Baalke: “I think somewhere in there (Tomsula) said we’re going to run the football.”

SANTA CLARA — This is the transcript of Jim Tomsula’s introductory press conference, courtesy of the 49ers’ p.r. department.

CEO Jed York opening comments:

“Good afternoon. We are here to introduce the new head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Tomsula. It’s been a long process, a detail-oriented process. [49ers general manager] Trent Baalke will get into more details on that. We obviously interviewed a lot of candidates for this position. We are not going to get into who we talked to or what we talked about. We’re here to make sure that we talk about our new head coach and where we’re going. I’m so excited that Jimmy’s here and we’re ready to get rolling. I’ll turn it over to Trent.”

 

General Manager Trent Baalke opening comments:

“Well, as Jed just said, this was an exhausting process. We went about this in a very thorough manner and set out to find the next head coach, the next leader of this organization. The one thing I want to say is as I was going through this process, as we were going through this process, it was very clear there’s a lot of good football coaches out there. We met with some of the best coaches, the best young coaches in the profession. And, as we were going through it, we set out – when we talked about the pedigree – looking for the right pedigree, looking for the right leader, looking for the right teacher, looking for the right motivator. There were a lot of things that we were looking for. And I’ve been pretty fortunate in my career to be around some very good football coaches and learned a lot through that process. It’s hard when you’re interviewing people to find individuals that check all of the boxes you’re looking for. A lot of the guys that we talked to, you could check a lot of those boxes. But I kept coming back, to and we kept coming back to as a group, Jim Tomsula, because all of those boxes that we were talking about, he checked. We interviewed Jim initially, then we brought him back in for a second interview and at that time still were undecided on what direction we wanted to go, but always knew that all of the boxes we were looking for were checked [with Jim]. He’s a man of high integrity. A person who has a lot of humility and one of the finest men I’ve ever been fortunate enough to be around. And all those things that you’re looking for in a football coach are important, but even more so what you’re looking for in the person. There’s no doubt in my mind, as we went through the process, that this was the right man for the job. He checked all of the boxes, he’s an individual that I’ve had the privilege of working with for eight years now and through the interview process really identified himself, sold himself on what he was going to do to bring this organization together, bring this football team together and lead us to a lot of success on the field and off the field. I’m very confident that through the process we found the right guy. That guy is Jim Tomsula. I’d like Jim to come up here now as 19th head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.”

Head Coach Jim Tomsula opening comments:

“I’m not a note guy, but I want to make sure I thank some people and we’ll get going and thank you both [Jed and Trent]. Obviously I’m very proud to be standing here right now. I understand that my journey is an unusual one. I completely understand that. My journey has taken my family on three continents and nothing has been the norm. So, I’m used to not normal and I’m very comfortable in not normal. I didn’t say I was not normal. But, as we go here, I have to thank [49ers CEO] Jed [York], the York family, a first-class family. [49ers president] Paraag [Marathe], all the guys back there, all our VPs in the building and [49ers general manager] Trent Baalke. I get it. I get the decision that these men just made. I get it. I accept it. I know what it is and I’m real excited about it, real excited about it. The other thing I want to get in, I’ve got to thank my family. I’ve got to thank my Bear, my Brooke, my Britney and then there’s my Julie. That’s my world. I’ve got to thank my family and my mother and father and all of the extended family and what they’ve done for me and shown me and taught me in steel-mill country. I’ve got to thank all the coaches and the people that have taken a chance on Jim Tomsula and given him a shot. That was way back in 2007 when [former head coach of the NFL Europe’s London Monarchs] Lionel Taylor hired me in NFL Europe and I was the youngest guy in the D-Line room and I didn’t know I was on probation until training camp was over. All the way through and everything everybody’s taken the time to teach me. I’ve got to thank the players because players have affected my life dramatically. Football players have dramatically affected the lives of my children and my family. My daughters learned times tables in elevators in Scotland and Berlin from football players that jumped on the elevator and somebody would yell, ‘Six times six,’ or somebody else would yell something ‘sprecen sie Deutch.’ That was football players. We lived with football players for eight, nine years. We lived year after year in a hotel with football players and it was tremendous, it was awesome, it was so special. And for my daughters, my daughters, to be raised around and amongst football players was great and I want to make sure I say that. And, football players, guys would always say, ‘Hey coach thanks for teaching me that.’ Football players have taught me way more than I’ll ever teach them. I am that guy. You look at me. I didn’t play for the San Francisco 49ers. I did everything that I could to get on the field at Division II. And, I am in awe in the skillset and the things that these men can do and the way they fight through things and the determination and all those qualities that you admire and the way that they go through it. So, I have to thank the football players. And last I’ve always got to thank God. I’m very grateful. So, there’s my thanks, there’s my deal. As we go through here with the San Francisco 49ers and we talk about the organization that these men have built and ladies have built, what a village. I’m that guy that’s into the village. I believe it takes a village. I believe no one man does anything by himself. I think the strength is in the people around him and the way that people come together. My philosophies on life are about people and personal relationships and I think that is football. I think football puts you in position to really strain those things and tighten those things and play in those areas and you learn about yourself. When you look at our facility and you look at the work that’s done in the community with the community relations, the youth football programs and Make-a-Wish and all these different things raising money for fashion shows and all those things. That’s a great thing that’s going on with the 49ers. I know we’re here to talk about football and we’ll get to it, but I think all of this is part of it. All of this is part of why I’m so proud to be a part of this and what’s built. Joan in payroll. She’s not only in payroll, Joan’s my financial advisor. Joan’s making sure I’ve got enough money in my 401K. You go on and on and on. Vilma at the front desk. You’ve got all of these wonderful people in the building. The boys downstairs making that great Mexican feast at Christmas. There’s a whole lot that goes on inside this building that nobody knows about. So, with that, you really get an understanding and we all get an understanding of what we’re a part of. So, I’m going to tell you, with me, with the football, I take all that. I take all these people and all of these things that are going on. I understand the responsibility and I understand that people are counting on things to get done the right way, a certain way. I clearly understand the expectations of the ownership on and off the field. I clearly understand the expectations of the general manager. With that, it’s very exciting.”

 

Jim, can you talk about, the search has gone on for about two and a half weeks, just what you thought every time you would see a new candidate’s name surface and just your thoughts on whether you’d get this job or not.

JT: “[San Jose Mercury News writer] Cam [Inman] I’ll tell you what, my particular instance of it, I got some workouts, I got some film done and I got to see a lot of karate and I really enjoyed that part of it. But I’m not going to stand here and tell you that [he didn’t] try to stay off the [TV]. I told my wife I wasn’t exercising because the TV is in front of the elliptical. I didn’t want to sit there and look at it. Yeah, it’s something that, you know you go through life and sometimes you’re afraid to want something and you find yourself going into that ebb and flow. So, sometimes [I thought about it], but it was always honest. I can’t say [there was] a lot of communication. There were meetings and I knew they were on the road. I didn’t ask where, nobody told me where.”

 

Trent, how does this move make the 49ers a better team?

TB: “Well, it’s a process, [Comcast SportsNet reporter] Matt [Maiocco], and we said all along that finding the right guy for this job was the most important thing. And Jim is a… I can’t say enough about the things we talked about, looking for the pedigree, looking for the work ethic, looking for the leadership, looking for everything that that man in that position brings to the table, and [we are] very confident that what he brings to the table will galvanize this football team and allow us to take the next step.”

 

Jed has made it pretty clear that the standard for success means winning a Super Bowl and also winning with class, so I want to ask you will this team win the Super Bowl a year from now and what’s your definition of winning with class?

JT: “I’m not going to sidestep you, OK? I’m not going to write a check, OK? I’m not going to tell you, I’d rather show you. I’d rather do it. I’d rather work towards it. All our efforts will go into that, but clearly, clearly everybody in that locker room understands what the expectation is. I think, and again I look at that, and my boss is right here so you can tell me, but I look at that answer and I look at that expectation of winning a Super Bowl every year and I don’t know that anybody goes into an NFL season not wanting and expecting to go win the Super Bowl. Owners want Super Bowls and I understand that. This franchise has quite a few and yeah, I got it, tough act to follow. I understand that, fully understand that. I fully understand that that’s what’s wanted and anything short of that, we did not achieve what we were expecting to achieve. Now, winning with class, one statement that comes to mind for me is the difference between confidence and arrogance is ignorance. So, the way you carry yourself is a fine line of crossing from confident to arrogant and I think sometimes we teeter on that, especially today in our world. Confident people, to me, they dance on that line too much. So, I think that’s the first step of winning with class. Second step of winning with class is how you conduct yourself, OK? A lot of people say the speed of the game is the biggest difference between college and pro football. I happen to disagree. I think it’s the speed of life. Young people with so much, so fast and being able to handle it and being able to channel it and having people around them to guide, to advise, to care. So, those factors there, which I will say was a big part of my interview and proactive approaches to things and things that our organization is doing and the ways things are going that way and that’s exciting and it’s all to benefit the players.”

