Bleacher Report - Articles by Samuel Lam

49ers, Stop Telling Me and Just Show Me the Win!

Samuel Lam — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:14 -0500

"Don't Tell Me, Show Me"

All season long, the 49ers have used that slogan to tell the fans to believe once again. The catchphrase from Mike Singletary is plastered all over the Bay Area. You can see them on billboards, bus stops, or even in the local paper.

Quite simply, the 49ers team is not all talk. The action on the field will speak for itself.

One problem: We've heard a lot of talk, but no action recently.

The team is riding (or stalling) a four-game losing streak, and after each loss Singletary confirms with the media and fans that the team is getting better and will "be there." But when a team loses games (the 49ers had halftime leads in the last two), we start to wonder if the team is going anywhere.

It's easy to believe Singletary and stay positive through the hard times, but how much longer can we stand and hope that his words come to fruition?

Thursday's home game against the Bears will practically determine the season for the 49ers. At 3-5, two games behind the division-leading Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers cannot afford to add another loss to the streak.

As for Singletary's prediction of a playoff berth, the probability decreases with every team struggle. In fact, the 49ers probably have to win five or six of their remaining eight games even to stand a chance in the division, and those wins have to come against division rivals.

Anything less and the 49ers go through another losing season.

Would you still believe in the 49ers' playoff hopes if they lose on Thursday and drop to 3-6? Optimism can go so far when harsh reality really kicks in.

When Singletary talked about the hardships of the team, he said those situations bring out the best in him.

“In these moments—this is when I’m at my best. I think in these situations, you just have to rise above. You have to put your best foot forward. You have to look at where things are; you just have to call it like it is. I can’t get lost in the reality of the four losses. It’s not something that you want. It’s not a place where you want to be. But that’s where it’s at.”

If it takes a four-game losing streak to put your best effort forward, then I wish he could have had his best earlier.

When Santa Rosa Press Democrat reporter Lowell Cohn shared his thoughts on Singletary's constant affirmation of better days for the 49ers, he spoke of what many people were thinking but too afraid to ask. Singletary has said a lot so far, but the results don't show up on the field.

Very contradicting to what he has preached.

Maybe that's partially our fault. We expected so much from the team after their second-half surge in 2008. The organization was riding high and even president Jed York promised that the 49ers would be a playoff team. We wanted it so bad that we refused to believe that the team still might not be ready for it. The promotion and hype were what we wanted to hear and we stuck with it.

With a struggling offensive line, questionable offensive play-calling, a switch at quarterback, and constant injuries on both sides of the ball, can we really believe that the 49ers are a playoff-caliber team?

Singletary promised that the team would be better, and on Thursday we'll see if the team can. A loss to Chicago will more than likely eliminate any realistic possibility of a playoff appearance.

After the game, we might hear the same hopeful talk from the head coach—and I don't want to hear it.

Maybe the team slogan should go through a midseason change. "Don't Tell Me, Show Me" is apparently something the 49ers have not followed during the losing streak. The team should adopt another Bay Area slogan that is also misused: "Just Win Baby!"

OK, maybe we can eliminate the image of Al Davis saying that phrase, but the 49ers are in desperation mode and there are no other solutions.

Don't tell me...just win the game.

(original piece from this page)

San Francisco 49ers New Stadium Details

Samuel Lam — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:02:59 -0400

The 49ers have released some new details on the proposed new stadium in Santa Clara.

The cost will be about $937 million to build.

The stadium can seat up to approximately 75,000 people (68,500 for most events).
Solar panels will be used to power many things at the stadium.
There will be some kind of garden or flowerbed on the roof where plants can grow.
Clubs, suites will not be spread around the stadium, but rather all in one tower.
Grass or field turf? That has yet to be determined.
If it gets approved, the scheduled opening would be 2014.
It will be built in the parking lot near Great America.
The city will pay about 10 percent of the costs.

The city of San Francisco has been unsupportive of the move, and with good reason. Many fans have voiced their dislike of the idea of the team not being in San Francisco. There are a lot of great memories and traditions in Candlestick Park and it would make sense for people not to want the stadium.

I personally would like the 49ers to stay, but the current stadium needs to get fixed up and it would not be worth it. The new stadium would not only bring the fans a wonderful new stadium, but it might be enough to maybe host a future Super Bowl.

The traffic getting to Santa Clara would be easier than getting to Candlestick.

I think the part of me that doesn't want to see the new stadium is the part that loves the 49ers history, their name, and the place where so many great teams have played. The 49ers are San Francisco and moving them out just doesn't feel right.

On the other hand, a new stadium and hosting a Super Bowl would be pretty nice. And it does make sense somewhat, since most of the players actually live in Santa Clara (near the headquarters) and they really only go to San Francisco for gameday.

Santa Clara makes sense, but I wish the 49ers didn't have to move.

49ers Position Battles: Quarterback

Samuel Lam — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:41:10 -0400

As mini-camp for the 49ers continue throughout this summer, I want to take a look at each position on the team and break down each player that would either be trying to make waves during camp.

Currently on roster:

Alex Smith (entering 5th year)
Shaun Hill (entering 8th year)
Nate Davis (entering 1st year)
Damon Huard (entering 13th year)

At the end of the 2008 season, we assumed that the 49ers would give Shaun Hill the full-time starting job at the position. But when Mike Singletary announced that there would be a battle for the starting job (much like what happened the previous offseason), the team started to scramble.

Hill proved that he could lead the team to wins but apparently his recent performance wasn't enough to win him the starting job.

With a healthy Alex Smith, the 49ers look to have both Hill and Smith battle it out for the starting job. And to provide some veteran stability, the 49ers signed free agent Damon Huard.

Prior to the draft, there were some speculations on whether or not the 49ers might draft USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. The team did draft a quarterback in the fifth round: Nate Davis from Ball State.

Huard was brought in to be the veteran backup quarterback and unless something major happens, that will probably be his position all season long.

