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I’m not usually one to quote the Mercury News.  I think they had it out for Mike Nolan before he deserved it.  No question the man deserves it.  Ann Killion, the reporter who traded the infamous barbs with Nolan which launched their paper on their crusade to remove him, had this to say today:

After the game, Nolan once again placed the blame squarely on the players. Errors. Lack of focus.

“It’s just execution,” he said at one point. “That’s all it is.”

Not preparation. Not coaching. Not scheme. Not motivation. Not hiring the wrong players.

This has nothing to do with J.T. O’Sullivan being Just. Terrible. Okay?  This has nothing to do with some idea that the defense can’t hang.  This has nothing to do with Mike Martz and his stubbornness or poor playcalling.  Okay… well… maybe a smidge.  Coaching is the problem.  It’s plain as the MRI’s from Alex Smith’s shoulder.  Okay… well… maybe not.

It’s not Coaching, per se, but one Coach in particular.  The book on Mike Nolan was written a long time ago.  He’s proven himself incapable not only of receiving criticism, but also of accepting any blame for the way things go.  I’ll be the first to tell you that the players have to execute on the field.  You can’t really blame the coaches for 13 penalties for 1,567,421 yards in one game.  I exaggerate.  A little.  You can’t really blame the coaches for 136 sacks in 7 games.  Okay.  29.  But who’s counting, really?  (JT, ice tub, stat!)

Why do some teams protect their quarterback better?  It’s not like we have horrible offensive linemen.  Why do some teams have less penalties?  It’s not like it’s all that hard to wait for the snap of the ball or something.  Why do some defenses stop other teams on 3rd down?  We saw a glimpse of some aggression today.  But we’re all tired of merely “glimpses.”

Above all, I think we’re all tired of, after every loss, hearing the same tired old line from Mike Nolan.  His press conferences can be written for him before he gives them.  With every loss it’s all about execution.  There is something to be said for that.  There is something to be said for players throwing interceptions, or fumbling the ball, or missing tackles, or leaving wide receivers wide open.  But there is also something to be said for throwing the ball too often, or running on third and long, or playing “Big Sub Nickel.”  Did we hear anything about how Big Sub Nickel nearly cost us the win at Seattle?  No, because as Mike Nolan will tell us, the 49ers won that game.  Won?  Really?  More like survived, and that just barely.  I wouldn’t say that’s a winning formula.  And yes, we beat the Lions.  What, you want a Girl Scout badge for that one?

Mike Nolan came close to accepting blame once.  Almost.  Actually a few times, after putting his players in their place, comfortably below himself on the blame scale, he’s said, “Maybe I didn’t do a good job.  I don’t know.”  Maybe?  I don’t know?  Way to commit, Mike.  What about the infamous “We’re not making any changes” after the embarrassing loss to the Eagles?  Or perhaps the nerve of Alex Smith to become injured–that coward.  Perhaps this is all Billy Davis’ fault, after all.

We all know Mike Nolan. We know what he’s going to say.  We know his leadership style of passive-aggressive belittling and blame, and above all we know his formula for success.

Hey.

Does anyone hear crickets chirping?

Game over, Mike Nolan.  Thanks for getting us out of salary cap hell and some decent players.  Now get off my football team.