Why Mike Singletary's Time with the San Francisco 49ers Is Winding Down

Mike Singletary's job may be safe for the remainder of the season with just five games left to play, but there's no question his tenure as the Niners coach is winding down. The man who once pulled down his pants during a halftime speech may have to pack up those pants and take them elsewhere.

San Francisco was supposed to take advantage of a weak NFC West and get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Instead, they got off to a disastrous 0-5 start that led many to call for Singletary to be fired. 

That didn't happen, but unless San Fran makes the playoffs, it's very likely Singletary will be unemployed.

And here's why. 

Week 1 Embarrassment

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 12: Kicker Olindo Mare #10 of the Seattle Seahawks kicks a 35 yard field goal during the NFL season opener against the San Francisco 49ers at Qwest Field on September 12, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Ima

The 31-6 shellacking that Seattle handled the Niners in its opener set the tone for the season. As mentioned in the introduction, this was supposed to be a San Fran team that was superior to an inferior division.

That hasn't been the case, and a large part of the blame has to go to Singletary for not having his team ready for Week 1. No matter how good Seattle has been at home over the years, the 49ers had the more talented team.

This loss sums up Singletary's career as a head coach thus far. When there have been expectations, he's come up short, but when there haven't, he's had success.

Motivational Tactics Only Go So Far

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers shouts on the sidelines during their game against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Imag

Listen to Singletary talk for five minutes and it's easy to understand why so many people respect him. He's a great motivational speaker and can get anybody fired up the first time you hear him.

The problem is, if you are in a locker room with somebody who is consistently giving these big dramatic speeches, they become less meaningful each time one is given. Hollywood may like to play up the great speech by a coach that leads to his team pulling out the win, but more often than not that's not how it goes.

Coaching is about game plans, managing players, developing talent and putting players in the best possible position to succeed. 

Singletary has yet to prove that he can do all of the above, and as the losses continue to pile up, his time as a head coach dwindles down.

Alex Smith

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 29: Quarterback Alex Smith #1 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 29, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 2

Smith was the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft and has handcuffed the 49ers franchise since then. He's shown signs of promise at times and been downright awful at others.

Against New Orleans in the second week of the season Smith played so poorly through three quarters that fans were chanting for David Carr—no, I'm not kidding, and yes, it got that bad.

But when the fourth quarter rolled around, Smith redeemed himself, playing terrific even though the Niners came up short. The fact that San Fran and Singletary have stuck with Smith this long could ultimately cost him his job.

If not for waiting too long to go to Troy Smith or not trading Shaun Hill this offseason, things could have been different in the Bay Area.

Promising Coaches Waiting in the Wings

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FLORHAM PARK, NJ - MAY 02: Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer of the New York Jets speaks to the media during minicamp on May 2, 2009 at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

49ers GM Jed York will have the choice of sticking with an underachieving coach once the season concludes or starting over with a promising new one. 

Brian Schottenheimer, Russ Grimm, Jim Harbaugh and Perry Fewell all could be considered for head coaching jobs this offseason, and they all are highly regarded. 

The 49er fanbase is getting fed up with losing seasons, and the pressure on the organization is mounting. Sticking with an increasingly unpopular coach doesn't seem to be a wise move for a team that is trying to turn the corner, especially with talented coaches available.

Scapegoat

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HERTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Head Coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers attends a press conference at The Grove Hotel on October 27, 2010 in Hertford, England. The San Francisco 49ers will meet the Denver Broncos in the NFL International Se

Firing Singletary would be pinning the Niners struggles on him and give the organization its fall guy. Singletary no doubt has played a large role in San Fran's inability to get over the hump, but he isn't the guy who drafted Smith to be the team's franchise quarterback.

That won't be an acceptable excuse for Singletary, seeing how other coaches have had success with so-so QBs, and it isn't like the Niners don't have any talent on the offensive side of the ball. Frank Gore is one of the league's top backs, and Vernon Davis is a top tight end. Throw in Michael Crabtree, and you have a good set of skilled players.

San Fran sits just one game back of St. Louis and Seattle, which means they still have a shot at the playoffs. If Singletary can get the Niners into the playoffs, he'll most likely retain the job

But if he fails, there's no question he will be the scapegoat for another disappointing season.