Davis is an interesting case. For starters, his learning disability has not been an issue during practices and wasn't an issue while he was playing at Ball State. Davis has a rocket arm with great accuracy. Given the fact that the offense isn't going to be pass heavy like he had at Ball State, it will provide Davis a great chance to slowly learn the new playbook.

As for Hill and Smith, this is where it becomes a little interesting. Hill has had the most recent success of the two. In fact, you can credit head coach Mike Singletary's hiring as coach to Hill. With Hill's brilliant play this past season, he proved that he can manage the offense and at the same time, lead them for game-winning drives.

Even in the road losses to Arizona and Miami, Hill played well enough to lead the team to victory. Both those games came to the last play. The knock on Hill is obviously his practice results. As well-documented, he doesn't always perform well during practices but it doesn't translate into that onto the field during a real game.

Smith on the other hand has been a little bit of the opposite. Smith has had some really great throws in recent weeks and his shoulder has not been giving him any problems. But Smith has yet to play a regular season NFL game since Week 10 of the 2007 season—and the last few games he played came while he was still hurt.

It seems that right now Hill SHOULD get the upper hand on the quarterback battle. However, there still might be a little push in management to give Smith (No. 1 overall pick in 2005) the best opportunity to succeed. Regardless of how Hill does, Smith will be right behind him into the preseason.

There probably won't be any final decision on this position battle until probably the second preseason game. By then, the team will have a better idea of who will be best suited to lead this team.

As for Huard and Davis, both will probably make the roster as backups. We might see Davis on the practice squad, but if he continues to show improvement, he might just squeak into the roster.

Cry Me a River, Michael Crabtree

Samuel Lam — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:28:02 -0400

This wouldn't really be considered news, but it did give me a little character perspective on first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree.

In a report from SF Gate's Niner Insider, the rookie wide receiver almost cried when confronted by head coach Mike Singletary.

Singletary also said he almost made first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree cry. Singletary found him running routes during the first minicamp and admonished him for running before he was cleared by the medical staff. Crabtree is recovering from off-season foot surgery.

Singletary recounted the conversation he had with his prized rookie.

"'I've got nothing against you. I'm not angry or anything. I just want you to know, you have to do everything the doctors want you to do so that you can get better.' I said, 'I'm not worried about what you can do.' I said, 'I know. We drafted you at No. 10. We know what you can do. We just want to make sure that when you come out here, you're ready to go.' So, he's done the things that he needs to do, spending a lot of time with (receivers coach Jerry) Sullivan. I know Jerry is excited about what he's seeing as well."

Well, it doesn't make you less of anybody when you cry, especially when you're passionate about something.

And for Crabtree, we can obviously see that he was passionate about getting back onto the field. That must be the reason why he was out there running routes. His desire to return to the field from foot surgery is something I like to see.

However, Singletary was right in scolding the rookie. The doctors had not cleared Crabtree to participate in such activities, so it was best that Crabtree had not gone onto the field and ran the drills. But Crabtree's mistake was with good intentions.

But I still wonder what Crabtree got so teary-eyed about. Maybe Coach Sing said something else that wasn't reported. Or maybe Crabtree felt like he did something wrong (which he did) but overreacted to it.

Well, from this incident I can tell you that Crabtree might just be that kind of a sensitive guy. But in perspective, at least he has that desire to get back onto the field and play ball. That's a good sign.

He can cry if he wants to as long as he has the desire to get back onto the field. That to me is much more important.

My Interviews With 49ers LB Patrick Willis and QB Alex Smith

Samuel Lam — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:39:47 -0400

On Wednesday night, 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis and quarterback Alex Smith hosted a special screening of "The Taking of Pelham 123."

In addition to Willis and Smith, Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, safety Michael Huff, and rookie wide receiver Derrius Heyward-Bey were also in attendance.

Aside from getting a free pass to see a movie two days before its nationwide release, I got a chance to talk with both Willis and Smith on the red carpet prior to the movie.

Samuel Lam: Do you have a favorite Denzel Washington movie?

Patrick Willis: He’s been in so many. My favorite would probably be “Remember the Titans.” I remember watching that when I was in high school.

Coming from the South, it wasn’t bad like that, but it happened to be like that whole situation. It reminded me of playing football in the South. It really hit a lot of teams. It brought a lot of guys closer watching that. I think that’s my favorite one.

SL: You said that the defense was Top 10 material. Last year you finished number 13 overall. What has defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and the defense done to make sure the defense is Top 10 material?

PW: I think our whole approach to how we work, and how we execute with attention to detail, is a lot different than it has been. We have a little bit more freedom to do our thing. Before, it was a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

It’s his third year now as defensive coordinator, and with time we get better. We have a lot of guys that want to do well, and we want to be one of the best defenses in the league, if not the best. All that plays a part of one another.

SL: Last year, you were awarded with the title of being captain. For a little bit, you had the defensive radio signal in your helmet. How have you adjusted now that the team has given you a lot of responsibilities like being captain?

PW: It’s a blessing to be in this situation. It’s even more of a blessing to have your teammates depend on you, and to have your teammates trust on you knowing that you have their back. You know, when it gets crazy you put them on your shoulders and say “You know what? It’s because of me," or, "I got this," or, "we can get it done.”

It’s not pressure. I heard Coach Sing say in an interview that, “pressure is when you’re not prepared.” And every day I go to work. Every day I go to work. And I make sure that I’m getting better and better every day, so there’s no pressure. When I heard him make that comment, I was like “that’s so true.” That’s legit. That’s real.

SL: Speaking of Coach Sing, we know that he’s a Hall of Fame linebacker and now he’s your head coach. How has that worked out for you? Have you given yourself time to sit down with him and talk about how he approached the game when he was a linebacker, and how that could translate to your game?

PW: One thing you try not to do as a father, as a coach, is pressure your son to do something that you’ve done. You don’t just keep saying, “this is what I’ve done, this is what I’ve done.” You have to take a little piece at a time.

