Give Nolan One More Year

Now that the 49ers dreadful season is over, the Yorks and the rest of us can concentrate on the most important aspect for the teams's future. Namely, should the 49ers allow Mike Nolan to remain as head coach for 2008?

Coming into the 2007 season, there were a lot of expectations after a solid finish to the 2006 season. The 49ers and Alex Smith both seemed to make important strides in their progress at the end of the season. In addition, with the extra salary cap money the 49ers went out and signed defensive back Nate Clemonts; plus, as it turned out, they drafted the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, in Patrick Willis.

Obviously, in light of their horrible 5-11 season the 49ers and Nolan fell far short of hopeful expectations. Even worst, Nolan believing that the 49ers would be a playoff team this year traded the team's number one draft pick to New England.

Since we live in an era of owner impatience, and great demands to be an instant winner, many professional sports teams don't allow much room for setbacks. One need look no further than Baltimore for a perfect example. After compiling an 80-64 record over nine seasons including a Super Bowl win in 2001 along three other playoff appearances, the Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti fired Coach Bill Billick after a 5-11 season. This coming after last season's 13-3 record. Thank you for your past contributions, but what have you done for me lately?

All important success and winning is top priority, but continuity also has its own credible place in sports. The 49ers defense has continually become better under Nolan's direction. However since the team has employed three different offensive coordinators in the last three seasons, we have not seen this same continuous progression with young quarterback Alex Smith. Nolan was forced at the last minute to ellivate QB coach Jim Hostler to offensive coordinator after Norv Turner left for San Diego. We all know the results of not only Smith's season, but also of the entire offense. Shaun Hill, not withstanding.

Nolan does need to take responsibility for the ineptitude of the offense, but what he is really guilty of is not allowing Shaun Hill to play much earlier in the season. Even when Smith went down for the season, the 49ers still could have made a playoff run but they were never going to accomplish the task with Trent Dilfer at QB. However, Nolan is a young coach and I don't know if any other young coach would have allowed an unproven QB such as Hill to lead this team.

The 49ers need to make some player movements during the offseason. They need to rebuild their offensive line and bring in some new wide receivers. The team needs to resign Shaun Hill, or bring in an established free agent QB to compete with Smith and Hill. Using one of their late draft picks on a QB would not be a bad idea either, for the future.

However, unless the Yorks can persuade Mike Martz, Bill Billick, or another offensive expert to become headcoach, then they should let Nolan return & restructure his offensive coaches in order for the team to compete next year. The defense should remain solid, and with some key moves on offense the team could compter next year in the weak western division.