In Turner We Trust

In Turner We Trust
by Vini 'The Vin' Chopra

01.18.06 -- To say that I've been pleased by the 49ers' decision making as it pertains to their personnel department over the past few years is like saying I like to be tied down to a chair while someone scratches nails on a chalkboard in front of me. Let's just say from the hiring of Steve Mariucci way back in 1997 to even the hiring of Mike Nolan in 2005, I have been less than enamored by the organization's ability to land coaches and mentors that stand for the winning tradition that the 49ers established with Bill Walsh in the 1980s. So as I logged on the internet yesterday I was pleasantly surprised, and jumping for joy like an 18 year old upon his first visit to a strip club, with the hiring of Norv Turner as our offensive coordinator. Finally! For once, the 49ers managed to do everything right and land the exact type of coach to help mentor this young team.

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First, let me address the skeptics. Those who will look at Norv Turner's head coaching record with the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders will be less than impressed with the coaches' track record. I'm not going to make any excuses. Norv Turner is not a very good head coach. It's like the great biology teacher that ends up as the school principal, and becomes overwhelmed with all the budget deficets, discipline issues, and propositions landing their way when their real strength was teaching cellular respiration. For one reason or the other, Turner is not effective as a head coach. But that's why he is not our head coach. He's our offensive coordinator.

As an offensive coordinator, Norv Turner is one of the most respected minds in the NFL. He has worked with several great players including future Hall of Famers like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin. This bodes well for the 49ers, because as a young team our greatest need is someone who is experienced with talent. Afterall, it was not that long ago that Turner coached a struggling, young QB who was then able to win back - to -back Super Bowls under Turner's watch. That QB's name is Troy Aikman. Now Turner will get an oppurtunity to mentor another young, struggling QB in Alex Smith, and while their styles differ, at least Smith has someone who has had over 15 years of NFL coaching experience and can work to Smith's strengths.

While Norv Turner's variation of the Coryell Offense takes the 49ers' offensive philosophy in a new direction, there is optimism that he will lead to positive and much needed change. For years the West Coast Offense (WCO) was the staple here in San Francisco, but if anyone has studied the Bill Walsh offense closely they would recognize that the 49ers have not run the true WCO since the days of Mike Shanahan in 1994. The name has carried over, and the terminology has carried over, but does anyone want to explain to me how Steve Mariucci's control the clock with the run philosophy, also known as 'Mooch Ball,' lived up to Walsh's control the ball with passes that set up the run philosophy?

And worst yet, the most successful West Coast Offensive systems belong to Walsh and his two major disciples: Mike Holmgren and Mike Shanahan. Walsh is semi-retired (you can take his business management class in Stanford if you happen to get a shiney SAT score), and the two Mike's are preparing for their respective conference championship games. Even Holmgren and Shanahans' greatest pupils, such as Gary Kubiak, Andy Reid, and John Gruden, already possess head coaching jobs or are in the process of doing so (Kubiak will be the Texans HC soon). If the 49ers chose to go with the WCO after Mike McCarthy, the decision would have left the 49ers choosing from a list of 2nd and 3rd rate coordinators such as Bill Musgrave or Matt Cavanaugh. Like McCarthy, these guys knew someone who happened to know someone else with a lineage into the Walshian coaching tree. But as McCarthy proved with his watered down, non-WCO like system, these types of coordinators lack the creativity and astuteness of Walsh, Holmgren, or Shanahan to create plays and exploit defenses with the short passing game. A guy like Turner is a 1st rate offensive coach who has tutored guys like Mike Martz. Turner may not be Walsh, but in terms of the coaching hierarchy in this day and age, Turner is a strong candidate who is proven, as opposed to a guy looking for a break.

