Bleacher Report - Articles by Andre Urtula Tameta

San Francisco 49ers 2009 Quarter-Season Report

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:55:12 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers have turned some heads with their 3-1 start to the 2009 regular season, but it's no surprise to me.

I predicted a 3-1 start early in the summer and I've been dead right so far. Given the play of Mike Singletary's football team, they might be better than the 9-7 football team I predicted for them during the dog days of summer. They could very well be a 10-win football team, and it's quite possible they could sweep the NFC West, which I also predicted.

I can't take back the 9-7 prediction, but I won't mind being wrong if San Francisco finishes with at least 10 wins and a playoff berth.

Week One, Sunday, Sep. 13, at Arizona Cardinals

2008 Record: 9-7 (NFC Champions)

What the Offense Needed to Do to Win: This unit needed to take a look at Super Bowl XLIII.

The Pittsburgh Steelers marched 78 yards and scored on Santonio Holmes' six-yard game-winning touchdown catch with 35 seconds left to win it all.

The Cardinals' defense was good enough to bend, but not break completely (except for the Super Bowl's final scoring drive), so it was imperative the 49ers complete long drives to keep the explosive Arizona offense off the field.

What the Defense Needed to Do to Win: The overall team speed on this unit matched up well with the talented Arizona offense.

The Cardinals' receivers could not be allowed to separate or it would be a long day in the Arizona desert for the 49ers.

Key Player Matchup(s): Nate Clements & Dre Bly vs. Larry Fitzgerald & Anquan Boldin & Kurt Warner

Prediction: W (1-0)

Result: W (20-16)

What Went Right: Vernon Davis and Shaun Hill made big plays throughout the game. The defense swarmed the defending NFC Championship offense, rendering Kurt Warner ineffective for most of the game. Penalties also crippled the Cardinals.

What Went Wrong: Frank Gore only had 30 yards on 22 carries. The offensive line did not play well and the 49ers won despite the unit's poor play.

Week Two, Sunday, Sep. 20, vs. Seattle Seahawks

2008 Record: 4-12

What the Offense Needed to Do to Win: The Seahawks' defense lost Julian Peterson, decreasing the overall talent in Seattle.

With Peterson out, Vernon Davis needed to step up and use his explosive talents against Peterson's slower-footed replacements, who would be covering the speedy tight end.

What the Defense Needed to Do to Win: Nate Clements needed to shut down T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson needed to get to Matt Hasselbeck, because he was capable of picking apart defenses with ease.

Key Player Matchup(s): Frank Gore vs. Lofa Tatupu , Nate Clements vs. T.J. Houshmandzadeh & Matt Hasselbeck

Prediction: W (2-0)

Result: W (23-10)

What Went Right: With Hasselbeck knocked out of the game by Patrick Willis, Seneca Wallace tried to mount an offense against the fast 49er defense, and ultimately failed, but this game will be remembered for Frank Gore's two long runs over 75 yards, making him, along with the great Barry Sanders, as only the second running back to accomplish the feat.

What Went Wrong: Nothing notable.

Week Three, Sunday, Sep. 27, at Minnesota Vikings

2008 Record: 10-6 (NFC North Champions)

What the Offense Needed to Do to Win: Viking defensive end Jared Allen racked up 14.5 sacks last season. RT Joe Staley needed to contain Allen or the 49ers' quarterback would be battered and bruised all day.

What the Defense Needed to Do to Win: It was imperative for the 49er defense not to allow Adrian Peterson to run loose. Peterson is one of those backs that can win any game almost on his own. He's just that good.

Minnesota's passing game was not one of their strengths, so it wasn't expected that the 49ers' secondary would have problems covering the Viking receivers.

Key Player Matchup(s): Joe Staley vs. Jared Allen, Patrick Willis vs. Adrian Peterson

Prediction: L (2-1)

Result: L (24-27)

What Went Right: The 49ers played their hearts out and should have pulled out a victory. Although San Francisco lost, the game served as a wake-up call to the 49ers.

What Went Wrong: Brett Favre. The 49er Killer struck again when he threw the 32-yard game winning touchdown pass with :02 left in the game. The 49er defense just couldn't make the big play to end the Minnesota threat.

Week Four, Sunday, Oct. 4, vs. St. Louis Rams

2008 Record: 2-14

What the Offense Needed to Do to Win: Give the Rams a heavy dose of Frank Gore. In the 49ers' 35-16 victory over the Rams last season, Gore ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on the porous St. Louis run defense.

When the Rams tried to take Gore away, the 49ers' receivers were then capable of burning the St. Louis defensive backs, as evidenced by Shaun Hill's game winning 48-yard touchdown pass to Josh Morgan to beat St. Louis at home in their second meeting of the season.

What the Defense Needed to Do to Win: With the Rams letting Torry Holt go to Jacksonville, one of the final links to their prolific passing offenses from earlier this decade was gone.

Marc Bulger was still a good NFL quarterback, but without any reliable options at wide receiver, stacking eight men in the box to stop the Rams' only real offensive weapon—running back Steven Jackson—should have exposed St. Louis as a one-dimensional offense.

Key Player Matchup(s): Patrick Willis vs. Steven Jackson

Prediction: W (3-1)

Result: W (35-0)

What Went Right: Execution on offense, defense and special teams was exemplary. This was a statement game and the 49ers just declared themselves a force to be reckoned with. This team's identity is starting to become synonymous with head coach Mike Singletary's personality and vision. Be forewarned NFL; "Samurai" Mike is here to dominate.

What Went Wrong: The 49er offense was slow to start but Vernon Davis's touchdown catch after the second half started kick started Shaun Hill to another touchdown pass to Josh Morgan.

Now, onto the games that haven't been played yet.

Week Five, Sunday, Oct. 11, vs. Atlanta Falcons

2008 Record: 11-5 (NFC Wild Card)

What the Offense Must Do to Win: Containing sackmaster John Abraham is a must or it will lead to a loss against the Falcons. Abraham had 16.5 sacks last season.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Atlanta has three very productive players on offense: quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael "The Burner" Turner and wide receiver Roddy White.

Neutralizing these three talents is essential for the 49ers' defense to be successful.

Key Player Matchup(s): Nate Clements vs. Roddy White and Matt Ryan, Michael Turner vs. Patrick Willis, Joe Staley vs. John Abraham

Prediction: L (3-2)

Week Six, Bye

Week Seven, Sunday, Oct. 25, at Houston Texans

2008 Record: 8-8

What the Offense Must Do to Win: Mario Williams must be stopped at all costs. He can dominate an offensive line.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Nate Clements needs to shut down Pro Bowler Andre Johnson and force Steve Slaton to beat them.

Slaton isn't a slouch either, rushing for 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson should have success against the Texans' offensive line.

Key Player Matchup(s): Joe Staley vs. Mario Williams, Nate Clements vs. Andre Johnson & Matt Schaub

Prediction: W (4-2)

Week Eight, Sunday, Nov. 1, at Indianapolis Colts

2008 Record: 12-4 (AFC Wild Card)

What the Offense Must Do to Win: The tackles need to keep up with the athletic Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

Bob Sanders's position on the field must always be a primary concern because he is one of the best playmaking safeties in the NFL today.

The run-blocking must be dominant up front against the lighter Indianapolis defensive line, opening up running lanes for Frank Gore against the speedy Colts' defense.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Don't let Peyton Manning take the game over.

Without Marvin Harrison, Manning doesn't have the same weapons he used to have but he is still the best quarterback in the NFL, alongside New England Patriot and former Serra High graduate Tom Brady.

Key Player Matchup(s): Nate Clements vs. Anthony Gonzalez & Peyton Manning, Patrick Willis vs. Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeney & Robert Mathis vs. Joe Staley & Marvel Smith

Prediction: L (4-3)

Week Nine, Sunday, Nov. 8, vs. Tennessee Titans

2008 Record: 13-3 (AFC South Champions)

What the Offense Must Do to Win: Free safety Michael Griffin has become one of the better players in the league. It would be wise to throw away from his side of the field.

Losing dominant defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to Washington hurts the defense, but this unit is still highly talented and has the ability to shut down a feature back like Frank Gore.

The 49ers' offensive line must beat back the Titans and Frank Gore must make the most out of every opportunity to gain yardage.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: The 49ers' defense must stop the combination of Chris Johnson and LenDale White, the Titans' version of "Thunder and Lightning," or the Titans will dominate the time of possession battle.

Kerry Collins is a good experienced quarterback that can be surgical against opposing secondaries.

Key Player Matchup(s): Marvel Smith vs. Jevon Kearse, Patrick Wilis vs. Chris Johnson

Prediction: L (4-4)

Week Ten, Thursday, Nov. 12, vs. Chicago Bears

2008 Record: 9-7

What the Offense Must Do to Win: Block Tommie Harris and keep him away from the line of scrimmage.

The Chicago defense isn't as good as it was when they went to the Super Bowl a few years ago, so the 49ers must out-hit the Bears' defense and dominate them physically if San Francisco's offense is to have any success.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Take away running back Matt Forte, the Chicago Bears' best offense weapon.

Devin Hester must be tackled immediately whether he is a receiver or a kick returner.

Key Player Matchup(s): Frank Gore vs. Brian Urlacher, Nate Clements vs. Devin Hester & Jay Cutler

Prediction: L (4-5)

Week 11, Sunday, Nov. 22 at Green Bay Packers

2008 Record: 6-10

What the Offense Must Do to Win: Take A.J. Hawk out of the game. The Green Bay secondary has a knack of picking the ball off, so the ground game needs to dominate for the 49ers to beat the Packers in Green Bay.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Aaron Rodgers has an arm and some excellent weapons, no denying that, so tight coverage and a consistent pass rush is a necessity. Ryan Grant is a power runner and doesn't have much speed to go off-tackle. The 49er defense matches up well against the Green Bay running game.

Key Player Matchup(s): Frank Gore vs. A.J. Hawk, Nate Clements & Dre Bly vs. Donald Driver & Greg Jennings & Aaron Rodgers

Prediction: L (4-6)

Week 12, Sunday, Nov. 29, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

2008 Record: 5-11

What the Offense Must Do to Win: Jaguars' defensive tackle John Henderson is a mammoth of a man that can toss aside opposing offensive linemen at will.

The 49ers' offensive line must keep him away from the play.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: The 2008 Jasksonville Jaguars were exposed as a one dimensional running team with an inconsistent pass offense.

The 49ers' secondary shouldn't have a problem against the Jaguars' receivers, but at the same time, Maurice Jones-Drew must be stopped at the point of attack consistently.

Key Player Matchup(s): Patrick Willis vs. Maurice Jones-Drew, Eric Heitmann vs. John Henderson, Frank Gore vs. Mike Peterson

Prediction: W (5-6)

Week 13, Sunday, Dec. 6, at Seattle Seahawks

2008 Record: 4-12

What the Offense Must Do to Win: The Seahawks' defense lost Julian Peterson, decreasing the overall talent in Seattle.

With Peterson out, Vernon Davis needs step up and use his explosive talents against Peterson's slower footed replacements who will be covering the speedy tight end.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Nate Clements must shut down T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson need to get to Matt Hasselbeck because he is capable of picking apart defenses with ease.

Key Player Matchup(s): Frank Gore vs. Lofa Tatupu , Nate Clements vs. T.J. Houshmandzadeh & Matt Hasselbeck

Prediction: W (6-6)

Week 14, Monday, Dec. 14, vs. Arizona Cardinals

2008 Record: 9-7 (NFC Champions)

What the Offense Must Do to Win: San Francisco seeks redemption from last year's Monday Night Football game against the Cardinals where they failed to score at the one-yard line as time expired.

The offense needs to play with a chip on its shoulder and jump on the Cardinals' defense early.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: The overall team speed on this unit matches up well with the talented Arizona offense.

The Cardinals' receivers must not be allowed to separate or it will be a long day in the Arizona desert for the 49ers.

Key Player Matchup(s): Nate Clements & Dre Bly vs. Larry Fitzgerald & Anquan Boldin & Kurt Warner

Prediction: W (7-6)

Week 15, Sunday, Dec. 20, at Philadelphia Eagles

2008 Record: 9-6-1 (NFC Runner Up)

What the Offense Must Do to Win: The Eagles' defense has been solid for years, but losing Brian Dawkins makes Philadelphia's secondary vulnerable at the safety position.

Time of possession and offensive balance is the key to beating the Philadelphia defense.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Donovan McNabb can still beat you with his legs, so keeping an eye on him will be necessary for the 49ers to win this game.

The Philadelphia offense has plenty of talent to go around and Brian Westbrook can take over a game.