 

Could I ask a follow up? As head coach, with LB Aldon Smith or DT Ray McDonald, would you have made different decisions than what the organization maybe has?

JT: “I don’t want to do that. I’m not going to answer your question there, just out of respect to everything.”

 

Congratulations, Jim. Can you tell me did you approach any of the former assistants on the staff about staying on and where are you as for filling out your staff right now?

JT: “Yes, ma’am. [I’m] in the process and yes and I’d rather not go any further. Well, I’m not going to go any deeper than that right now.”

 

Can you talk about your X’s and O’s philosophy? What type of defense do you want to run? What do you want to see on offense going forward?

JT: “My X’s and O’s philosophy are quite simply you build a team to a scheme. You go into the draft, you go into free agency and you acquire…you’re in the talent acquiring business, to a scheme, OK? And then I feel like the most thing is when that’s over, now you have to do a 180. And now, see I look at it from a personnel to fit a scheme. So, I’m looking at that scheme and I’m trying to fit the pieces. We don’t live in a perfect world, it’s not a perfect science. Things happen. People aren’t available. So, once we have that talent and we have those players, now we have to flip that and now we look at it, we want to take that scheme and fit it to the players. So to me, when you talk philosophical, that’s the way in building your schematics and building your approach to teaching and your building blocks, that’s where the…you have to have that latitude going in there to be able to… It’s a structure. We stay within our structure, but you have to have that latitude to be able to adapt and adjust your schematics to fit the players. So, I hope that answers your question.”

 

TB: “[Sacramento Bee writer] Matt [Barrows], I think somewhere in there, he said we’re going to run the football.”

 

Are you going to have a 3-4 or a 4-3 type of defense?

TB: “Yeah, our personnel is fit for that right now. We’ll go into that, but as we get coaching staffs and everybody together, we’ll move forward in those areas.”

 

Congratulations. You talked about your journey being not a normal one. What did you learn from some of those stops that have prepared you for this, and even some of odd jobs along the way working nights, some of those jobs?

TB: “Well, first thing I found out, I don’t want to be sappy, I know this is a football thing, but when you find somebody you love, hold on to them and don’t let them go. As long as you got them with you and you’re rolling, you’re going to be alright. So, that’s the first thing I learned. Second thing I learned is why not? Why not? Ok, why? Why not? Let’s go. Let’s do it. Take the step. Let’s go. All in, OK? But don’t be afraid to step in. Get up and look, step in. Jump in. Let’s go. All in. The magic tricks and all the fluff and stuff in life and all those things, football and anything you’re doing, outwork ‘em. That’s not just physical. That’s not just physical. I mean outwork them mentally, physically. Outwork people. Earn it. Earn it. We all love people that earn it. … Those feelings and people earn it every day and when you talk about them, your face beams. Earn it and get around people you love doing it with.”

 

Jed, you had Jim as your interim coach for one game in 2010. Is that when you first starting thinking maybe he was a head coaching candidate down the road? Just how involved were you in this process? Is this your pick?

JY: “This is our pick and I think that’s the most important thing. It’s our pick as the San Francisco 49ers. In terms of me, did I know Jim was going to be our head coach of the San Francisco 49ers? We talked to Jim yesterday around 11 a.m. I think there were always things in Jim that you saw that he had the potential to do that, but this was a long process to figure out over the last couple weeks who’s the right man to lead us and I think we made the right choice and I’m excited about it.”

 

You have talked about, as far as defensive line play, smashing the gap. It’s kind of the savage mentality, but obviously it’s football.

JT: “You’re going to get me in trouble there.”

 

But would you like to, when you look at your football team, and just see that kind of attitude under offense, all over defense? Is that, Trent mentioned running the ball, just kind of that physical nature that you preached as far as you teach your defensive line? Would you like to see that all over your football team?

JT: “Yes. Yes, I firmly believe that’s what the sport is, within the rules and safely, but with everything you have and aggressively as you can do it. With everything you have.”

 

Are you a big fan of power running?

JT: “I’m a big fan of running and however that needs to get done. Really, we all talk about the vertical pass, but it is pretty when you see two guys get together and knock that guy off the ball and the D-lineman knock the guy back into the gap. That is pretty too.”

 

Defense is your expertise. With that, what do you do for QB Colin Kaepernick? Do you bring someone in to work with him? What’s your plan and strategy for perfecting his game and making him a better quarterback?

JT: “Yes, ma’am. We’re going to have, not just Colin and not just the quarterbacks, but for everybody going through. Again, when you look at my background and I did coach offense, it was a long time ago and it was a split-back veer. Player development and teaching players and coaching players in skill development, I am passionate about that. I think that is very equally as important as the schematic itself. So, I believe that there’s got to be the balance there. I’m excited about the possibilities, the things we can do with Colin Kaepernick, how we can help him keep growing. Let’s not act like… that’s a really good football player. OK? That’s a really, really good football player. OK? So, we want to help him keep being good and keep getting better and he wants to do it. So, we’re excited.”

 

Dove-tailing on that question about Colin, how does he fit into your vision? Obviously, as you said, the last time you ran an offense it was a split-back veer, but he seems like he kind of changes the game a little bit as a dual-threat quarterback running, passing. You saw a different style of offense last year. What’s your vision of what he can do for this team going forward?

JT: “I think he can run. I think he can throw. I think he can change the pace of a game, change the speed of the game. I think he’s very intelligent. I think he can do a lot of things. When I put it all together, he can do a lot of things with his feet. He can do lot of things with his hands. He can do a lot of things with his arms. He can do a lot of things with his eyes. And he can do a lot of things with his brain. More so than a traditional quarterback, he does it with the lower body. Look at that, corral it and let’s accentuate those things as we continue to strengthen other areas, which we all have. Every player on the field has that.”

 

Do you get the sense, though, that he needs to maybe be unleashed a little bit more than he was last year going back to how he played his first couple of years in the league?

JT: “I want people to have fun playing football.”

 

You’ve been here, I believe, on the staff longer than anyone. You were here when this team was unsuccessful, very mediocre. You were here when a new coach came in and created a very successful environment and now, that environment has kind of imploded, or whatever. And I’m wondering what you take away from each of those head coaches that you’ve worked for and why do you think a coach was able to make such a difference in terms of wins and losses on the field and what do you take from each of those coaches you’ve worked for?

JT: “The first thing I’ll say to that question is, I have a great amount of respect for all those coaches, specifically those head coaches. I have a great amount of respect. But I also say, we talk about it a lot, we all take a bite of that sandwich. I understand the head coach is there. He’s that guy. He’s the point man. I understand that. I don’t think that when a team has struggles it’s all the head coach or it’s all the players or it’s all this. It’s everybody. Getting those things straightened out and just each individual taking responsibility of that. I don’t know that we imploded. I know it was not a good year. It’s not what we expect. It’s not what our fans expect. It’s not what you expect. It was not a good year. I don’t think it was an implosion. It wasn’t good.”

 

In 2011, when former head coach Jim Harbaugh was hired and the team took the leap forward, you were one of the few pieces of continuity there, what was the reason?

JT: “I’ll tell you the truth, the laugh that I had with it. I don’t have a pinpoint answer for that but the laugh I had with it was, all the guys, we were off. It was a lockout, so we were off. So, coaches couldn’t interact with players. So our players were getting together themselves. [It was] ownership, ownership from the players. They were getting together themselves and they were working out and they were over at San Jose State and they were I’m not sure where else. They were running some mountains and hills over there and they were doing it together. And I think there’s a couple reasons there. I think there was a bonding thing that kind of happened. It was like time away, time together. And they were doing it. And they had to do it. Just that group of guys together that were spearheading that and then the way you guys kept growing it. Every week more people would come. It morphed. They were really working hard and driving each other and having fun doing it. And when we came into training camp that year, you had a crew of guys, yeah, there were some X’s and O’s and playbook stuff we had to learn. Couldn’t learn that much. Couldn’t install the encyclopedia. But what was installed was nice and tight. The guys were so excited and the coaches there did a great job. A great job of getting it done and getting things installed. I think all that together, they had to do it. It was players, coaches, the schematics, but the overlying factor to me was the way those guys handled it. There were other teams during the lockout. Nobody saw each other. They were all wherever they were all over the country. They were all fired up when they got back from the lockout high-fiving, ‘Hey, how you doing?’, ‘You grew a beard?’. Our guys didn’t do that. We had a really large, good core of guys that stuck together for that.”

 

What makes coach Tomsula more worthy of the job today as opposed to four years ago?

