Niners to stretch it out, air it out under Erickson
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
September 4, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Six months ago, Dennis Erickson moved from a huge home in central Oregon to an apartment in Silicon Valley. In those small quarters, he started thinking big about the San Francisco 49ers.
Erickson went south with a mission. He had a bulging coaching resume and a comfortable job at Oregon State, but he simply couldn't resist the 49ers: the stellar history, the high profile, the talented roster and the chance to win a world championship.
``I thought I could bring a fresh perspective, especially since we've pretty much kept the team intact from last year,'' Erickson said. ``This is a good team, but I think it can be better. We can be more aggressive in every phase. That's the one thing we're searching for this fall.''
Aggression comes up almost every day at the 49ers' training complex. It's the ephemeral quality that was found lacking in Steve Mariucci, who was fired by owner John York just three days after the 49ers lost to Tampa Bay in the NFC semifinals last January.
The 49ers were too conservative, the team line goes. With Pro Bowl talent at every skill position and along the offensive line, San Francisco should have won its NFC West title with flair and big-play drama, not with the short passes and steady drives Mariucci loves.
York didn't publicly command Erickson to throw long passes and take big chances, but it's widely understood the new coach's 49ers will be playing a vertical game.
``It's going to be exciting to see what we can really do,'' quarterback Jeff Garcia said. ``Every member of this offense is looking forward to really testing our athletic abilities. I think we'll be more aggressive, more assertive and more fun to watch. These should be the types of games that you can't turn away from for a second.''
Erickson, who went 31-33 in four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, is the first San Francisco coach since 1955 to take the job with a prior NFL head-coaching credit on his resume. He retained both of Mariucci's coordinators to keep continuity with a roster largely unchanged from last season.
General manager Terry Donahue was criticized for spending less money on new free agents than any team in the NFL. But he's putting trust in the coaching staff's new angle on the same personnel -- and the growing maturity of a young defense featuring a standout linebacking corps and question marks at nearly every other position.
Defensive coordinator Jim Mora replaced starters Chike Okeafor and Dana Stubblefield on his line with rookie Anthony Adams and veteran John Engelberger. But San Francisco returns the same secondary that was shredded by every good passing offense in the second half of last season.
``I know people think we might be the weak link in the defense, but we want to prove them wrong,'' said starting cornerback Jason Webster, who will miss at least six regular-season games with a knee injury.
``We had a tough time in the playoffs, but that was because of the injuries. If I had been out there and Ahmed (Plummer) hadn't got hurt, I think we could have given Tampa a real challenge. I don't think we needed to make any big changes.''
The offensive personnel also is mostly the same, though tight end Eric Johnson is out for another 10 weeks after breaking his collarbone. Erickson and coordinator Greg Knapp kept the same terminology in their schemes, but Erickson's interpretation of the 49ers' hallowed offense involves more long throws -- and ample use of All-Pro Terrell Owens, of course.
``The running game is going to make this offense go, but of course we're going to get the ball in No. 81's hands as often as possible,'' fullback Fred Beasley said. ``You're going to see more balls thrown down the field, and we've got the guys that can go down and get it. We're just going to loosen up this West Coast offense a bit.''
The 49ers face a difficult schedule in their quest to repeat as division champions, with four long road trips in the season's final six weeks. Erickson is hoping improved chemistry, built during everything from last season's playoffs to a recent team bowling outing, will help to traverse the rough patches.
The 49ers went 3-1 in the preseason. Kick returner Arland Bruce, rookie receiver Brandon Lloyd and third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey were among the most impressive players. Most of the regulars got plenty of rest -- including Owens, who is more healthy than he's been in years.
Starting receivers Owens and Tai Streets both will be free agents after the season, which puts added pressure on both players. That's just fine with them: Streets can't wait for the four-receiver sets he has been promised.
Even Beasley, the sturdy blocking linchpin of the 49ers' sixth-ranked rushing offense last season, is excited by the prospect of longer drives, higher point totals and greater team success under Erickson's grand design.
``We've always had this capability, but with Mooch being conservative, we didn't use it as much,'' Beasley said. ``It's a different system, and we've got the players to do it. It's going to be very aggressive.''
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