Shaun Hill and Mike Singletary Improve The Performance of 49er Football

The 49ers, despite losing four straight games, had everything going for them heading into their Week Eight matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. The division-leading Arizona Cardinals had lost 27-24 to the Carolina Panthers, and the second-place St. Louis Rams had just lost 23-16 to the New England Patriots.

They were also facing a 1-5 Seahawk team that they had beat in Seattle in Week Two; however, the 49ers found a way to choke, once again.

In new Head Coach Mike Singletary's coaching debut, the 49ers lost to the Seahawks by a final of 34-13, despite racking up 428 yards in total offense. O'Sullivan and Hill combined for over 300 yards but led their offense to only one touchdown, a 2-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Hill (Jason). 

Once again, J.T. O'Sullivan was a turnover machine, very much living up to the JTO acronym of Just Turn it Over.

On the first series, O'Sullivan tried to break free from a clear sack, held the ball away from his body instead of tucking it in, and had it knocked free for a fumble. Fortunately, the 49ers recovered 10 yards closer to their own goal line, when one of the lineman fell on the football. The fumble put the 49ers at a 3rd-and-25 instead of around a 3rd-and-14.

On the following series, the 49ers' offense finally started driving down the field, until another O'Sullivan fumble inside the red zone led to another failed drive and Seattle field goal.

Finally, on a critical fourth down, late in the first half, O'Sullivan threw an interception to Seattle cornerback Josh Wilson, who took the ball 75 yards for a touchdown. The 49ers were driving at the time and either a field goal or touchdown would have made it a one-score game; instead, after the interception, it was a three-score game.

It was now time for Head Coach Mike Singletary to make his first big move: enter Shaun Hill. Shaun Hill, like O'Sullivan, had been a career backup with no starting experience prior to his two starts last season (which he won) with the 49ers.

Hill came in and went 15-for-23 for 173 and a TD. He did fumble, but unlike O'Sullivan's fumble issues, this was a result of the defense making a play. The 49ers eventually recovered, saving Hill from a turnover. 

Unlike O' Sullivan, Hill was able to manage the offense, as the 49ers were able to methodically drive down the field for two scores. 

However, Singletary made his presence known for a second time in the midst of one of those drives. After a short reception, 49ers' tight end Vernon Davis was flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty for slapping a Seahawks' defender in the facemask. The stupidity of the penalty led to Coach Singletary vehemently yelling in the face of the 49ers' former sixth-overall pick on the sideline. He then sent the tight end to the 49ers' locker room with 10:41 remaining in the game.

Since the 49ers could not win a game that would have put them back in playoff contention, they have now all but fallen out of the playoff picture. But 49er fans should be pleased with one thing. Coach Mike Singletary. Singletary is clearly a "no nonsense" kind of coach, exemplified in his coaching moves on Sunday.

This team is clearly still in need of a quarterback to lead them, as neither Hill or O'Sullivan fit the bill as a franchise quarterback. However, with Nolan gone and Singeltary in, 49er fans should look forward to better all-around football. Assuming Hill remains as quarterback, the Niners should return to respectability. 

This team won't be able to make the playoffs. In part, mostly because Hill has a below-average deep ball and is playing in a pass-happy Mike Martz offense, but Hill as the starter will help this team improve down the stretch.

As dismal as this game was for the 49ers and their fans, there are some major positives coming out of San Francisco with the new philosophy of Head Coach Mike Singletary.

Through the first eight games of this season, 49er fans have been watching a lot of nonsense football with Nolan and JTO, but it's time to get ready for the "No-nonsense" 49ers, lead by Shaun Hill and Mike Singeltary.