Singletary's eyes don't lie as coach

When you think of Mike Singletary, the player, you think of the eyes.

It's difficult to remember anyone who has played the game who could match the intense, focused, ready-to-strike-in-an-instant look that was Singletary's trademark during his Hall of Fame career as a Chicago Bears linebacker.

It was like he could see everything that was happening and could do whatever he wanted to stop it. His stare was piercing.

Now that Singletary is an interim head coach, the eyes are different.

The eyes on the sidelines last Monday night when precious seconds were wasting away against Arizona looked bewildered and uncertain.

It was a time management disaster. The final play call -- a run up the middle from the 2-yard line -- was his responsibility much more than offensive coordinator Mike Martz's. There was no excuse for it, notwithstanding the explanation that officials didn't inform the 49ers sidelines that the ball wasn't inside the 1.

The play didn't work. The 49ers lost 29-24, 1 yard shy of the winning touchdown and eons away from looking competent in end-of-game situations.

Though he had his team plenty fired up to play a physical, hard-fought game, Singletary looked sophomoric -- at best -- when the game was on the line.

One week earlier, he had a series of rookie gaffes.

Perhaps he can recover. Perhaps he's a quick study and will adapt rapidly to his new job.

It sure would be nice, because he's the kind of man you'd love to see succeed.

Right now, however, the eyes just don't have it.