The other aspect that makes the Norv Turner hire exciting is that for once, the 49ers offense will change. Do not believe that Turner is only a deep ball guy as Al Davis would have had you believe in Oakland this past year. Turner favors the power running game and likes to throw the ball down the field, but that does not always mean that he wants to get vertical or die. Some of the best passing attacks, namely the Rams 'Greatest Show on Turf' was based on a variation of Turner's philosophy and even that offense adjusted for Marshall Faulk, making Bill Walsh proud in the process. Turner has changed his offense to meet his personnel everywhere he has been, whether it's been taking advantage of physical receivers like Michael Irvin in Dallas with cutback routes, or the power running game with Ricky Williams in Miami. He has; however, always found results. Expect no difference with the 49ers, who are not suited to throw the ball vertically, nor do we possess a power back like Ricky Williams. You can count on Turner bringing change with the offensive line philosophy and adding some physical precense at the receiver or tight end spot.

Perhaps the greatest beneficiary of the Turner hire will be Alex Smith. When you think of Turner's systems and the Coryell offense, you think of strong pocket passers like Troy Aikman and Brad Johnson. Smith doesn't exactly fit this description but Turner has turned unconventional QBs into successes for their relative team. Gus Frerotte and Trent Green both had success with Turner in Washington. But the greatest news is Turner's success with QBs Jay Fiedler in Miami (who threw 20 TD passes with Turner as the OC) and Doug Flutie, who threw for over 3,400 yards and had the best season of his career under Turner in San Diego. Smith will, hopefully, be the next in line of productive QBs that have worked with Turner.

It's rare nowadays that the 49ers hit home runs with their decision makings, but with the Norv Turner hire and hopefully some stronger activity in the free agent market, things might be looking up for San Francisco afterall. Norv Turner is a great hire for this organization.

Filed Under: 49ers

Marathe - Source of our Woes

The Source of Our Woes
by Vini 'The Vin' Chopra


01.13.05 -- Paarag Marathe. When one utters these words, most 49er fans have no idea whether that person is referring to a new karate move, a foreign film, a sexual position, or let alone the 49ers' President of Football Operations. Yet, there he exists, in some overly large office at 4949 Centennial Boulevard, probably next to his best friend and team owner John York. Over the past five years, to say that the 49ers have not operated under their championship or bust ways is the understatement of the decade. From horror stories such as conserving Gatorade bottles at team practices to not inviting players' families to the annual team Christmas party, the word 'cheap' has been uttered frequently by angry 49er fans. Much of those words are directed at John York, but by giving into fan demands and cleaning house last year, York proved that an NFL owner must operate under the close eye of the 'faithful.' Yet, a stench still fills the team, and all of Mike Nolan's efforts to claim that the 49er facility smells better aside, that stench is none other than Paarag Marathe --- not that exotic fish or sexual position, but the source of our team's woes.

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Recently, in an interview with SF Weekly, Paarag Marathe responded to the criticisms of the few beat writers and watchful fans who do know his secret identity, and laugh at the fact that this is the man who tries to play 'Moneyball' and uses a computer to analyze players:

'I believe it'd be half as bad if (my name) were Perry Martin. It's a name you can pronounce. That would cut it in half. If I were white, it would cut it by another quarter. If I were 10 years older, it would cut it by another 10 percent. The thing is, I'll never be a football guy, even when I'm 45 or 50. I'll never be a football guy.'

Okay Marathe, where does a faithful 49er fan who has followed the team passionately and shares the same race you do even begin to criticize you on this debacle of a statement? I think I'm going to skip past the racial bigotry here, because the 49ers are not the most popular thing in Chinatown these days with the tape incident and all. All I have to say is that a man who pulls the race card to defend himself has nothing to say and no tenacity to prove his colleagues wrong in the forum where it counts --- football. And getting to football, as a 49er fan, is it not disturbing that our President of Football Operations stubbornly proclaims that he is not a football guy? Here's the deal Marathe: You might be great at crunching numbers and that is probably why your homeboy Yorkie York keeps you around, but then become the team accountant. Do not masquerade as an 'up and coming' star in this league with that ironic and false title of Director of Football Operations when you have clearly said you have no admiration for football itself.