JY: “Definitely more experience with being in this organization, being a leader within this organization. Again, this is a different search than what we did four years ago. It is a much more detailed, thorough search to figure out the right fit. But I think Jim Tomsula’s the type of guy that whether it was today, whether it was four years ago, whether it was 10 years ago, I think he would’ve been ready to step in and take the job. I think that’s his mindset. I don’t think he’s afraid to fail. I don’t know that he’s more ready today than ever before, but certainly more time and more experience and being in this organization, I don’t think that’s a negative in any way, shape or form.”

 

I understand your desire not to comment on any specific issues last year, but could you give you give us a sense for what your attitude is toward discipline on the team and whether you come down as more severe about that or less severe, and what the head coach’s role in those sorts of things is?

JT: “First of all, when we talk about discipline, to me, I see discipline as a good word. I think that the connotations we give to discipline is a negative connotation. It’s an action or a reaction to an action. Discipline to me is a way of life. We talk about it. Think big in small ways. I know it sounds petty, but it’s the way you handle a meeting, or on the road in the hotel, everybody, ‘Hey, pick up your stuff.’ I know that sounds really small, but it starts adding up. To me, it’s big picture stuff in real small ways. Pack your own bag for the game. Don’t forget your shoes. We’re talking elementary, but those are things that are big. Now when you talk about the overall picture with the discipline of the team, that’s been made very clear. That’s been made very clear to the team. Again, I’m not going to get into past incidents, but that’s not the way we’re going to conduct business moving forward. That’s been made very apparent. That has been made black and white. People do make mistakes. Things like that get handled accordingly. And I think one of the things that excites me about our organization is having the reaction to fit what it is, but also the proactive approach that our organization is doing. I’ve listened to a lot of revamping, rethinking. Obviously, a lot of literature and studies and things like that and things being in place – people put in place. We’re all aware of [vice president of football affairs] Keena Turner, everybody knows about Dr. Harry Edwards. Anyway, they’re great resources for the guys, and seeing what’s going on that way, and again, that’s internal stuff and we’ll leave that alone, but it’s really good to see.”

 

What was the thing you learned most there?

JT: “Honestly, I’ll tell you this. I lived in a hotel with my wife and daughters. My girls were young, one and three when we first went over. We lived in a hotel. Players everywhere, everywhere around, everywhere around us. From 25, at the beginning, 25 to 35 and good-looking athletes, young guys and football players. I guess it’s nine years, not one time did I ever have to ask a football player to watch his language or be a gentlemen around my family. So, I saw the first couple of years and then we started inviting guys when they were married, inviting their wives to come over for the season. And all of a sudden, things changed – guys the way they were acting and what they were doing. There was an expectation there, and you just really saw people meet expectations. So, if my expectation was here, they’d meet it. And if my expectation was here, it’d improve. And the expectation wasn’t just words, it was walking and talking and the way you do things. And lastly, it reconfirmed my opinion of I think everything in this world is personal relationships, it’s people. It’s people. It’s 100 percent people and how you act.”

 

G. COHN: Typically, when a team promotes a head coach from within the organization it’s a coordinator not a position coach. Why is Tomsula a better fit for the job than former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who was an extremely successful defensive coordinator here?

JY: “Again, we’re not going to talk about other people. But when you’re talking about Jim and why he’s the right guy, I think we’ve talked about leadership and talked about what Jim wants to do as a head coach. And I think what makes your head coach successful, is your head coach. You’re not the head coach of the defense. You’re not the head coach of the offense. You’re the head coach of the entire team. Jim’s experiences in coaching – what is, Jim is 46 years old? How many seasons?

 

JT: “Thirty one.”

 

JY: “Thirty one seasons of football. Two a year for what, eight, nine years?”

 

JT: “Yeah.”

 

JY: “Being a head coach in different places, being on the offensive side and being on the defensive side, understanding how to coach as coaches and how to have the right game management, how to operate a game and how to operate an entire program, those are the skill sets, to me, that separated Jim Tomsula apart from any candidate that we talked to.”

 

Getting back to the offensive side if you could, you talk about the power run, obviously RB Frank Gore has been such a big part of this team for 10 years, have you had a chance to interact with Frank at all since you became the coach or talked to Colin? Those two guys on the defensive side have you had a chance to lure DT Justin Smith back?

JT: “No, no, no. Tonight, I just got the list so I can … Everything has been going crazy. You know how it is. I got the list of phone numbers to get calling the guys tonight and get going.”

 

How involved are you going to be in terms of who’s going to be on the team, who comes back? How involved are you going to be in the selection process?

JT: “The way I’ve seen it since I’ve been here and since we’ve been doing it together, it’s a group effort. Everybody collectively gets together and talks about the vision. We set the plan and we work from the plan. As a position coach I’m very involved in the guys who are in my room. I know that with coordinators and through the head coach and the general manager and the personnel department.”

 

TB: “I think we can also say is it’s going to be business as usual for the San Francisco 49ers. This is not going to operate any differently under Jim that it operated under coach Harbaugh before or even under coach Singletary before that. As Jim said, it’s going to be group decisions. At the end of the day somebody has to make the final decision. But, it’s a process. It’s a process that you go through. Anytime you’re acquiring anybody, whether that’s a coach, someone within the front office or a player, there’s a process to it and everybody needs to be involved in that process and then once you’ve talked it through you make the final decision and you make it work. I don’t see it operating any differently.”

 

Jed, will the reporting structure change at all versus what it was? I know both Harbaugh and Trent reported to you. Is that goin to remain the same with Jim?

JY: “No. Jim reported to Trent. It’s the same structure that it’s been going back.”

 

I heard Jim say the word or the phrase personal relationships a lot. Based on what he said, how important was familiarity and the relationship that you guys have had over the last eight years in this decision?

JY: “I’d be lying if I said that that didn’t play a factor. But, when we sat down originally and talked, we said you’re in the running for this. But, you need to understand, you need to think about not being the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers as well. Because, it’s nice to have familiarity, but you also see familiarity with things that might not be the perfect fit. And, I think that’s really a big piece of it. So, it’s nice to have familiarity, but that’s not what set Jim Tomsula apart from all the other candidates that we spoke to.”

 

For Trent, I think a lot of the fans are having trouble reconciling how well this team performed on defense in recent years, including this past year, and not retaining, I guess aside from Jim any of the defensive coaches. Why not bring Vic Fangio back or Ed Donatell back and some of those guys?

TB: “Well, [Sacramento Bee reporter] Matt [Barrows], there were discussions. There were discussions that were had throughout this process. I’m not going to get into all the specifics of each of those discussions. But, it’s just safe to assume that throughout those discussions we came to this conclusion. We feel very good about moving forward. We feel very good about the plan that we have moving forward, very confident in Jim and his abilities to pull that side of the ball together just as we do the entire staff. When you hire a head coach you’re hiring one man. One man can’t do this job. And I think Jim recognizes that as we all do. It’s going to take the village and it’s going to take a number of quality coaches to fill those roles. We’re in that process right now. Jim’s been working tirelessly. I don’t know if he’s slept last night. If he did he was texting me at 3:30 this morning. But, it’s a process that we’re going through. We’re going to find the best coaches we can possibly find. There’s no shortage of good coaches out there and there’s no shortage of good coaches that want to be a part of the San Francisco 49ers. And now it’s our job to go out there and find them and I feel confident that we’re going to be able to do that.”

 

Along those lines, whose staff is this going to be? There was a lot of talk last night that Trent you were calling the assistants. How are you guys going to work together? Does Jim have carte blanche to hire whomever he wants to his staff?

TB: “Well, there’s two parts to that question. We handled this situation much like we did the last situation which we were in four years ago. I felt a personal responsibility to those coaches because they were a part of the staff that Jim [Harbaugh] and I put together four years ago. So, I felt, once again, it was my job to call out, reach out to those coaches and visit with them. Didn’t’ want to do that on the phone, but in this business there’s a sense of urgency to things; for their sake and for ours. And through that process asked them to come in today, which the majority did, and we sat down face-to-face and went through everything. I think that’s what people lose sight of. This is a tough business, but there’s a human side to every decision and as you look to the families that are displaced oftentimes in this business you can’t help but hurt in some manner. So, to me the closure is getting in front of them, visiting with them, making sure that they know that we’re going to do everything possible to help them in any way that we can. As far as the second part, whose staff is this? It’s our staff. I get tired of the same questions all the time relative to whose got final say, whose pulling the trigger? We’re doing it. I can’t emphasize that enough. Not one person is going to make every decision in this building. There’s different people in different roles and at different times different people are going to be responsible for a final decision. The one thing I’m confident of is we’re going to do this together. We’re going to do it together from day one on. Jim has spent a lot of time on the phone, talking to coaches, gauging interest, setting up interviews, setting up discussions. Am I going to be a part of that process? Yes. Am I going to be the final decision maker? No. Jim is putting together a staff that he feels he can go out and work every day with because it’s tough business. You spend a lot of hours together. So, it isn’t always getting the best. It’s getting the best that can work together. That’s the goal. That’s the objective. Finding 17 people, 18 people, whatever that number is, that can really come together and get it done.”

