49ers’ coach calm, positive

Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

Calm and completely positive, Mike Singletary showed no outward signs he is disappointed to be 0-2. Of course he’s upset about it. This is hardly where his San Francisco 49ers expected to be at this early stage.

Yet after taking the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints to the final seconds in a 25-22 loss Monday night, in his eyes there were plenty of signs of progress. Even if the Niners committed four turnovers and beat themselves.

“I just think this team is a young team. They’re learning some very valuable things early on in the season,” Singletary said Tuesday. “I believe they will capitalize and pick up and it will serve us well going forward.”

Singletary listed all the positives: quarterback Alex Smith and the offensive line were the best since he’s been here, the coordinators on both sides of the ball ran a good game, running back Frank Gore played like his old self, the effort level was there.

This was a far cry from the defensive, emotional coach who last week claimed there could be a “rat” within the organization giving inaccurate information to the media.

Singletary also was probably the most combative he’s been since taking over as head coach during a television interview last week that made its rounds afterward. During that session, he said, “We will stop Drew Brees.”

Singletary said he’s not about to change his approach or who he is — his players say they thrive on his intensity and emotion — but he will choose his words and actions more carefully from now on.

“In terms of reining myself in, there was one interview that took place last week that was a little bit off the chart. Should I have reined myself in? Probably so,” he said. “One thing that I’ve learned about this job, I have to be who I am. I’m not a politician. I’m not a tap dancer. I say things that I feel. ... The biggest thing that I’ve learned is it’s important to look at how you’re wired, and you’ve got to go with that — until the day I die.”

The 49ers outgained the Saints 417-287, ultimately losing when Garrett Hartley’s deflected 37-yard field goal fluttered over the cross bar after time expired.

“We whupped their behind up and down the field. They can’t stand up with us,” Gore said. “And we beat ourselves for the second week in a row. We’ve got to change that.”