Here is a selection of dialogue from what is probably Mike Nolan’ final Monday press conference. To my way of thinking he over-rates J.T. O’Sullivan and makes excuses for him. He does not even consider starting Shaun Hill. He confronts the fact that he may lose his job. Some say he’s already lost it to Mike Singletary who would be interim coach. Singletary is a defensive coach, and that’s not really what the Niners need. They need an offensive guy who uses the West Coast Offense.
Q: Will you make a change at quarterback?
A: We will not make a change at quarterback. J.T. gives us our best chance to win.
Q: Why is he your best QB?
A: As evidenced by the film and by the game, he makes plays and he gives us a great chance to move the ball. He makes good decisions. He has to do a better job of securing the football. There’s no question. But as far as his ability to run the offense he gives us the best chance to win.
Q: Does that mean JTO is a good starting QB?
A: The turnovers don’t make him produce at the winning level. I believe for this football team he is developing and he will develop into a very good quarterback.
Q: Why hasn’t he been securing the ball?
A: Just focus. We have to work on it more in practice, create drills as a coaching staff that involve that. In practice you do tell your defensive guys to stay away from the quarterback. We’re not going to slap at his hands in a drill with the risk of breaking a knuckle or anything like that. That would be foolish. Some of that’s got to be attention to detail on his own.
Q: Why is J.T. better for this offense than Shaun Hill?
A: J.T. O’Sullivan can deliver the ball vertically more often. I would say Shaun is a safer choice but when you’re trying to get better and trying to score points the ball has to go down the field a bit more. J.T. has a better grasp of the offense. If you take away the bad plays and look at what he’s done he’s very capable of producing regularly on offense. You can’t dismiss those bad plays and that’s what we need to correct but there’s the evidence there of what we need to do. If you see the positive plays that’s very good. If you add the negative that’s what we need to correct.
Q: Does JTO lack pocket awareness?
A: He needs to secure the ball better when he’s in the pocket. It’s not always his fault. We have to work on that in practice more, set up some drills. He does take coaching to heart.
Q: What did you think the team would do well before the season?
A: I thought we’d play more consistent defense. Special teams I expected to be good, they continue to be good. Offensively I expected us to be very capable coming out of the preseason because it was evident we really could move the ball. It was also evident when we didn’t secure the ball it would be difficult to win. When we did secure the ball we would win.
Q: Aren’t risks and mistakes inherent in (Mike Martz’) offense?
A: I wouldn’t put the mistake word in there. But there’s a risk when you turn someone loose so you can get a big play. It’s more risky than to bring a bunch of guys in to protect, eliminate the possibility of a big play and just work the one on one.
Q: Why will J.T. cut down on those errors?
A: I can only believe that with coaching he will get better. In practice we complete a lot of balls. That’s a good sign. We don’t turn a lot of balls over in practice.
Q: How would you evaluate yourself?
A: I’m not in a position to hire or fire Mike Nolan. I’ve got confidence in a lot of things around me. We’ve just go to put it together and get some wins is all.
Q: Why are you confident that you can get over this losing streak and start to win games?
A: Because I have no choice but to be confident. It’s not a choice. It’s just the way it is. It’s my job.
Q: Do you want to hear a show of support from the Yorks?
A: You always want to have support, but I know what my job is. My job is to work with the players and coaches and try to put together the best game plan to win games. That’s what my job is.
Q: Would you bring up the big picture with ownership?
A: Would I bring it up? No, it’s a distraction. I know what my job is. My job’s to coach the team and win games. It’s just a reality that’s on the outside but I can’t let it affect what my job is. It’s just speculation until something is acted on.
Q: Why should you keep your job?
A: Because it’s my job right now. I am the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
Q: Football reasons?
A: We’re a football team that these last four weeks we lost four games. But at the same time you’ve got a very strong group of players. Our players play hard week in and week out. That’s a sign they’re prepared. The penalties we can correct. We don’t have a divided house.
— Lowell