Key Player Matchup(s): Nate Clements vs. DeSean Jackson & Donovan McNabb, Patrick Willis vs. Brian Westbrook, Michael Crabtree vs. Asante Samuel

Prediction: L (7-7)

Week 16, Sunday, Dec. 27, vs. Detroit Lions

2008 Record: 0-16

What the Offense Must Do to Win: The San Francisco offense had no problem moving up and down the field on Detroit last season when the 49ers beat the Lions 31-13.

They will probably do so again this season when the teams face off.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: Kevin Smith is a serviceable running back, but is by no means an elite back. The 49ers defense shouldn't have a problem keying in on him.

Calvin Johnson on the other hand is a scary football player. If Nate Clements shuts out Johnson, the Lions will be exposed as another one dimensional football team that can't make the playoffs.

Key Player Matchup(s): Nate Clements vs. Calvin Johnson, Frank Gore vs. Julian Peterson

Prediction: W (8-7)

Week 17, Sunday, Jan. 3, at St. Louis Rams

2008 Record: 2-14

What the Offense Must Do to Win: Give the Rams a heavy dose of Frank Gore.

In the 49ers' 35-16 victory over the Rams last season, Gore ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on the porous St. Louis run defense.

When the Rams try to take Gore away, the 49ers' receivers are capable of burning the St. Louis defensive backs, as evidenced by Shaun Hill's game winning 48-yard touchdown pass to Josh Morgan to beat St. Louis at home in their second meeting of the season.

What the Defense Must Do to Win: With the Rams letting Torry Holt go to Jacksonville, one of the final links to their prolific passing offenses from earlier this decade is gone.

Marc Bulger is still a good NFL quarterback, but without any reliable options at wide receiver, stacking eight men in the box to stop the Rams' only real offensive weapon—running back Steven Jackson—should expose St. Louis as a one-dimensional offense.

Key Player Matchup(s): Patrick Willis vs. Steven Jackson

Prediction: W (9-7)

If the 49er Offense Works, Expect a Decent Season in San Francisco

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:39:56 -0400

If Jimmy Raye's offense executes, the 49ers will have a decent year and may exceed expectations. The 49er defense is sturdy enough to keep the team in games and if the offense is an upgrade over incumbent Mike Martz's leadership, the 49ers could surprise in the NFC. The 49er offense is now predicated upon another Coryell system that Raye has mastered throughout the years from Norv Turner, culminating with the coaching veteran being Turner's offensive coordinator as a member of the Oakland Raiders. Question marks at quarterback still plague the team, but Raye's direction may do the trick for Alex Smith, who is already familiar with Turner's version of the "Air Coryell." If Smith grasps the offense as he did when Turner was in San Francisco, expect Smith to give incumbent Shaun Hill a run for his money as the starting quarterback during training camp. Smith has now learned the West Coast Offense, the Norv Turner version of the Coryell offense, the confused "I'm lost" Jim Hostler offense, the Mike Martz variation of the Coryell offense and now Raye's digital version of "Air Coryell.". While we're at it, Smith should go ahead and learn the Run and Shoot and Triple Option just for fun. The revolving door at offensive coordinator is not exactly a recipe for offensive success, but there is already talk about Smith playing extremely well in recent practices and if the quarterback position is this season, the running game will flourish. Running back Frank Gore's brash prediction for a 2,000 yard season a few years ago did not come into fruition, but he could get close to that number if San Francisco utilizes the power run this season. Rookie Glen Coffee's production and ability to complement Gore will be the deciding factor if there are viable options in the passing game. Once a liability, the wide receiver corps is now a crowded bunch. Isaac Bruce's vast knowledge and veteran presence should complement former Texas Tech star Michael Crabtree, the steal of the 2009 draft. Look for Crabtree to potentially make an immediate impact at wide receiver as a rookie, a rarity in the NFL. Josh Morgan and Jason Hill are also rapidly improving as receivers. Raye has not had a talent at tight end like he has in Vernon Davis. If Davis performs and draws double coverage, Bruce and Crabtree will thrive. However, Davis is still an underachiever that has not lived up to his draft hype but hopefully Raye will find ways to get him the ball and utilize his immense natural talent. Chilo Rachal at No. 39 in last year's draft could also be a potential steal as he was touted to be a 1st round talent and played very well when he saw action in 2008. Standout offensive tackle Joe Staley, bruiser David Baas, and the speedy Rachal could anchor the offensive line for years to come. Veterans Eric Heitmann and newcomer Marvel Smith round out the rest of the offensive line that made a lot of progress as a unit last year. Previously, Larry Allen's retirement and Jonas Jennings' constant trips to the injury list adversely affected the offensive line. Only time will tell, but if the offense clicks, expect nine to ten wins. Although that prediction may be optimistic, the 49ers will be a tough team to beat this year if the offense can complement their speedy and aggressive defensive unit.

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What If Garrison Hearst Didn't Break His Ankle Against Atlanta in 1999?

Andre Urtula Tameta — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:41:35 -0400

The 1998 season and subsequent playoffs in January 1999 were a tumultuous time for Garrison Hearst and the San Francisco 49ers. Owner Eddie DeBartolo was being investigated in a gambling scandal and many experts felt the 49ers were an aging team on its last leg.

But the 1998 San Francisco 49ers would not be denied and compiled a 12-4 record, good enough for 2nd place in the NFC West and a Wildcard Playoff berth.

Following a career year by running back Garrison Hearst where he rushed for a then team record 1,570 yards averaging 5.1 yards per carry and a memorable 96-yard overtime touchdown run against the New York Jets on opening day, the 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers 30-27 in the 1999 Wildcard Playoffs on a last minute touchdown pass to Terrell Owens.

Hearst's numerous clutch runs gave San Francisco the field position necessary to win the game.

A week later on Jan. 9, 1999, the 49ers faced the NFC West champions—the surprising 14-2 Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

On the first play from scrimmage, Hearst suffered a gruesome ankle break when his foot got caught in turf and was twisted extensively as he tried to spin away from defensive end Chuck Smith. Many attribute this play as the end of the old San Francisco dynasty because of the change in ownership and lack of youth on the roster.

The San Francisco 49ers fell 20-18 to the Atlanta Falcons and doctors said Hearst might not ever play again. They were obviously wrong when Garrison Hearst was awarded with the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2001 but one can only ask what could have happened if Hearst didn't break his ankle that fateful day in Atlanta?

Some say the 49ers would have beaten the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings but eventually fall to John Elway and the Denver Broncos, the same team that beat the Packers in the previous year's Super Bowl.

This is due to San Francisco's 13th ranked defense and the 3,733 yards given up through the air that year and the fact that Bronco running back Terrell Davis was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player as he rushed for 2,008 yards as San Francisco gave up 4.1 yards a run, not a very impressive statistic.

However, the 49er offense was still as explosive as ever, ranking 3rd overall (Denver was 2nd) and 1st in rushing yards while the Broncos' defense took 9th overall. If the 49ers and Broncos played at Super Bowl XXXIII, it probably would have been an offensive shootout but declaring the Broncos as winner of this fantasy match up is up for debate.

Denver's pass defense gave up 3,648 yards in 1998 but their run defense was stout, allowing 1,287 on 3.6 yards a carry.

There is the possibility that a healthy Hearst may have not played a factor against such a strong run defense, but the 49er passing attack was established with veterans Steve Young, Terrell Owens, J.J. Stokes, Jerry Rice, and Hearst as a good receiver out of the backfield in Steve Mariucci's West Coast Offense when they scored 479 points, good for third in the NFL behind the second place Broncos and the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings.

On the defensive side of the ball, veterans Roy Barker, Bryant Young and Chris Doleman averaged 12 sacks a piece while Zack Bronson, Tim McDonald, Darnell Walker, and Merton Hanks each had four interceptions.

The defense may have not ranked well at season's end, but they made key plays throughout the season that complemented the high octane 49er offense.

If the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos faced off in Super Bowl XXXIII, I believe Denver would have scored 34 points against the San Francisco defense, the same number of points they scored on the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta's Jamal Anderson did not play a factor in the game which leads me to believe that Garrison Hearst would have suffered a similar fate if he didn't break his ankle and if the 49ers punched a ticket to Miami that year.

But the 49er passing attack during that season had the ability to score points in bunches leading some to believe San Francisco may have been able to score more than 34 points.

As for a final score and winner of the game, I'll leave that up to you.

10 Questions for San Francisco 49ers' Quarterback Alex Smith

Andre Urtula Tameta — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:13:01 -0400

After a well deserved vacation, I am back with some potential great news. As of a few days ago, I am in contact with Alex Smith's wife—Elizabeth Smith—to negotiate an actual interview day with him. A good friend of mine from my university—Jennifer Nguyen—happens to be Elizabeth Smith's former Raiderette teammate. I owe the Oakland Raiders big time for this one! Anyways, the following slides are the questions I have ready to ask the former 2005 No. 1 overall pick.

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Is Newest San Francisco 49er Dré Bly The Next Antonio Langham?

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:38:17 -0400

The newest San Francisco 49er—cornerback Dré Bly—has played for a Super Bowl-winning St. Louis Rams team as a rookie in 1999, has been a two-time Pro Bowl selection for the Detroit Lions in 2003 and 2004, and has also led the Denver Broncos with five interceptions in 2007. The 49er Faithful are buzzing with excitement about San Francisco's May 21, 2009 signing of Bly as a suitable replacement for the injured Walt Harris and there is a chance the 32-year old free agent could be a mainstay like the veteran Harris, shutdown corner Nate Clements who was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills, former New Orleans Saint Toi Cook or even solid cornerback/safety Marquez Pope who signed with the 49ers after playing with the Los Angeles Rams. There may be a possibility Bly may be a one hit wonder like Deion Sanders and Rod Woodson when they came by in 1994 and 1997 respectively during their impressive careers. But he also could be a one strike and your out free agent bust like Antonio Langham when the 49ers signed him away from the Baltimore Ravens in 1998. Langham was a highly touted but controversial cornerback from the University of Alabama and was selected by the original Cleveland Browns with the 9th overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. He was the reason Alabama hadto forfeit most of the 1993 season because he secretly signed with an agent during the previous off-season, a major violation of NCAA regulations. Langham also signed and submitted an application to enter the 1993 NFL Draft making him ineligible to play under NCAA rules, regardless of whether or not he signed with an agent. Additionally, head coach Gene Stallings failed to inform both the SEC and the NCAA of his draft application leading to the Crimson Tide having to forfeit a total of eight wins and a tie from the 1993 football season. As a talented cornerback with a 6'0" 187 lb frame, Langham was physically gifted and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team honors with the Browns in 1994 and had his best year as a pro during the 1996 season when he intercepted five passes for 59 yards for the former Browns' who were now in Baltimore. Langham is also the only player to have played for Cleveland before they became the Baltimore Ravens and returned to play for the expansion Browns franchise in 1999. Some 49er fans remember Langham for starting six games, missing four weeks due to a left knee injury and recovering just in time to briefly appear in playoff games against the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. However, many remember the talented cornerback getting constantly burned for touchdowns by opposing quarterbacks because of the knee injury that eventually forced him out of action. He would play in a total of 11 games during the 1998 season with only one interception. Versatile Darnell Walker who played both right and left cornerback would start all 16 regular season games and tied for the team lead with four interceptions. Walker officially supplanted the former 1st round pick when Langham was not invited back to San Francisco for the 1999 season. That ended his unspectacular one year 49er career. So before everybody thinks Dré Bly is the second coming, he could also be the next Antonio Langham. The following slides are some of the successful veteran free agent cornerbacks the San Francisco 49ers have signed over the last 15 years.

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What If John Brodie and the 49ers Beat the Cowboys in the Early 1970s?