What he’s done with me is that he’s incorporated a little bit at a time; not throw it all under you at one time. He kind of took me and molded me in the way he wanted me to play as a linebacker. With the abilities I already had, it was like the right match, the right mix. Now that he’s not my coach anymore, as a positions coach, I still take those fundamentals that he taught me.

The small things that guys tend to do and not think about, I still apply it every day even though he’s not there. It’s been good, and it’s been wonderful so far.

Samuel Lam: What’s your favorite John Travolta film?

Alex Smith: I’d probably have to say “Pulp Fiction.”

SL: How’s your shoulder? Is it 100 percent where you can take contact now, or do you feel that you want to see how it feels during this summer’s camp?

AS: I’m really close to being all the way there with rehab—I’m feeling really good. I’m almost at 100 percent. It’s the best I’ve felt in a long, long time. I feel that I can take some hits, and make all the throws I can. But yeah, I’m feeling really good this time.

SL: You haven’t played in a regular season game since halfway through the 2007 season. But during that time, you’ve been on the sideline with the rest of the team, watching them play. How has that changed your perspective as a football player watching the team from the sideline?

AS: It’s been difficult to not suit up and being part of the team in that sense. Yeah, I’ve been there in the meetings and on the sidelines, but I haven’t been really accountable to my teammates for a couple years now. I just want to be back on the field. I really love this game—it’s where I belong…not just being in the training room, or on the sidelines without any pads on.

I’m just glad to be out there with my teammates—that’s the biggest thing: to be accountable to them. They worked so hard and put all that time in, and not to be around is disappointing. I’m glad to be back out there.

SL: There is a new offensive playbook with Jimmy Raye (who learned a few things from Norv Turner when they were in Oakland), and you had your best season with Norv Turner. How similar is the playbook?

AS: You know, there are some similarities. They have different people, different attitudes and different attitudes that reflect down on the playbook and coaching. There are similarities—they have similar backgrounds and coaching histories of where they come from.

Some of the language we use is very similar. The playbook, as far as terminology, is very similar. But I think the style of play and the style of offense that we’re going to have is going to be a little different.

Overall, both these guys were nothing but professionals. They were both very fun to interview, and they obviously provided some great insight on their game and expectations for this upcoming season.

What I liked most about both Willis and Smith was that after they had finished their interviews with the media, they hung around in the lobby of the movie theater and took pictures and signed autographs with whomever was around. Willis ended up introducing himself and thanking the audience for coming out to the movie. Overall, it was nice to see these players away from the field and just enjoying themselves.

Tackle Joe Staley also made it to the red carpet to support Smith, but couldn't stay for the movie. Well, it either was Staley or someone that looked very similar to him.

The original article for this can be found at Examiner.com.

49ers Could End Up Sharing New Stadium with Raiders

Samuel Lam — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:33:39 -0400

49ers President Jed York talked with the media yesterday about the new 49ers stadium in Santa Clara, while giving the media information that they expected to hear. However, York stated that if the Santa Clara deal does not go down, the 49ers wouldn't have to move, but rather a refurbished Candlestick Park would also be a great option for the team.

But York was set on moving forward with the new stadium.

However, when the topic of sharing a stadium with the Raiders was brought up, York did say that the option is there. Currently on the team's term sheet on the stadium, another team sharing the stadium is an open option. But York was more focused on just the idea of having bigger and better things for the team and city.

"The 49ers stadium makes Santa Clara a better place to live, to work, and to play," said York. "And I think that's very evident. I think anytime you have a deal that makes your city a better place, I think voters will vote affirmatively."

Former TV analyst John Madden was asked about the idea of the Raiders and 49ers sharing a stadium. Madden also said that the possibility makes sense. In fact, he suggested that the 49ers should allow the Raiders to share the facility.

"Both teams need a stadium," he said.

As mentioned before, there are only two instances where two teams of the same league share venues. The Giants and Jets both share their stadium in New Jersey and in the NBA, the Lakers and Clippers share the Staples Center.

It's not something that the sports world isn't familiar with, and I'm sure that sharing the stadium wouldn't be too hard of a transition for the 49ers.

Plus, the money it will cost the 49ers would be significantly less with the Raiders probably paying for half of the costs.

The only problem that I would see would be the fan rivalry. I would imagine that 49ers fans wouldn't like the idea of sharing with the Raiders, and vice versa.

Right now, the option is there, but it doesn't seem like it will happen. And given the way the economy is going right now, the talks could continue if the stadium does get approved. Both teams would look to save as much money as possible.

Michael Crabtree: The New 49ers Wideout Looks To Silence Doubters

Samuel Lam — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:38:13 -0400

San Francisco 49ers' first round pick Michael Crabtree has the tools to become elite receiver in the league. And with the 49ers trying to establish a solid offense to compliment the potential of the receiver, you would think that the rookie would be attentive to all the details of the first OTAs.

Well, not exactly.

Crabtree was sighted to be looking around, not paying attention to the play on the field while he stood on the sidelines. Crabtree's foot has sidelined him from any physical activities on the field for the OTAs, but it would be encouraging, at least, to see him being attentive to the offense.

The following day, Crabtree was standing right next to offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye trying to learn as much as he could about the new playbook. That's a good sign to me.

Crabtree is an interesting case. The foot injury does put a damper in his growth this rookie season. Since he has to stand on the sideline and wait, it becomes a little harder to learn the playbook without actually participating on the field with the rest of the teammates.

But I am glad that he is trying to learn as much as possible while waiting for his time to hit the field.

And obviously, once he hits the field, he might want to prove to some doubters of his "diva" title. Well, I wouldn't say he is a diva, but he has a lot on his plate once he is ready to make catches on the field.

I'm very hopeful for Crabtree. Since the departure of Terrell Owens in 2003, the 49ers haven't had a big name receiver.

The last one was Antonio Bryant, but he never gave himself the opportunity to excel with his attitude problem. Crabtree could be that kind of big receiver, if not bigger. But let's just hope there is no attitude problem with his game.

