Midseason Report

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San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers played poorly enough the first seven games that coach Mike Nolan was fired. No shock there. He had to win or he was done. The biggest problem in his tenure, and again this season, has been the quarterback play. Alex Smith is a flop and J.T. O'Sullivan is a stopgap player. He has turned the ball over way too much, which is why Shaun Hill took over Sunday. Frank Gore has run well again to highlight the offense. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz needs to get him the ball more. The defense, which was Nolan's strong suit, has been near the bottom of the ratings all season long. They can't get off the field. The 49ers have invested a lot of picks and money on that side of the ball to see the struggles they've had. With Nolan gone, Mike Singletary takes over as the interim coach. It will be interesting to see how this team responds to his style. His move to send Vernon Davis to the showers will be a close one to study. There are some who wonder if Singletary is ready. We'll find out. If not, the 49ers could be looking outside come next season. Midseason Grade: C-


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