There’s no question in my mind that Steve Mariucci is one of the best coaches in the NFL. Aside from Mike Shanahan I don’t know if there is anyone I’d rather have in charge of this team. Taking a look at Mariucci’s accomplishments with this team since his arrival can explain my loyalty to the coach. Let’s face it, Mariucci was brought into the organization under the most adverse situation possible. He proceeded to assemble a very good staff, and then took his team to the playoffs. Fighting the salary cap the whole way through, Mariucci lost his starting quarterback in Steve Young to injury, and lost the best receiver in football Jerry Rice in the same game. Mariucci has since weathered the second Rice departure. And since then, he’s taken a team that was virtually talentless, and with some good acquisitions and great coaching, brought the team back to a respectable level. Shouldn’t we give him some breathing room?

Well don’t mind me while I answer my own question… of course we should give him some breathing room. Let’s face it, we may not agree with all of his play calling. As fans we want to see the team running up the score, but the 49ers really aren’t at that level yet. What Mariucci has taught this team is never to give up, and so far it’s worked. You could see it at the end of last season, when even after loss upon loss the team kept trying - and you see it still, in four overtime victories and a 7-2 record.