Why Singletary Saved His Job By Getting Rid of Raye's

After nineteen games as offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye is out. And for you Alex Smith apologists out there, that's the seventh 49ers coordinator in seven years. Despite the need for continuity that was sacrificed with the firing of Jimmy Raye and promotion of QB coach Mike Johnson, it was the smart move for Mike Singletary to make. Both for himself and for the team.

Click for the jump for three reasons why.

1- Chemistry and Communication

The root of the offensive dysfunction is the offensive chemistry

Consider a team like the Saints and compare it to the 49ers:

On Monday Night Football, tied at 22, the Saints took the field, looking to drive 60 yards for a game winning score. As they lined up for their first snap of the drive, the offensive players had a collective sense of what they were going to do to get down the field. Get the ball to receivers on the sidelines, and open up a seam for Colston down the middle.

There were no mis-communications, no hesitancy or confusion and it led to flawless execution.



The 49ers are the antithesis of this example and can be attributed to the lack of leadership provided by former offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. The team funneled play calls from Jimmy Raye's seat in the booth, through QB coach Mike Johnson and into Alex Smith's helmet.

Fixing this communication problem alone, plus the benefit of having a sole offensive leader, Mike Johnson on the sidelines, will improve communication and boost chemistry.

2- Trust

The players do not trust the playbook. Jimmy Raye's gameplan was clear, spread a defense out with throws to the flats and than pound them up the middle with the run, yet the team was not buying into it.

Guys like Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree need to get the ball in the middle of the field, with room to break open large gains, not tip-toeing the sidelines.

Mike Johnson was reportedly a vocal supporter of the wide open offense the 49ers utilized at times last year. An offense that led to mixed results on the field, but was widely popular in the locker room. Especially with guys like Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree, who enjoyed the best success in college, while in a spread offense.

Bottom line. If the players trust the play calls that are making their way into the huddle, they will better motivated to perform and execute on the field.

3- Singletary is learning to adapt.

Singletary started his NFL coaching career looking to play the physical, tenacious, no suprise type of football that defined his own playing career.

Props to Singletary for learning from his mistakes and acknowledging that his initial gameplan was a flawed one.

Of course 49ers fans wish he would have learned this months ago, as opposed to now, after an 0-3 start, heading into a must win against Atlanta, yet it is a credit to Singletary's character that he was able to acknowledge his own mistake and make the necessary steps to fix it.

Many NFL coaches would have gone down with guns blazing, sticking with what they believe in. If nothing else, Singletary showed us that he can adapt.

Now he, along with new offensive coordinator Mike Johnson, is going to have to show us that he can produce.