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:07:09 -0400

In 1970, quarterback John Brodie was the NFL's Most Valuable Player and led a highly potent San Francisco 49ers' offense that featured explosive wide receiver Gene Washington who piled up 1,100 yards on 53 receptions. Head coach Dick Nolan guided San Francisco to a 10-3-1 regular season record and the NFC West crown in 1970. The 49ers got by the Minnesota Vikings 17-10 in the divisional round to win the franchise's first playoff game and advanced to face the 10-4 Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship on January 3, 1971 at Kezar Stadium. "John Brodie was a great quarterback at Stanford, he was the man with the golden arm," Dave Newhouse of The Oakland Tribune said in Pure Gold: The Complete History of the San Francisco 49ers. "He just didn't have what Joe Montana had and what Steve Young had, a defense." Even though Cowboy quarterback Craig Morton completed 7 out of 22 passes for 101 yards, running back Duane Thomas rushed for 143 yards and Dallas converted two third quarter interceptions into 14 points. After a 3-3 tie at the half, linebacker Lee Roy Jordan's interception led to a 13-yard touchdown run by Thomas. Dallas would capitalize again when a Mel Renfro interception translated into a Walt Garrison 5-yard touchdown reception. The 49ers would cut the lead to 7 points with a 26-yard touchdown from Brodie to Dick Witcher, but they were shut out the rest of the game. In their 11th year of existence, the Dallas Cowboys would win their first NFC Championship with a 17-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. It was also the last 49er home game at Kezar Stadium. Following a 9-5 regular season in 1971, San Francisco would claim the NFC West title again. After dispatching the Washington Redskins 24-20 in the divisional playoffs, the 49ers would face the Cowboys again in the NFC Championship, this time in Dallas. But San Francisco's high octane offense would run out of steam on the worst possible day. But once again, Roger Staubach and the Dallas Cowboys would come away victorious with a 14-3 victory over the 49ers, winning their second consecutive NFC Championship and on to their first Super Bowl victory. After another NFC West title in 1972, the San Francisco 49ers would fall again to the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs with a 30-28 loss in the divisional playoffs. Brodie would retire a year later in 1973 after a love-hate relationship with the San Francisco fans. "People loved him, loved him," Bill Walsh said on Pure Gold. "And hated him because whenever the team would do poorly, it would be John to catch hell from the fans." "While Brodie was doing very well," Glenn Dickey of the San Francisco Chronicle added on Pure Gold. "But when the offense has to score so much it puts so much pressure on the quarterback as every interception, every missed play is magnified." The rest of the 1970s would not be kind for the City by the Bay. Over the next five years, the 49ers would go through five head coaches, nine quarterbacks, and one winning record. Brodie's offenses were capable of scoring from anywhere on the field and won many shootouts against the rest of the NFL but if they had more talent on the defensive side of the ball, this team could have won their first Super Bowl in the early 1970s before Brodie retired. Now the question is, what if the San Francisco 49ers had players to complement future Hall of Famers defenders in linebacker Dave Wilcox and cornerback Jimmy Johnson? If the 1970 San Francisco 49ers could borrow players from the franchise's All-Time team to win their first Super Bowl championship, who would be sent in this hypothetical time machine? The following slides are a compilation of defensive playmekers that would have gotten the early 1970s era San Fransico 49ers over the hump as a championship team. 1970 San Francisco 49ers Offensive Starters QB - John Brodie (NFL MVP) RB - Doug Cunningham FB - Ken Willard WR - Gene A. Washington (Pro Bowl) WR - Dick Witcher TE - Bob Windsor LT - Len Rohde (Pro Bowl) LG - Randy Beisler C - Forrest Blue RG -Woody Peoples RT - Cas Banaszek Defensive Starters LDE - Tommy Hart LDT - Charlie Krueger RDT - Roland Lakes RDE - Bill Belk LLB - Dave Wilcox (Pro Bowl) MLB - Frank Nunley RLB - Skip Vanderbundt CB - Jimmy Johnson CB - Bruce Taylor SS - Mel Phillips FS - Rosey Taylor Special Teams Starters K - Bruce Gossett P - Steve Spurrier PR - Bruce Taylor KR - Bill Tucker

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San Francisco's Million Dollar Backfield: The 49ers' Fabulous Foursome

Andre Urtula Tameta — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:28:07 -0400

In the 1954 season, the San Francisco 49ers fielded the finest backfield in NFL history with four future Hall of Famers playing for the offense. "There was no greater running backs than Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson and Joe Perry in the same backfield," Hall of Fame Y.A. Tittle declared on San Francisco 49ers: The Complete History. "It made quarterbacking so easy because I just get in the huddle and call anything and you have three Hall of Fame running backs ready to carry the ball." First came fullback Joe "The Jet" Perry who became the first running back in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards two straight seasons and by 1956 he became the NFL's all-time leading rusher. In 1952, halfback "The King" Hugh McElhenny joined "The Jet" and Tittle. "He had a style to me that was flowing like a willow in the wisp," Perry said about McElhenny on San Francisco 49ers: The Complete History. "And seemed like at times he had eyes in the back of his head." "I think I ran more with fear than I did of confidence of running," McElhenny responded on San Francisco 49ers: The Complete History. "Fear of being embarrassed, fear of getting caught from behind, fear of making a fool of yourself, you just want to do well." John Henry Johnson became the final addition to "The Million Dollar Backfield" in 1954 where his physical approach to the game became a perfect complement to Perry and McElhenny's running styles. This gave the San Francisco 49ers their third breakaway threat. "I'm convinced if John Henry Johnson had been a prize fighter he would be heavyweight champion of the world," Tittle stated on San Francisco 49ers: The Complete History. "Because he did dish out punishment." During their first year together, the "Fabulous Foursome" shattered the 49er team record for rushing yards in a season. With the extremely potent offense, many thought San Francisco was due to win a NFL Championship but problems on the defensive side of the ball landed the 49ers in third place behind the first place Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in 1954. "The Million Dollar Backfield" was disbanded before winning a championship in 1957 when John Henry Johnson was traded to the Detroit Lions.

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Trials and Tribulations: Frank Gore's Journey To The San Francisco 49ers

Andre Urtula Tameta — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:28:09 -0400

When Frank Gore steps onto the field for his fourth NFL season, he continues a destiny that has been shaped with trials and tribulations since he was young.

As a child, Gore was diagnosed with dyslexia and had trouble comprehending the simplest of tasks. On the football field, the talented running back was able to get away from his academic problems and outrun defenders with ease.

"I had trouble remembering things," Gore said in a Sept. 4, 2007 interview with the New York Daily News. "I'm better learning by somebody showing me something. I got to see and then do it. You can't be scared to ask for help. I overcame it and got better at everything."

Gore's strong will to overcome obstacles came from his tough upbringing in Miami with his mother, Liz Gore, who was seriously ill with a kidney ailment since the 49er running back was in high school. After going on dialysis, Liz Gore began waiting for a kidney transplant.

"She had been on dialysis since I was in the 11th grade and raised three kids as a single woman," Frank said in an interview with 49ers.com.

As a football player for Coral Gables High School around the time his mother was diagnosed, Gore was one of the most heavily recruited running backs in the entire nation.

Gore set a Dade County record in 2000 when he rushed for 2,953 yards and 34 touchdowns during his senior year. He even set a Dade County single game rushing record when he ran for 377 yards and six touchdowns during a 48-0 shutout victory over the South Miami High Cobras.

Gore showed incredible vision and functional strength throughout his high-school career and was the third-rated prospect in Dade County by The Miami Herald. He was listed as the best tailback on The Florida Times Union Super 75 list and earned "Super Prep All-American."

"I can run strong when I have to," Gore said in an interview with Miami-Hurricanes.com. "But I can also be shifty and elusive if I have to."

As a true freshman with the University of Miami Hurricanes in 2001, Gore totaled 575 yards with five touchdowns on 62 carries—an amazing 9.3-yard average—and was named Sporting News Big East Freshman of the Year.

Gore eventually beat out current Baltimore Raven Willis McGahee in the spring of 2002 for the starting job; however, his glimmering NCAA career was sidetracked when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and spent most of the season recovering from surgery.

He returned to practice that October, was a standout on the Hurricanes' scout team at tailback, and was awarded a medical red-shirt by the NCAA.

Upon returning for the 2003 season, Gore ran for 100 yards in each of his first three games before suffering a similar injury, this time to his other knee.

Many thought his playing career was over but Gore fought back through even more rehabilitation.

When Gore entered the fall of 2004 competing for the starting job at tailback, he changed his number from No. 32 to No. 3, won the starting running back position, and ran for 945 yards and eight touchdowns.

"Before the knee injuries I ran a 4.4," Gore said in an interview with Miami-Hurricanes.com on Oct. 8, 2004. "I've got the same game speed as before, but can always improve. I'm not back 100 percent, but I'm real close. I'm just working hard in the weight room and at practice."

Although Gore was still eligible to play another year at Miami, he decided it was time to take care of his ailing mother and earn a living doing what he loved most. In only 28 games with the Miami Hurricanes, Gore racked up 2,500 yards for a 7.2 yard average and 20 touchdowns.

His two major knee injuries in college and a mediocre 4.65 40-yard dash turned the highly talented breakaway threat from a sure fire first-rounder to a potential second-day pick before the 2005 NFL Draft.

Even before being drafted, Gore was already familiar with the eventual team that would draft him.

"My real team who I like is San Francisco," Gore stated on Miami-Hurricanes.com. "They're struggling you know, but they'll be alright."

"They just gotta tighten up. We lost a lot of people, Jeff Garcia and Garrison Hearst. It's tough in the NFL."

Fate has a funny way of unfolding, as Gore would become one of Hearst's successors along with Kevan Barlow in San Francisco.

Frank Gore's resilience and strength that he learned from his mother were finally answered when he became the 65th overall pick in the third round by the very team he followed, the San Francisco 49ers.

As a result of Gore signing his initial contract, Liz Gore was finally able to have surgery and receive a kidney transplant. The procedure took place when her son and the 49ers were in Mexico City playing the Arizona Cardinals.

"It was really tough, that was first time she went into the hospital with me not being around her," Gore said on 49ers.com. "Not knowing if she was all right or not was the hardest part, but I know my mom is a tough woman."

Gore played in 14 games as a rookie and led the team in rushing with 608 yards and three rushing touchdowns. The last time a rookie led the 49ers in rushing was 1990 when Dexter Carter tallied 460 yards.

His 608 yards rushing was the highest rookie total in 49ers' history since Roger Craig had 725 yards in 1983 fresh out of Nebraska. Gore also recorded a career-long 72-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of a game against the Washington Redskins and registered his first 100-yard game with 108 yards against the Houston Texans on the last day of the season.

Gore was elevated to the top of the San Francisco 49ers' depth chart after an August 19, 2006 trade that sent Barlow to the New York Jets for a fourth-round draft pick. It was a decision 49ers' brass would not regret.

Gore became one of the top running backs in the NFL in only his first full season as a starter. Gore set a franchise rushing record with 1,695 yards, eclipsing Garrison Hearst’s record of 1,570 yards set in 1998. He also became the first 49er to lead the NFC in rushing yards and set a franchise record with 2,180 combined yards, breaking Hearst’s previous record of 2,105 total yards also set in 1998.

His nine 100-yard games shattered the San Francisco record for most 100-yard games in a season which was held by Hearst in 1998 and Roger Craig in 1988 (six).

After Gore’s breakout season, he was named the starting running back in the NFC Pro Bowl, his first selection.

After the All-Pro season, Gore signed a contract extension through 2011 estimated to be worth $28 million over four years on March 28, 2007.

But on Sept. 13, 2007, as the season just started, Liz Gore lost her fight with kidney disease and passed away in Miami at the age of 46.

''I think that Frank feels that his mother would want him to do his job,'' then 49ers head coach Mike Nolan said to the San Francisco Chronicle. ''Frank knows that. I think that's where he'll put his attention when it comes to Sunday's game. I'm sure it's hard for him to get focused with what happened.''

"I'm concerned about Frank for Frank, not in reference to the game. It's very sad. We'll keep Frank and his family in our prayers."

He missed a practice but returned to the team almost immediately. And with a heavy heart, Gore scored two touchdowns the following Sunday in a 17-16 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

After a tumultuous 2007 season that saw San Francisco post a dismal 5-11 record with one of the most terrible offenses in NFL history, the end of the 2008 season saw Gore become the first running back in San Francisco 49ers' history to rush for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.

Frank Gore's journey to the NFL has been rough, but he always maintains a positive vibe and uses his extreme passion for the game to succeed despite the many trials and tribulations he had to overcome.

When asked what advice he has for anyone wanting to go for their dreams, Gore said on Miami-Hurricanes.com: "I’d tell them, man just keep working hard and don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it.

"Just stay focused and listen to the people who will guide you right. Just listen to them."

Strong words from an even stronger man.

Joe Montana: The San Francisco 49ers' Legendary Prankster

Andre Urtula Tameta — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:36:19 -0400

San Francisco 49ers' legend Joe Montana not only picked apart opposing defenses, he also victimized his own teammates.

Back when the 49ers held training camp at Sierra College in Rocklin, the legendary San Francisco quarterback had a thing for playing pranks with his fellow 49ers' property and giving teammates new names.

But he especially loved messing with his teammates' rented mountain bicycles.

During those days, players would stay at dorms on the campus which are about one third of a mile away from the practice field. However, when the days got too hot, players would rent bikes from a local shop to avoid walking in the blistering California heat.

"It's become a tradition with him," former wide receiver Mike Wilson said in The Football Hall of Shame 2. "During the 1989 training camp, Joe let the air out of the tires of everyone's bicycles."

According to Wilson, who joined the 49ers in 1981, Montana hid bikes in trees and on top of campus buildings for years and was a witness to Montana letting the air out of everyone's bikes during training camp in 1989.

