The Rebuilding Of The Rebuilt 49ers
Five games into the Mike Nolan era and the veneer of the so-caled "benefit of the doubt" is lost.
In consecutive weeks Nolan has auctioned off large assets--at least by 49er standards--to the lowest bidder. First linebacker, Jamie Winborn to Jacksonvilee and now, quarterback Tim Rattay to Tampa Bay for a sixth round pick.
With this latest trade, Nolan has unwisely scrubbed the cupboard bare with the past follies of 49er past and now has put all of the teams near-future in the hands of his only major decision--the drafting of number one pick, Alex Smith. Sticking with the immobile and visibly confused signal-caller may worsen the team in the long run.
Not only has Smith's play been dubious, but his projection as a future franchise quarterback was already way past plausible. The Smith Project is a disaster waiting to happen regardless of his talent, but coupled with the wreck that has become the former five-time Super Bowl champs; it's now a certainty.
What Nolan is up to in San Francisco is clear: The atmosphere in 49erland was devoid of talent and curiously poisoned when he arrived from Baltimore. Nolan is trying to rid the team of its bad apples, unfortunately those apples were the best he had.
In consecutive weeks Nolan has auctioned off large assets--at least by 49er standards--to the lowest bidder. First linebacker, Jamie Winborn to Jacksonvilee and now, quarterback Tim Rattay to Tampa Bay for a sixth round pick.
With this latest trade, Nolan has unwisely scrubbed the cupboard bare with the past follies of 49er past and now has put all of the teams near-future in the hands of his only major decision--the drafting of number one pick, Alex Smith. Sticking with the immobile and visibly confused signal-caller may worsen the team in the long run.
Not only has Smith's play been dubious, but his projection as a future franchise quarterback was already way past plausible. The Smith Project is a disaster waiting to happen regardless of his talent, but coupled with the wreck that has become the former five-time Super Bowl champs; it's now a certainty.
What Nolan is up to in San Francisco is clear: The atmosphere in 49erland was devoid of talent and curiously poisoned when he arrived from Baltimore. Nolan is trying to rid the team of its bad apples, unfortunately those apples were the best he had.