If you think that's Marathe's worst quote, then think again. A year or so ago, Marathe provided the faithful with an even more enlightening piece of advice:

'The name of the game is not finding the best players, as conventional wisdom says, the name of the game is finding the best possible players for the lowest price. It's just being smart about managing your money.'

Really Paarag? So you mean to tell me that an NFL Football Franchise should avoid the Jevon Kearse's, Ray Lewis', and Tom Brady's of the league for guys like Derek Smith, Reggie Hayward, and Tim Rattay merely because of salary considerations? Even moreso, this philosophy of hunting the bargain bin for the cheapest players has worked out so wonderfully with our team right, with all the Kwame Harris' and Rashaun Woods' we draft?

The recipe for a successful franchise is actually very simple, despite Paarag Marathe's misleading statement. A successful franchise takes dedication. It takes football guys, who live and breathe for the game, throw orgasms when they discover a new scheme or formation to shut down a player with, and take a moment to get to know their players. Paarag Marathe, no matter how much John York wants to talk him up as an 'up and comer' in the NFL, will never be that person. He's a guy with a business suit, a tie, and knowledge of Windows XP and the latest edition of Microsoft Excel. He reads money saving strategies like Moneyball and has an elaborate, Matrix-like system of putting in players' statistics to analyze them. But a true football guy, and there are likely many people reading this article who qualify as such moreso than Marathe ever will, knows that no computer, spreadsheet, or book can match a understanding of the game, measuring a players' heart, and simply being a student of the game.

Recently, Mike Nolan has wanted to hire a football guy to help guide the organization, much to the dismay of Paarag Marathe because Marathe will lose some power this way. But take it from me Marathe and quit while you're ahead. Go take your player ranking system and become a member of the BCS committee, get into accounting, play the stock market. But football? You have no business being in football, even if your name was Perry Martin.

Filed Under: 49ers

Backed Against a Corner

Backed Against a Corner, the 49ers Find a Way to Win
by Vini Chopra - 'The Vin'

It's Tuesday morning and by this time most NFL teams are washing away the stenches or riches of Sunday's happenings. Most teams and their players have begun to focus on next week's opponent, paying keen attention to their mistakes just a short 48 hours ago. This is fine for most NFL franchises; however, when you're a 49er's fan you have to learn to savor these wins that the team puts out every now and then. Afterall, in the previous three years the 49ers have only managed to win 11 out of 39 games (a woeful 28% winning percentage). So first and foremost, pardon this 49er fan for clinging to this win, but just like viewing one of those fancy comets, you never know when you'll have the oppurtunity to see another one. One thing that the 49er fans saw this week was a new attitude resulting from the team being backed into a corner (or hung off of a ledge, depending on how realistic you are) and desperate for results.

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In all of the previous weeks, the 49ers had seen the worst of the worst. The season began on a positive note, with an unlikely win against the rival St. Louis Rams. Since that win, the 49ers had managed to lose five in a row, all in one form of demoralization or the other. From heartbreaking losses (Cowboys game) to embarassment on foreign soil (a blowout loss to the Cardinals in the NFL's first game outside of the U.S. in Mexico) and the Revenge of the Gibbs (a 52-17 loss just two weeks ago to the Redskins), the 49ers weren't just headed for disaster, but they were also embarassing themselves and the history of the franchise along the way. For example, on one reiteration of ESPN's NFL Live Ron Jowarski proudly claimed that the 49ers were so bad that they deserved to give back one of their Lombardi Trophies. Ouch. And there wasn't a single thing the 49ers could say about these shots, being that the team was down and out for the 10 count.

But like Rocky Balboa before them, the 49ers bounced back on Sunday as a result of desperation and hunger. Here was a team with nothing to lose; a team that had been the butt of every joke in the NFL for weeks. With John York's PR department working on overtime, the 49ers even managed to concoct the "Red Fog," a rally cry for fans to show their support by covering the stadium in red to illicit fear in the opposition. At least that was the theory. Judging by the crowd size when I attended the game, it wasn't exactly red in every corner or engulfing, but the show of support was strong by the few that showed up. Much like the team before their eyes, the San Francisco 49er fans were also tired of Monday mornings at the office and constant harassment from co-workers and Raider fans alike. So team and fans in unison, all backed into that coffin corner, managed to spark some excitement.