 

Can I just ask Jim along those same lines, how difficult is it for you to have to part ways with a lot of guys that you’ve been on the staff with for four years and another person more than four years?

JT: “Yeah. I mean, you’ve seen this before. You know it. You’ve watched it. It’s hard, it is. But, it’s part of what we do and decisions are made by everybody and those decisions are made. We all try to have a level head and make those decisions the best that we can for ourselves and each other and then we move forward. It’s just what we have to do.”

 

Building on what’s been here since you’ve been here, can you just share one change that you’re looking forward to most as a head coach? What’s going to be unique to a Jim Tomsula team? What’s your imprint?

JT: “Let’s wait and see.”

 

When you talk about process and decision making, you added a lot of new pieces to your offense, is that some of the things that you’re thinking about now? You have the dynamic of senior veterans and young guys like Frank Gore and then you have TE Vernon Davis. Do you keep to the process? Do you keep these pieces and the dynamic that you have and teaching them and learning and get them to learn and move forward and continue to get better or do you start over?

JT: “The team dynamic, I think we’ve all experienced it, the team dynamic is the key to me. It’s not a collection of talent. It’s a team sport. So, that whole dynamic, we’ve all been a part of a team somewhere. Whether it was a team negotiating a deal, whether it was a team playing a sport, whether it was a group jazzercise class or yoga class, there’s always been that one where you’ve gone somewhere and you’ve walked out and said, ‘That was cool.’ Everybody kind of mixed right. You know what I mean? We’ve got these words, the culture, the chemistry. We’re always trying to put our hands on it. To me, that’s the magic of it and how these guys are. You were hitting it on the head I think when you stated some of the examples. When you look at Frank Gore and some of the other running backs and some of the guys coming back. There’s a neat dynamic there. It’s really cool. There’s a real cool dynamic there. When you look at other areas of the team you see some real neat dynamics and guys working together and guys doing things, they start finishing each other’s sentences, you know, that kind of stuff. So, yeah that’s a real cool thing. That’s an area I really want the guys to grab and go with. Have fun doing this. I know it’s hard. It’s hard work, but you know what I’m talking about. It’s fun when it’s rolling. And you get the boys and you’re going and you’re rolling, it’s fun and it’s allowed to be. Yeah it’s work, it’s a job. I get all that, but it’s the game of football. And when you’re a competitor, these guys are different. When you get these football players, we know their bodies are different and we know that they can do crazy things with their bodies, but these guys are different. There’s a competitive nature. There’s a competitiveness that it’s different, it’s cool, it’s really neat and when you watch it and you watch it before the game and the way they change and there’s a lot of that in the locker room. That’s what really makes these guys so special.”

 

I assumed you didn’t miss throughout the season the reports that Jim Harbaugh was on his way out, that he had lost the locker room and also reports that you were in line maybe to be the next coach. What did you think about those reports? Do you think they destabilized the team and this season and what did that do to your relationship with Jim Harbaugh and maybe with Vic Fangio?

JT: “I don’t think that had any effect on my relationship with either one of those guys. I don’t think there was an effect on it. Nobody can control what people write or speculate or do.”

 

Did you think they were bad?

JT: “I thought it was terrible. But, I mean what are you going to do. How do you stop it.

 

It turned out to all be true.

JT: “I don’t know. I didn’t read them all.”

 

You’re sitting up there.

JT: “Yeah, I’m sitting here, but I didn’t read them. I don’t know all the dynamics of all those things. I wasn’t a part of that so I can’t [speak to it].”

 

When your name was mentioned, what were you thinking?

JT: “That was just terribly uncomfortable, obviously. It was terribly uncomfortable. I wish whoever wrote it wouldn’t have wrote it or whoever said it wouldn’t have said it. I can’t sit up here and tell you. What am I going to do about it? There’s nothing I can do about it.”

 

Have you talked to Harbaugh recently?

JT: “No I haven’t. I have not.”

 

Trent and Jed, Jim spoke specifically about proactive approach in his interviews with you two in terms of cleaning up maybe some of the things that have happened off the field. What did he offer that kind of sold you on that front and can it be as simple as guys taking responsibility for picking up their shoes and some of those basic things?

JY: “Again, Jim is our head coach not because of one specific answer. It’s because of the body of work and everything that he had and put together. In terms of things like that, it sounds juvenile to say guys picking up their trash in the locker room helps create a culture that doesn’t have off-the-field issues, it does. But, you look back in history, you look at New York City, there was crime ridden in the 1980s and you look at what the people did there of fixing broken windows, fixing graffiti, fixing little things like that and it’s amazing how that has a big effect on a larger issue and larger violent crime. So, you look at those things, little things matter. When you’re talking about winning a Super Bowl, it’s not about having the most innovative scheme on this side of the ball or that side of the ball. It’s not about having the best player here. In basketball, one player that’s 20 percent of your team. That makes a big difference. One player in football, that’s 1/22nd of your team, 1/25th, 1/30th when you’re talking about special teams and guys that really contribute on a daily basis. So, it’s a bunch of collections of little things that make the difference. And I think that’s the level of accountability and responsibility that Jim takes with this and understanding that those little details all add up. So, it wasn’t just one specific answer. A lot of people can say, ‘Well this is what I’d do and this is what I’d do.’ You actually got to see it with Jim and you get to see it in his resume and you get to see it going all the way back. Again, it’s a process, it’s a collection of data, it’s making sure you do the right research and the right homework. It ultimately culminated in Jim Tomsula being the 17thand now the 19th head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.”

 

JT: “I’m going to apologize to Jed. That was a remedial example that I made. I’m sorry for that. But, you know just trying to make the point of doing the little things correctly.”

 

TB: “I’d like to add something to that because I think one thing to keep in mind is that the structure that we had in place, I don’t want people to leave here thinking is that because coach Harbaugh is no longer here, all of these things are going to change, or that he was the cause of this. That’s not where this is going. As we look at this from a structural perspective and an organizational perspective, there’s things that we need to do better, that I need to do better. This isn’t about one individual, this is about the team once again. This is about each and every player holding themselves accountable, each and every person on the staff holding themselves accountable. Let’s not try to put this one person’s lap because that’s not at all what we’re trying to do. We’re looking at this from an organizational perspective with the understanding that we all, and I emphasize that we all have to do a better job and that starts with me.”

 

JY: “It starts with me.”

 

TB: “Yeah, it starts with you.”

 

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think a lot of successful NFL head coaches come from defensive line. First off, why do you think that’s the case and secondly, what makes you different?

JT: “I don’t know the facts to support that, so I can’t comment on that part. I don’t know any defensive line coaches, where people started in their coaching careers. I’ve coached linebackers. I ran the special teams for eight or nine years in NFL Europe and in college. I’ve coached the offensive line. In the international player development, yes, I’ve actually coached quarterbacks and running backs and taught people how to hold the ball and run the ball and with which hand to have the ball in and receivers on how to stand and stem and break. I’ve had to teach all those. That was part of what we did in the NFL Europe. I didn’t teach John Elway how to throw a football or Joe Montana or Steve Young, but just the mechanics of it and understanding it, I’ve had my hands on all that. So, well-rounded, can always go back to the personal relationships, taking information and teaching it to someone and part of the magic of teaching to me is the pupil. All the pupils are different, so the approach has to be able to change and you have to be able to be able to be fluid in what you do. I used [NT] Ian Williams and [DT] Glenn Dorsey and [DT] Quinton Dial this year playing the nose guard position. Three completely different body types. Three completely different players. I coach all three different to achieve the same job because they all have a different skill set. So, we’re always trying to enhance what they do, what they do best and then bring up the areas that are lacking. We’re trying to make you better there, but I would say Ian Williams and Glenn Dorsey, that pair there, those two guys playing the nose guard position, I’d dare tell anybody that’s two of the best guys in the middle you’re going to see and then Quinton Dial coming in with his body type being completely different and how hard he worked at that and he plays it completely different than those guys. And then you go back to Isaac Sopoaga and Aubrayo Franklin, you go, ‘All these guys play different, but we get the desired result.’ You’re in the season and you say, ‘Wow, those guys are playing really well.’ So you don’t like to make comparisons and that’s why you don’t like to compare players. It’s very easy for people to try to compare our linebackers, compare our running backs. That’s all unfair to me. Everybody has different skill sets and when I’m talking about teaching, I’m looking at what is it and how do you get there and being able to be fluid in that road to get where you need to be.”

