marched down the field for the game-winning touchdown. I expect Manusky (and Nolan) to be more aggressive if the club is faced with a situation such as that this season.

* * *

Hostler scored high marks with the offense this offseason as he takes over for the popular Norv Turner, who landed the best job in the NFL as head coach of the Chargers.

Hostler is keeping the basic system that Turner installed last season, but he's added more of the West Coast element with shorter drops and a ball-control passing game. In his offseason studies, Hostler spent a lot of time working on the team's third-down and red-zone offenses.

It also looks as if a big priority for Hostler will be to get the ball in the hands of tight end Vernon Davis, who looked in the offseason as if he might be a big part of the offense. The 49ers also worked a lot on empty-backfield sets.

But, like Manusky, we'll have to wait and see how effective Hostler is this season. A coordinator is based in large part on his game-calling. Hostler has no body of work for us to turn. Turner was very good about setting up plays to give his playmakers good opportunities. That comes with experience, which is something Hostler does not have.

* * *

The 49ers nearly lost assistant head coach Mike Singletary this offseason. He came very close to getting the Falcons' head-coaching job. But the Falcons ultimately decided to hire an offensive-minded coach, Bobby Petrino.

Singletary's strength as a coach is his leadership. He loves working the linebackers hard during drills, but his value to the team stretches far beyond the linebackers. He addresses the entire team once a week.

Singletary was never really considered to be the team's defensive coordinator after Davis was fired. Nolan said he felt Singletary's biggest value to the team was the impact he had over the entire roster as assistant head coach.

While Singletary may not have been best-suited for the minutiae that comes being a defensive coordinator, Nolan probably also did not want to be put in a situation where he'd lose someone in that position after just one season. If the 49ers perform well, there is little question Singletary will be near the top of the list when it comes to head-coaching vacancies. He is such an engaging personality that any owner in the league can't help but be impressed if he comes through the door for an interview.

* * *

Receivers coach Jerry Sullivan was initially thought to be the most logical replacement at offensive coordinator if Turner were to leave. But, like Singletary, Sullivan is probably more valuable in his current role.

He is an exceptional receivers coach, who would have given up what he truly loves teaching if he took on an expanded role with the offense. Sullivan turns 63 on Friday, and he might not want to coach much longer. In going with Hostler, 40, the 49ers have a chance to have an offensive coordinator be around for quite a while.

Sullivan finally has a little bit of talent with the 49ers' receivers. He is not shy about laying down the law with his wideouts. Some of the young players get a daily earful from Sullivan. Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie missed out on some valuable teachings by their absence on the practice field this offseason.

* * *

Nolan appears to have put together a pretty solid staff. Here's a little more on some of the other notables:

--Just in my brief time watching him, it's difficult not to be drawn to defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. He looks as if he's having the time of his life every time he steps on the field.

--Offensive line coach George Warhop has the kind of temperament you'd want out of an offensive line coach. He is one serious man. He took over an offensive line that was in shambles. There wasn't much teaching going on the year before his arrival, and his approach is just what was needed with an emphasis on the technical and mental sides of the position.

--Running backs coach Bishop Harris has coached running backs in the NFL since 1993. The next time I sit down to speak with him about his philosophy will be the first time. He does not grant interview requests. After Frank Gore's fumble problems in the first half of the season, he spent a lot of time working on that area of Gore's game. In his final nine games, Gore fumbled twice (he coughed it up five times in the first seven games).

--Tight ends coach Pete Hoener was under serious consideration for the job as offensive coordinator. He learned the Coryell system that Turner installed last year as a young coach under Jim Hanifan with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. Hoener deserves a lot of credit for the blocking prowess Vernon Davis demonstrated as a rookie. Now, he has to keep him grounded and make sure Davis carries his strong offseason into the regular season.

--Johnnie Lynn was originally hired by George Seifert as 49ers secondary coach in 1996. He was let go when Steve Mariucci hired Jim Mora in '97. Lynn eventually served two seasons as Giants defensive coordinator. He's back for his second season under Mike Nolan with his trademark raspy voice and a lot more talent in the secondary than he had a year ago.

