• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Seahawks drill 49ers to spoil debut of Singletary

Oct 27, 2008 - 12:31 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- The San Francisco 49ers changed their coach, but the result was the same.

Behind new head coach Mike Singletary, the 49ers dropped their fifth straight game Sunday, absorbing a 34-13 beating from the Seattle Seahawks.

Singletary took over the reins of the beleaguered Niners when Mike Nolan was fired on Monday, one day after a 29-17 defeat to the New York Giants. Singletary had served as Nolan's assistant head coach and defensive assistant since 2005.

However, the wretched performance by San Francisco prompted Singletary to apologize after a game during which he ordered tight end Vernon Davis to the locker room.

"It will change," Singletary said. "Not because of me, but because they want it to change. They want to be champions and they will get it done."

Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, who was filling in for the injured Matt Hasselbeck, threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns to fullback Leonard Weaver for the Seahawks (2-5), who snapped a three-game losing streak.

"The big plays seemed to settle us down," Wallace said. "I didn't try to do too much. I just wanted to get the ball in the playmakers' hands and not make any mistakes."

Wallace connected with Weaver on scoring passes of 43 and 62 yards for Seattle, which avenged a 33-30 overtime loss to San Francisco in Week Two. Weaver had four receptions for 116 yards.

Niners quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan was benched at the end of the first half in favor of Shaun Hill, who started the season as the 49ers' No. 3 signal caller.

"I'm disappointed," O'Sullivan said. "Obviously you want to give your team a chance to get back in the game and win."

O'Sullivan was outstanding in the Week Two matchup, throwing for 321 yards and a touchdown. However, the journeyman QB has struggled since, throwing 10 interceptions in those five losses. O'Sullivan also has been sacked a league-high 32 times.

"Sometimes you make a change and re-visit later," Singletary said. "But today, I thought Shaun Hill gave us a better chance of winning at that point."

Trailing 13-3, San Francisco was driving in Seattle territory near the end of the first half, but cornerback Josh Wilson stepped in front of a pass by O'Sullivan and raced 75 yards into the end zone for a 20-3 halftime lead.

"That's the way our defense has played the last couple of years," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. Turnovers for us are a big deal. They are momentum-changers."

Davis, a former first-round pick, showed his frustration by getting penalized for unnecessary roughing late in the third quarter and then getting into a shouting match with his new head coach on the sideline in the fourth quarter.

Davis was immediately sent off the field for the remainder of the game by Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker who made it clear what is expected from his players.

"It's like I told the team during the week," Singletary said. "I will not tolerate any player who thinks it's about them and not about the team.

"I'm from the old school. I would rather play with 10 guys and get a penalty on every play than play someone who doesn't want to play as part of the team."

Ironically, Holmgren, a Bay Area native and former San Francisco assistant, already has been rumored to be a candidate for the 49ers job next season. However, Holmgren reiterated his decision to sit out next season earlier in the week.