This article has 435 Comments

  1. Its gonna be a looooonggggggg 2 years,hes got that amount of time to get it done if not bye bye tomsula.

    1. I think hiring JT is a huge disservice to him and secondarily to Fangio. I love JT, but fear these moves will usher in the second age of darkness in SF. The first being the “Age of Erickson, Nolan, Singletary”. JT, may be a man of the people and loved by players but he has been put in an impossible situation with the gutting of essentially a good (if not great) coaching core (with some dysfunction) and elite DC. Disservice to Fangio because he deserved it…Shoulda made him HC, promoted JT to DC, and paid for the best OC and QB coach available.

  2. “Now, winning with class, one statement that comes to mind for me is the difference between confidence and arrogance is ignorance”. Classy….

    1. We may only win 4-6 games but I’m sure that the Faithful will be blown away with how much class we do it with – Geez

  3. At least the draft will get exciting again with the top 5 picks we’ll have over the next couple-three seasons.

    1. Rod Marinelli went from d-line coach to HC and took the Lions to 0-16 fairly quickly, which landed them the first pick in the draft. Like Yogi Berra said: “It’s deja vu all over again”

  4. If this fails Baalke’s gone. He has his yes man now no more excuses. The next coach search will be a GM search also.

    1. Not so sure. Maybe this is Jed’s pick and Baalke will actually get to pick the next guy. This smells too much like a business decision instead of a football decision like they claim. My sense is Baalke is more concerned about football and his reputation but gave into Jed. Go along to get along for now while the fans pay.

  5. Hey Billy Bob Baalke and Yuppy York – I would like to use my bloggers rights to request the list of boxes that Tomsula checked off. The Freedom of Information Blogger Act gives me the right to see this list.
    Us lowly bloggers are part of this village that Tomsula speaks of.
    I need to see how many boxes were left off that short list.
    Tomsula said it takes a village of people to be successful. I happen to know some expert villagers that could help out…. Here they are:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k

        1. yeah ..
          I was about to cuss you out for that… but.. ya kno
          that wouldn’t be PG rated ..

          It’s now 2015 … and Disco still sucks !

          (The wife smacked me once for sayin’ just that
          to K.C. of the Sunshine Band)

          1. How long to someone pops up with a village people avatar now? There are some unknown characters in here.
            I love this blog…..Entertainment on any budget…Lol

            1. A Hilary Clinton avatar is more likely Crab. She’s the one who made that comment what it is. But I personally prefer the alteration of it done by others.

    1. methinks if I ever stayed there ..
      I probably wouldn’t have a wife !! ;-}

      g’nite Crabs ..catchya later

  6. So the most competent coaches of this great staff are fired and or shoved out the door under lame justifications…and the most average one of them is the one left standing and gets the top job. I don’t know what to make of this…

      1. Come on George. Which one, Baalke or York, is a Parcells disciple? Who is York’s guru? Money.

        1. htwaits There is plenty of reasons to question Yorks competence but I’ve never seen a decision of his that seemed to be motivated by money. The same could’nt be said about his father.

          1. Think Harbaugh was done in February 2014 but was kept on under an increasing bombardment of negative leaks until the end of the season. He was a lame duck even if he won the Superbowl.

            Now think about how important Jim’s winning record in the first three years was to selling the seat licenses at $2K – $30K or $80K. Those sales were continuing during the preseason months leading up to the first game of 2014.

            What would firing Jim done to those sales in February, 2014? Money isn’t about spending it, it’s about getting it. That’s Jed’s passion.

            When this is over compare the coaching budget between 2014 and 2015. That’s where you’ll see money not being spent.

  7. So from what it sounds like to me, Tomsula is a rah rah guy. Cool with the players. In my mind, I imagine an environment similar to the Seahawks, Pete Carrol and his players. They only problem, he doesn’t have Pete Carrol Experience. It took Pete a while to get to where he is. He paid his dues and deserves his success. Tomsula….. The jury is still out.

    1. The way I look at it is that Baalke has become General Manager / Head Coach and made Tomsula his assistant. Tomsula maintains the continuity in the locker room, since he seems to have the respect of the players on offense as well as defense. His main role is to motivate, resolve conflicts, and keep things on an even keel. But the coordinators do the game planning with Tomsula looking over their heads to make sure they stick to the general outline Baalke has laid out in hiring them. I have long given credit to Baalke for thinking outside the box, and I think this might be a new model of operating in the NFL. I don’t know if such a model has ever been used in the past. Those of you with more knowledge about the game than me can set me straight if you think I am wrong.

      1. George I understand what you are saying. First thing that comes to my mind, Jerry Jones & Al David. Jerry is the GM. I think Al had GM’s but those guys are/were doing essentially what you say about Baalke. The Cowboys coach is doing exactly what Tomsula will be doing.

        1. “The Cowboys coach is doing exactly what Tomsula will be doing.”

          Way to be positive Kentucky. Winning 12 games next year sounds good doesn’t it?

          1. Nope. Doing something other than winning the Super Bowl will put Tomsula one step closer to being fired.

            1. Mid:

              I know Jed has set that standard, but it’s not realistic. Is there any coach who year after year could meet that standard. Jed was just posturing for the sake of the seat license holders. He imagines himself the CEO of a silicon valley company and he feels somewhat beholden to his seat license holders (shareholders in his mind).

              In my job as a consultant, the “CEOs” of the companies I work with all have outrageous expectations that we all know can not be met within the time frame allowed. For some reason that seems to be the standard. I think they feel that unless they set an unrealistically high bar, people will slack off. I don’t know if this is what is being taught in business schools or not. In my field, as long as we keep making steady progress no one gets fired. Jed seems to be doing the same thing here. Tomsula will be here as long as we consistently make the playoffs.

              1. The problem is that it’s the York family Cubus. They tend to demand excellence while not fully committing to the team. It’s not going to surprise one bit if this team manages to have a winning record but no Super Bowl and York boots Tomsula.
                I do understand what you’re saying Cubus, but the fact that York set the ridiculous standard leads me to believe he would be stupid enough to follow through. I hope I’m wrong, but York’s current track record does not equate to a bright future.

              2. So you think Jed didn’t think about firing Harbaugh until the team was officially out of the 2014 playoffs? Interesting.

                I am a pessimist. I think Jim Harbaugh was fired last February when he didn’t get to the Superbowl. Due to the ongoing sales campaign to sell seat licenses at that time, the official notice of termination arrived in late December.

              3. ‘Tomsula will be here as long as we consistently make the playoffs.’
                .
                .
                Doesn’t that statement run contradictory to what just happened?
                .
                We didn’t make the playoffs last year but Tomsula’s still here while the rest of the staff is gone.
                .
                What I don’t understand is why was he, Rathman and Chryst were worth keeping while the rest of the staff wasn’t?
                .
                Actually, I do understand…they weren’t subservient to Ballke.
                .
                In my opinion, Tomsula doesn’t get a HC gig ANYWHERE in the NFL other than in SF–even the terrible teams wouldn’t have elevated him like this.
                .
                This is simply Baalke thinking he knows more than his coaching staff (even though he admits he knows nothing about schemes) and Jed, in all his worldly wisdom, going along blindly.
                .
                They got their ‘yes man’.
                .
                Essentially, what they’re trying to do is erase The Harbaugh era as if it never happened and turn back the clock to 2010.
                .
                .
                .
                ~ALOHA~

              4. Kauai:

                The difference, to me at least, is that Harbaugh is abrasive and couldn’t mesh with York/Baalke whereas Tomsula will. I think the Superbowl or bust mantra will be toned down. It’s just the typical proclamations of a CEO that the rank and file know to ignore. there is no one on earth who can win SB after SB because it’s not a task that one man can complete and because of numerous unknowns (particularly injuries). Unlike JH, as long as JT gets us consistently to the playoffs, they will look for a reason to continue to keep him (despite York’s proclamation of SB or bust), even if we don’t win the SB. Just my opinion of course.

        2. Regarding Al Davis and Jerry Jones, those are good examples, but do you know if they personally handpicked the coordinators?

          1. I believe Jerry Jones does everything. That has always been his issue. He has too much power.

            Jack….. NOT SO FAST… lol…. They Cowboys have had many disappointing seasons before reaching this point. I believe we should go deep into the playoffs next year. A fully healthy roster will leave zero excuses for Tomsula and Baalke. Nothing less that a NFC Championship birth will do.

            1. Kentucky,

              “The Cowboys have had many disappointing seasons before reaching this point.”

              I understand that, and my comment was to be taken a bit light hearted.

              “I believe we should go deep into the playoffs next year.”

              I would change should to could.

              “A fully healthy roster will leave zero excuses for Tomsula and Baalke.”

              Agree that there should be no excuses for either, just as there were no excuses for Harbaugh.

              “Nothing less that a NFC Championship birth will do.”