--New special-teams coordinator Al Everest comes to the 49ers after a solid track record in the NFL with the Saints. Because of the team's upgrade in talent across the board, his coverage units should be much-improved. His trusted assistant, Jeff Rodgers, came to the 49ers during the Dennis Erickson era.

--The biggest survivor on the staff is Jason Tarver, a boyish-looking 32-year-old whom was originally hired by Steve Mariucci in 2001. He was an offensive quality control coach for three seasons, then became assistant running backs coach/offensive assistant in '04, then became defensive assistant/outside linebackers coach a year later.

[Angyair]

Oggi intanto si terrà il supplemental draft e Maiocco non crede che i 49ers sceglieranno qualcuno, ma magari ne inviteranno qualcuno al training camp come undrafted:

The NFL supplemental draft is scheduled for this morning. I'd be surprised if the 49ers invested any picks. Remember, teams that select a player in a given round lose the corresponding pick in next year's April draft.

The 49ers potentially could invite a player to camp as an undrafted rookie. They did that last year with linebacker David Dixon, who was released after three weeks in camp.

The players eligible for the draft are: T Jared Gaither (Maryland); CB Paul Oliver (Georgia); T Chris Patrick (Nebraska); DT Clifton Dickson (Florida State), DT Robert Armstrong (Morgan State); DB RoShawn Marshall (Central Missouri); DB Donta' Moore (UConn); DT Brian Soi (Utah State); T Aaron Turner (East Central); LB Mark Washington (Texas State-San Marcos).



Purtroppo, caro aza, il tuo writer preferito ora va in vacanza, quindi per un po' mancheranno i suoi aggiornamenti. Fattene una ragione ed evita altri post strappalacrime sul suo blog. :paper:

[multiple]

Purtroppo, caro aza, il tuo writer preferito ora va in vacanza, quindi per un po' mancheranno i suoi aggiornamenti. Fattene una ragione ed evita altri post strappalacrime sul suo blog. :paper:

Maiocco in vacanza nel mio stesso periodo... chissa' che non lo trovi a Folgarida?  :lol2:

[Angyair]

Non è mai troppo presto per farsi fare un autografo: 




Che vita stupenda che avrà questo bambino....







Altre immagini dal "Family days" dei 49ers:







Trovate l'intruso...

[azazel]

grandissimo aikman nello spogliatoio dei niners...avrà pisciato sulle panche :lol2:

[cecaro]

grandissimo aikman nello spogliatoio dei niners...avrà pisciato sulle panche :lol2:

Lui era il volontario per l' attività "Prendiamo a pomodori marci una maglia dei Vaccari preferibilmante quella di Aikman" che si tiene ogni anno durante il Family Day.  :gazza:
Il premio per il fortunato volontario è poi una ginocchiata in testa da parte di Ted Washington in ricordo di quella, memorabile, assestata ad Aikman durante il championship del 1993.
(Non ricordo il punteggio di quella partita, deve essere stato cancellato dalle statistiche ufficiali della NFL)

[cecaro]

Ecco in conclusione una panoramica sul nostro coaching staff, interessanti in particolare le parti su Manusky e la sua difesa, Singletary (prossima HC in qualche team l'anno prossimo) e su quello che ha influito anche nella scelta dei nuovi OC e DC.

