Jimmy Raye Fired as 49ers' Offensive Coordinator

The first coaching move of the 2010 NFL season involves an embattled assistant. The 49ers have fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, the team announced Monday. QB coach Mike Johnson will take over Raye's duties.

NFL Network's Jason La Canfora was the first to indicate Raye had been let go.

The 49ers showed some life on offense late last season, and they were virtually everyone's pick to win the NFC West this season. But their winless start has been eye-opening, especially with how the team has played on the road. In two losses away from San Francisco, Raye's offense scored just 16 points, and it didn't take long for his ability as a coordinator to be called into question.

With a road date coming up against Atlanta this weekend, an 0-4 start almost seems like a foregone conclusion, unless the 49ers can turn things around in a hurry.

Johnson's ascension is interesting, given that earlier reports had Johnson suspected as a "rat" who spilled his guts to the media -- anonymously, of course -- over problems the team had getting plays relayed to quarterback Alex Smith.

The system was that Raye would call the play from the press box, and Johnson would use a radio to relay the play to Smith via helmet radio communication.

Now, Johnson will be the one calling plays. If he was indeed the "rat" after the Week 1 loss at Seattle, it seems that this is a great opportunity to show head coach Mike Singletary that Raye was indeed the problem.

San Francisco mustered just 10 points in a Week 3 loss at Kansas City, the 49ers' lone touchdown in that game coming on an Alex Smith-to-Josh Morgan pass with no time left on the clock.

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