Martz, 49ers called a bad fit

Martz, 49ers called a bad fit January 1
San Francisco Chronicle
"There was Aristotle, there was Descartes, there was Nietzsche and then along came a visionary named Mike Martz. While Mike Singletary's view of the first three philosophers is unknown, his take on Martz is unequivocal:

"Our philosophies are different. It's as simple as that," the new 49ers head coach said Wednesday in his season- and year-ending news conference, a day after firing Martz as his offensive coordinator.

"We have to have a long-term solution for that position," Singletary said. "Philosophy-wise, going forward, I did not feel the fit was there. ... My offensive philosophy is more of a traditional one, more of a run to pass. My philosophy is to run a little more than pass it and hopefully have a balance, 50-50. The most important thing is to be able to run."

Singletary has hit the ground running in his search for a replacement for Martz. He said he has a long list of possible candidates but would not disclose any names. He said he wants to hire an offensive coordinator "as soon as possible."

Along with Martz, Singletary also fired quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner and running backs coach Tony Nathan. Singletary said his new coordinator will have the authority to hire a quarterbacks coach and an offensive assistant.

Singletary said no other changes to his coaching staff are expected as the 49ers prepare for 2009, unless an assistant leaves of his own volition.

As for the qualities he'll look for in an offensive coordinator, Singletary said he would prefer a coach who has done the job before and would look to remain with the 49ers more than one season before moving on. No ageist, Singletary said he is not looking for a coordinator of a certain age, either a younger man starting out or a hoary veteran of the play-calling wars.

"I am in the mode of a more traditional-style offense, very much like the style that used to be here when coach (Bill) Walsh was here, but with a different mind-set," he said. "I want to know I can run the ball. I want to know I can impose my will on the defense. I want to know I can run against an eight-man front."

It takes a heavy-duty, slam-banging, mosh-pit-moving offensive line to accomplish that style of moving the ball. Singletary was asked if he has the kind of offensive line capable of grinding out the yards on the ground.

"Yes, sir," he said, referring to primary starters (left to right) Joe Staley, David Baas, Eric Heitmann, Chilo Rachal and Adam Snyder.

In 2008 the 49ers had the 27th-ranked rushing offense and the 13th-ranked passing offense. They ran the ball 397 times and passed it 509."


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