The quarterbacks were usually the first players to get out of team meetings, so Montana and his cohorts always had ample time to cause havoc with the bicycles as the rest of the team sat inside with the coaches.

"Every other day, you'd find your bike up in the tree," former linebacker Jim Fahnhorst exclaimed in The Football Hall of Shame 2. "It was so dark when you came out of our evening meetings that it took you 15 to 20 minutes to find a bike and then, when you did find it, you discovered that it wasn't yours!"

The cunning Montana usually waited until the final days of training camp to pull the pranks since this is usually when the team is most fatigued.

"On the last day of training camp (1989), there must have been ten bikes up in the trees," Wilson continued on in The Football Hall of Shame 2. "Joe had some help from Steve Young."

Montana also had a knack for giving his teammates nicknames. The three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player gave Tom Rathman the name "Woody" because he thought the fullback looked like actor Woody Harrelson.

"Joe Montana is a guy that named everybody," Rathman said on the 1989 San Francisco 49ers edition of America's Game. "Joe thought I looked like the character from Cheers, the bartender."

Montana also tried to give star wide receiver Jerry Rice a new nickname to go along with "Flash 80."

"They called him (Rice) Fifi one year," Rathman chuckled further on America's Game. "If you go back to '87, look at his haircut, looks like a poodle!"

"I had this hairstyle that was very unique," Rice responded in America's Game. "And they started calling me Fifi and I was a little pissed off about it at first, but then I was OK, just let these guys have their fun because whenever you get defensive they (Montana and his accomplices) feel like they got you."

However, one nickname still survives for the one and only Montana.

"Birdlegs," Rice laughed in America's Game. "He had no legs, no calves or anything!"

Not even the legendary Joe Montana was immune to his own medicine.

"But I'll tell you what," Rathman stated further on America's Game. "Those 'Birdlegs' got him out of a lot of trouble."

The Stop: The 1981 San Francisco 49ers Iconic Defensive Play

Andre Urtula Tameta — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:02:05 -0400

In Super Bowl XVI on Jan. 24, 1982, San Francisco 49er Dan Bunz made the most famous goal-line tackle in Super Bowl history.

Bunz grew up in Roseville, California and played collegiate ball at Cal State Long Beach before being drafted in the first round by the 49ers in 1978. He also played for the Detroit Lions during an eight year career lasting from 1978 to 1985.

As a linebacker for the 49ers, Dan Bunz was a solid tackler, a smart football player and experienced losing seasons before San Francisco turned it around in 1981 with an NFL-best record of 13-3. The previous year, the upstart 49ers had gone 6-10.

The former 1978 first round pick would made a pivotal tackle at the end of the third quarter in Super Bowl XVI that would come to define his career.

On a critical 3rd-and-goal from the one yard line, quarterback Kenny Anderson threw a swing pass to Charles Alexander in the right flat, but out of nowhere, Bunz came in aggressively, grabbed him around the waist, used his momentum then hurled him backwards before he could break the plane of the goal line.

Fullback Pete Johnson was then stopped on fourth-and goal by the 49ers' stingy defense, preserving their first championship with a 26-21 victory at the Pontiac Silverdome.

It would forever be immortalized as "The Stop."

Although Bunz's tackle was a key moment in the 1981 San Francisco 49ers title run, his contribution to their first Lombardi Trophy was never elevated to exalted status like "The Catch" which happened two weeks earlier in the NFC Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys.

"I really felt good when Steve Sabol sent me a film of that goal-line stand, " Bunz said in a Jan. 26, 2003 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle. "He gave me a lot of credit."

"I enjoyed it. It was a great opportunity to be one of the few guys on the 49ers when they were 2-14 and then when they won."

Dan Bunz and "The Stop" no doubt deserve more credit for the San Francisco 49ers' first Super Bowl championship.

The Easiest Two Points In San Francisco 49ers' History

Andre Urtula Tameta — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:33:38 -0400

It was a very strange day for Minnesota Vikings' defensive end Jim Marshall on Oct. 25, 1964.

At first, one of the mainstays of the Purple People Eaters defense was having a good day as he forced 49er quarterback George Mira to put the ball on the ground in the fourth quarter leading to a Carl Eller fumble recovery for a touchdown, giving the Vikings a 27-17 lead against the San Francisco 49ers at old Kezar Stadium.

With 8:12 left in the game, Mira completed a pass to Billy Kilmer over the middle who fumbled the ball when numerous Viking defenders closed in on his position.

Marshall's eyes widened when he saw the bouncing football and nothing but daylight. He picked the pigskin up and proceeded to run 66 yards as the San Francisco crowd cheered hysterically.

Fran Tarkenton furiously yelled as he ran but when the defensive end finally got to the end zone, the confused Marshall threw the football to his quarterback, thinking he scored a Minnesota touchdown.

"I picked it up and took off running," Marshall recalled in Sports Illustrated. "Everyone was waving and shouting, but I thought they were cheering me on."

San Francisco center Bruce Bosley was the first person to reach Marshall after he scored a two point safety for the 49ers cutting the score to 27-19.

"I told Jim, thanks a lot," Bosley said in The Football Hall of Shame 2. "He just looked at me like I was off my rocker and said, huh?"

"Then he looked up in the stands and then at the sidelines with a strange look in his eye. I don't think it was until he had walked 20 yards that he knew what really happened."

Finally, Tarkenton caught up with the embarrassed Marshall and exclaimed "Jim, you went the wrong way!"

"What alerted me that something was wrong was the noise," Marshall said in Sports Illustrated. "I had never heard a crowd react that way."

Short tempered head coach Norm Van Brocklin chose not to berate Marshall, slapped him on the back side then told his mortified player to "Go back in there and make the fans forget."

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-22 that day but this contest will forever be remembered for Jim Marshall's 66-yard wrong way run.

Portrait of an Icon: Doug Williams, the First Black QB To Win a Super Bowl

Andre Urtula Tameta — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:38:05 -0400

On Jan 31, 1988, Doug Williams led the 11-4 1987 NFC Champion Washington Redskins to a commanding 42-10 victory in Super Bowl XXII over the 10-4-1 AFC Champion Denver Broncos.

Williams signed with the Washington Redskins in 1986 after a tumultuous time as Tampa Bay's starter and a stint with the now defunct USFL's Oklahoma Outlaws.

At the request of his former Buccaneer offensive coordinator Joe Gibbs, the former Grambling State star moved to the nation's capital to become Jay Schroeder's backup.

Williams took over and led the Redskins to an opening-day victory against the Philadelphia Eagles when Schroeder went down with an injury. It wouldn't be the last time.

Williams stepped in for the ailing Schroeder on two more occasions, leading Washington to victories over the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite his success and team-high 94.0 quarterback rating, Williams only started two games, playing against the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams—both losses—when the Washington Redskins had already qualified for the playoffs.

In the 1987 postseason, Williams led the Redskins to a narrow 21-17 victory over the Chicago Bears and a 17-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship.

During Super Bowl media day, an urban legend reports Williams was asked, "How long have you been a black quarterback?" by an interviewing journalist, but the story is inaccurate.

As he faced legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway, Williams took absolute control of the offense, culminating in the Redskins setting an NFL record by scoring five touchdowns in the second quarter.

The Denver Broncos didn't stand a chance, losing their second straight Super Bowl in convincing fashion.

Williams finished his Super Bowl XXII Most Valuable Player performance with 340 yards passing and four touchdown passes.

The 1987 season was undoubtedly the defining period in Williams' NFL career. He suffered from injuries the following season and was eventually beaten out by Mark Rypien, who would lead the Washington Redskins to a 37-24 Super Bowl XXVI victory over the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 26, 1992.

During their competition for the Redskins' starting job, Williams and Rypien supported each other by selling T-shirts with the caption "United We Stand," depicting the two quarterbacks as cartoon images with Williams stating, "I'm for Mark" and Rypien saying, "I'm for Doug."

Williams retired after the 1989 season with an 8-9 record in the playoffs as the Redskins' starter and a 38-42-1 overall record in the regular season as quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins.

His career totals are highlighted by 100 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns in 88 total NFL games.

This story inspires many minorities because the American Dream can happen for anyone, no matter what ethnicity they are. If the individual makes a commitment and exhibits the work ethic necessary to be a champion, they will accomplish their goals.

It's fitting the first Super Bowl-winning African-American quarterback came from Washington, D.C., the same place where President Barack Obama currently resides.

The plight of the African-American quarterback has been well documented recently, especially with the Rush Limbaugh and Donovan McNabb incident a few years ago, but the first African-American signal caller to lead a team to the pinnacle of the mountain needs to be remembered for such a monumental feat.

Before McNabb, David Garrard, Michael Vick, Vince Young, and even before Warren Moon or Randall Cunningham, there was the one and only No. 17 Doug Williams.

Lonesome George: A Look at a San Francisco 49er Head Coach

Andre Urtula Tameta — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:31:16 -0400

In the 1995 Pro Bowl after the San Francisco 49ers became the first team to win five Super Bowls, there was a banner that read "Smile George" from San Francisco fans that made the trip to Hawaii.

It was time for the low key San Francisco native and his 49ers to smile and bask in the glory of winning the World's championship for a second time under his watch.

Former 49ers' head coach George Seifert was Bill Walsh's defensive coordinator for six years and was promoted to the top spot when Walsh retired after San Francisco's 20-16 Super Bowl XXIII victory in 1989, allowing continuing cohesion of an already talented championship team.

The Cornell grad often did not show emotion on the sidelines, but off the field his players thought of their new head coach as kind of quirky because of his strange body language and many superstitions such as wearing "lucky" clothing and always following the same path on to the practice field.

"It was sort of like a little entertainment for us when he was coming out on the field," former wide receiver Jerry Rice chuckled in the 1989 San Francisco 49ers edition of America's Game. "It was hilarious because we would watch him and he would never, never walk on that logo."

"I'd always walk around it because it was a sign of respect," Seifert replied in America's Game. "Like I wouldn't walk on the American flag."

Seifert spent the last 15 years upstairs in the coaches' booth but his players on his 1989 San Francisco 49er squad were already a group of talented veterans that knew how to win when it counted.

Seifert's 49ers would dominate the game of football in the 1989 season running up a 14-2 record as offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren led the offense to a No. 1 ranking, culminating with a Super Bowl XXIV appearance against John Elway and the Denver Broncos at the Louisiana Superdome.

As the 49er player introduction came to a close when fullback Tom Rathman's name was called, the whole team ran on to the field completely forgetting about their coach as he stood with the Denver Broncos who were yet to be introduced.

But things would turn out okay as the San Francisco 49ers scored a record 55 points on the Denver Broncos who squeaked by with a lowly 10 points in the most dominating performance in Super Bowl history.

As the final moments of Super Bowl XXIV came to a close, Seifert would be disappointed again.

"The game is over and now the players pick the coach up to be carried off the field," Seifert continued on in America's Game. "I'm standing there thinking this is my moment of glory through this whole deal, you know, finally after this tough season."

"But everybody just ran off the field!"

On Jan. 29, 1995, George Seifert once again did not get carried off field when the San Francisco 49ers took the San Diego Chargers out in Super Bowl XXIX.

Maybe that's why he wasn't smiling at the Pro Bowl. At least he wasn't coaching the NFC Pro Bowl squad since the Cowboys' Barry Switzer took the honor after losing to Seifert and the 49ers 38-28 in the NFC Championship.

Poor, old lonesome George, but he is no doubt a key figure in San Francisco 49er history with his continuation of the dynasty that Bill Walsh created.

What If the 1984 San Francisco 49ers Went 19-0?

Andre Urtula Tameta — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:14:18 -0400

During the seventh week of the 1984 season Bill Walsh was extremely angry at his team.

Around the week the San Francisco 49ers faced the Pittsburgh Steelers, a group of fourteen 49ers recorded and publicly released a song called "We're the 49ers," which quickly became a theme song for the team.

"Bill was very unhappy with us," former linebacker Keena Turner said on the 1984 San Francisco 49ers edition of America's Game. "That so much focus was on this outside of football."

The 1984 San Francisco 49ers fell 20-17 to Pittsburgh at home, their only loss of the year.

Was it a result of being complacent and not focusing enough on football? Well, we'll never know.

Although the tune is very catchy and quite memorable, I would have rather sacrificed the song and had the 1984 squad immortalized as the first team to go 19-0, a feat the 2007 New England Patriots almost accomplished.

The 1984 San Francisco 49ers annihilated opponents on both sides of the ball, beating teams by an average of almost 23 points a game. This was one of the most balanced teams in NFL history as they ranked first in total offense and team defense in the NFC and were the first team ever to win 15 regular season games in the modern NFL.

"A precision machine," Bill Walsh described his 1984 team on America's Game. "A machine that effectively and precisely destroyed the opponent."

