Today’s Head Coaches
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt
Pro Career: Named the Cardinals’ head coach on January 14, 2007 after 10 years as an NFL assistant coach and nine seasons as a player.
Spent the previous six seasons as an assistant on Bill Cowher’s staff with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first three (2001-03) as tight ends coach
and the last three (2004-06) as offensive coordinator. Took over as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator in 2004, the same year the Steelers
drafted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who set an NFL record with wins in his first 13 career starts en route to Offensive Rookie-of-the-Year
honors. In addition that year, the Steelers rushing attack improved from 31 st to second. The following season, Roethlisberger became the
youngest quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl and finished third in the league in passer rating (98.6) as the Steel ers won Super
Bowl XL and averaged 26.8 points-per-game in the playoffs. Whisenhunt previously coached at the pro level with the New York Jets (tight
ends, 2000), Cleveland Browns (special teams, 1999) and Baltimore Ravens (tight ends, 1997-98).
Career record: 5-5.
Background: Began his coaching career at Vanderbilt (1995-96). After going to Georgia Tech as a walk-on, he finished his college playing
career ranked second on the Yellow Jackets’ receiving yardage list (1,264 yards) and fourth in career receptions (82). He was a consensus
All-ACC and honorable mention All-America selection as a senior in 1984 when he averaged 19.1 yards-per-catch. Drafted in the 12th round
of the 1985 NFL Draft by Atlanta and played nine NFL seasons with the Falcons (1985-88), Redskins (1989-90), and Jets (1991-93). In 74
career games (37 starts), he caught 62 passes for 601 yards and six touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan
Pro Career: Named the 15th head coach in 49ers history on January 19, 2005, Nolan enters his third season as head coach of the San
Francisco 49ers. Nolan is in his 20th year in the league and 26th in coaching. Nolan joins San Francisco after an impressive stint as defensive
coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, a position he has held with three other teams: New York Jets (2000), Washington Redskins (1997-99),
and New York Giants (1993-96). In Baltimore, Nolan’s defense was among the NFL’s best, finishing third overall. Baltimore ranked first in the
AFC with 17 fumble recoveries and led the NFL with 47 quarterback sacks and tied for first in the AFC and second in the NFL with 41
takeaways. Nolan joined the Ravens after a one-year stay as the New York Jets defensive coordinator in 2000. Under Nolan’s tutelage, the
Jets defense rebounded to 10th overall in the league—an improvement of 11 spots from the previous year. From 1997-99, Nolan was the
defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. In 1997, the Redskins allowed the eighth-fewest points in the NFL and finished third
overall in pass defense. He also spent four seasons as defensive coordinator under then-head coach Dan Reeves for the New York Giants
(1993-96). In his first season, the Giants’ defense allowed the fewest points in the NFL (205). Nolan also worked on Reeves’ staff from 198792 with the Denver Broncos as linebackers coach and special teams coach/defensive assistant.
Career record: 13-29.
Background: Nolan participated in the Broncos’ 1981 training camp as a defensive back under Dan Reeves. He joined the Broncos after
earning three letters at free safety for the Oregon Ducks (1978-80). He is the son of former NFL head coach Dick Nolan (San Francisco and
New Orleans).
Inside The Numbers
SERIES
49ERS
SERIES LEADER
CARDINALS
18-14
STREAKS
4 of past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.
Nolan: 1-4
Whisenhunt: 0-1
LAST WEEK
L 13-9 vs. Rams
W 35-27 at Bengals
LAST GAME
9/10/07: Cardinals 17 at 49ers 20. San Francisco WR Arnaz Battle scores on 1-yard reverse to cap 86-yard
game-winning drive with 22 seconds remaining on Monday night.
LAST GAME AT SITE
9/10/06: Cardinals 34, 49ers 27. Arizona QB Kurt Warner passes for 301 yards & 3 TDs as Cardinals win
their first game at new stadium.
BROADCAST
FOX (2:05 PM MT): Ron Pitts, Tony Boselli. SIRIUS: 122 (SF), 125 (Arz.).
In Arizona—KTAR Radio 620 AM/92.3 FM: Dave Pasch, Ron Wolfley, Paul Calvisi.
STATS
PASSING
A. Smith: 94-193-914-2-4-57.2
Warner: 124-206-1,525-11-6-88.8
RUSHING
Gore: 138-539-3.9-3
James: 204-730-3.6-6 (T2C)
RECEIVING
Battle: 38-437-11.5-2
Fitzgerald: 66 (2C)-904 (2C)-13.7-4
OFFENSE
221.1
312.0
TAKE/GIVE
-9
-3
DEFENSE
327.9
312.1
SACKS
Young: 6.5
Dockett: 8.0
INTs
Clements: 2
Dansby, Rolle: 3
PUNTING
Lee: 49.7 (1L)
Barr: 40.9
KICKING
Nedney: 51 (9/9 PAT; 14/15 FG)
Rackers: 61 (25/26 PAT; 12/18 FG)
Note: ‘L’ indicates rank in League; ‘C’ indicates rank in Conference; ‘R’ indicates rookie
gameday from the press box
Arizona Cardinals (5-5) vs. San Francisco 49ers (2-8)
Nov. 25, 2007 at University of Phoenix Stadium
Week 12 NFL Standings
Latest Injury Reports
National Football Conference
Team
Seattle
Arizona
San Francisco
St. Louis
West Division
W
L
6
4
5
5
2
8
2
8
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.600
.500
.400
.400
Team
Dallas
N.Y. Giants
Philadelphia
Washington
East Division
W
L
10
1
7
3
5
5
5
5
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.909
.700
.500
.500
Team
Green Bay
Detroit
Minnesota
Chicago
North Division
W
L
10
1
6
5
4
6
4
6
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.909
.545
.400
.400
Team
Tampa Bay
Carolina
New Orleans
Atlanta
South Division
W
L
T
6
4
0
4
6
0
4
6
0
3
8
0
Pct.