San Francisco 49ers One Step Closer to New Stadium in Santa Clara

Samuel Lam — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:21:26 -0400

On Tuesday night, Santa Clara officials signed a deal that would allow the 49ers to play their home games in a new 68,500-seat stadium next to Great America.

Santa Clara residents will then have a vote to approve the new stadium. If passed, the 49ers will soon move out of a San Francisco to play in Santa Clara. The voting period may come in March.

If all goes smoothly, the team could move to their stadium in time for the 2014 season. However, the $854 million stadium will only receive $90 million from the city and possibly little-to-no support from the NFL financially.

Earlier this year, the 49ers and Raiders were entertaining the idea of possibly sharing a stadium in the future. But now it looks like the 49ers will have to get a new stadium all on their own. The hardest part about this would be the financial aspect of it.

Most times, a city will fund more money and the NFL usually would help out in some capacity. But in order to accumulate $854 million for the stadium, the 49ers have to convince the public that they can fund that kind of investment.

Even though a new stadium would be great for the team, I still don't like the idea that the team would be moving out of the city in which they represent. The 49ers have always been "San Francisco" to me and anything different wouldn't feel right.

Obviously, there are some positives about the move. Aside from a new stadium, the team can generate more revenue with the new stadium. The travel there (distance and public transportation) will be a little more difficult for some fans, but that's something that the team has to figure out. But for some fans, the new location makes it easier for them to get to the game.

But come March, or whenever they decide to vote on the new stadium, I would hope that it doesn't pass. I'm old school and I think that if the team cannot play in San Francisco, then a new stadium isn't something I want. I just feel that the team should remain in San Francisco.

However, there are so many positives that come with the new stadium. As much as The 'Stick has been such a great place for the 49ers, a new stadium is definitely a need. And besides, the stadium is much closer to my home in San Jose.

I guess my only real reason in not wanting the move is my hope that the team would always be in San Francisco. But times have changed. Not many teams play in the city they represent. The team has been working to find a new stadium and the best fit is in Santa Clara.

So we'll see come voting time. Let's see where the new team will end up playing.

Manny Lawson: Should His Weight Gain Be a Concern?

Samuel Lam — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:24:35 -0400

In 49ers LB Manny Lawson's recent online blog entry, he mentioned his weight gain.

"After minicamp some of the reporters picked up on the fact that I've put on some weight. It wasn't a focus of mine and I don't think it will ever be a focus of mine. If it happens, it happens. Yes, I have gained a little bit of weight. But I won't gain so much to where it hinders me. Once I start to see my performance drop, I have to start slimming down. That might be tough for me, because I love food. I love sweets and I love snacks."

I usually don't think about weight gain for athletes. Sometimes, these things are added mass to the body—mainly muscle.

Now, for Lawson, it looks like his weight came courtesy of delicious food. And, then, he says that he will start to trim down if his performance slows.

My biggest problem with that statement is that Lawson will get in shape when he feels he isn't performing well. But wouldn't it just be better for him to get in shape so he doesn't run that risk? The training staff must have a say in this if he balloons up to 10 more pounds and isn't not running as fast.

And for Lawson's size (6'5"), weight isn't much of a surprise. But when an athlete admits that it's because of snacking, I take that as a red flag. We've seen over the years that unconditioned athletes don't perform to their best potential.

Now, I'm not going to get extremely worried at this point for Lawson. He's still young and could work it off easily during training camp. But this isn't the best thing for him since he's trying to prove management right for not selecting a pass rusher in this past draft.

Through the Steroid Era, Baseball Still Has Been Very Very Good to Me

Samuel Lam — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:26:45 -0400

Former MLB slugger Sammy Sosa once said, "Baseball has been very, very good to me." Actually, in his Dominican accent, baseball was actually "berry, berry" good to him. And for me, the sport has been nothing but "berry, berry sweet" to me.

Well, then the whole performance enhancing drugs fiasco came along. Baseball icons like Sosa, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, and Alex Rodriguez have been linked to PEDs.

Most recently, Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez tested positive for women's fertility drugs and on Tuesday, Roger Clemens went on the radio to once again tell everyone that he is innocent.

So how has baseball been good to me? Because of these guys I just named.

Growing up in the Oakland area, the Athletics were my team of choice to follow. Being only 12 years old at the time, it was exciting for me to start to pick up sports while growing up. And the Athletics had this fantastic promotion that year: all children ages 14 and under pay only 98 cents for any general seating area in the park.

Obviously, a ticket to a baseball game at that price is a steal. Sitting right behind the dugout at the Coliseum at that price was just phenomenal for a budding baseball fan.

I started to follow baseball during that 1998 season. And it was a season for the ages.

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chased Roger Maris' single season record. David Wells threw a perfect game. Roger Clemens had the pitching Triple Crown. Kerry Wood struck out 20 Astros in a game. The National League Wild Card race was truly wild (Cubs beat Giants in one game playoff for that spot).

As much as it was interesting to see former Oakland Athletic McGwire break the home run record, I think that the national attention to baseball gave me a desire to follow the game. After the 1994 strike, any good news for baseball was great news.

But as the years continued where home run records would fall, I started to follow the little bits and pieces of the game. I began to appreciate batters that could work a walk (in what most people know now as "Moneyball").

My appreciation for great defense (thanks to amazing Gold Glove efforts from Jim Edmonds, Torii Hunter, and Eric Chavez) grew as the years continued. The pitching matchups and the late-inning clutch hits became my yearly summer friends.

While these great things kept my passion for baseball fresh every season, the steroid era clouded everything that I loved.

Don't get me wrong, I am in no way a supporter of any kind of performance enhancing drugs. But it's hard for me to accept the fact that a good portion of my love for baseball came at the hands of cheaters.

McGwire refused to talk about the past. Palmeiro pointed and lied. Sosa forgot how to speak English. One by one, all my favorite stars looked weak and insecure in front of Congress. That was much different than the strong, powerful sluggers that I saw at the plate only a couple seasons prior.