              A lot goes into reaching that point, but that expectation is understood. A few tweaks here and there could possibly get them even further.

              1. It was taken light hearted. I just know as long as people stay out of trouble this off season and we can avoid the injury bug we should be right back on top.

      2. George – Respected NFL head coaches are involved in their teams player/personnel moves, style of play, etc.
        Unfortunately, Billy Bob Baalke was in a power struggle with Harbaugh……Harbs was/is clearly a well respected coach and deserved more respect from Billy Bob Baalke.
        It appears to me that Baalke convinced Yuppy York to hire Tomsula so Baalke can regain his power. One thing is certain, Tomsula will have little say with free agency moves and in the draft. At least until he proves himself to be a playoff level coach.

        Baalke keeps saying things to support this new village atmosphere, like “we make the decisions, not one person.”
        Well, I think this village theory is splendid but in Baalke’s mind he is the Chief Elder of this village. Everything goes through him now and Yuppy York is his village puppet.

        1. Crab, I agree, but it might be Jed who’s pulling the strings. He might have told Baalke, “We win the Super Bowl within two years or you’re gone.” I don’t think anyone outside the FO will ever know for sure, even “the great Tim Kawakami.”

          1. George:

            If Gase was Baalke’s choice as reported by some, then I think York put Baalke on notice.

          2. George – I respectfully disagree. I think Baalke has become Jed’s big brother. Jed looks up to Trent.
            I think Baalke is here to stay, Super Bowl or no Super Bowl. Baalke even slipped up in the press conference and said “it all starts with me.”…Then Jed stepped in (to avoid embarrassment) and said “it starts with me.”
            Baalke is boss….just not on paper……He will stay as long as he likes IMO.

            1. You might be right, Crab. But if that’s the case, do you really think Baalke is stupid enough to cajole York to stick by “Superbowl or Bust” and “Winning with Class” mantras. He would know that those mantras (particularly the first) would eventually lead to his own ouster (most likely within two years).

              1. Cubus – Jed and Baalke are like brothers now, when I see Jed look at Trent I see a gleam in his eyes. I’m not kidding Cubus.
                Win or lose they are in this together…….Crap, that reminds me of the song played at my first wedding. My ex insisted the lame love song “together as one” by Stryper be played.
                $hit man, we lasted 2 years….She was a fox but immediately became the nag from hell as soon as I slipped the ring on. I tried changing schemes etc and nothing worked so I fired her. She wanted to keep my last name and I told her, we went 0-32 and you want to keep the team name??….Luckily I had no children during our losing streak……Sorry to ramble on.

          3. JY: “It starts with me.”

            TB: “Yeah, it starts with you.”

            If this comment doesn’t tell you who the ego maniac of this circus is. Nothing will. This on tv while introducing the coach. Some things are better left unsaid. That was a get back in your place slap to the face.
            And showed ZERO class. I don’t think a person in that room didn’t know that fact. What a little tool!

      3. George I think your are right on with one exception. Jed is the father of the scheme and Baalke just went along. Baalke has got to think about failure but Jed doesn’t. At the end of the day Baalke cannot get blame for this if things go wrong or he will have a very difficult job finding another GM job. I think Baalke wanted to go with a safer bet but Jed forced this on him. I could be wrong but this just smells like a 30 something biz school grad whose business is owned by Mommy and Daddy being stupid. You’ve nailed the plan but I think Jed is the father.

      4. George you may be right, but you also described Singletary’s role as head coach. If you don’t succeed then try try again may be what Baalke is doing.

  8. I grew up in a small town east of Cleveland Ohio. My in-laws are Sicilian al the way. In my town’s Catholic church, you were either Irish, Italian or Polish. I totally get Jim. Given the chance, he might be a hell of a coach. One thing for sure: win or lose, the pressers are gonna be interesting.

  9. From PFT, looks like Kubiak has decided to accept an interview with the Broncos. I’m still holding on to a slim hope that we could get Gase as our OC.

    1. How does that fit with Baalke’s “We’re going to run the ball!” interruption of Jim Tomsula’s rambling discourse on the new or returned to 49er offensive philosophy.

      1. Denver ran the ball significantly more during the last 6 or so games (that’s what I remember, but could be wrong on the number of games). To me that shows that Gase adjusted to the realities of an ailing, pass-oriented QB. I watched a few of those games and was surprised at how much they ran. I wanted to watch the manning of 2013 that was throwing 6 touchdowns a game.

        It’s been brought up a few times that Denver couldn’t beat Seattle. Yeah, they got pounded in the SB, but not up in Seattle. They almost pulled that game out in overtime. The way both teams were scoring at the end of that game, it was highly likely that the team that won the toss would win. Seattle won the toss and won the game.

        1. If you discount Mike Martz, all offensive coordinators look for balance of some kind between running and passing. New England didn’t run against the Ravens, but that was Bill Belichick pounding a weakness in the Ravens defense.

          Now think of the 2011 49ers and their very simple low yardage passing game, no turn overs, and pound the ball running. They recovered 28 more turnovers than they gave up. The turnover aspect of that success isn’t something that can be counted on.

          Baalke’s plan (not Tomsula because he has never had one) is to run like 2011, pass like 2011 (no turnovers), and overcome 8, 9, or 10 men in the the box.

          The trouble is that if you let the good teams crowd the line of scrimmage, it gets very hard to rely on your running game. They do not back off. They stuff you.

          All the above works if your defense never needs any help from the offense other than time of possession.

  10. I think with the right supporting coaching staff, the future with Tomsula looks bright. It seems like most of the complaints are about Baalke and York. Jim T. has what it takes and has shown that. I remember watching some games and the cameras would go to the sidelines and there were times I thought, Tomsula is coaching up everybody. If I didn’t know any better, it would be easy to mistake him for the HC. During the divisional playoff game last year, Aikman and Buck made a comment about Tomsula, because he was coaching up players on the offense. They both knew Jim and his personality.

    As Patrick Willis said, he’s a player’s coach and with the right staff and players, I’m not worried. There’s no doubt in my mind that the player’s will play hard for him – which IMHO is a major ingredient for continued success.

    You’ve seen Tomsula give a poor presser, now take a look at some of the one-on-one interviews at 49ers.com.

    Now am I concerned that Baalke is grabbing too much power. Yeah, but that’s not Tomsula’s fault. The guy has been given a big opportunity and why shouldn’t he take it.

    Of course, if they bring in a Jimmy Raye 2.0 type as the OC, I reserve the right to go ballistic. :-)

    1. Heard Joe Nedney, Brian Jennings and Ronnie Lott on knbr giving Tomsula very high praise.

      Hopefully his best work is in the locker room and on the field.
      He’ll learn how to handle to press in time.

      1. Hold up…. We can’t give Tomsula a pass and blast Kaep…. Once again, he’ll be following the leader but he will be getting blasted more than the leader. Makes no sense to me.

    2. I “think” that you’re wishing not thinking. It’s a wonderful wish and I hope it comes true, not only for Jim Tomsula but for me too. It would be like thinking the Giants would win three World Series in five year, but doing it six years ago. It’s a dream come true.

  11. @NBCdianna 4m
    Per source Kyle Shanahan turned down OC interview with 49ers and may be in play for Denver

    1. Jack, although it remains to be seen, it might be that the only good coaches willing to work for Baalke as offensive coordinator are on the college level.

      1. George,

        Maybe, but I think their target is Chudzinski. When Tomsula was asked about it yesterday he said he didn’t want to respond due to tampering rules. It’s only tampering if the coach you’re talking about is still in the playoffs.

        1. Jack I think you are correct about Chudzinski. I think he would be a dynamic hire, after seeing what he was able to do with Newton I believe he will allow CK to be CK. I do’nt believe that CK will ever be an elite pocket QB so if they are going to keep him around then play to his strengths.

        2. I agree on Chud. I think he’s a logical choice if they decide to go that way.

          Mike Shanahan as OC I never considered. He must really want to get back into the league if he’s willing to do that.

            1. I agree.
              .
              Chudzinski could be really good for Kap and he really promotes a run-first philosophy.
              .
              Everything Baalke wants, I would guess.
              .
              They could be the 2011 Panthers, but with a GOOD defense.
              .
              This is a hire that could make me fell a little about things.
              .
              .
              .
              ~ALOHA~

        3. I like his name. Imagine what Grant can do with his headlines.

          “Chudzinski’s offense chugs to their first victory.”
          “49ers chug, chug, chug but no touch downs.”
          “Merrily we chug along – to the dark ages.”
          “The Chuggers win 6-3”

          I’m still having night sweats.

          1. htwaits

            But isn’t that about the average that we scored last season…WITH ‘ the QB whisperer’

        4. Yes, I very much agree that Chudzinski is first choice for OC. I’ve seen Charlie Weis’ name come up and he could be second choice.