San Francisco steamrolled through the playoffs, destroying the New York Giants 21-10 and the Chicago Bears 23-0 in the process.

But Miami quarterback Dan Marino with his record 48 touchdown passes (since broken by Peyton Manning and Tom Brady) and 5,084 yards, awaited San Francisco in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium. Many in the media declared the younger Marino and the 14-2 Dolphins as the eventual champion of the Super Bowl over the 15-1 49ers.

"I could remember Walsh lying down in the middle of the floor and he just started rumbling on and on," former defensive back Dwight Hicks recalled on America's Game. "Miami, oh, they have such a great offense, oh my god, how are we going to stop them?"

"And geez, their defense and the Killer B's, geez, how are we going to be able to get a first down or even a yard? He just wanted to light that fire before we came out of the locker room. I can remember he turned and he looked at me and just said God, don't you just want to break the wall and go kick their a-- (rear end) right now?"

The Miami Dolphins did hold a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but in the second quarter, Montana led three consecutive scoring drives giving the 49ers a commanding 28-10 lead.

The No. 1 rated 49er defense constantly rushed and beat up the talented Marino all day long, something he didn't face during the season as he was sacked four times and intercepted twice.

"They came to see an offense and the wrong one showed up," center Randy Cross exclaimed as cameras focused in on him during the final moments of the San Francisco 49ers' 38-16 Super Bowl XIX victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Not only did this 18-1 team dominate in the regular season, they dominated in the post season, almost destroying one of the greatest individual seasons a quarterback could ever have in the process.

If the loss didn't happen against the Steelers in week seven, this would have been the first 19-0 team and the undisputed greatest single season team in NFL history.

The Catch: The Beginning of the San Francisco 49ers Dynasty

Andre Urtula Tameta — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:48:12 -0400

On Jan. 10, 1982, the San Francisco 49ers trailed the Dallas Cowboys with 4:54 left in the NFC Championship 27-21 at a raucous Candlestick Park.

"America's Team" felt invincible against the upstart no-name 49ers, already forcing San Francisco to commit six turnovers—they faced a daunting task as they stood at their own 11-yard line.

In an epic chess battle, Bill Walsh's genius faced off against Tom Landry's "Doomsday Defense" to earn the right to play in the Super Bowl XVI.

What would unfold in the final minutes of this memorable game would see the birth of an almost two-decade long dynasty.

Joe Montana calmly walked up behind center and immediately threw an incomplete pass to running back Lenvil Elliott.

2nd and 10.

Landry felt the 49ers were going to use their highly effective short-passing attack but then Walsh decided to play some good old NFC East-style smash mouth power football.

Montana then handed the ball off to Elliott who slashed right through the middle of the Cowboys' defense for a San Francisco first down. It was obvious Dallas wasn't prepared to stop the run with seven defensive backs on the field.

The 49ers tried to go to the air again, but would only get a minimal gain on a catch by wide receiver Freddie Solomon.

Then Walsh took a play out of Vince Lombardi's playbook and ran a power sweep with Elliott to the right resulting in another first down, leaving the 49ers at their own 34-yard line.

San Francisco ran the same exact play except to the left side of the Dallas defense for seven more precious yards, but time was running out with 2:53 remaining in the game.

Montana tried to throw it to Elliott again but the pass went through his hands.

3rd-and-3 at their own 41-yard line with 2:22 left.

Walsh decided to keep the pressure on Dallas and had Montana hand the ball off to Elliott up the gut for four yards and the first down.

On first down, Montana drilled a pass to tight end/fullback Earl Cooper, finally entering Dallas territory.

Then the two-minute warning sounded as the 49ers stood at the Cowboy 49-yard line.

Then the tricky Walsh called a reverse to Solomon that landed the 49ers at the 35-yard line, giving San Francisco another first down.

Montana would throw a strike at the right sideline to wide receiver Dwight Clark, giving the 49ers a 1st-and-10 at the 25-yard line as the Candlestick crowd erupted.

The Dallas Cowboys' "Doomsday Defense" was reeling.

Solomon would make the next big play as he caught a 12-yard pass from Montana, placing San Francisco at the Dallas 13-yard line.

Timeout 49ers, their first one with 1:15 on the game clock.

On the next play, Montana saw an open Freddie Solomon in the end zone but overthrew him.

Another power sweep to the left by Lenvil Elliott put the San Francisco 49ers at the Dallas Cowboys' 6-yard line and a 3rd-and-3 with 54 seconds as they called another timeout.

Joe Montana conferred with Bill Walsh and was given the order to run a "Sprint Right Option."

"If you don't get what you want," Walsh told Montana. "Just simply throw the ball away."

As the 49ers broke the huddle, emotions ran high and with the tension thick, "Joe Cool" walked up to the line of scrimmage and began the play.

Freddie Solomon—Montana's first option—was covered, so he rolled to the right with Ed "Too Tall" Jones and the rest of the "Doomsday Defense" in high pursuit of the slippery quarterback.

After multiple pump fakes, Montana lofted a pass that looked like it was going out of bounds in the right corner of the end zone.

Then out of nowhere, Dwight Clark came streaking to the back of the end zone, leaped as high as he could, and brought the football down with him in the back of the end zone as Dallas cornerback Everson Walls looked on hopelessly.

The home crowd screamed with tears of joy as Clark spiked the ball with all his might.

"You just beat America's Team," Ed "Too Tall" Jones told Joe Montana according to an old football legend.

"Well, you can sit at home with the rest of America and watch the Super Bowl," Montana responded.

The extra-point would give the 49ers a slim 28-27 lead over the Cowboys, but Dallas still had some fight left.

After the ensuing kickoff, Cowboy wide receiver Drew Pearson caught a pass over the middle in stride, ran by rookie Ronnie Lott and appeared to be on his way for the go-ahead touchdown.

Then just like Clark, rookie cornerback Eric Wright made the big play by grabbing the back of Pearson's jersey and bringing him down on the San Francisco 44-yard line with 39 seconds to go.

Dallas was getting close to field-goal range and giving San Francisco another broken heart.

Dallas quarterback Danny White took the next snap, dropped back five steps, and in came Lawrence Pillers with a full head of steam as he beat his man at the line of scrimmage.

White dropped the ball and Jim Stuckey fell on it. Then Stuckey ran to the sideline with the ball up in the air signifying the victory with only 30 seconds left in the game.

"The glass slipper finally fits," Brent Musberger of CBS Sports said after the final score. "Cinderella is alive and well at the City by the Bay."

"One of the most exciting NFC Championship games ever played and congratulations to Bill Walsh, that calm man over on the sidelines who with two minutes to play. His quarterback Joe Montana played just like his coach, he never panicked and the 49ers came back against the Dallas Cowboys."

After Montana took a couple knees, he raised his index finger in the air and ran back to the locker room where the exhausted quarterback began hyperventilating, but the mission was accomplished as the Candlestick crowd came pouring down from the bleachers.

"That was the beginning of being Joe Montana," former center Randy Cross said on the 1981 San Francisco 49ers edition of America's Game. "It was the abnormality of a once normal life from that point on."

It was truly a special day for anyone associated with the San Francisco 49ers.

"I've been told that there was a poor Asian kid born on the Jan. 10, 1982, and his name is Dwight Clark Mitumitzo," Clark said on America's Game. "So, I don't know if it's true but for his sake I hope not but that's quite an honor if it is true."

"It's humbling really because I feel honored people are still talking about it 25 years later," Clark continued on America's Game. "I'm honored to be able to be a part of a play that was the culmination of this incredible, surprise season. It's great to give 49er fans a moment that they can re-live over and over."

Tom Brady's Super Bowl Loss: Montana and the 49ers Still Reign Supreme

Andre Urtula Tameta — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:32:11 -0400

The debate is over.

The mighty undefeated New England Patriots fell in Super Bowl XLII to the New York Giants rendering Tom Brady and his current group of Pats no longer perfect in the Super Bowl.

Despite the many great successes of their undefeated regular season, this team is now infamous for losing to the underdog New York Giants right on history's doorstep, when David Tyree made a miracle 32-yard catch and somehow held on to the ball as safety Rodney Harrison tried to punch the ball out.

The only quarterback that even remotely resembled the legendary Joe Montana was Eli Manning and his last minute drive culminating with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress to win the Super Bowl.

That clinching drive reminded some of the final moments of Super Bowl XXIII, as Manning threw the game winning touchdown with 35 seconds left.

Montana to Taylor happened at 34 seconds to go.

The Patriot offense was stifled and the defense showed their age, especially when Manning made play after play on that epic drive.

With the Giant upset, the 2000-era Patriots can no longer be considered a powerhouse dynasty when compared to the 1980s and 1990s 49ers during their two-decade run of dominance or even the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s.

These teams not only won, they took opponents out in convincing fashion. The Patriots were expected to win and they choked under the pressure of the Giant defensive line.

In Montana's fourth Super Bowl, he set records and led the 49ers to a 55-10 victory over John Elway and the Denver Broncos. The 49ers were expected to win, and they did so in record breaking fashion over a tough team and a future Hall of Famer.

In Brady's fourth Super Bowl appearance, he resembled a young Dan Marino in Super Bowl XIX, as he was constantly hit and beat up throughout the game.

Montana's 49ers were perfect during their run, including Steve Young's title in Super Bowl XXIX. The Brady and Belichick-era Patriots now have one of the most disappointing losses in NFL history to deal with.

Most championship teams are best known for winning the Super Bowl, but the contrary is true for this New England patriot dynasty.

The 2007 New England Patriots and their perfect 16-0 regular season was an impressive accomplishment, but great teams are remembered for winning titles.

Not the kind of legacy you are looking to have when history was right on their doorstep.

Even if the Patriots go on to win their fourth Super Bowl in the future, that loss on the night of February 3, 2008 slightly tarnished their dynasty, while the past 49ers accomplishments continue to sparkle in history's eyes as being truly extraordinary.

The 1984 18-1 49ers and the 1985 18-1 Chicago Bears were far superior teams to the Patriot teams of this decade. Although, the 2007 Patriots share the same record as these two great teams, they simply didn't close the deal in the Super Bowl.

Offensively, the Patriots may have set multiple records that year, but the 49ers revolutionized offensive football when Bill Walsh implemented the West Coast Offense that sprung up so many copycats throughout the league in recent years.

Tom "Golden Boy" Brady is no doubt one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, but he won't leave the shadow of true Super Bowl perfection that is the San Francisco 49ers with his Super Bowl loss.

Welcome Back to an Old San Francisco 49er Nemesis?

Andre Urtula Tameta — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:55:03 -0400

Rabid San Francisco fans absolutely hated the man because he was a 49er killer.

But as a man, Brett Favre is the kind of guy that many can all relate to. From his personal tragedies to his down to earth nature, he is still a likable figure in the NFL.

When the smoked finally cleared after his first retirement at the end of the 2007 season, Favre was the holder of an astounding 11-1 record against the San Francisco 49ers.

Ouch. Major ouch.

But, "glory, glory hallejuah," the San Francisco 49ers finally beat Brett Favre again with a 24-14 victory over the New York Jets on Dec. 7, 2008, making a slight dent in the inflated record to a somewhat respectable 11-2.

All anyone can do is simply commend the man for what he has been able to do against the San Francisco 49ers.

Throughout the years, Favre and his Green Bay Packers were kind of like San Francisco's brothers in law.

Many of Favre's coaches like Mike Holmgren were once employed in 49er-land and whenever it counted, they always seemed to get the best of the San Francisco 49ers.

There were many times when Favre threw a perfect slant for a touchdown to Antonio Freeman against the 49ers' confused secondary, virtually mimicing the same attack that San Francisco made popular in the NFL when Bill Walsh introduced it.

Those were some fun times (agonizing too), and whenever Steve Young versus Brett Favre would occur, we knew a battle would ensue.

A final memory of those times brings me back to the 1999 NFC Wildcard game when a stumbling Young threw the game winning 25-yard touchdown pass in between a sandwich of Green Bay defenders to an emotional Terrell Owens, who made many mistakes earlier in the game.

The 49ers finally got the best of Favre and the Packers 30-27 that one time.

The San Francisco 49ers sure love to beat old nemeses like the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in exciting fashion.

Without a doubt, Brett Favre is a Top Five quarterback in the modern era and first ballot Hall of Famer whenever he finally decides to officially retire.

Brett Favre's always pending departure from the game of football tends to make 49er fans either cringe or rejoice and even both at the same time.

Farewell or welcome back, Brett.

Eleven to three may be on the line when the San Francisco 49ers travel to play the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 27, 2009.