There are a lot more questions than answers about two of the coaches filling key positions on the 49ers' coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Jim Hostler and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky are in their first years in their current roles, and nobody knows for sure how they will carry out their duties on game days.
One thing that was noticeable during this offseason was the on-field involvement of this year's defensive coordinator.
Last season, it was apparent who was in charge. It was Mike Nolan's defense, for sure. At times, trying to find defensive coordinator Billy Davis was like playing "Where's Waldo?"
But Nolan was mostly silent and in the background during the offseason camps, while Manusky was running the show. Let's make no mistake, Manusky is going to be running Nolan's defense - not Wade Phillips' defense.
Nolan said Phillips' defense has not changed much in 20 years. While Phillips' principles are obviously sound, Nolan said he prefers to adapt his 3-4 scheme to reflect the individual strengths of the players on his team.
I know little of the particulars about Manusky's beliefs and how he expects to call a game, but the defensive players spoke a lot about being put into spots to make a difference. I think it will be an aggressive-style defense. Nolan plans to allow Manusky to handle the play-calling chores. He also planned for Davis to do the play-calling, but he ultimately stripped Davis of those duties and took over the defense when he saw things breaking down.
Nolan needs to step back from the down-to-down micromanaging of the defense to spend more time on being a CEO on the sideline. There have been times during his two seasons with the club where it has looked as if he's been distracted on the sideline with some of his game-management decisions.

Questa sarà una transizione difficoltosa per Nolan, se uno è portato ad essere un "control guy", come è stato finora, è difficile che possa trasformarsi all' improvviso in uno che delega e sovraintende. Ricordo di aver letto un articolo sulla prima partita allenata da Nolan nel 2005, durante la quale metteva le cuffie per le serie offensive, in modo da poter parlare con McCarthy, e addirittura le toglieva per le serie difensive, visto che faceva le chiamate tutto da solo.

[Jeremy]

Secondo il sito di ESPN avremmo firmato Mark Washington, defensive end/linebacker da Texas State, che si era presenato al supplemantal draft senza essere scelto da nessuno (quindi dovrebbe essere considetato un undrafted FA e non dovremmo sacrificare scelte al draft 2008). L'articolo è stato però poi rimosso quindi rimane incertezza da questa firma.

[Angyair]

Sembra che ancora non sia stato messo nero su bianco e quindi il tutto non sia ancora ufficiale. Però dalla sua biografia escono notizie interessanti:

The 49ers did not select anyone in the supplemental draft, but for the second year in a row they expect to have one of the eligible players in training camp.

The team has reached contract terms with outside linebacker Mark Washington (6-4, 253) of Texas State-San Marcos. It is a two-year deal with no signing bonus. The 49ers are not commenting because the deal has not been officially signed. (There is always a fear that until a deal is signed, another team could swoop in and make a better offer.)

Washington recorded 36 tackles with 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 19 college games as a defensive lineman. He opted for the supplemental draft rather than return for his senior season.

He is certainly an interesting player. He played in eight games as a true freshman at Arizona State after playing at Long Beach Poly. Then, he sat out two full seasons to concentrate on academics.

Washington is an accomplished poet. He has written more than 6,000 poems published in the Poem Society Book. He also has experience as an actor. 

Here's the scouting report from NFLdraftscout.com:

"Good competitor who plays with enthusiasm and has the strength to hit the ball carrier with a thud. Has the functional strength to take on and split double teams, but is better suited making plays on the move. Uses his hands efficiently to shed and is a quick downhill runner when asked to fill the rush lanes. Plays with good leverage when taking on blocks. It is rare to see him get caught out of position when lined up on the edge."

On the negative side: "Lacks the bulk you look for in a down lineman, even for an end and might be a better fit as a strong-side outside linebacker (has dropped weight in anticipation of moving to OLB at the pro level). Looks hesitant when asked to drop back in zone coverage and is more comfortable making plays in front of him rather than having to pursue long distances. Not a natural mover in deep coverage, as he will get sloppy with his plant-and-drive and needs to keep his head on a swivel, as he is a bit slow to react to the thrown ball."

NFLdraftscout compares him to Steve Foley: "Washington is not as instinctive or intelligent as the Redskins' Marcus Washington, but like Foley, he is stout vs. the run and double-team activity. He missed two seasons of action due to academics and was forced to play out of position as a defensive tackle in 2006, but with his speed and closing burst, along with solid blitzing skills, someone could get a free agent find from this strong-side outside linebacker prospect, if they care to invest some time and patient coaching while he learns to play OLB on the developmental squad for a year."