http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/11872647p-12759540c.html
Commentator sees hope for 49ers organization
Q&A with Gary Plummer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, December 26, 2004
Gary Plummer, color commentator on the 49ers' radio broadcasts, exemplified determination as a football player.
The Fremont native played his way onto teams in junior college and later at Cal as a defensive lineman after a Stanford assistant coach, George Seifert, said the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder was too small to compete in the Pacific-10 Conference. OAS_AD('Button20');
http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N631.integrentmedia.com/B1404782.62;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=336x280;ord=1626220809?" target="_blank">http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N631.integrentmedia.com/B1404782.62;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=336x280;ord=1626220809?
http://ads.sacbee.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_lx.ads/www.sacbee.com/content/sports/1626220809/Button20/Sacbee/sbc_336_rem_dec_4/sbc_336x280_rem_more.html/34303339366338333431633164653130?_RM_EMPTY_ Plummer began his professional career in the United States Football League as a linebacker, playing all three years of the league's existence, from 1983 to 1985, as the leading tackler for the Oakland Invaders.
After two seasons, Invaders coach John Ralston said Plummer was better than any linebacker the 49ers had. It was no small compliment, in that the 49ers' 1984 season resulted in a Super Bowl title.
The assessment turned out to be prophetic, because after spending his first eight NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Plummer eventually wound up with the 49ers, as a free agent in 1994. San Francisco's coach was Seifert, who sheepishly admitted he had greatly underestimated Plummer. The first year of their reunion was celebrated by the 49ers' fifth Super Bowl title, a victory over the Chargers, no less.
Plummer, who rarely missed a game injured or not, retired as a 49er following the 1997 season. He makes his home in San Diego, where one year ago the Chargers were the worst team in the NFL, much like the 49ers are now.
Fast forward to 2004, however, and San Diego is one of the league's major surprises. Is there similar hope for the 49ers? Plummer shared some thoughts with The Bee's Jim Jenkins.
Q: What's the excitement like in San Diego these days over the Chargers season so far?
A: Well, you can't turn the radio on down there without hearing the "San Diego Super Chargers" song, and the last time it's been as often was when they played (the 49ers) in the Super Bowl.
Q: The obvious question, in discussing the Chargers, is, if they can come back from the bottom, can the 49ers do the same?
A: The Chargers didn't finish strong last year, so what they've done isn't something we're going to see often. San Diego definitely had talent, but it's amazing how the pieces of the puzzle came together. I talked to their coaching staff on many occasions, and they said, hands down, (first-round draftee) Philip Rivers was going to be their quarterback. And then, because of his holdout, (incumbent) Drew Brees got to play instead, improved and became one of the great comeback stories of the season.
For the 49ers, it will depend on what they do in the offseason with free agency and the draft. I think they will be more aggressive with more salary-cap room. And if they get back some key injured players, like a Julian Peterson (at linebacker), there's no question they could have a dramatic turnaround. The pieces of the puzzle, though, are numerous.
Q: Despite the 49ers' poor record, coach Dennis Erickson says he still sees a lot of effort from his players. Do you share that view?
A: For the most part. But there's a difference between effort and intensity.
Last week, for example, we saw the Washington Redskins' defense flying around the field with a lot of intensity (making tackles), giving that second and third effort. But I definitely feel there has been a lack of intensity from a number of 49ers players the last half of the season.
Q: If you're drafting for San Francisco, do you use the top pick or trade it for more than one player?
A: I think the 49ers need so much, I would tend (to trade the pick). That's the silver lining in this. History has shown that teams can come back quickly if the administration is willing and, in talking with (owner) John York, I truly believe they are going to try to get it done. Just like when Eddie DeBartolo first came in the league, owners don't realize there's such a steep learning curve, but I think John has realized that now.
Q: Bryant Young, as the senior player on the roster, believes Erickson deserves to come back as coach, that he's doing the best he can with what he's got after so many veteran players were let go before the season. Agree?
A: Obviously, if you go into a chess match missing a rook, a bishop and a couple of pawns, it's tough to compete when you're already several pieces down. To me, (Young's comment) is a pretty good analogy.