          One guy who I haven’t seen mentioned is Chan Gailey. He’s a rubbish HC, but he’s had some success as an OC. His Steelers offense with Kordell Stewart at QB and Jerome Bettis at RB was highly competitive. Could be a good fit.

    2. @NBCdianna 8s
      Kyle Shanahan may have turned down the SF OC interview for great reason.
      Told his father Mike Shanahan is still in play for the job. #49ers

      1. No way I’m buying that. The way this week has unfolded, you really think Baalke is going to bring in a strong personality like Shanahan Sr.?

    1. Funny how everyone is pinning the success of the Niners on the hiring of the OC. It is almost as if by default the OC can turn this team into an offensive machine. The Head Coach is now irrelevant and all the hopes are on the OC. Good luck with that…..

  12. Solari’s parting comments, as per MM this morning:

    “It was a great coaching staff, great teachers, great knowledge of the game,” Solari said. “Everybody got along. Jim (Harbaugh) did a great job putting the staff together. Jim is a great leader of men. That’s why when he’s done with his career, he’ll be one of the top coaches who’s coached the game.

    “Everybody will land on their feet. It’s a good staff, and the league knows it. It’s one of the better staffs I’ve ever been with.”

    1. That says a lot. Solari was a hold over coach that Jim accepted with the job. I like the part about what the league knows.

      1. Which means the league also knows that Jed and Trent are fools for letting a great staff like that go….for whatever reason.
        .
        Again, I think guys around the league see them as idiots right now.
        .
        Time will tell if they’re ultimately proven right.
        .
        If and when that happens, they can say ‘we told you so’.
        .
        .
        .
        ~ALOHA~

        1. Kauai Robert

          No, I don’t think that they can say that…but if so, 23 Jordan and Bay, and ninermd say it every post so it’s nothing new

    2. Wow! There is so much in that brief statement. He was/is a great leader, a Walshian trait, say no more.

  13. I’m over the whole mess. Still do not like the way it was handled and believe me in my career I have worked for many varying personalities. As you all know the personality of your boss dictates how much you like going to work each day but their knowledge of the business is what sets them apart.

    I will miss JH and Tomsula is on the clock. He may not be a great orator but he better get his coachong act together. Right now I believe the Niners are in for a rough 2015 season. The NFC West is by far the best division in the NFL and I hate saying it but they may be 4th in the division.

    Thank god for the internet… I can still read great JH stories like this one about Ralph

    http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/01/jim_harbaugh_tells_the_story_o.html#incart_river

    1. If the Rams can get a decent QB they could easily be the 2nd best team in the NFC. Same thing for the Cards. I believe Baalke picked the wrong time to get rid of that staff given the current nature of the NFC west

    2. Where are we going to get our “gobble, gobble” fix now? From Jim, of course. Thanks for the link.

        1. It brought tears to my eyes. I’ve been in a line like that more than once, and thought everything that Jim did. I’m not talking about football either.

  14. Has anyone heard from any these dudes lately?

    Andrew from Rishikesh
    Latino heat (I don’t miss this creature)
    El guapo
    Chicago49er
    Adam707
    Nick row
    MSClemons
    FDM (Maybe I saw him here recently?)

    TGIF Fellas/Mary!!…Happy hour starts in a few hours here in So Cal :-) ……Make sure you surprise you wives/girlfriends with some frickin flowers once every decade fellas. Help cleanup once in a while too (you slobs), then you are less likely to be bothered in your man cave. :)

    Enjoy the wknd! Monday off for some of us.

    Love you knuckleheads

    1. Hey Crab,

      I’ve seen Andrew and Chicago over on the webzone.

      Adam707 was around here a couple weeks ago.

      I follow Clemons on the Twitter so he’s still kicking.

      Nick Row is the same Nick that turned in his 49ers fan card yesterday.

      The others I don’t know about.

      1. Ham – Appreciate the info! I forgot Nick row was Nick.

        Hey Ham, what does your crystal ball say about Gore? Will it be Niners, Skins, retirement or some other team? I have no clue….I’m hoping this ageless wonder comes back to Niners for one more final year.

      2. Hammer,
        There was a guy here (I believe a couple of years ago) that you used to say was a genius after he would post, but I forgot his name.

        And let’s not forget Hofer67. Always good for a good debate. He disappeared after Harbaugh went with CK over AS.

        1. AES – I dig the new avatar, yes HoferFraud bailed on us when #7 was named the starter. What a damn shame. Most of us liked HoferFraud…..I thought he was my blog buddy but I guess not. I was the fool…..I’m glad that tree fell on his house for abandoning ship. When the going gets tough HoferFraud slips across the border under dark skies. He never had the balls to say goodbye…..What a damn shame

          1. Crab,
            Thanks bro. for the avatar like.
            I had Harbaugh (well, lucky guess) going to Michigan a few weeks before the season was over – hence the Michigan logo overtone.

            Crab, Hofer67 was a longtime original poster here and although he was a huge AS apologist and fervently debated against AS’ detractors.
            I can’t fault the guy for that.

      1. Nine Al – I remember Grant calling out the National Guard in search of 9erGirl…..I think she’s worth it though. She’s a damn good woman…..Too bad her hubby is a Raider fan though. :)

        1. Maybe 49erGirl crossed over to the dark-side (raider fan). It might be time to put out an APB on her again.

    2. El Guapo was a funny dude.
      I thought Latino Heat was a false name for OneNiner, but I dunno.
      FDM has been around.
      I had to “turn down the volume” when Prime came back. : >)

      1. I thought Latino heat was one of primes alias’ after being booted and begging to be back in.

        1. MD,
          Didn’t you offer to meet up with prime for drink at a 49er game a couple of years ago?
          Why all the hostility bro?

    1. Cubus,

      How do you feel about Shanahan. I’m on the fence about that guy. His best years may be past him. Then seeing how he clashed with Snyder over RGIII, he does not seem like a good fit. At least for BARK & CO.

    2. Mike Shanahan is the experience that Tomsula needs…I’m cool with Chud too….Chud lol, Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. 1980’s horror movie

  15. I think everybody around the league is shaking their collective heads in disbelief after this presser.
    .
    And the other NFCW teams are grinning from ear to ear and saying “Thanks Jed!”.
    .
    .
    .
    ~ALOHA~

  16. I stated long ago that Trent Baalke is the wrong type of individual to be the top guy in any organization. His control issues will ultimately be come the deciding factor in too many of his decisions. He is his own worst enemy and that will lead to his ultimate downfall. Much like it took much to long for most of the 49er fans to recognize the red flags that portended his bust status until it became all too obvious, the same holds true for Trent Baalke’s red flags that were evident for quite some time if you only knew what to look for. I must admit that I never expected it to become this obvious quite so quickly.

    1. I seemed to have forgotten to insert A. Jenkins name into the post as the player who’s red flags were missed and ignored by some 49er fans.

    2. Yep, you certainly did state that long ago. And many, many times since. If nothing else, you are persistent.

      But I gave it as much credence the first time as I do now. There are many different types of leaders, and I’ve seen leaders like Baalke be very successful. They tend to be very thoughtful and meticulous planners. It isn’t his personality that will be the issue, but whether he is able to acknowledge his own mistakes and grow/ learn from them.

      For example, has he learned from the AJ Jenkins mistake? I don’t know, but if he hasn’t then the team is in trouble. If he has, and I believe he has, then that is in the past and he is better for the experience.

  17. From Cam Inman:

    “I’m hearing former #Raiders DC (& Stanford & 49ers asst) Jason Tarver is in #49ers building. No word on role (or eye black or middle finger)”

        1. Not trying to be mean. He has past experience as a LB coach, so I think he’d be a good fit there.

    1. Although it appears the authors really dislike Shanahan, there are facts included in what they’ve written and it doesn’t leave me with a warm and fuzzy regarding M. Shanahan. OTOH as SF OC, he wouldn’t have near the power that he wielded in Washington. I’m gonna stay on the Gase bandwagon with Chud as an acceptable alternative.

  18. Something I didn’t remember from Matt Barrows:

    “Rob Chudzinski, who once ran the Browns and Panthers offenses. He was reportedly targeted as an offensive coordinator by Mike Singletary in January of 2009 but was one of several men – Scott Linehan was another – who turned down the job.”

    Now we know he’s a smart man. He may want to flesh out the Baalke mantra, “We’re going to run the ball.”

    1. Can’t fault those guys for not wanting to work under Singletary.
      .
      Question is: will the same thing be true with Tomsula???
      .
      If so, we’re dooooooomed!
      .
      .
      .
      ~ALOHA~

    1. He’s doing his due diligence, and after all Washington has a new GM who found some of Fangio’s best players.

  19. According to Matt Maiocco all the comments by players about Tomsula are:

    “Here’s how some of the 49ers reacted, through statements released by the team, to the selection of Tomsula to replace Jim Harbaugh”

    I’m not doubting the comments, only wondering why they are being “filtered” through the FO. Some think that Baalke’s downfall will come from control issues. Could this be another example? Why not let the players speak directly to reporters?