My friends who aren't fans of baseball always question my passion for the sport.

"How could you like a sport where nearly everyone's a cheater?" they would ask.

My best reply would just be because I love the game that much. Every sport has a handful of cheaters; but only baseball has been put under the microscope for so long.

Baseball is still a game of speed, strategy, and sometimes just pure luck. That still hasn't changed through all these years. Players still go out to the field with a desire to play the game with a passion.

I'm not going to let some people who decided to take a shortcut ruin the sport for me. These athletes will get their just punishment when their time comes. It's just a shame that these athletes were the reason why I started to follow the game.

However, baseball is still baseball. The basic concept of the game hasn't changed. And the excitement I get while watching a game still will never change. Baseball has, is, and always will be very, very good to me—no matter how sour it has become right now.

Five Questions for 49er LB Manny Lawson

Samuel Lam — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:14:26 -0400

When I first started writing for my 49ers blog, the 49ers had just completed the 2006 campaign at 7-9. In what looked to be a great 2007 season for me to cover, ended up as one of the ugliest years in recent 49ers history.

The departure of Norv Turner forced the team to rely on Jim Hostler to run the offense. With numerous three-and-outs, the 49ers defense was forced to stay on the field for the majority of the season.

In that year, I was very hopeful for 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson to continue his second season as a great pass rusher for the 49ers. With the 49ers' first round selection of linebacker Patrick Willis in the 2007 NFL Draft, Lawson had a great chance to be part of a very young, explosive linebacker group.

Since starting my blog, my hopes for Lawson's success have been derailed by injuries. Lawson would suffer a leg injury during practice two games into the 2007 season and was used sparingly in last year's revamped 3-4 defense.

The 49ers were rumored to be interested in drafting a pass rusher this past April to replace Lawson. When the 49ers opted to not draft a new linebacker, it was a sign that the team might still believe Lawson could be that pass rusher of the future. And I still believe he could be that kind of a player.

If given the chance to interview Lawson, there would be a lot of topics I would want to cover. But these are the five questions that I really want to ask the 49ers linebacker:

You tore your ACL in 2007 and had a hamstring injury in 2008. Are there any extra precautions you are taking entering this year's training camp, to make sure you don't re-injure yourself?
In your first year with the 49ers, you played in all 16 games and collected 57 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Last year, you were able to play in 14 games, but were left out of the team's nickel defensive schemes. What changes have been made in this year's defense to allow you more playing time at linebacker?
The team was rumored to select a pass rusher in the NFL Draft but opted not to go that direction. This must be an indication that the team still believes in you, to be their main right side pass rusher. Are you approaching this season to show management that they made the right choice?
In your recent blog entry, you talked about how some reporters mentioned your new weight gain. You did assure them that the weight gain would not hinder your play on the field, even though you do enjoy the occasional snacking. You said that if your performance hinders, you would try to get back into shape. Is there a certain weight that you feel would be too heavy for your body frame?
As the OTAs approach, what do you like to do outside of football to keep yourself occupied and mentally sharp?

The 1998 San Francisco 49ers: When I Became Faithful

Samuel Lam — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:35:21 -0400

When I relive the classic days of the 49ers, a lot of memories return to the 1980s when Joe Montana led the team to four Super Bowl wins. Some of it goes back to the 1994 season when Steve Young finally reached the mountaintop.

But it’s hard for me to relate to those memories since I did not start to follow football until after all those great moments. In fact, I truly started to follow the 49ers and football during the 1998 season.

At that time, I was 12-years-old and I had finally gotten grasp of the majority of the rules of the game. I was really optimistic of the team for that season after what had occurred the previous year.

In that previous season in 1997, the 49ers lost Jerry Rice and Steve Young both to injuries in the first game. Despite all that, the team produced the top rated defense in the league. Jerry came back for one night against the Broncos as the 49ers retired Joe Montana's number at halftime. But after another disappointing exit from the playoffs with a loss to the Packers, I felt that the team could be better.

The first game of the season featured the 49ers (switching back to gold pants after two seasons in white) at home against the New York Jets. I was actually in Oakland that day at an A’s game. I had just gotten to my friend’s house after the A’s game to catch the latter part of the 49ers game. In overtime, Garrison Hearst broke a 96-yard touchdown run to win the team’s first game of the season.

What a start to my first full-time commitment to the 49ers!

The season was a blast for me to watch. The 49ers had another winning season, finishing at 12-4. Steve Young finished the year with a team record 36 touchdown passes and Jerry Rice came back from knee surgery from the past season to grab nine touchdowns while leading the league in reception yards.

But what was great to watch was the development of Terrell Owens at wide receiver. In his third season, Owens caught 14 touchdown passes and it looked like the 49ers offense was going to be unstoppable.

The 49ers were also blessed to have the solid running game of Garrison Hearst and Terry Kirby in the backfield. Throughout the remainder of the season, I watched every game without missing a snap.

I guess I was somewhat spoiled since the 49ers had always been a winning team to me. Those four losses during the regular season were things I did not expect from the team. At such a young age, I had no idea how to react to losses.

Any hiccup on the road to the Super Bowl scared me during the season. Losses to the Falcons and Packers during the regular season made me realize that the team might not be ready for the playoffs just yet. But I still hoped that the 49ers would end up on top.

The 49ers had lost to the Packers in the past three playoffs and this fourth meeting ended up being my favorite 49ers moment in my very young life as a fan.

After a seesaw battle, the 49ers prevailed with one of the most memorable plays in 49ers history. Steve Young threw this perfect touchdown pass to Terrell Owens with three second remaining to secure the 49ers’ win over the Packers.

The following week, both Garrison Hearst and Terry Kirby suffered injuries early in the game and the 49ers didn't have enough juice to beat the upstart Atlanta Falcons team. My first full season as a 49ers fan ended.

