49ers give Raye three-year deal

Mike Singletary’s outline for what he expects from the 49ers’ offense this season might have felt stifling to some coordinator candidates.

But Jimmy Raye said he adheres to the same philosophies Singletary stated as his preference during their interview on Wednesday at the 49ers’ team offices in Santa Clara.

“We have a shared vision of how you play the game and what he’s like to see,” Raye said in a conference call with reporters Friday. “It’s along the same thoughts I have.

“The overriding factor is we want to be tough-minded, physically and emotionally. I think those were the things that he was excited about.”

The 49ers agreed with Raye on a three-year contract this week to become the club’s seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons. He replaces Mike Martz, whom Singletary fired on Dec. 30.

Raye, 62, has coached 32 NFL seasons, including 12 years as a coordinator with six different teams. Raye and Martz both cite Ernie Zampese as a major coaching influence, but Raye is the antithesis of Martz when it comes to philosophy.

While Martz is known as an innovative and creative coach who is enamored of the passing game, Raye leans more heavily toward a power running game – and that is what Singletary wants.

At least one candidate for the job might have felt Singletary’s directive for a physical, run-oriented offense might have been too restricting. Former St. Louis Rams coach Scott Linehan turned down Singletary’s job offer on Jan. 18, three days after he was offered the job.

“Scott Linehan was honest,” Singletary said. “I asked Scott Linehan straight forward: ‘Can you do these things? If you can’t, be honest and let me know.’ He got back to me and said, ‘What you need right now, I don’t think I can do. I’m going to have to back away.’”

It is not known how many other candidates balked at Singletary’s plan for the offense. Raye was the eighth candidate to formally interview for the position, following Linehan, Dan Reeves, Rob Chudzinski, Rick Dennison, Hue Jackson, Clyde Christensen and Jeff Jagodzinski.

“He is the head coach of the football team. And the vision of the offense will be his, because it is on his watch,” Raye said. “Maybe some other people in the interview process didn’t feel there was enough flexibility. I didn’t get that sense from my time talking to him.”

Raye served the past three seasons as New York Jets running backs coach. He was Norv Turner’s offensive coordinator with the Raiders in 2004-05. Turner called most of the plays.

His two previous coordinator jobs came with the Washington Redskins in 2001 and Kansas City from 1998-2000.

The Chiefs ranked fourth in the league in rushing in 1999 with a committee of four running backs. In 2000, the Chiefs ranked fifth in the league in passing with quarterback Elvis Grbac.

“This is the new millennium. This is 2009,” Raye said. “I don’t think you can play one-dimensional, and I never have. I have no objection to throwing the football. Our offense will be able to take care of the contingencies of what the defense presents.”

Raye said he will return to the Bay Area on Wednesday to begin evaluating the 49ers’ talent on offense. One of the big issues is the 49ers’ plan for quarterback. The club is 7-3 the past two seasons with Shaun Hill at quarterback. The 49ers want Alex Smith to return, but the sides will have to agree to a reduced contract.

“In looking at Jimmy Raye and what he brings to our organization, I’m just excited about him talking about our offense and how everybody plays a part in that, and not just the quarterback,” Singletary said. “Right now, I feel very good about Shaun Hill, and we’ll have to see what happens with Alex Smith.”

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com