Thanks for the info. I had forgotten that Mora was with the Niners working for Mouch. I think Haskell is in a tough spot because people dont really talk about him too much. Holmy gets all the credit usually for the offense. It will be interesting to see how that shakes out. Knapp must be so excited to get the heck out of Oakland!
realspd | 05.13.08 - 8:10 am | #

captains:

Hass + Bobby or Walt

Lofa + Grant or Kerney

Lewis + Babs or Laury
darnell | 05.13.08 - 11:51 am | #

realspd,

The real thing about Haskell is that he's been in the shadows with Holmgren since he got here. He helps prepare the game plan and Holmgren uses him as a sounding board during the games. Holmgren has said that he depends on Haskell to speak up when he notices something that Holmgren might have missed and has given him praise once in a while for seeing something on the field that leads to a big play or score. Holmgren has said that he thinks Haskell could formulate a good game plan and execute it on Sunday's as a vote of confidence in his abilities as a play calling OC.

All that being said, there is no substitute for experience and Haskell has no real experience at being in the pilot's chair during an actual game. Holmgren is an absolute master at strategy and playing the chess game on the field live as it unfolds as well as having a solid plan to start with. I think Haskell might find out that when he's the one everyone is looking at to wage the battle, it's not as easy as Holmgren makes it seem. To step into a situation that is going to have the high expectations that this one will have would be asking a lot of someone who really hasn't been there and done that. Even if he has a lot of hours observing and participating in game planning with a master like MH, it's real different when the controls are in your hands.

Knapp on the other hand has had experience calling plays in SF, Atlanta, and Oakland. He runs a WCO much like Holmgren's and hopefully the terminology is similar. It shouldn't be that big a learning curve to move to his specific version of the WCO for the offense as long as the terminology isn't radically different. Knapp doesn't need to try out the controls and make some mistakes to learn from while Haskell really does.

I would be willing to give Haskell a shot to prove up on the position if he wants it mainly in the interest of keeping what we have that's so successful alive and keeping continuity during the changeover. However, I've not got a lot of heartburn in Knapp taking over either since it's not a radical change in style and he has had success with less talent than he would have to work with here. If Mora wants to have someone to turn the offense over to that he's worked with before and is comfortable with, I say let him have his way. After all, isn't it his ass that's on the line so shouldn't he be the one to be able to save it however he wants? He will be held accountable make no mistake about that. For Mora, Haskell would be just as big a gamble with no real experience as Knapp would be whom he at least has a measure of confidence in and whom he's watched call plays before.

Just my 2 cents. (Or dollars worth as it is)
Billt | Homepage | 06.03.08 - 9:22 pm | #