Scapegoat Search: Who Is To Blame for 49ers' Meltdown?

And the nominees:  Mike Singletary, Nate Clements, Alex Smith.

And the winner:  Mike Singletary!!

Yes, it's easy to blame this loss on Alex Smith or Nate Clements.  Let's take a look at Nate Clements first.  This guy actually played a pretty good game.  He has never lived up to his contract and  I have basically given up on looking for him to do that.  He is, however, still a viable starter at cornerback.  For a guy who has been playing the game this long and who used to be an elite player, he needs to understand the situation he is in after that interception.  He has the ball inside the 20 and there is less than two minutes to go.  Atlanta does have all three timeouts, so going down might not sound like the smart play.

However, one first down wins it and a field goal almost all but wins the game.  Nate Clements has to realize this.  The only thing he cannot do is fumble.  You could see that fumble coming form a mile away; that's the worst part.  The ball was being held so insecurely.  So, yes, Clements had a crucial error.  However, does he even have the chance to make that error if....

Alex Smith doesn't take that intentional grounding penalty?  Take the sack!!  Joe Nedney still would have had a shot to kick the field goal if Alex Smith just goes down.  It would not have been an easy field goal but if he makes it then  Atlanta has to score a touchdown and the 49ers are in good shape.  But Alex Smith demonstrates what separates him from good quarterbacks in the league here with a lack of decision making.  Where does it all start?

At the top.  You can fire Jimmy Raye but let's take note that what is supposed to be a dominant run defense has underperformed all year too.  The problem for this team isn't only the offensive side of the ball.  There is a complete lack of quality coaching going on in San Francisco.  Motivation and leadership do not get the job done when the knowledge of X's and O's isn't there.  Singletary coaches like he has the 1985 Chicago Bears playing for him.  He comes into each game with a conservative offensive approach and hopes that his defense keeps the team in games.  Well, when the defense is forced to spend as much time on the field as the 49ers defense is, it is going to break eventually.  This game ended just like the New Orleans game.  Singletary was outcoached and did not know how to put a game away.  He needs to figure something out fast or his 49ers coaching career could be coming to a sudden and abrupt end.