Along the way, players such as Cody Pickett, a hard but unheralded worker, stepped up and made major plays. The Cody Picketts of the team, the guys who aren't necessarily known but that work hard and show determination by doing all that is necessary, are the types of players that the 49ers need more of on this team. While Ken Dorsey floated and flopped passes left and right, Pickett's presence ignited fans and team with chants of "CODY CODY CODY!" and hugs from the offensive linemen just because the former rodeo star actually completed a pass (a rarity when Dorsey is behind center).

Whether this was only a one night stand, a fling, a sign of desperation that'll quickly melt over into the same mediocrity we have witnessed in weeks past remains a mystery. But perhaps the team has learned a thing or two in this win. The team seemed much looser, at least on the defensive side of the ball, than the previous weeks. Whereas before players were scared to make mistakes, blow coverages, or add pressure, this week saw the DBs play without as much remorse and a "We just need to go out and play" type of attitude. That idea, of improvement rather than winning the NFC West, will very much improve players. But don't let reality deceive you. The 49ers are still not a playoff calibre roster. The difference in the 2nd half of the season will instead have to be felt with the level of enthusiasm, effort, and will that the team shows. That is if the team continues to improve and show up in the form of this victory against the Buccaneers, rather than the team that laid a fat egg in Washington.

One thing is enjoyable though. For the first time in five weeks, the 49ers fans get to rub it into a playoff calibre team like the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers learned the painful lesson that should a team fall into that lonely, empty corner and be forced into desperation, they are fully capable of anything. The 49ers need to be that team more often. Kudos on the win.

Filed Under: 49ers

Gift Wrapped

Gift Wrapped
by Vini Chopra 'The Vin'

Everyone knows the days leading up to Christmas, especially when there is that one present that you are just dying to have. You place all kinds of hints all around the house, mention your gift in subtle ways to your parents during dinner conversation, and when you look under the tree and see a proportionate gift wrapped up and waiting you naturally jump cheerfully. Then Christmas morning rolls around. You race down your stairs before anyone else has had a chance to awaken. You get your hands around that gift and you rip it apart. Inch by inch, the gift unwraps and your excitement slowly turns to disappointment. That expensive, dreamy gift has turned into a sweater or some other less stellar present but the size of the giftbox deceived you.

Fortunately, Christmas does not come around for another couple of months, so to those who experience this year after year you have some time to prepare. But this situation is analgous to the 49ers win on Sunday. As a realist, I fully expected the 49ers to lose against the Rams rather horribly.

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I expected Marc Bulger to throw for 300+ yards, for the Rams to control the game for a majority of the time, and for the 49ers offense to appear anemic against the Rams. But wait a minute, isn't this what actually happened? Bulger did throw for 362 yards, the Rams held the ball for nearly 40 minutes of the game, and the 49ers offense, aside from a 2nd quarter surge inspired by some trickery, did not score a single TD in the 4th quarter.

The 49ers were able to overcome these imbalances with inspirational play from their tireless defense, hard hitting, and a degree of randomness that threw off the Rams attack (such as the onside kick). For that, coach Mike Nolan and the rest of the 49ers coaching crew get all the credit in the world. They found a way for the only statistic that matters, the score, to end up greater than what the Rams could manage to conjure. But as I strolled into class on Monday morning, and later on in work, I was swarmed by people shouting things like "the 49ers are going all the way," "we're playoff calibre," "our defense is going to be #1 all year." Like the Christmas present I alluded to earlier on, I want this more than anything else. But I have to interject and say hold your horses. A week one win against the Rams was one of the most impressive feats and if we do not win another game this season that is a heck of a win to live with.

