A three-game losing streak. Four years of losing seasons. Fans jumping ship like it's on fire. So what changes are Mike Nolan and the 49ers planning to restore order? Nothing. Nada. Zip.
No game-plan changes. Nolan said that he had no problem with the majority of defensive calls Greg Manusky made Sunday and he understood why Mike Martz called so few running plays in the fourth quarter. No personnel changes. Nolan said he didn't plan to replace Mark Roman, who has forced no turnovers, with Dashon Goldson and that J.T. O'Sullivan (seven INTs in the last three games) is still the starting QB. And no shakeup with the trade deadline looming. Nolan's says he hasn't talked to Scot McCloughan about possible trades.
So what does this team need to snap out of its current funk?
"What we need to do is win," Nolan said. "Whatever determines we're gonna win, that's what we're going to do."
Which is what?
"Which is what - we need to play more consistently, there's no question. Like I said, it's not as if we've been blown out the last three weeks, and two weeks prior to that we won the football game. We've been in the games. We need to win. Last year, we weren't in games when those things occurred. Two years prior to that, we weren't in games like this. We're in these games. If there's anything disappointing it's that these last three weeks, we feel these were games we should have won. That's the biggest disappointment."
********
There will be one change. Zak Keasey eventually will be placed on IR with a torn biceps, meaning the 49ers have no true fullback. Nolan said the 49ers have plenty of packages that don't involve Keasey but do involve players like Delanie Walker, Billy Bajema, Arnaz Battle and Michael Robinson. ... Keasey's injury means the 49ers essentially have two extra roster spots. Shawntae Spencer also is out for the season though he has yet to be placed on IR ...
********************
About those challenges ... Nolan said he essentially was told today that the Eagles' fourth-quarter field goal wasn't reviewable because the ball was above the upright. Nolan said that's what he was trying to ask the officials Sunday - whether or not he even had the option of challenging the call. Nolan said none of the officials on the field could tell him whether the ball had passed above or below the upright. "I would have liked for the official to tell me. That's what I would have liked to have seen," Nolan said. The implication is that after reviewing the play, the officials should have determined it was not reviewable and given the 49ers their timeout back ...
-- Matt Barrows


About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.