Commentator sees hope for 49ers organization
Q&A with Gary Plummer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, December 26, 2004
Gary Plummer, color commentator on the 49ers' radio broadcasts, exemplified determination as a football player.
The Fremont native played his way onto teams in junior college and later at Cal as a defensive lineman after a Stanford assistant coach, George Seifert, said the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder was too small to compete in the Pacific-10 Conference. OAS_AD('Button20');
http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N631.integrentmedia.com/B1404782.62;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=336x280;ord=1626220809?" target="_blank">http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N631.integrentmedia.com/B1404782.62;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=336x280;ord=1626220809?
http://ads.sacbee.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_lx.ads/www.sacbee.com/content/sports/1626220809/Button20/Sacbee/sbc_336_rem_dec_4/sbc_336x280_rem_more.html/34303339366338333431633164653130?_RM_EMPTY_ Plummer began his professional career in the United States Football League as a linebacker, playing all three years of the league's existence, from 1983 to 1985, as the leading tackler for the Oakland Invaders.
After two seasons, Invaders coach John Ralston said Plummer was better than any linebacker the 49ers had. It was no small compliment, in that the 49ers' 1984 season resulted in a Super Bowl title.
The assessment turned out to be prophetic, because after spending his first eight NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Plummer eventually wound up with the 49ers, as a free agent in 1994. San Francisco's coach was Seifert, who sheepishly admitted he had greatly underestimated Plummer. The first year of their reunion was celebrated by the 49ers' fifth Super Bowl title, a victory over the Chargers, no less.
Plummer, who rarely missed a game injured or not, retired as a 49er following the 1997 season. He makes his home in San Diego, where one year ago the Chargers were the worst team in the NFL, much like the 49ers are now.
Fast forward to 2004, however, and San Diego is one of the league's major surprises. Is there similar hope for the 49ers? Plummer shared some thoughts with The Bee's Jim Jenkins.
Q: What's the excitement like in San Diego these days over the Chargers season so far?
A: Well, you can't turn the radio on down there without hearing the "San Diego Super Chargers" song, and the last time it's been as often was when they played (the 49ers) in the Super Bowl.
Q: The obvious question, in discussing the Chargers, is, if they can come back from the bottom, can the 49ers do the same?
A: The Chargers didn't finish strong last year, so what they've done isn't something we're going to see often. San Diego definitely had talent, but it's amazing how the pieces of the puzzle came together. I talked to their coaching staff on many occasions, and they said, hands down, (first-round draftee) Philip Rivers was going to be their quarterback. And then, because of his holdout, (incumbent) Drew Brees got to play instead, improved and became one of the great comeback stories of the season.
For the 49ers, it will depend on what they do in the offseason with free agency and the draft. I think they will be more aggressive with more salary-cap room. And if they get back some key injured players, like a Julian Peterson (at linebacker), there's no question they could have a dramatic turnaround. The pieces of the puzzle, though, are numerous.
Q: Despite the 49ers' poor record, coach Dennis Erickson says he still sees a lot of effort from his players. Do you share that view?
A: For the most part. But there's a difference between effort and intensity.
Last week, for example, we saw the Washington Redskins' defense flying around the field with a lot of intensity (making tackles), giving that second and third effort. But I definitely feel there has been a lack of intensity from a number of 49ers players the last half of the season.
Q: If you're drafting for San Francisco, do you use the top pick or trade it for more than one player?
A: I think the 49ers need so much, I would tend (to trade the pick). That's the silver lining in this. History has shown that teams can come back quickly if the administration is willing and, in talking with (owner) John York, I truly believe they are going to try to get it done. Just like when Eddie DeBartolo first came in the league, owners don't realize there's such a steep learning curve, but I think John has realized that now.
Q: Bryant Young, as the senior player on the roster, believes Erickson deserves to come back as coach, that he's doing the best he can with what he's got after so many veteran players were let go before the season. Agree?
A: Obviously, if you go into a chess match missing a rook, a bishop and a couple of pawns, it's tough to compete when you're already several pieces down. To me, (Young's comment) is a pretty good analogy.