Still during that time, I remained a loyal 49ers fan and continued to cheer for them. But I don't think until recently, after 10 years, had I realized how important that one season made me love the team.

I had no real fond memories of the 49ers prior to the 1998 season. All I could remember was my dad telling me that Steve Young was a joke. I knew of the Super Bowls and all the players. But I wasn't part of a Super Bowl run until that 1998 season.

Now as I reminisce, I think that my first connection to this team made this my favorite team of all time. I grew up with this team and this team taught me the highs and lows of being a football fan.

This was Steve Young's final great season (he would suffer a career-ending concussion the following year). This was when Terrell Owens emerged as a superstar (before the ego settled in). The season had Jerry Rice and a victory over the Packers in the playoffs.

I can almost pinpoint every major victory during the 1998 season and those memories will last a lifetime with me. Everything prior to that year was just knowledge and history to me. But for this one season, I became part of the 49er faithful.

Most people will call back a Super Bowl team as their favorite team. But for me, it was the team that made me believe that we could win the Super Bowl again.

Mike Holmgren Wants NFL Return: 49ers in 2010?

Samuel Lam — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:21:45 -0400

This rumor is a few days old, but it got me thinking already about next year and the team's front office. Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported that former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren has already contemplated a return to the NFL.

Holmgren left the Seahawks after this past season to take a break from coaching. Apparently the break will be over in 2010.

The idea for Holmgren is that he might want to return to coaching or work some position in the front office. For next year's coaching carousel, he joins Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, and Jon Gruden as other Super Bowl-winning head coaches on the market.

Maybe coaching isn't for him after all. He might want to enjoy some behind the scenes work in the front office. That's where the 49ers come in.

It would be nice for Holmgren to return to San Francisco (his hometown) and the start of his NFL career. From 1986-1991, Holmgren molded the 49ers offense into a powerhouse.

After working as a quarterbacks coach under Bill Walsh, Holmgren took over the offense under George Seifert. I must say that winning two Super Bowls in that time period while coaching Joe Montana and Steve Young must have been pretty nice for him.

A return to San Francisco as part of the front office will definitely be welcomed. Unlike in Seattle, where Holmgren tried to balance general manager and head coach duties at the same time, Holmgren could focus on one.

Unless something major happens, Holmgren could be well suited to be the new general manager. But current general manager Scot McCloughan is still banking on this season to prove that his draft picks and his contract decisions will work out.

It's still too far ahead to think about Mike Holmgren's destination in 2010. Between now and then, he could change his mind and stay at home with his family. Or maybe if he does want to return, he wants to do it as a coach. There are a lot of things that have to factor in, and it's way too soon to tell.

But let's say Holmgren has a chance to work for the 49ers again; I would like to see it if it makes sense for the team.

Why Nate Davis Should Be in the Mix of the 49ers' QB Battle

Samuel Lam — Tue, 12 May 2009 04:50:00 -0400

Even though this offseason's quarterback battle will mainly be between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, the quarterback that could benefit most from this is Nate Davis.

The rookie quarterback out of Ball State was drafted in the fifth round and could be projected as the team's third string quarterback. He even could end up as the fourth stringer behind veteran Damon Huard.

But how can he benefit from a battle that doesn't even involve him?

Now, the 49ers would be fools not to name Shaun Hill their starter for the 2009 season. Everything that has gone right for Hill has gone accordingly, and he should be rewarded with the starting role. With an impressive 7-2 record as a starter, Hill does give the 49ers the best shot to win.

Let's say that Hill does get the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Who will be No. 2? You would think Alex Smith would take that spot, but Davis could be a solid challenger to Smith.

Smith is the pet project of the Mike Nolan era. With that No. 1 overall pick status looming over Smith, the "bust" word starts to creep closer and closer around 49ers camp.

The 49ers surprised some by restructuring Smith's contract to keep him around, but if he does not perform well, he should not be rewarded with the No. 2 spot. If Davis does play better, Smith's career in San Francisco might as well be over.

Smith says that he has fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery and is ready to handle the upcoming battle for the starting job. But with a lot of uncertainty behind Smith, Davis would benefit from the battle for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Davis has been criticized for having an unorthodox way of gripping the football, but that doesn't take away from his ability to throw the ball deep and accurately. In fact, those are the skills that I have yet to see from Smith at the pro level.

Davis looks to have more upside (and more potential) at this point than Smith does. If Davis outperforms Smith this offseason, the 49ers should not hold on to Smith as the future of the franchise. They need to let it go and move on.

Dyslexia, the learning disability that Davis has, should not be a problem for Davis as he learns the playbook. He has said that he is a great visual learner, and as long as he is able to visualize the play and picture it, he will be just fine on the field.

As Davis continues to battle for a position on the roster, he might just be good enough to make it to No. 2. He probably won't win the top spot, but he could very well set himself up for a bright future if he can show his goods in training camp.

Over recent years, backup quarterbacks have excelled when the team's starter is unable to perform. In recent memory, we can recall a Tony Romo or a Matt Cassel quietly taking notes as a backup. When their time came, they never looked back.

Thank You Chris Mullin For a Wild Ride Here in The Bay

Samuel Lam — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:30 -0400

As reported earlier today by the NBA, the Warriors have elected to not renew the contract of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin. The Warriors then hired Larry Riley as the team's new general manager.

Mullin was rumored to be fired by the team for the previous few months, but the move to not renew his contract may have been the best way to quietly handle the situation.

Mullin, a Bay Area favorite from his playing days with the Warriors, was more than just the man handling contracts and trade talks with the team. He was a man who cared about the team that drafted him and he wanted to help them win.

Mullin stepped onto the scene in the late 1980s. With Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond, they formed a dynamic trio on the court known as "Run TMC." Mullin would spend 13 of his 16-year career playing for the Warriors and during that time span, he also was part of the 1992 gold medal-winning Dream Team.

But as the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Mullin made some questionable moves.