That's the thing though. The 49ers are without expectation this year, or if there are any expectations they are surely of that ugly sweater and not the hi-tech entertainment system. That's what made the win against the Rams so memorable and emotional. This was like receiving an outdated laptop for Christmas and finding out it could do something that the more expensive and impressive laptop could do. And again, give Mike Nolan credit for engineering that, but by holding the team against a higher pedestal fans might find disappointment. For example, while the Eagles are coming off of a loss of their own, they provide a much less arrogant challenge than Mike Martz and his inability to call a smart football game. Andy Reid will have the Eagles ready to play, and after last weeks performance it is clear that Mike Nolan will have this young 49er team ready as well. But what happens if the 49ers end up with a loss against Philadelphia next week? Do the same optimists of this week start to attack the structure of the team and challenge the calls, players, and look into the statistics that they deemed inconsequentional just last Sunday?

The 49ers are a team that need to compete this season. Anything can happen on any given Sunday, including a win. The 49ers are the greatest example of this given the odds that they were able to overcome against the Rams. But so far, the 49ers have demonstrated that they are that nice looking, gift-wrapped box. They could turn out to be the ultra spiffy, super duper expensive gift that we all want during Christmas. Or they could be the ugly sweater wrapped up nicely. It's only week one and hopes are high. But come Christmas morning, whether the 49ers are looking ahead to the playoffs or looking towards a long off-season is not as important as whether or not the 49er fans and faithful will return back to Earth, or accept that just by the week one results alone, this season has been a lot more fun than last year ever was. Afterall, the best part of Christmas is getting there.

Pre-Season Recap

by Vini Chopra, aka The Vin

2005 Pre-Season Recap: We laughed, we cried, we got Alex Smith's autograph....

The leaves are starting to turn brown, the calendar has turned to September, and with that the NFL football season is finally here. For the 49ers, who are coming off of a disastrous 2-14 season that lead to a massive restructuring of the organization, a new season could not have come soon enough. But all football fans know that the season does not truly begin without the hard work and preparation that begins, for most teams, at the start of free agency in March. For the 49ers, the road to escaping the dreary shadows of 2004 began in January of 2005, with the selection of Mike Nolan as the new head coach to succeed Dennis Erickson, and what has resulted is a mixed bag of good and bad over the course of the pre-season. Here's a few notable observances and remembrances from the 2005 pre-season.

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Training Camp Galore:

Opening their facilities to the public for the first time in nearly a decade, the 49ers allowed fans to attend 15 training camps. And what a time this was. I was fortunate to attend each camp, from day 1 to the final days, and watched a young team start to grow and work into what you could call football shape. The first practice, as I remember watching on that Saturday July 30th was sluggish, slow paced, but filled with excitement as a large mob assimilated and greeted new QB Alex Smith. Of course, things improved over the course of the next 15 or so days and by the end of camp I could see standouts like Fred Amey emerging. Training camp is an instrumental component to building a successful season. While the 49ers certainly displayed the aura of a young, transitioning team they also displayed enthusiasm and attentiveness to detail, which will translate to the field in the regular season. And of course, no training camp remembrance would be complete without a shout out to the oh I don't know, thousands of fans who mobbed around Alex Smith, gave me permanent back pain for months, and got themselves an Alex Smith autograph to boot. Real men of genius.


The #1 Pick:

Probably the most feudal and enraged debate between 49er fans and even coaches in the organization was the quarterback situation. When the 49ers drafted Alex Smith, they made an investment to the future of the franchise. Pouring 54 million dollars into Smith may have benefits down the line, but clearly Smith did not play like he was ready to assume the mantle of the future and Tim Rattay proved that he is still the bridge between the future and now. Regardless, the Smith and Rattay debates were fun to participate in and discuss over the course of the past two months. And the battle for the #1 QB position, all throughout training camp, was one of the best aspects of being there. Smith has shown flashes and has steadily (if not slowly) improved over the course of the pre-season. During camp he came off as a shy but capable performer, and there is hope that he will one day be worthy of that #1 pick.

