San Francisco 49ers fire offensive coordinator

After an 0-3 start, the San Francisco 49ers have decided to part ways with their offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. Expectations were higher in San Francisco 49ers. In the last few years, the team has looked like one of the slow-risers in the NFL. Despite not having a winning record since 2002, the 49ers have floated around mediocrity and it’s been presumed they’d take the next big step for what seems like many years now.

No season brought a higher fever pitch. Mike Singletary was entering his third season as head coach. The team had finally settled on Jimmy Raye at offensive coordinator, providing stability in the coaching staff that had been missing for the better part of the decade.

Football is a results-based business. It’s simple numbers too. 0-3. Something had to change.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, it’s not the offensive coordinator. Sure, perhaps San Francisco could find a better coach to fulfill the position. But quarterback Alex Smith just isn’t an NFL QB. This is his sixth NFL season, he’s not a rookie anymore. Smith is an NFL veteran with no talent and no success.

As for Raye, he’s a lifer. He’s been a coach in the NFL for 33 years. Sure, he has experience, but he hasn’t experienced a lot of success. For any year that he was the offensive coordinator, there was one season that finished better than 18th in the NFL in offense.

So what’s left to do for the 49ers? It’s hard to say. Singletary was relatively successful before this season began (13-12 W-L) and has created a certain identity for the team. Is his job next? How much time does this afford him? Does it give him two more seasons?

San Francisco isn’t exactly the dynasty it was once was where it command any big-time coach to come in. The 49ers defense isn’t the problem; they’re as tough as ever. Led by Patrick Willis, nobody can complain.

The offense has been stagnant since Jeff Garcia left. And yes, even Jeff Garcia was much better in his prime than Alex Smith will ever be. The 49ers may be forced to release Smith after this off-season if something doesn’t drastically change on offense because there are only so many coordinators in the league.