In an attempt to bring the playoffs back the Bay Area, Mullin handed out large contracts to players like Adonal Foyle and Derek Fisher. Those did not turn out well. And in order to try to save his own mistakes, Mullin then made the three biggest moves in recent franchise history.

On February 24, 2005, Mullin orchestrated a trade that changed the dynamic of the team. In exchange for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis, the Warriors received All-Star point guard Baron Davis. The Warriors got hot for the remainder of the season and looked to carry the momentum into the next year.

But with a clash of playing style with then head coach Mike Montgomery (another Mullin mistake), Mullin convinced his old coach Don Nelson to return to the Warriors after the 2005-05 season.

With Nelson's up-tempo style offense and Davis running the point, the team was poised to return to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. But after a slow start to the 2006-2007 season, Mullin knew the team needed one more push. Then came Mullin's best move.

The Warriors and Pacers made a trade on January 18, 2007. The Warriors sent Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod to Indiana for Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Josh Powell. Mullin traded away some draft day mistakes for some players that he felt would help the team in that final playoff push.

Well, the rest is history. The Warriors made the playoffs and made everyone a believer. They eliminated the Mavericks in the first round in what I believe is my most memorable moment as a sports fan.

The next two seasons would be filled with a terrible contract communication (Baron Davis leaves to go to LA), hefty contracts to a budding star (then Monta Ellis decides to get on a moped) and a disgruntled forward (Al Harrington gets traded to New York). There would be disagreements all throughout the front office this past season and it was just time for Mullin to go.

It's a sad thing to see a guy that meant so much to the organization as a player and Executive VP to be kicked to the curb. Well, he wasn't really kicked rather just told it was time to go. I think that was the team's way of saying "thank you, but we're going in another direction."

And whatever direction the team does head onto now, I still have to thank Mullin for what he did. For all those mistakes he made, he did bring us that one magical season. And that one magical season took away 13 years of painful heartache.

Mullin did hurt the team this past year and it might take a long time for the team to recover. But I'll look the other way right now, because in my hindsight, I still see Oracle arena filled with fans in "We Believe" t-shirts. And that I can never forget.

How I Became a 49ers Fan: Thanks, Dad

Samuel Lam — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:37:54 -0400

I’ll admit it: I joined the 49ers Faithful via the bandwagon.

I became a 49ers fan because they were winning and I didn’t know much about sports at the time. It was Jan. 1995 and the 49ers had just won their fifth Super Bowl—the first team to achieve such a feat.

In 1995, I was a nine-year-old boy that was just getting into sports. I had just picked up playing basketball with my friends in elementary school and it seemed that a lot of my friends enjoyed active play during recess.

But my biggest influence on sports may be my father.

My father immigrated to the Bay Area from Hong Kong in 1981 and was very fortunate to have seen the 49ers win their first Super Bowl that year. And by trying to understand America’s sport, my father would continue to follow the 49ers.

It was very helpful for my father to see the 49ers win three more titles that decade. He would become a supporter of every member of those championship teams.

Then head coach George Seifert couldn’t compare to what Bill Walsh had established in San Francisco. My dad made sure that I was aware of his opinion on that matter.

When the 49ers traded Joe Montana to the Kansas City Chiefs, my father was furious. His hero had left and was replaced by Steve Young. Young in his own right was a great quarterback, but his style was so different from Montana that my dad just couldn’t accept it.

Young scrambled the instant the pocket broke and his running style was something my dad never got accustomed to. Rather than be a pass-first quarterback like Montana was, Young was more of a run before you pass type of quarterback.

But as I first started to follow football, Young was my quarterback. Montana was traded, so I had no memories of him on the team. All I knew was that Young was the quarterback I grew up with and I supported him.

My dad told me that Young was a failure and tried to convince me that the 49ers would never succeed with Young under center. Even after the 49ers won their fifth title, my dad refused to accept Young as a good quarterback. He would constantly compare Young to Montana—an unfair comparison, but the standard my dad held.

Actually, I shouldn’t have been a 49ers fan. I grew up in the East Bay in Richmond. My favorite teams were the Golden State Warriors and the Oakland Athletics. Both of these two teams play in Oakland.

Naturally, I should have been a Raiders fan. But at that time, the Raiders were in Los Angeles, so the 49ers were the only football team I knew. And as the years continued, my dad continued to egg me about Young. And for those years, I continued to support him just to prove my dad wrong.

Thanks, Dad. Without you, I might not have been so driven to follow the 49ers at such a young age.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Joe Montana. But your hate for Steve Young made me love the 49ers that much more.

49ers Expect More Run in New Offense

Samuel Lam — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:04:40 -0400

Out with Mike Martz, in with Jimmy Raye. That was the shakeup this offseason and the hiring of Raye as the new offensive coordinator means that the pass-happy offense Martz installed will no longer be in effect. In fact, the 49ers will expect just the opposite this upcoming season: more run.

Raye was hired after working with the New York Jets in 2008. In that season, Raye produced a top five running back in Thomas Jones. For the 49ers and their star running back Frank Gore, they hope that they can reproduce such success.

The 49ers struggled with their offensive identity last season with a quarterback battle that lingered all the way into the preseason. With the favoritism of Martz’s protégé, J.T. O’Sullivan, the 49ers struggled to find any offensive rhythm.

It was after head coach Mike Nolan’s firing and the quarterback switch to Shaun Hill that the 49ers strung together a more balanced attack.

As the 49ers will still feature another quarterback battle this offseason, the clear choice will be Hill under center. However, the offense will be run-oriented. The success to last season’s 5-2 finish came at the hand of Hill’s short passes and a better management of the clock.

This season, newly hired head coach Mike Singletary will look to do just that to start the season. The 49ers will not work into a lot of passes, but rather establish a hard-nose ground attack.

Offensive coordinator Raye will definitely provide the team more schemes to run the ball. The 49ers were in need of a right tackle this offseason and they fixed that problem with the signing of free agent Marvel Smith. The 49ers also added running back Glen Coffee from Alabama in the NFL Draft to help complement Gore in what the team envisions as a new “two-back system.”

