NFC West: Singletary shows Niners he means business
Sports Network | October 28, 2008
(Sports Network) - New interim San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary wasted little time showing his players there is a new sheriff in town.
In one game, Singletary switched quarterbacks, sent his team's starting tight end to the locker room after a penalty, and then apologized for his team's play in his first-ever postgame press conference.
Unfortunately, his hard work didn't result in a win. The 49ers (2-6) fell to Seattle, 34-13, to run their losing streak to five games.
"I apologize for the start," said Singletary, who replaced a fired Mike Nolan earlier last week after serving as San Francisco's assistant head coach for the last four seasons. He went on to add that things are going to change by the Bay.
"It will change. And it will change because (the players) want it to change, not because of me. It will change because they want to be champions. But right now we've got to figure out the formula. Our formula."
Things already were being altered on Sunday. Starting quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan threw an interception that was returned 75 yards for a score -- his 10th pick in the last five weeks -- and also lost one of two fumbles before being replaced by Shaun Hill.
Singletary displayed fire on the way to a Hall of Fame career as a Chicago Bears linebacker from 1981-92. After all, he didn't post 1,488 career tackles by being timid. He also knows that he is auditioning for this job for next year.
His passion came to the surface late in the game after tight end Vernon Davis, the sixth overall pick of the 2006 draft, was whistled for a personal foul penalty.
According to Davis, the tight end "tapped" Seattle safety Brian Russell and was hit with a flag after a first-down catch late in the third quarter. He was then pulled off the field by Singletary before being eventually sent to the locker room.
"I told him that he would do a better job for us right now taking a shower and coming back and watching the game than going out on the field. Simple as that," said Singletary.
Singletary was apparently more upset with how Davis reacted to the call than the penalty itself.
"It was something that I told everybody at the very beginning of the week. I will not tolerate players that think it's about them when it's about the team," the fired-up coach said. "And we cannot make - we cannot make decisions that cost the team and then come off (to) the sideline and it's nonchalant. No."
For his part, Davis respected Singletary's decision, though he stood fast in his belief that the penalty was a bad call.
"I don't think I did anything wrong," said Davis. "If the coach thinks I did something wrong, then I have to listen to him. He's the boss."
Singletary wouldn't commit after the game to either Davis or O'Sullivan remaining starters following the upcoming bye, but did clear things up a bit on Monday.
According to the 49ers' official site, the new coach named Hill the starter for the team's first game after the break, and also mentioned that Singletary had a talk with Davis later in the day.
"It's not that (Davis) is out of my good graces, not at all. I don't have a dog house," Singletary told reporters on Monday before later speaking to Davis personally.
UP NEXT: After regrouping and learning how to play under their new head coach, San Francisco will play in Arizona in a Monday night clash on November 10.
RAMS: AVERY FILLING THE VOID
When wide receiver Drew Bennett went down with a foot injury in Week 1, there were probably a few people in the St. Louis area that wished the club hadn't waived 14-year Ram Isaac Bruce in the offseason.
Donnie Avery now has those same people saying "Isaac who?"
With Bennett still out due to injury and the Rams offense finally showing life under interim head coach Jim Haslett, it is the second-round pick Avery who is emerging into the spotlight.
The 5-foot-11 University of Houston product has posted 14 catches, 291 receiving yards and two touchdowns in three games under Haslett after making just six catches for 46 yards and zero touchdowns through the season's first four games.
Avery had his best game as a pro on Sunday, making six catches for a personal- high 163 yards, with a chunk of that coming on a career-high 69-yard touchdown catch.
"I said it last week, the more and more time he gets, he gets a better feel for things," said quarterback Marc Bulger, who threw for 301 yards for the Rams (2-5). "On his long touchdown today, he had an outside release, which isn't what we want, but he knows his landmarks and he is just going to get better and better."
Chemistry is a big thing. Bulger has it with current wideout Torry Holt. He had it with Bruce. He is getting it with Avery.
"I think he is starting to learn me and I am starting to learn what he does well and the things that suit him," Bulger added. " (Offensive coordinator) Coach (Al) Saunders is going to find that out and (Avery) will keep growing. He could be really good."
Avery's heroics couldn't stop St. Louis from blowing a three-point fourth- quarter lead against the Patriots. The 23-16 loss was the team's first in three games under Haslett.
