European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 15, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The 49ers Walsh Montana Rice led to a Fly a dynasty saturday september 15, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 23 by Frank Cooney san Francisco examiner in Many ways building a team of the decade was not unlike most of san Francisco 49er owner Eddie Debartolo  successful projects. Yes kind of like building one of his spectacular Debartolo shopping malls. Long before a mall looks great or a team wins four super bowls in nine years certain Basic Steps must be taken. Only if those Steps Are taken properly will a mall or a team have the Chance to grab the Public a attention. So the 49ers�?T move from mediocrity to greatness began simply by finding sound financial backing from Debartolo a great architect in coach Bill Walsh a knowledgeable manager in vice president John Mcvay and great foremen especially George Seifert. Only after that did they come up with the players and the plays that made the 49ers the team of die decade a quarterback Joe Montana wide receiver Dwight Clark the great 1981 draft the catch. During the seasons of the 1980s. The 49ers had the Best record in the National football league at 104-47-1, with seven pfc West championships eight playoff berths a postseason record of 13-4 and the four super bowl championships. There were a few glitches along the Way but Here chronologically Are the top 10 moments moves or Maneu vers that built this team of the 1980s o 1. Edward j. Debartolo or. Supplied the financial backing when he bought 90 percent of the team from the Morabito family on March 31, 1977. That began the reconstruction of what had been a grocery store Type business into what was to be a supermarket of Success. A we Are not Here to placate personalities we Are Here to be successful a Debartolo said at his first press conference. And after a few false Steps a like hiring Joe Thomas As general manager a Debartolo proved he meant what he said. A 2. Bill Walsh was hired As head coach and general manager Jan. 9, 1979, replacing Fred of Connor and pm Thomas who had made a mockery of the franchise with moves that Sank the team to the Depths of two straight 2-14 seasons. Walsh not Only installed an offence that became the most feared in the nil but he also established a winning attitude in the organization. His imaginative and aggressive approach to player acquisition through the draft and in trades was also a key Factor in the teams climb trom the Bottom to the top of the league. A 3. John Mcvay was hired As general manager in january 1979. His experience As a player and head coach on All Levels from High school to pro and knowledge of nil personnel were vital m molding the 49ers. Because Mcvay understood All aspects of the game a from the Field to con a its a Kis help was invaluable especially for Walsh. A 4. Joe Montana a Light and n y regarded quarterback from notre name became the second player drafted rur iut be Walsh administration. After Rrt a a Ames Owens was taken in the first Una Montana was selected in the third.  worked out. But that Pratt produced a Roommate a As Well As Ropte ,tar8et a for Montana in Dwight in 0 was Taen in the 10th round. ?Nana As established himself As e Best quarterback in the game today Hie a May Ever most impressive was comeback from 1986 Back surgery to Ward off a Challenge for his Job by Steve Young in 1987-88. He has been selected super bowl map three times and last year set an nil record with a 112 4 quarterback rating. A a 5. George Seifert was signed As a defensive Backfield coach in 1980. He later became the defensive coordinator and in 1989 replaced Walsh As head coach guiding the 49ers to their fourth super bowl championship a 55-10 whipping of the Denver Broncos. A native of san Francisco Seifert is a quiet straight talking Man whose Only devious moments came when he made up maddening situation substitution defensive game plans. A 6. Acquisition of the new name defense in 1981. That included a draft that netted three fourths of the starting secondary and trades that added Power and leadership. The draft brought Ronnie Lott who has made the pro bowl As a comeback and safety Eric Wright another pro bowl cd until he was injured in 1985, and Strong safety Carlton Williamson. They joined previous free agent acquisition Dwight Hicks a free safety to become the Only defensive foursome to be selected to the same pro bowl 1985. Also selected in the sixth round was a lineman out of Penn state named Pete Kugler who eventually became a starting nose tackle and defensive end. Equally important additions to the defense for that 1981 super bowl drive were veterans Jack a a Hacksaw Reynolds and Fred Dean. Reynolds signed As a free agent when the rams let him go provided the Enfield leadership needed by a Young defense. Dean was picked up in a Trade with san Diego. He added such sack Power that the team designed a defense a the Dean Ense a to feature him. He became the first player in nil history to win defensive player of the year honors in the acc and pfc. A 7. The catch. Who knows what might have become of the 49ers in the 1980s if it Hadnot been for their Victory Over the cowboys in the 1981 pfc championship game. A that 28-27 Triumph which vaulted the 49ers to their first super bowl is Best remembered for the catch a soaring Finger tip grab by Clark for a 6-Yard touchdown with 51 seconds left. That play culminated what will go Down in 49ers history As the drive i which began with 4 54 left and moved 89 Yards in 13 plays and one penalty against the cowboys Nickel defense. The drive ii would come seven years later in an even bigger game a super bowl Xxiii. In that game the 49ers took Over with 3 10 left and drove 92 Yards in 11 plays and a penalty. The payoff catch was a 10-yarder to wide receiver John Taylor with 32 seconds remaining. That gave the 49ers a 20-16 Victory and their third super bowl title. A 8. Acquisition of running backs Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler to give Walsh a passing game balance. In a 1983 draft Day steal the 49ers grabbed Tyler in a Trade with the rams and selected Craig in the second round. Some scoffed at both moves because Tyler was thought to be on the Downside of his career alter six seasons and Craig did no to categorize neatly As either a halfback or a fullback. But Tyler quickly showed he had plenty left by Rushing Lor 856 Yards in 1983, then setting a team record with 1,262 Yards Rushing in 1984 on the Way to the super bowl. Craig who began his career As a full Jerry Rice has 346 career catches for 6,364 Yards and might be the a Fly Stop receiver Back then moved to halfback became the first nil runner to gain 1,000 Yards each Rushing and receiving in a single season. In 1985 he rushed for 1,050 and caught 92 passes for 1,016 Yards. A 9. The 1985 draft Day move up to grab the Best pass Catcher in pro football Jerry Rice from Mississippi Valley state. In a draft that had few Quality players Walsh wanted to get an outstanding receiver but knew he  do it from the 28th spot. So the 49ers swapped that pick a no. 2 and a no. 3 for new England a 16th pick in the first round and a third round spot. Walsh explained the 49ers already had a super bowl Champion team so it was More important to fill a specific need with a Quality player than to fill out the roster with maybes. In five years Rice has established himself As the Best receiver in the game today and one of the Best Ever. His smooth Graceful strides and sure hands have helped him catch 346 passes for 6,364 Yards which already ranks fifth on the 49ers�?T career list. His most amazing stat is 66 touchdowns in Only 76 games 63 of those starts. A 10. The lets make a Deal draft of 1986. Walsh began the Day with eight draft selections and Matt Cavanaugh As a backup quarterback. Six trades later the 49ers had 13 draftees an additional first and second round pick for 1987 and Jeff Emp As a new backup quarterback. Walsh a strategy was the opposite of 1985 because 49ers scouts and assistant coaches had handpicked several players who could be drafted relatively Low who they believed could help the team. A kind of like trying to get something custom fit for your needs that somebody else might not even like a Walsh said. It turned out to be a draft fit for a King or a team destined to win at least two More super bowls. Here Are the highlights from a draft that ranks among the a Fly a Best Ever de Larry Roberts d2feb Tom Rath Man d3acd Tim Mckyer d3bor John Taylor d3cla de Charles Haley d4aof Steve Wallace d4bde Kevin Fagan d4c and cd Don Griffin d6. Each of those players became a starter