The Autumn Wind: Understanding the Raiders Mystique

Andre Urtula Tameta — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:55:24 -0400

Back in 1974, a poem written by NFL Films' Steve Sabol would become the inspiration of a Nation. When Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis first heard The Autumn Wind, he was completely mesmerized. It epitomized everything the Silver and Black stand for. After adding some music, recruiting the legendary voice of John Facenda to recite the poem and Oakland fans borrowing part of a name from a classic Civil War song and voila "The Battle Hymn of the Raider Nation" was born. "The Autumn Wind is a pirate Blustering in from sea With a rollicking song he sweeps along swaggering boisterously His face is weather beaten He wears a hooded sash With his silver hat about his head And a bristly black moustache He growls as he storms the country A villain big and bold And the trees all shake and quiver and quake As he robs them of their gold The Autumn wind is a Raider Pillaging just for fun He'll knock you around and upside down And laugh when he's conquered and won." As an outsider looking in since I am a long time 49er fan, I agree with Davis that the "Battle Hymn of the Raider Nation" truly symbolizes the Oakland Raiders. In almost every stanza of the poem, I can see many images of Raiders past. The first four stanzas make me think of hot shot running back Marcus Allen sweeping through the Washington Redskins' defense in Super Bowl XVIII on his way to a 74 yard touchdown run, the longest run in the big game's history. Then he swaggers boisterously back to the sideline as the Oakland Raiders dominate the Washington Redskins 38-9. Then images of the intimidating and always angry Lyle Alzado (R.I.P.) come to my mind as I read the next four stanzas, his bristly black moustache perfectly aligned with the rest of his massive beard. Then scenes of Bill Romanowski growling at the AFC Championship on January 19, 2003 come to me in the next two stanzas, his villainous reputation making the opposing Tennessee Titans shake and quiver and quake as he arrives at the point of attack. Rod Martin suddenly comes to mind when I read the following stanza as he robs Ron Jaworski three times in the Oakland Raiders' 27-10 Super Bowl XV victory over Dick Vermeil's Philadelphia Eagles. As I read the next two stanzas, images of Raider players committing "cheap penalties" immediately come to mind as "Commitment to Excellence" borders with "Cheat to Win." Finally in the last stanza, I see the everlasting image of John Madden being carried off the field in absolute triumph as the Oakland Raiders conquered the Minnesota Viking 32-10 in Super Bowl XI. As a football fan, you can't help but be enamored with the grand mystique of the Oakland Raiders. The following slides are my favorite San Francisco 49ers turned Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders.

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Five Questions About the Golden State Warriors: Will We Believe Again?

Andre Urtula Tameta — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:19:41 -0400

After a 29-53 season, general manager Chris Mullin's contract was not renewed but head coach Don Nelson signed a new deal with Golden State. It looks pretty obvious that Nellie now has the power over basketball decisions because Mullin's replacement —Larry Riley —is an unknown in the NBA. Now the Warriors move on with Nelson and Riley with the same porous defense and run and gun offense that doesn't seem to develop young players (i.e. Biedrins, Belinelli, Wright, Randolph, Williams, Azubuike, Takeke, etc etc). The following slides bring up the five biggest questions of the off-season for the Golden State Warriors.

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Hey Tom Brady, We Want Our Soul Back

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:37:51 -0400

Those lucky New Englanders are certainly enjoying a golden era for their sports franchises right now.

The Patriots look re-loaded to make another Super Bowl run for 2009, the Red Sox are always in the hunt for the World Series, and the Celtics won the NBA Title just last year.

Not long ago, the Bay Area had the same winning aura as the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders won Super Bowls in the 1980 and 1981 season.

Then we had the Giants and A's playing each other in the 1989 Earthquake World Series, and consistent playoff runs by Chris Mullin and the Golden State Warriors.

As of today, it looks like the Bay Area sports scene resides in the lowest depths of Dante's Inferno.

How in the world did the New Englanders get such good vibes?

Well, Tom Brady brought it with him, straight from the Bay Area.

Brady grew up in the Bay Area and attended Serra High School in San Mateo, the same school that produced Barry Bonds and Lynn Swann.

Stories date back to Brady as a child being in the Candlestick Park stands on that fateful day when Joe Montana threw a pass to Dwight Clark that would forever be known as "The Catch."

In an era of Madden curses and superstitious coaches, maybe it's time to think even more out of the box as our Bay Area sports teams continue to get punched in the mouth year after year.

The day Brady took over for Drew Bledsoe, the Patriots have never looked back winning three out of four Super Bowls in an era where parity and the salary cap destroy dynasties, not create them.

Doesn't this sound all too familiar?

I remember a fellow named Joe Montana taking over for Steve DeBerg and never looking back.

The 1981 49ers and the 2001 Patriots tell a similar story of teams that came out of nowhere to become champions.

History sometimes has a tendency to repeat itself and all that good karma we had for two decades grew up, packed up, went to Michigan, got drafted in the sixth round, and is now ready to lead one of the most loaded offenses in the NFL after being injured for the season on opening day.

Brady's roots have forever linked the Patriots dynasty with our own.

Their rise to power was eerily similar and having a Bay Area son lead the charge makes the agony worse.

With all that fortune in New England, the once spoiled Bay Area fans are left scratching their heads.

This past decade has not been kind for the 49ers, Raiders, Giants, Athletics and Warriors.

There were a few playoff appearances, but we haven't seen a good team in this area since the San Francisco Giants 2002 National League Pennant, the Oakland Raiders' Super Bowl run in 2002, and the "We Believe" Golden State Warriors of 2007 that got knocked out in the second round by the Utah Jazz.

For almost two decades, all the Bay Area saw was New England type of success because back then, it was re-tool and re-load.

Now, the mighty have fallen so far. It's just time to face that fact that this is an era of Bay Area sports that is frustrating and heartbreaking.

Hey Tom, can you send some of that New England fortune back over to us in the Bay Area?

We owned it first, SO GIVE IT BACK!

The Red and Gold Empire: A San Francisco 49er Poem

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:56:47 -0400

Once upon a time...

The Empire of Red and Gold once existed in these parts, an empire to be remembered for all time. This Empire emerged from the ashes of a kingdom that only knew defeat.

On that fateful day in 1982, the kingdom by the Bay exclaimed "Montana to Clark, Montana to Clark" as the Blue and Silver Boys from Texas watched "The Catch" in disbelief.

Something special was born that day and the kingdom would live in prosperity as the Empire claimed victory after victory until they stood and reigned supreme on the summit five times.

The members of the Empire were many and all were treated like family as the king Eddie D. showered his men with respect.

Eddie D's right hand man and second in command called Walsh drew up battle plans that would eventually be studied by all of the kingdoms.

Montana was the field general who commanded the troops into battle with a calm and cool that made him legendary throughout all kingdoms.

A man named Collinsworth believed Montana was not even human as the Empire vanquished their foes from the kingdom of Cincinnati.

Craig, Watters, and Hearst battled through the trenches and laid their bodies on the line without abandon as Clark, Solomon, Rice, Taylor and Owens streaked down the battlefields leaving destruction in their wake.

In the trenches, Jones, Sapolu, Cross, Paris, Barton, Wallace, McIntyre, and many other behemoths paved the way for the troops.

Lott was the enforcer left in charge of defending the Empire as Romanowski, Turner, Haley, Reynolds, Dean, Carter, Wright, Hicks, BY, Stubblefield, McDonald, Sanders, Hanks, Norton, Woodall, and many more defenders laid waste to those that dared to challenge the Empire.

Montana and Walsh would eventually leave, but a new field general named Young emerged as Walsh's former pupil Seifert would take over the battle plans.

The Empire continued to reign as faces changed and a new generation came to power.

Then a Nation of Raiders returned in 1995 to challenge the Empire in the kingdom by the Bay, but the Empire continued to thrive and win battle after battle.

Another pupil of Walsh, Mariucci, took the battle plans over from Seifert and success still continued for the Empire.

Then on another fateful day in 1998, the king Eddie D. was gone and the Empire was left in confusion.

A year later, Young laid lifeless on the battlefield and a kid named Garcia who grew up in the kingdom watching the Empire grow in stature became the new field general, only to live in the shadows of Montana and Young.

After two tumultuous years in 1999 and 2000, the legendary Rice was banished from the Empire and re-emerged with the Nation of Raiders.

The Empire would reload with young men and enjoyed more success, but the reign of the Empire would last until 2002.

Mariucci was also banished and many more decided to flee the crumbling Empire. Owens, Hearst, Garcia, and many more are no longer here.

The Empire now lay in ruins with only memories left for those old enough that still live in the kingdom by the Bay.

A new empire of Patriots from the East has emerged led by Brady, a former citizen of the kingdom by the Bay.

Brady had loved the Empire as a child and now has created one of his own.

The San Francisco 49ers were once the Red and Gold Empire that brought much joy to our Bay Area kingdom.

The citizens of the kingdom wait once again for the Empire to be reborn.....but the memories remain to torment us in a future that holds so many questions.

However, these same memories are our source of hope that brighter days will shine upon our shattered Empire.

We can only wish for our new savior to emerge and rebuild the Empire that we loved so much.

Expectations for the 2009 San Francisco 49ers

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:49:02 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers will be tested in the 2009 regular season because they face seven teams that made the playoffs in 2008 and a Monday Night Football battle with the defending rival NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals, who swept the 49ers last year. The following slides are a week by week breakdown of the San Francisco 49ers' 2009 regular season. Week 01 Sunday, Sept. 13 at Arizona Cardinals Week 02 Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Seattle Seahawks Week 03 Sunday, Sept. 27 at Minnesota Vikings Week 04 Sunday, Oct. 4 vs. St. Louis Rams Week 05 Sunday, Oct. 11 vs. Atlanta Falcons Week 06 Bye Week 07 Sunday, Oct. 25 at Houston Texans Week 08 Sunday, Nov. 1 at Indianapolis Colts Week 09 Sunday, Nov. 8 vs. Tennessee Titans Week 10 Thursday, Nov. 12 vs. Chicago Bears Week 11 Sunday, Nov. 22 at Green Bay Packers Week 12 Sunday, Nov. 29 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Week 13 Sunday, Dec. 6 at Seattle Seahawks Week 14 Monday, Dec. 14 vs. Arizona Cardinals Week 15 Sunday, Dec. 20 at Philadelphia Eagles Week 16 Sunday, Dec. 27 vs. Detroit Lions Week 17 Sunday, Jan. 3 at St. Louis Rams

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Five Plays that Made the 2008 San Francisco 49ers' Offense Tick

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sun, 17 May 2009 04:01:42 -0400

Although offensive coordinator was dismissed by head coach Mike Singletary, the creative thinker Mike Martz did improve the San Francisco 49ers' offense from 32nd in 2007 to 23rd in 2008 with his version of the Air Coryell offense. Martz 's offense is a read and react scheme with a complex playbook where the quarterback has an immediate three "digit" choices. He originally learned the 3 "digit" system from Norv Turner when they were both in Washington. There's never a situation where Martz tells his offense to go deep because it all depends on the defense's reaction at the beginning of the play. Another change noticed by the offense was Martz's attitude toward defensive pressure because when a blitz is developing before a snap, the signal callers directed blocking protection towards the potential pressure in Jim Hostler's inept 2007 offense. In the 2008 offense, the quarterbacks were supposed to make a hot read for a quick throw into the part of the defense vacated by the incoming blitzer. The Martz generally is a much more aggressive passing offense than tradition offenses with the run sometimes forgotten as evidenced by feature running back Frank Gore's 1,036 yards for the season. The St. Louis Rams set a NFL record in 2000 with 7,335 total offensive yards. 5,492 of those yards came through the passing game. Martz tends to favor three wide receiver sets---his best trio being Issac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim with the St. Louis Rams---with elusive players and the halfback filling the role of middle receivers that fullbacks & tight ends perform in Turner's version of the offense. The Martz offense usually worked best with two elite wide receivers---such as having Bruce and Holt in the prime of their careers---with top speed. Unlike the Turner variant, due to the complexity of the Martz offense, the QBs who execute it best are often the more intelligent QBs who intuitively get what Martz is trying to do, not the elite athlete who team's personnel department might favor drafting with a high draft pick. Martz's Achilles' heel has come when teams shut down the run and make his offense one dimensional. Additionally, the quarterbacks take a lot of hits in the system because of the many 5-step and 7-step drops and when the timing patterns get knocked off course, the passing game suffers greatly. With a pressing pass rush adding to the attack, the quarterback is forced to hold on to the ball and therefore trapped in the pocket and at the mercy of the defense. “You always have to disrupt the receivers as well as put pressure on the quarterback,” said veteran safety Rodney Harrison in an interview on the NFL Network. “You have to give him some different looks with a physical, aggressive defense.” While the quarterback of a Martz’ offense is often at the top of the league in passing statistic, they are also at the top of the league in total sacks given up. This was a big red flag for 49ers' head coach Mike Singletary as their coaching philosophies clashed head on. Singletary let Martz go on Dec. 30, 2008. Despite being fired, Mike Martz did improve the offense and these are the five plays that helped make the offense tick.