Tragedy Strikes:

The death of Thomas Herrion came suddenly and abrupt. The 49ers had just come off of a hard fought and eye opening loss to the Broncos. Herrion's death put things into perspective for many players and fans alike. The fact that Herrion fought through and died trying to play the game he loves and earn a spot on this roster illustrates the level of commitment and fortune that these young men have in pursuing this game. Throughout the season, the #72 decals on the 49ers helmets will not just serve to remember a fallen comrade, but those decals will also exemplify the heart and dedication every player must play with to truly be considered an NFL player.

The Sac State Surprise:

Honestly when I first saw Fred Amey during the first few days of practice I did not think too much of him. He wasn't overly tall, he didn't look blazingly fast, and he certainly did not send shockwaves of excitement when someone asked "who's that #18 guy?" But then something happened. It was probably the middle of the first week or maybe the second week of camp and this guy really caught on. PJ Fleck was the guy who, during the camps, seemed to hold the title of Mr. Effort. But Amey pushed him in that regard. Whether it was catching passes, running routes, or returning kicks, Fred Amey just looked polished and strong out there. He showed that in the pre-season and has since looked like a legitimate #4 WR. I'm looking forward to seeing his development this season.

Ken Dorsey's Regression, Cody Pickett's Rise:

When Ken Dorsey first entered the league I jumped for joy as I heard the 49ers call his name with the 241st pick in the 7th round. I mean, why not? He was a successful QB in college and arm strength is never a problem in the WCO right? Heck, even his first few games in his first pre-season went surprisingly well. But ever since then, Dorsey has been on a decline. This pre-season and training camp I was surprised to see him lethargically mope around and put less effort. Fortunately, Cody Pickett, another solid college QB, has risen his stakes while maybe not even playing QB. Pickett shows athleticism, arm strength, and versatility (yes, that's a QB running down kicks on special teams). Whereas Dorsey offers little in terms of physical intangibles, Pickett has plenty. And with the right development, he could push for that #3 role.

To o-line or not to o-line:

To say that the 49ers offensive line in 2004 was bad is an understatement. A real understatement. So what did they do? Move Kwame Harris, who looked lost at LT, over to his more natural RT position and sign Jonas Jennings, a solid LT from the Buffalo Bills. When Newberry was in the lineup during the Chargers game on Thursday this offensive line started to look mean, reactive, and actually gave Tim Rattay time. But there are so many questions that loom for this unit. For starters, will Newberry's knee, that holds no cartilage, hold up during the course of a 16 game season? Was the signing of Jonas Jennings enough? Can Justin Smiley, a 2nd year man, come out and play? The o-line has burning questions, but their solidification is the key to our offense.

The 3-4 Experiment:

Yes, I said the 3-4 experiment. While it's true that Nolan came right off the bat and deemed that the 49ers would run the 3-4 D this year, I'm still not certain that the scheme will work. For starters, while the scheme favors the 49ers more depthful LB unit, it remains to be seen if guys like Jeff Ulbrich and Derek Smith can emulate the success of 3-4 master defenses like the Ravens and Steelers. Then, you have to entertain the possibility that neither Anthony Adams (undersized) or Issac Sopoaga (raw) can hold the NT anchor on the line. None the less, the 49ers have shown commitment to the unit and Bryant Young and Marques Douglas off the edge has started to look tighter the past few weeks. Regardless, the 49ers D must improve quickly and not allow the 452 points (a league high) that they allowed in the previous season. But those long runs that the D has been giving up all pre-season are not comforting.

So in the end, there have been surprises and expectations throughout this 2005 season. As a team, the 49ers are now entering uncharted territory. The team can bounce back and return to its glory days, but to do so the team must show patience in developing the young guys. There are players like Alex Smith and Fred Amey, who could pay huge dividends in a year or two, but this will be a season where the 49ers try to settle themselves and establish some kind of identity. That's something they did not do all of last year. None the less, it should be an exciting season for the 49ers in terms of player evaluation. But whether that turns into wins (I honestly see the 49ers winning no more than 3-4 games myself), something that the fans measure success by, remains to be seen.