Sports Radio Interviews

Mike Singletary: ‘We Will Be Ready to Go’

SRI continues to work in new writers. This post is courtesy of Tim Gunter from 790 the Zone in Atlanta.

You have to like Mike Singletary and what he has done with the 49ers in such a short time. In his debut as interim head coach, he pulled down his pants in the locker room to prove a point, sent Vernon Davis to the showers early, and benched J.T. O’Sullivan for underperforming. After starting the season 2-5, Singletary managed to go 5-4 down the stretch which was enough to convince the 49ers front office that he is the guy for the job. He is an old school, no nonsense type of guy that won’t take any jive from anyone. He lives and breathes football 24/7 and that is the type of guy I would want coaching my team.
San Francisco starts off the season by playing the defending NFC Champions, Arizona Cardinals, on Sunday against a potent offense that is sure to make any coach lose sleep. After all it is the 49ers offense that needs to show up and put some points on the board as they ranked 22nd in points scored last season. Patrick Willis and the rest of the 49ers defense are chomping at the bit to show that they can match-up against Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals offense.

Mike Singletary joined KNBR in San Francisco to talk about playing the Arizona Cardinals to start off the season, how to defend the Cardinals offense, their cornerback battle between Shawntae Spencer and others, and on Frank Gore’s health coming into the season.

On defending the potent offense of the Arizona Cardinals:

“Well I’ll tell you that we just got to go out and do the very best we can. To strive and make plays on our side of the ball as well. Hopefully if we do our job then everything should come out the way it should.”

On Kurt Warner and Fitzgerald as the most unstoppable duo in the league:

“Well there is no doubt about that. Fitzgerald, Boldin and Warner I mean you could go on and on with the things that they have accomplished. For us it is really paying attention to detail and the things that we need to do in order to try and have a chance to win.”

How come Shawntae Spencer won the job over Dre Bly and Terrell Brown?

“Well number one, I think Shawntae came back ahead of schedule from the injury that he had last year. Shawntae has a great deal of experience at that position and particularly with our defensive calls and some of the technical things that you have to do in order to execute defensively on the back end. Dre has been outstanding. He has been an outstanding addition to our team as well., but Dre is a little bit behind in terms of the understanding the little things in terms of the detail of our defense particularly on the back end. I think that is one of the biggest things that separated Dre Bly and Shawntae Spencer. The other thing about Shawntae is he has really come in with a tremendous attitude, tremendous work ethic, and just excited about what he is going to bring and really excited about what Dre’s presence alone is big. So excited about both of them. That is kind of the way I explained it to him. As far as Terrell Brown is concerned, Terrell has been outstanding. He has worked his tail off as well and we are very fortunate to have a situation where you kind of have to sit back and go, ‘Ok, we are going to pick this guy knowing that the next guy certainly has talent and can certainly go in and start for other teams as well.’ I think we are in a very fortunate situation and everything we do we want to go with what gives us the best opportunity to win.”

On whether Frank Gore is ready to go for the season and if he is the most exciting guy on the offensive side of the ball:

“Well once again obviously you would like to say, ‘Yeah he is the most important guy.’ Those guys upfront in the trenches, they are the most important guys and I think Frank will be the first to tell you that. If they don’t open up holes then you aren’t going to see Frank run. So for me, it’s just really taking a step back and allowing the process to take place. But our offensive line is going to have to move off the ball and they are going to have to move some people if they are going to have some success in our running game.”

Listen to Mike Singletary on KNBR in San Francisco with Murph & Mac

Tags: football interviews, Mike Singletary, NFC West, San Francisco 49ers