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Steve Young's Tirade: The Key Moment for the 1994 San Francisco 49ers

Andre Urtula Tameta — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:34:58 -0400

On Oct. 2, 1994, Steve Young finally lost it as evidenced by the profanities and obscenities he hurled towards head coach George Seifert in an angry fit.

Things weren't going to well for Young in San Francisco since taking over as the 49ers' starting quarterback in 1991 when Joe Montana was sidelined with elbow injuries for almost two seasons. Young waited since 1987 for this opportunity.

As a result, the veteran Montana was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs in April 1993.

Despite winning two NFC West titles, three passing titles and an NFL MVP award, Bay Area fans made it clear to the media and the organization that Joe Montana was still their favorite son due to the Dallas Cowboys defeating the San Francisco 49ers in two consecutive NFC Championship games.

Many blamed Young for not performing under pressure, but a porous defense in the 1992 and 1993 seasons was the primary reason why Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Alvin Harper and Michael Irvin ran wild all over San Francisco.

Harper even goaded cornerback Larry Brown into saying he "owns" Jerry Rice on NFL Films after the Cowboys' 38-21 victory over the 49ers in the 1994 NFC Championship.

During the offseason, San Francisco decided to equip its team with the necessary personnel to defeat "America's Team."

As a result, owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. opened up the checkbook even more and signed veteran center Bart Oates, standout defensive end Richard Dent, talented outside linebacker/defensive end Rickey Jackson, Cal product Gary Plummer, defensive lineman Charles Mann, outside linebacker/defensive end Tim Harris, defensive back Toi Cook, former Dallas Cowboys' linebacker Ken Norton Jr. and the crowing jewel, cornerback "Prime Time" Deion Sanders.

The 49ers even struck gold in the draft selecting defensive tackle Bryant Young, fullback William Floyd, linebacker Lee Woodall and kicker Doug Brien—all starters on the 1994 team.

The San Francisco 49ers started to resemble a pro football Dream Team rather than an NFL squad.

On opening day, San Francisco made a dominating statement with a 44-14 rout of the Los Angeles Raiders on Monday Night Football highlighted by Jerry Rice breaking Jim Brown's long standing record of 126 touchdowns but the high emotion of the victory would be overshadowed by anticipation for the following week.

The 49ers would be traveling to face Kansas City, the very place they sent four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Montana to a season earlier.

With four of five starters on the San Francisco offensive line injured, the Kansas City defense battered Young and the 49ers as Joe Montana led the Chiefs to a 24-17 victory.

Steve Young was once again eclipsed by the ghost of 49er legend Joe Montana.

Although the 49ers would win their next two games, Steve Young was sacked 12 times as the offensive line woes continued culminating with Philadelphia putting up a 23-0 first half lead on the 49ers at Candlestick Park in week five.

With 4:09 remaining in the third quarter and the score 33-8, Seifert haphazardly lifted Young for backup Elvis Grbac in the middle of an offensive series after he was hit for a third successive time.

The left-handed signal caller immediately felt he was being made the scapegoat for the 49ers' debacle by Seifert and the San Francisco fans that jeered him loudly off the field.

In an absolute rage, Steve Young began looking for a fight and he wanted to have it with head coach George Seifert.

Seifert kept his cool and didn't looked back at the furious Young.

"I've never seen him like this before," FOX broadcaster John Madden exclaimed during the live telecast about the usually docile Young.

The final score was an embarrassing 40-8.

"It was obvious to me that I should take him out of the ball game," Seifert said at the coach's post game conference. "If I didn't handle it to everybody's liking, it's because I don't have a lot of experience in this kind of situation and I sure hope to hell I don't gain any."

Young's tirade would continue on local post game coverage.

"You don't want to hear rational explanations," Young stated on The Point After. "I would much rather beat myself to a pulp trying to get back into that game than say let's go to next week."

The loss hurt, but suddenly the rest of the team was ready to follow quarterback Steve Young as their leader.

"It kind of galvanized the guys behind Steve," former San Francisco tight end Brent Jones said on the 1994 San Francisco 49ers edition of America's Game.

"There were a lot of guys that said hey wait a second, this guy's got some fight to him. I like that guy. I want a guy that's not afraid to tell George Seifert to jump in the lake."

The following week in Detroit, the 49ers played flat again as Barry Sanders and the Detroit Lions quickly ran up a 14-0 score in the first half.

In another memorable scene of the 1994 season, Young took a five step drop and was unable to find a receiver so he stepped up into the pocket, threw the ball to a check down receiver and was driven into the ground by three Detroit Lions. Anguish immediately came over the quarterback's face.

He slowly crawled off the field, refusing any help from the trainers.

Young had a pinched nerve in his leg.

Somehow, he returned to the field a play after and started executing offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan's offense to perfection. Two touchdowns by rookie William Floyd in the third quarter put the 49ers ahead as San Francisco defeated Detroit 27-21 in a tough contest.

Over the next couple weeks, the San Francisco 49ers won three straight games scoring an average of 40 points a game.

But in Week 11, the 8-1 Super Bowl champion Cowboys were next for Steve Young and the 7-2 49ers.

After Dallas went up 7-0 on an Emmitt Smith touchdown, Steve Young set the pace of the 49ers' offense by scoring San Francisco's first touchdown on a quarterback keeper.

The 49ers would score 14 more unanswered points on a 57-yard touchdown strike to Jerry Rice and a 13-yard bootleg pass to Brent Jones, ultimately winning 21-14.

Troy Aikman at the time had not thrown an interception in 97 attempts, but the revamped secondary led by free safety Merton Hanks picked off the Dallas quarterback three times.

After finally beating the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco 49ers would win the next five games by a margin of at least 20 points. The final tally was 10 straight victories and best record in the NFL at 13-3.

At the end of the season, Young threw for 3,969 yards, 35 touchdown passes and a quarterback rating of 112.8, overtaking Joe Montana as the new record holder for highest rating in a season (since broken by Peyton Manning). He was also named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for 1994.

After quickly dispatching the Chicago Bears 44-15 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, a rematch with the angry Dallas Cowboys awaited.

In what many dubbed as the "real" Super Bowl, the 49ers and Cowboys would face each other for a third straight year in the NFC Title game on a rain soaked Candlestick Park field.

On Jan. 15, 1995, everything that Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers worked for all season long had come down to this epic contest with the Dallas Cowboys.

Then on Dallas' first drive, cornerback Eric Davis made the 49ers' own statement that they weren't going to take it anymore from the arrogant Cowboys as he jumped in front of a pass intended for No. 85 Kevin Williams and scampered in for a quick touchdown.

Dallas would commit a total of three turnovers in a span of seven minutes as San Francisco built up a lightning fast 21-0 lead in the first quarter on a 29-yard touchdown catch by running back Ricky Watters and a 1-yard rush by Floyd.

Everyone saw a team that was so prepared and focused to attack the Super Bowl champions into submission.

Dallas did have the will and character of a champion by striking back when Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin scored touchdowns, decreasing the deficit to 10 points.

With the score 24-14 and eight seconds left in the half, Young took a chance on a streaking Jerry Rice in single coverage against Larry Brown and burned him for a 28-yard touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone as Dallas safety James Washington looked on helplessly, increasing the lead to 31-14.

Steve Young would score the final touchdown of the game on a three-yard rush, finally leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 38-28 victory over the hated Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship.

With all his might, Young spiked the football into the ground with his golden left arm.

"It was like putting a flag on the top of (Mount) Everest," Young said on America's Game. "Dallas had gone down and get out of my way!"

In a moment of sheer joy, Young jumped over a guardrail and punched his fist in the air as he ran his victory lap around Candlestick Park like a love struck teenager at a pop concert while the very fans that booed him during the Eagles' loss officially embraced him as the face of the franchise.

But Steve Young still had to win the Super Bowl.

A week before the Super Bowl, the AFC Champions declared themselves a "Cinderella" story and a team of destiny to win it all.

Steve Young would have none of that.

On Jan. 29, 1995 at Super Bowl XXIX, the San Francisco 49ers faced off with the San Diego Chargers who compiled a 11-5 record during the regular season.

After a three and out by the Chargers' offensive unit, the 49ers attempted a knockout punch early in the fight.

Only 1:24 into the game, Steve Young tossed a 44-yard bomb to Jerry Rice as the wide receiver split the San Diego defensive backs right down the middle of the field, the fastest touchdown in Super Bowl history.

A possession later, San Francisco went for the knockout strike again.

Young saw the versatile Ricky Watters in the exposed middle part of the field and threw an absolute strike that the running back caught in stride as two defenders bounced off him leading to a 51-yard touchdown, increasing the San Francisco lead 14-0.

It was now the fastest two touchdowns in the history of the Super Bowl.

The surgical 49er offense simply annihilated the Chargers' defense in an absolute no-contest. 49-26 was the final score of Super Bowl XXIX.

"They ran into a buzzsaw that day," Merton Hanks said on America's Game. "The buzzsaw being a Mike Shanahan led offense. Those quick scores really set the table."

When the smoke cleared, Steve Young threw for 331 yards and a Super Bowl record six touchdown passes breaking the previous mark of five by Joe Montana in Super Bowl XXIV against the Denver Broncos five years earlier.

Finally, Steve Young was vindicated as he was selected Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIX.

"Every guy in here made a commitment," Young exclaimed in jubilation as Eddie DeBartolo handed him the Lombardi Trophy during ABC's post Super Bowl coverage.

"There were times when it was dark, it was really dark, but we turned back and we were in each others faces and committed to each other. We knew we had to do it this way. This is the greatest feeling in the world, is it not? 39 days. I share this with everyone of you guys," he continued while raising the trophy in absolute victory.

"Everyone in this room made a commitment and we're there, and nobody can ever, ever, take it away from us, EVER!"

In one of the most touching moments in San Francisco 49er history, Steve Young embraced the silver trophy as tight as he could and simply smiled.

"Oh he can't win the big game, he can't win the championship, oh he can't lead a team in two minutes," Young continued on in America's Game. "It's like the nature of the game, the cynics win the day most of the time."

"So you end up responding to it because it's the nature of who you are as an athlete. You say I can't do it, I'm going to prove you wrong and I'm going to use that as incentive to actually go out and achieve something."

I love this team not because of the memories I have of the San Francisco 49ers' 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.

It's definitely not because San Francisco finally vanquished the rival Dallas Cowboys nor the free agents the 49ers signed in 1994.

Not even Deion Sanders' memorable interception returns or the incredible draft San Francisco had could ever top the reason why the 1994 San Francisco 49ers is my favorite team of all time.

I love this team because this was the season Steve Young and the San Francisco 49ers finally stood up tall and proud then said they weren't going to take it anymore.

Shaun Hill and Alex Smith's Different Journeys to the 49ers' 2009 QB Battle

Andre Urtula Tameta — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:22:18 -0400

