Professor

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl.../SPTVUC1B4.DTL

In this election year, Mike Nolan had to do a little campaigning to keep his job as 49ers' coach. What he ended up with was the promise of another season, his fourth, to make things right. Otherwise, his tenure will be marked by a slogan endorsed by his many detractors:

"Four But No More."

Nolan signed a five-year contract when he was hired in 2005. With a record of 16-32 through three years, he will not see a fifth year without producing a team that seriously challenges for a playoff berth next season.

With the pressure on, Nolan made his first bold move of the offseason by hiring Mike Martz as his offensive coordinator. Martz is fully formed as a coach, unlike the callow Jim Hostler whom he replaced, and has his own vision what an NFL offense looks like.

Martz went out of his way to praise running back Frank Gore and the offensive line, specifically rookie right tackle Joe Staley, in remarks to reporters Tuesday. However, Martz loves to see the ball in the air, traveling from quarterback to receiver, and that will be his challenge.

He'll have to decide between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill as his starting quarterback and find a No. 1 receiver in either the draft or free agency, because the 49ers have no one who even remotely resembles an NFL go-to receiver.

Still, in his appraisal of the offensive side of the roster, Martz said the 49ers have more talent than the Detroit Lions had in 2006 when he began a two-year run as their coordinator.

"This is much further along," Martz said. "Not even close to what we were in Detroit."

Hill's agent, Bob Lattinville, received a contract offer from the 49ers on Wednesday, which just happened to be the quarterback's 28th birthday. Hill wants to return to the 49ers, where he has a chance to earn the starting job, and the team wants him back as well.

"I'm really excited about his prospects," Lattinville said. "I'm glad for all these many years Shaun was paying attention in the film room. The 49ers are kind enough to be moving quickly on this, and that's appreciated. I think it's a conducive environment because both sides like each other. Now, how do we quantify that value?"

Thanks to Hill's 10 sterling quarters of play in 2007, Lattinville has substantially more bargaining power this time around. Look for Hill, who made $600,760 last season, to get a hefty raise if the club is able to re-sign this soon-to-be unrestricted free agent.

Nolan will presumably leave Martz alone to tinker in his offensive lab and deal with the unique requirements of the quarterback position, or at least he should. San Francisco's defense is in pretty good shape, especially if outside linebacker Manny Lawson, who was on the verge of a breakout season a year ago before tearing up his knee, returns healthy.

Special teams coordinator Al Everest and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula did the best jobs of anyone on Nolan's staff in 2007. With the bottom part of the roster constantly changing, Everest will have to work with a number of new players in 2008. Tomsula's job will be made easier if the 49ers re-sign defensive end Marques Douglas and find an edge pass rusher capable of consistently getting after the quarterback.

While some positions grow on trees, others are as hard to find as rare jewels.

Under the direction of new general manager Scot McCloughan, the 49ers will have to make some hard decisions for next season.

Oft-injured left tackle Jonas Jennings was on the books for more than $6 million last season and may be expendable. Nolan loves inside linebacker and team leader Derek Smith, but his projected salary of $3.5 million seems untenable.

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