As Raye installs a more run-oriented offense, the most pressure will now be put on the shoulders of Gore and whoever ends up as the quarterback. Much like the 2000 Ravens, the responsibility of the quarterback may not be to throw the deep touchdown passes, but rather simply to help the offense move the chains.

Let’s assume that Hill wins the quarterback battle. Deep, 40-yard passes will not be required of him, but rather swing passes and simple check-down passes would work just fine. Every now and then the team might call for a deep ball, but the running game is where the 49ers will make the biggest splash.

Gore will be expected to get at least 300 carries this upcoming season. He has been held under that mark the past two seasons. Gore reached 312 carries in 2006, his Pro Bowl year, with a total of 1,695 rushing yards.

With this many carries, Gore should be able to reach the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the fourth consecutive season. This time, I expect him to reach it way before the team’s final regular season game.

Raye’s new offense will probably require Gore and Coffee to split the duties in the backfield. Gore will still get the majority of the rushes, but we could certainly see Coffee get a chance to get possibly 150 carries.

The 49ers did bolster their passing game with the return of Isaac Bruce, the signing of Brandon Jones, and the selection of Michael Crabtree in the NFL Draft. But as the old saying goes: “A successful running game opens up a good passing attack.”

That’s the approach the 49ers will have this year under the new offensive of Jimmy Raye. And for all we know, it may just be the right offense for a team searching for a new offensive identity.

San Francisco 49ers: Understanding the New Uniform

Samuel Lam — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:11:35 -0400

Matt Barrows of the Sac Bee recently wrote a piece about the sleeves on the new 49ers uniforms. As many of you know, the stripes on the sleeves were modified, getting smaller as you go down.

The nice thing about the new uniform is that it is lighter and makes allows for better mobility. The stripes stretch better and the drop shadows allow the jersey, along with the new fabric, to breathe easier. Also, the piping down the pants also allow the players to move easier.

So far, a lot of players like the way the uniform fits and looks, which is pretty much all that it should be.

Also, Barrows gave us a little tidbit on the process of the uniforms.

The 49ers won't wear any "throwbacks" this season. But they probably will in coming seasons. And when they do, look for the 49ers to go way, way back. Here's one vote for the 1962 silver and red duds.
The 49ers got rid of the shadowed numbers and nameplates. But they kept the shadowing behind the logo on the helmet. Why? Because it provides a good foundation for the logo when it's on television, according to team officials. During the two-year process of designing the new uniforms, the team actually filmed the new helmets at Candlestick Park to see how it would appear on television. The black background makes the logo "pop" better.
Why not return to the broad stripe down the leg that the Joe Montana-era uniforms had? The stripes don't have a lot of give, and players found them too restrictive. The broad stripe also looked funny on some of the thinner-legged players. When ex-49er Brandon Lloyd wore the throwbacks, for instance, the stripe nearly wrapped around his entire leg.

And if you're looking for an alternate mascot, Uni Watch has this idea. There are some cleaner shrimp that look very similar to the 49ers pants stripes. Now that's cool!

49ers To Make Playoffs in 2009, Says Don Banks

Samuel Lam — Mon, 11 May 2009 04:25:00 -0400

I know it is way too early to make these types of predictions, but on paper, writer Don Banks does point out some positives going in the 49ers' direction. Banks recently wrote a piece that named six new teams that would make the playoffs and six teams that will not return this upcoming season.

The 49ers made the list as a new playoff contender with this assessment:

• San Francisco—The 49ers finished the season at 5-2 in their last seven games under interim head coach Mike Singletary, and that's almost always going to earn you chic-pick, team-on-the-rise status heading into the following season. But there is something about Singletary's old school approach that seems to be what the lackadaisical 49ers are in need of. He doesn't seem to suffer fools or sloppiness too well, and those are two things that have not been in short supply in San Francisco for a while now.

Whether or not the 49ers have enough quality quarterbacking to make their first playoff appearance since 2002 remains a question, but let's not lose sight of something here. The NFC West's past three champions have gone 9-7 (Arizona in 2008), 10-6, and 9-7 (Seattle in 2007 and 2006, respectively). So it's not going to take a quantum leap for San Francisco (7-9 last year) to scale that particular mountain.

Such success for the team would come at the Cardinals' expense. The division champions come to part of a trend where Super Bowl losers don't return to the playoffs. With that, it looks like the 49ers are being predicted by at least one person to return to the playoffs.

And with nine wins being enough to win the division, it's not too far-fetched for the 49ers.

The 49ers and Julius Peppers: A Waiting Game

Samuel Lam — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:14:08 -0400

Matt Barrows had a Q&A on his blog and the topic of Julius Peppers was brought up. Peppers was a free agent entering this off-season, but the Panthers put the franchise tag on the disgruntled defensive end.

Peppers has voiced his desire to play for a 3-4 defense and trading Peppers might be the only solution for the Panthers.

Question: Matt, you got everyone all jazzed up about a possible trade for Julius Peppers and then nothing happens? What the hell, dude?
- Ronald, Oakland

Answer: Patience, Ronald. Patience. I don't imagine anything would happen too soon. The Panthers and Peppers are currently engaged in a staring contest. Those situations typically don't get resolved until training camp at the earliest.

If the Panthers end up blinking and look to trade Peppers, the 49ers have as much ammunition as any team to make a deal. That's all I was saying in the original post...
- Matt

When I think about the Peppers deal, I don't know if the 49ers are willing to give up so much for him.

Not only would a trade for Peppers require the 49ers to possibly give up a first- or second-round pick, but it will also require them to give Peppers a contract that might pay him about $15 million a year.

For a team that is trying to build the franchise from the bottom up, spending so much on one player goes against the philosophy of the team.

Of course, Peppers is a huge upgrade and would definitely make the team better in the pass rushing category, but at what price would the 49ers give up to get him?

At this point right now, they shouldn't even think about it. It's a lot to give up for Peppers.