One was an undrafted free agent that played in NFL Europe. The other was a highly touted NCAA quarterback that was the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft. Shaun Hill and Alex Smith now vie for the job of the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback position but their journeys to this 2009 competition have been extremely different. Both signal callers have had success in the past as San Francisco's starter but only one can get the nod. Hill was not highly recruited out of high school and spent his first two years at Hutchinson Community College. He earned honorable mention honors as a freshman and sophomore, garnering attention from the University of Maryland's football scouts. Hill served as Maryland's backup quarterback in his first year there but led the Terrapins to an Atlantic Coast Conference title as a senior in 2001, their first since 1985. They went on to the 2002 Orange Bowl, ultimately losing to the Florida gators Florida routed Maryland 56-23. They finished #10 in the BCS standings, also ending Hill's Maryland career with 3,158 yards passing and 19 touchdown passes. Hill was not considered an NFL prospect in 2002 and went undrafted. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, spending the season as a 3rd string backup to Gus Frerotte and Daunte Culpepper. Hill went on to play for NFL Europe, spending the spring of 2003 with the Amsterdam Admirals, where he led the league in passing yards and tied second for touchdowns passes. Hill then left Minnesota and signed with San Francisco. He began the 2006 off-season third on the 49ers' depth chart, behind veteran Trent Dilfer and Smith. He took zero snaps as Alex Smith took every snap behind center that year. During his final year in Utah, Smith finished 4th in the 2004 Heisman Trophy voting and was selected as the 2004 MAC Player of the Year. He led the Utes to the 2005 Fiesta Bowl against the University of Pittsburgh, throwing for 328 yards with an impressive 78% completion percentage and four touchdown passes. Smith then graduated from the University of Utah in just two years with an economics degree and a 3.71 GPA. The San Francisco 49ers, rookie head coach Mike Nolan and offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy made Alex Smith their franchise quarterback, drafting him number one overall in the 2005 NFL Draft and signing him to a to an expensive six-year, $49.5 million dollar contract. The young quarterback would have one of the worst rookie seasons in recent memory, throwing one touchdown pass and 11 interceptions as the 49ers stumbled to a 4-12 record. Offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy left to become the Green Bay Packers new head coach, taking his West Coast Offense with him. After the challenges he faced as a rookie, Smith went into the 2006 season with Super Bowl winning offensive coordinator Norv Turner and the number six overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, playmaking tight end Vernon Davis from Hill's alma mater Maryland. Future rushing champion Frank Gore also became the feature running back that year, taking the pressure off Smith when Kevan Barlow was traded to the New York Jets.. Smith's first three games of the season saw him throw three touchdowns, zero interceptions and 814 yards. After struggling in Kansas City against the Chiefs, he then threw for a career high three touchdowns defeating the cross-town rival Oakland Raiders 34-20. He went on to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a three game winning streak in November. Smith would meet Joe Montana for the first time on November 5, 2006, during a game against the Minnesota Vikings where the 49ers wore throwback jerseys from the 1980s which Joe Montana and his teammates wore. The 49ers ended up winning the game 9-3. A few weeks later, one of Smith's career games occurred when the 49ers traveled to Seattle for a Thursday Night Football contest against the Seahawks. San Francisco trailed the Seahawks 7-3 at the end of the third quarter but Smith performed like the legend in the fourth quarter, leading the 49ers on a long touchdown drive down the field as they took a 10-7 lead. Smith would strike again, this time evading a sure sack, rolling to the left and completing a bullet pass to Frank Gore for a touchdown that gave the 49ers a 10 point lead. On the very next drive, Smith put the nail in the coffin leading another touchdown drive, this time rushing for a touchdown on a naked bootleg. After losing to the Arizona Cardinals the next week, San Francisco's final game of the 2006 season was against a Denver Broncos team looking to enter the playoff hunt. Smith and the 49ers upset the Broncos and knocked them out of the playoffs as he threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, leading San Francisco to a come from behind victory for the second time in three weeks. Smith improved drastically in his second year as a pro throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions. His final states were 16 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions, 2,890 passing yards and a 74.8 quarterback rating. Not bad for a 22 year old quarterback. With the relatively successful season in the books, expectations were high in 2007 despite losing Norv Turner as offensive coordinator when he became the San Diego Chargers' head coach leaving Jim Hostler as the new offensive coordinator. Hostler's 2007 offense became a punchline in the NFL but a hit by Seattle Seahawks' defensive tackle Rocky Bernard started the decline as he drove Alex Smith into the ground, destroying the upstart San Francisco 49ers' high expectations and injuring his right shoulder in the process. Then former head coach Mike Nolan tried to rush the injured Smith back onto the field, even calling the quarterback out on his toughness. As expected, Smith re-injured his shoulder because he wasn't given enough time to heal. Veteran Trent Dilfer took over as starting quarterback for the struggling 49ers but also suffered a season ending injury. Dilfer's injury finally gave Shaun Hill the opportunity to prove himself as a starting NFL quarterback. Hill went on to win two of his four starts finishing the season with a 101.3 quarterback rating. Alex Smith would eventually toil in obscurity on the injured list, culminating with him injuring his surgically repaired right shoulder again before the beginning of the season, ending his 2008 campaign before it even started. With Smith out, Mike Martz officially named gun slinging J.T. O'Sullivan as the 49ers' starting quarterback. O'Sullivan would commit turnover after turnover in Martz's complex offense, finally getting demoted by interim head coach Mike Singletary after Mike Nolan was fired on October 21, 2008 leaving Shaun Hill as the starter for the rest of the year. Hill would lead the San Francisco 49ers to five victories and a 7-9 overall record, good enough for second place in the NFC West. His final stats were solid, throwing for 2046 yards, 13 touchdown passes and a decent 87.5 quarterback rating. With a 7-3 overall record as the 49ers' starting quarterback, head coach Mike Singletary named Shaun Hill as San Francisco's starter entering 2009 training camp. In a show of faith, the San Francisco 49ers and Alex Smith agreed to a re-structured contract this past off-season, reducing his base salary because he was due to make close to $10 million dollars under the contract he signed as a 20 year old rookie in 2005. Entering the 2009 season, both quarterbacks now have the proverbial chip on their shoulders and a lot to prove for the once dominant world champion San Francisco 49ers.

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The 2009 NFC East: Previews and Predictions

Andre Urtula Tameta — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:18:56 -0400

The Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants didn't miss a beat last season, capturing another division title with a 12-4 record despite talented wide receiver Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg at a New York nightclub. The troubled Burress was released during the offseason. Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning is getting better with age and the Giants still have Brandon Jacobs, an absolute hammer of a running back in the mold of Super XXV MVP Ottis "O.J."Anderson. The Philadelphia Eagles overcame a lot of adversity during 2008 as quarterback Donovan McNabb returned to form after two injury plagued seasons, leading the Eagles to a 9-6-1 record and into the playoffs. A pre-season favorite to win it all last year, the Dallas disappointed Cowboy fans by not even making the playoffs with their 9-7 record. After the debacle of a season, controversial superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens was shown the door and signed with the Buffalo Bills. At an even 8-8, the Washington Redskins took last place in one of the league's strongest divisions. Rookie head coach Jim Zorn's West Coast Offense gave the Redskins an offensive identity to match their already tough defense.

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The Top 5 Heels Over the Past 20 Years

Andre Urtula Tameta — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:00:32 -0400

The heel is a villain and are the "bad guys" in pro wrestling. Some "tweeners" who aren't classified as good or bad exhibit heel mannerisms. No matter the kind of heel, their job is to be the antagonist. Heels exist to foil to the babyface wrestlers. Sometimes If a heel is cheered over the babyface, a promoter may turn that heel to a face or to make the wrestler do something even more despicable to garner more heel heat. As for me, I always cheer for the heel becausea great heel will always make a face bigger.

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The 2009 AFC West: Previews and Predictions

Andre Urtula Tameta — Thu, 14 May 2009 03:54:03 -0400

At a glorious 8-8, the San Diego Chargers overcame a 3-5 start to take the AFC Division crown from the reeling Denver Broncos. Amazingly, the Chargers managed to reach the AFC Championship game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Denver Broncos became the first team in the modern age to surrender a three-game lead in its division with only three games left to play, relinquishing the division crown to the Chargers when San Diego annihilated them 52-21 in the final game of the year. As a result, two-time Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan was fired from Denver while disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears after relations with new head coach Josh McDaniels turned sour. The once proud Oakland Raiders, the only team in NFL history to make it to the Super Bowl in four different decades, continue to be one of the NFL's most inept teams since losing Super Bowl Super Bowl XXXVII to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Al Davis and the "Silver and Black" feel they are starting to come together. "Commitment to Excellence" might make a return this year. The cellar dwelling Kansas City Chiefs posted a dismal 2-14 record in 2008. Head coach Herm Edwards was subsequently fired, replaced by former Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator Todd Haley on February 6, 2009.

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The 2009 NFC West: Previews and Predictions

Andre Urtula Tameta — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:45:15 -0400

9-7 was enough to take the Arizona Cardinals to a NFC West division crown and they played in one of the most memorable championship games ever at Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Arizona's also boasted an impressive 6-0 division record. The second place San Francisco 49ers were not too far behind, going 7-9 and taking the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals to the limit on Monday Night Football. After Mike Nolan's mid-season firing, interim head coach Mike Singletary led the underachieving 2-5 49ers to a 5-4 record, highlighted by victories over the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins. Mike Holmgren's swan song season didn't exactly go as planned in 2008. The 2006 NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks were devastated by injuries to many key players and limped to a 4-12 record, not exactly the legacy Holmgren wanted to leave in his final year of coaching. The St. Louis Rams' steady decline since appearing in Super Bowl XXXVI against Bill Belichick's New England Patriots continues. The Rams won a dismal two games in 2008 and a 2-14 record would usually qualify a team for the first pick overall, but the historic 0-16 Detroit Lions took that honor instead.

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Why Former San Francisco 49er Roger Craig Deserves To Be in the Hall of Fame

Andre Urtula Tameta — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:58:48 -0400

Although his final memory to some 49er fans is a costly fumble that enabled the New York Giants to beat the San Francisco 49ers in the 1991 NFC Championship game, "Cat Fish" and his distinctive high-knee running style was no doubt an integral part of the innovative San Francisco offenses during the 1980s.

Craig’s numbers and three Super Bowl rings should qualify him to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first running back to be elected to the Pro Bowl at both fullback and halfback, the first offensive player to run and catch for a thousand yards in a season and he also appeared in the playoffs every year of his illustrious career.

He was the Marshall Faulk of his era.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted the versatile Craig in 1983 out of Nebraska, where he held the Cornhuskers' record for longest run from scrimmage, a 94-yard scamper against the Florida State Seminoles in 1981.

During his extremely productive rookie campaign, Craig scored 12 all-purpose touchdowns as the 49ers reached the 1984 NFC Championship game against the Washington Redskins.

A year later in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium, Craig caught seven passes for 77 yards, added 58 yards on the ground, and became the first player in Super Bowl history to score three touchdowns as the 15-1 San Francisco 49ers dominated the highly publicized Dan Marino and his 14-2 Miami Dolphins, 38-16.

The following season, Roger Craig re-wrote pro football's record books, becoming the first player in NFL history to rush and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season. He led the NFL with 92 catches for 1,016 yards and added an impressive 1,050 yards on 214 carries, scoring a team-high 15 touchdowns in the process.

In 1988, Roger Craig was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Craig put the stumbling 49ers offense on his shoulders as he ran for a career-high 1,502 yards and caught 76 passes for 534 yards.

He went on to assist the inconsistent 10-6 49ers to a Super Bowl berth by amassing 262 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in their two playoff games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.

In the 49ers' 20-16 last minute victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII at Joe Robbie Stadium, he caught eight passes for 101 yards and added 71 yards rushing. Craig made clutch play after clutch play on the final drive, which culminated with Joe Montana's touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds left in the game.

San Francisco advanced to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row the following season, aided by Craig's 1,527 rushing and receiving yards, along with his 240 combined yards and two touchdowns in their two dominating playoff victories over the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.

Craig caught five passes for 34 yards, rushed for 69 yards, and scored a touchdown as the 14-2 San Francisco 49ers annihilated John Elway and the Denver Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV at the Louisiana Superdome.

The 49ers went 14-2 in 1990 during their quest to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls but in the 1991 NFC Championship Game as San Francisco held on to a slim 13-12 lead, Craig put the ball on the ground late in the fourth quarter and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor alertly fell on the football.

We all know the New York Giants won the game 15-13 on a last second Matt Bahr field goal, eventually winning Super Bowl XXV as Buffalo Bills' kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal wide right, preserving the 20-19 victory in Tampa.

Some fans didn't forgive Craig for the mistake despite all his accolades and accomplishments he earned as a member of the world champion San Francisco 49ers.

In 1992, Craig moved down I-5 South and left for the Los Angeles Raiders with longtime 49er hero Ronnie Lott via Plan B Free Agency. He spent his final year in the NFL playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 1993.

In a move of touching symbolism, Craig would retire a 49er in 1994, signing a one-day contract during the offseason before Steve Young and San Francisco went on to a blistering 13-3 season, culminating in a 49-26 thrashing of the overmatched San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX.

Since then, Roger Craig has waited patiently to hear his name called as a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Craig was finally selected as one of the 25 semi-finalists considered for the Hall of Fame in 2009 since first being eligible in 1999. It's a shame that for the last decade, such a key figure of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s continues to be overlooked by the voters.

For everything he has done for the San Francisco 49ers, Roger Craig deserves to have his No. 33 retired and a spot in Canton alongside Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Fred Dean, Steve Young and Bill Walsh.

They couldn't have done it without him.

San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame

1969 DT Leo Nomellini (1950-1963)

1969 FB Joe Perry (1948-1960, 1963)

1970 HB Hugh McElhenny (1952-1960)

1971 QB Y.A. Tittle (1951-1960)

1985 RB O.J. Simpson (1978-1979)

1987 FB John Henry Johnson (1954-1956)

1990 OT Bob St. Clair (1953-1963)

1993 Head Coach Bill Walsh (1979-1988)

1994 CB Jimmy Johnson (1961-1976)

2000 QB Joe Montana (1979-1992)

2000 CB/FS Ronnie Lott (1981-1990)

2000 LB Dave Wilcox (1964-1974)

2005 QB Steve Young (1987-1999)

2008 DE Fred Dean (1981-1985)

2009 CB/FS Rod Woodson (1997)