Hiring a 106 year-old OC whose career path has really had no success does seem a little worrying- but I'm starting to warm to the idea. The 49ers are going to be a defensive team, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's been defensive teams that have been the most successful over the past few years. IF they build up a decent-to-very-good defense (and they're really only a pass-rusher away), then the offense just has to be competent, not dominant. With Frank Gore and Shaun Hill, you've got yerself a competent offense.
Think New York Giants- a team with a very good defense, a good running game (Scot wants to add a second RB to help Gore), a QB who's OK but not a world-beater, and a pretty good Oline. Sure, the niners don't have a Plaxico Burress type on the outside, but no analogy is perfect. Shaun Hill also makes fewer stupid mistakes than Eli Manning.
The point is, all Mr Raye and company have to do is not lose games. The offense will not be responsible for winning most of the niners' games- it'll be up to the defense to keep it close, then the offense to put it away. That's what they did in the second half of last season (except when they were playing the Rams), and that's the plan for next year. There will be no more J.T. O'Sullivan throwing away games that should have been close, if not won.
I, for one, am excited about this whole offseason. Singletary really seems like a guy who's given this whole thing a lot of thought and he seems very confident in his plan. I'm sure I felt the same way about Mike Nolan, but Sing has his record last season to go off of, and that was a pretty impressive performance.
Also, I think we really need to recognize how cool Jed York is. To this point he really looks like a guy you want as your team's president- winning is everything and cost means nothing. Just get us a stadium and we'll love you forever, Jed.