.600
.400
.400
.273
American Football Conference
Team
Denver
San Diego
Kansas City
Oakland
West Division
W
L
5
5
5
5
4
6
2
8
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.500
.500
.400
.200
Team
New England
Buffalo
N.Y. Jets
Miami
East Division
W
L
10
0
5
5
2
9
0
10
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
1.000
.500
.182
.000
Team
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Baltimore
Cincinnati
North Division
W
L
7
3
6
4
4
6
3
7
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.700
.600
.400
.300
Team
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Tennessee
Houston
South Division
W
L
T
9
2
0
7
3
0
6
4
0
5
5
0
Pct.
.818
.700
.600
.500
Arizona—DT Ross Kolodziej (quadriceps) is OUT. WR Jerheme Urban (heel), SS Adrian
Wilson (heel), and FS Aaron Francisco (knee/calf) are DOUBTFUL. LB Karlos Dansby
(shoulder), RB Marcel Shipp (heel), CB Eric Green (ankle), DE Antonio Smith (hand) and QB
Kurt Warner (left elbow) are PROBABLE.
San Francisco—NT Aubrayo Franklin (calf) is OUT. WR Jason Hill (groin) is DOUBTFUL.
QB Alex Smith (shoulder/forearm) is QUESTIONABLE. WR Ashley Lelie (quadricep), LB Jeff
Ulbrich (ankle), RB Frank Gore (ankle), and QB Shaun Hill (finger) are PROBABLE.
Probable Starting Lineups
WR
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
TE
WR
QB
RB
FB
11
69
74
50
76
75
82
81
13
32
45
Cardinals
Fitzgerald LE 94
Gandy
NT 98
Wells
DT 90
Johnson
RE 71
Lutui
SLB 97
Brown
MLB 54
Pope
WLB 58
Boldin
LCB 26
Warner
RCB 25
James
SS 24
Smith
FS 42
Smith
Watson
Dockett
Tafoya
Pace
Hayes
Dansby
Hood
Green
Wilson
Holt
WR
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
TE
WR
QB
RB
FB
82
68
71
66
64
74
85
83
11
21
44
49ers
Jackson
UT 97
Snyder
NT 99
Allen
DE 94
Heitmann OLB 98
Baas
MLB 50
Staley
MLB 52
Davis
OLB 95
Battle
CB 22
Smith
CB 27
Gore
SS 32
Norris
FS 26
Young
Sopoaga
Douglas
Haralson
Smith
Willis
Banta-Cain
Clements
Harris
Lewis
Roman
What To Look For Today
CARDINALS: QB KURT WARNER is 7-0 as starter vs. S.F., completing 167 of 256 passes
(65.2 pct.) for 2,188 yards with 17 TDs vs. 8 INTs for 101.2 passer rating. Incl. playoffs, Warner
has posted 100+ rating 32 times in career starts (min. 10 att.) and his teams are 29-3 (.906) …
RB EDGERRIN JAMES has 453 scrimmage yards (113.3 per-game) and three TDs in four
games vs. S.F. … WR ANQUAN BOLDIN has TD catch in five of past seven meetings. Has four
100-yard games in past seven vs. S.F. … WR LARRY FITZGERALD has 16 catches for 235
yards (117.5 per-game) and one TD in past two at home vs. S.F. Aims for 10th game in row with
70+ yards, longest such streak in career … CB ANTREL ROLLE tied NFL record with two INTTDs last week and had career-high three INTs. … Cardinals have forced 10 turnovers, incl. six
INTs in past two games … LB KARLOS DANSBY has three INTs in past two games … Since
entering NFL in 2001, S ADRIAN WILSON is only player with 15+ sacks (16) and 15+ INTs (16)
… DT DARNELL DOCKETT tied for fifth in NFC with career-best eight sacks … LB DARRYL
BLACKSTOCK aims for third game in row with sack.
49ERS: QB ALEX SMITH passed for 288 yards with one TD and 0 INTs in last game at Ariz.
… When Smith has 95+ rating, 49ers are 5-0 … QB TRENT DILFER is 62-54 (.534) in career as
starter (incl. playoffs) … RB FRANK GORE aims for fourth meeting in row vs. Ariz. with rush TD.
Has five TDs in past three vs. Cardinals. Has 539 rush yards and can become fifth player in team
history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons—had franchise-record 1,695 yards last year …
WR ARNAZ BATTLE scored first career rush TD in last meeting. Has reception in 30
consecutive games … WR DARRELL JACKSON has six 100-yard games in nine career
meetings. Jackson has 40 catches for 769 yards (19.2 avg.) and four TDs in those six with 100+
yards … TE VERNON DAVIS has four career TDs and averages 24.5 yards-per-TD (98 yards).
Scored first career TD (31 yards) vs. Ariz. … DE BRYANT YOUNG has four sacks in past four
meetings. Has 7.5 sacks in 12 career games vs. Cardinals … CB WALT HARRIS had INT in last
meeting. Has two career INTs vs. Ariz.
Current 2007 NFC West Standings
Team
T
Pct.
PF
PA
NFC
AFC
Div.
Seattle
Arizona
San Francisco
W
6
5
2
L
4
5
8
0
0
0
.600
.500
.200
221
223
113
164
222
223
Home Away
5–1
3–1
1–4
1–3
2–4
1–4
5–2
3–4
2–6
1–2
2–1
0–2
3–1
2–1
2–3
St. Louis
2
8
0
.200
149
257
0–4
2–4
2–6
0–2
1–3