NFL: 49ers' defense is vanilla, melted vanilla

By Ann Killion San Jose Mercury News The most famous Mike Nolan story, before he became coach of the 49ers, was about vanilla ice cream. Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, the story goes, placed a carton of vanilla ice cream in Nolan's office, where it was allowed to melt into a sticky mess. The mean-spirited prank underscored the owner's criticism of his defensive coordinator's read-and-react philosophy, which Snyder had termed "vanilla." That story was considered just another in the Snyder-as-meddling-owner file. But it's worth remembering now. Because Nolan's philosophy and his defense's inability to make the big stop and get off the field — all of that is bringing back the images of vanilla ice cream. When Nolan has been asked this week what's wrong with the defense, he has turned the issue back on his players, using... [read full story]