For his part, Avery was more concerned with the end result and not his personal performance.
"The numbers don't count if you can't get the win," the 33rd pick of the 2008 draft said. "We need to go out next week and get it done. We are a team and everyone has to put in, that is what we did today. We just didn't get it done today."
The Rams had the idea of Bennett being the No. 2 wideout this year alongside Holt after Bruce was let go. However, he may return to his familiar third receiver role when his foot heels, if Avery can continue to grow each week he is on the field.
UP NEXT: The Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in the first meeting between the two NFC West teams this year. The Cardinals have won their last three versus the Rams, as well as three straight in St. Louis.
SEATTLE: SEASON FULL OF SURPRISES
It has been one heck of a season for the Seattle Seahawks. A team coming off four straight NFC West titles found itself in last place heading into this past Sunday's clash with San Francisco.
Injuries to just about all of its wide receivers dampened the start of the 2008 season, while an ailing back for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has hindered the Seahawks over the last three games.
However, a 1-5 start was the biggest surprise for a Seattle team that is in its final year under the guidance of head coach Mike Holmgren. Holmgren, though, had a surprise up his sleeve in the form of Leonard Weaver.
A fullback, Weaver posted touchdown catches of 43 and 62 yards in the Seahawks' 34-13 win over the 49ers that prevented them from going 1-6 for the first time since 1992. The win also vaulted Seattle into second place in the NFC West.
"He does the dirty work," said Holmgren of Weaver. "He's blocking most of the time, so when those guys that are unselfish get a chance to touch the ball and have some fun, I feel that much better."
Weaver entered the game with 46 career receptions before making four catches on Sunday. His two receiving touchdowns were also the first of his career.
The 26-year-old, who took over the full-time fullback job when Mack Strong retired last season, credited downfield blocking with helping spring him for his big catches, as well as quarterback's Seneca Wallace ability to scramble.
Weaver, though, isn't ready to take on a bigger role in the passing game.
"My first obligation is to block. My second obligation is to block," he said. "All I know is if they throw you a bone, you've got to grab it."
On the injury front, it looks like Hasselbeck will miss his fourth straight game this weekend due to a bulging disc in his back. He told KIRO Radio in Seattle on Tuesday that he was not cleared to play after visiting a back surgeon on Monday.
UP NEXT: After playing its last two games on the road, the Seahawks return home to take on the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday. Seattle has won its last two versus the Eagles -- both in Philadelphia -- by a 70-24 count, but trails 5-6 in the all-time series.
ARIZONA: BOLDIN MAKES QUICK IMPACT
Arizona Cardinals standout Anquan Boldin was off to the best start of his career before being the victim of a scary helmet-to-helmet hit by New York Jets safety Eric Smith in Week 4. Apparently, even facial surgery can't slow down the playmaking wide receiver.
Boldin posted five touchdown catches before leaving a September 28th loss to the Jets due to the hit by Smith, exiting the field on a cart after suffering a variety of injuries, including a concussion and sinus fracture. He had surgery that required wires being inserted into his lower jaw, while the upper portion of his jaw had to be reset after the hit.
Boldin was considered questionable for Sunday's 27-23 loss at Carolina after missing Arizona's final two games before having a bye two weekends ago. He was cleared to play last week, though many thought his snaps would be limited.
Not so, as quarterback Kurt Warner attempted 49 passes against the Panthers, with Boldin being on the field for most of them. The 28-year-old wideout made a team-high tying nine catches for 63 yards in addition to two touchdown receptions. He also had a 30-yard run on a reverse play, making him the Cardinals' leading rusher for the game.
"It was just good to be back out there," Boldin told Arizona's official site. "For myself, I just tried to work as hard as possible after the injury, trying to get back to where I left off before the injury."
Boldin did that and more. Despite the two-game absence, the Florida State product is still tops in the NFL with seven touchdown catches this season.
A running game has become a thing of the past in Arizona. With Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald playing together again, head coach Ken Whisenhunt had to find snaps for second-year wideout Steve Breaston as well.
Breaston, who shined with Boldin on the sidelines, got on the field as well on Sunday, with Arizona often going to three and four wide-receiver sets. He matched Boldin's nine catches in the game while adding 91 receiving yards.
UP NEXT: Arizona is in St. Louis this Sunday. The Cards trail the all-time series with the Rams, 19-24-2, including playoffs.
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