    1. The players are not to have any contact with the Niners organization till March as per CBA, right?

        1. And the coaches are only restricted in coaching areas. There is wiggle room for friendly contact.

          1. Matt Barrows:
            “The player comments have been genuine. LaMichael James, for instance, has no reason to take to Twitter and say he’s happy with the hire. Takeo Spikes did the same, etc., etc.”

            1. The above answer by Barrows was in response to the question:
              “is there any source you would trust to give their honest opinion of JT? Current player? Former player? Current coaches? Former coaches? Seems like people always say nice things when asked. “

  20. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000459598/article/jim-tomsula-in-for-jim-harbaugh-heats-on-san-francisco-49ers

    I believe every fan of the Niners greatly appreciated Jim Harbaugh pulling the franchise up out of the low tide muck it was mired in for almost a decade. But although Harbaugh got us close to the promised land, he didn’t get us all the way there, and close only counts in horseshoes. Unfortunately, what I’ll remember most is the Harbaugh grimace on the sideline at the end of the two NFC title games and the one Superbowl that he lost, and not so much the one he won in Atlanta. That grimace was the almost, but not quite good enough, face of the Jim Harbaugh era. Let’s all hope this era won’t end up being only remembered as the 2010’s version of 90’s Buffalo Bills. Let’s all hope the ride’s not over but just slowing down temporarily. We still have a ton of talent on this team.

    1. ‘We still have a ton of talent on this team.’
      .
      .
      We do indeed…just not on the coaching staff.
      .
      .
      .
      ~ALOHA~

  21. According to PFT, Ed Werder at ESPN is reporting that the Ravens expect Kubiak to be named the Broncos’ next head coach.

        1. Good point, also i believe any coordinator should be happy and willing to work with us. In my opinion this team is still loaded on both sides of the ball. And any coordinator with dreams of beconing a hc for the 1st time or a rebirth as an hc would and should love to get their hands on these players. Can u imgin the oc that gets our offense together? He will be a hot commodity

        2. That’s like saying…we were’t good on offense…so who should be blamed, Roman or Baalke.
          .
          .
          .
          ~ALOHA~

    1. I find it hard to get excited about Tarver as DC. I know the Raiders aren’t a very good team, but there was some talent on that D, and they looked terrible most of the year.

      1. Well, if it makes you any happier, during his chat today Matt Barrows suggested that Mangini might be a DC candidate.

        “….but there are some good D coordinators available, beginning with Mangini”

  22. My 2 cents….. Alot of people on this blog wanted harbaugh fired anyhow (Not me) but now that he is gone, your now bitching because we didn’t hire a coach that everybody else wanted. Grow up. Hiring a “Name” coach gets you just that, a name. Doesn’t guarante jack $$hit… Now im not saying this man will be the next great 49ers coach, but he is the next 49ers coach. So im giving him a chance. Hell im just a blogger so i dont have a choice and neither do any of you. There are alot of big name coaches out there that have not won anything and that will not change. Me personally i think this has john harbaugh written all over it. A position coach that all the players loved came along and got the ravens to the promised land with class and dignity, he to was the so called puppet and yes man. Worked out real well. So im hoping the same. Ill still read belly achi g from now on because of this hire and ecery other one we make. Oh well, #life goes on! Go niners

    1. Steel ..

      You make many valid points, but then, the
      others who post here do too !

      It’s ok to vent … (it’s even healthy for you)

      It’s ok to gripe, as well … remember …
      “if you don’t vote … you don’t have the right to gripe..”

      Think of the posters, here. just exercising their right
      to “vote”

      1. Mw… i understand your point, and everybody else`s, hell i felt that waywhen we fired harbaugh. So im not attacking their right to vent, bbecause it is healthy, i was just questioning their want and need for the biggest “name” hc out their. There is no validity in the gripe, justthe need for one to say, we got(insert popular hc candidte hear) to be our hc, now we are gonna kick but… Like i said mw your point is great and obvious, so let us all just vote on..

        1. agree, Steel … but
          (mostly) what I’ve seen here is not
          much in the way of denigrating Jimmy the T ..
          but moreso the disenchantment of the two
          “culprits” in charge of our beloved Niners …

          ya kno … “Dumb and Dumber” !!

          1. Seems everyone has so far taken a wait an see attitude with Tomsula… Except for Papa Cohn who thinks he is a joke.

    2. If not mistaken, a certain DC named Rex Ryan was still on staff when John got the HC job.
      .
      Kinda nice to retain a top coordinator when you’re a new HC with no coordinator experience.
      .
      Maybe they should’ve done that in this case.
      .
      Just saying…
      .
      .
      .
      ~ALOHA~

  23. Tough to be a 49er fan, when you can’t stand the owner and the GM, on top of the jail birds on the team.

    1. Well, Neal … if I posted my impression
      of “Silver Spoon”-Jed and Baalke …
      Grant would surely delete it

    2. Neal

      I think thats part of the tomsula hire. To get away from the jailbirds and turn us over to class… jyst my opinion

        1. My email address frequently is truncated at .co which results in the smiling face with shades. What’s up with that Grant? Maybe my typing?

    3. It is Neal, especially when we have absolutely no idea what direction Baalrk and the front office want to take.

  24. I swear, I’m parked in front of my 1st graders school for pick up and This geeksquad in front of me had a giant sticker on his window that says, “kiss this if you don’t like my Saturn” and a 2nd large sticker that reads “on a quiet day you can hear a Ford rusting.”
    OMFG! Who are these kind of people?

              1. Bro T – I had a Fiat convertable my senior in high school in 1983….The P.O.S. overheated if I went 10+ miles.

            1. I’ve got a little red Toyota p/u truck that I’ve had for 20 yr. with 160,000 miles. Nothing’s ever gone wrong with it — best investment I ever made.

              1. Mary I pictured you in a “little red corvette”……You need a love that’s gonna last :-)

          1. Crabs …

            I grew up in the Bay Area, at a time when
            muscle cars were the “big thing” …
            (and so was street racing down El Camino)

            and the guys I hung around with owned
            Chevys and other GM cars …
            they referred to themselves as ..
            “The Fords for Lunch Bunch” …

            But, I did break tradition the day I bought
            a 1966 Mustang ragtop (289 – 3-speed)

            1. I hate fords.. But owned 3 in my lifetime. Ahhh the broke days. Lol.
              The only one I was proud of was my Vanilla ice rag top 5.0 with rag top down some my fro could blow! Yeah!!!

          2. Crab15,
            I bought a Toyota Tercel back in 1986 and was a year old. That friggin’ car outlasted a new dodge pickup, a new ford Taurus and a new ford escort.

            It got it’s back-end smashed in by a drunk driver in the middle of the night while parked in the driveway in 2006. It sat damaged in my driveway for about 3 weeks and some high school kid from the neighborhood bought for $300.00 and drove it off. The kid fixed the back-end and drove the car for another 4 years!

            1. I was a GM guy in the sixties. A Toyota guy in the 70s-80s-90s. Then I got a Volvo. Yeah, Yuppie? Maybe, my C30 Rocks! But then we got a Tesla S for my wife. OK, this car really is something!

    1. Thank you, Mood. Art is one of my favorite guys from the Olden Days. In a separate interview one time he talked about a 3rd Down play where the Center stepped on the Guard’s foot after the snap and the Guard whiffed his block on Art. So Art dashes upfield and the QB is back-pedaling straight backwards in retreat. Art said that he was so slow that at a dead sprint he couldn’t catch the QB dancing backwards. He said “The guy’s pulling away from me and got away!”

  25. In Barrow’s chat today, someone asked a question regarding Tomsula and Xs and Os. His response was”

    “Tomsula’s Xs, Os >>>> Singletary’s Xs, Os”

    1. Yeah, I know Tomsula has never been a DC in the NFL, but his understanding of Xs and Os is definitely far better than a lot of fans are suggesting.

      1. You going off of what to make that determination? His press conference was embarrassing when asked football questions. I know we don’t make judgments on ones press conference but he sounded like an idiot…

        1. Simple. I’m going off the way he runs through plays with his guys after each series, showing them what they should be doing. I’m going off the way he manages to develop guys with limited talent and make them into solid players that understand their role and responsibilities. I’m going off what many players have said about him over the years. And I’m going off the fact he has actually been a DC and HC before, albeit not in the NFL (which, by the way, neither had Jim Harbaugh before taking over the 49ers).

          He was clearly nervous in the presser. He admitted as much in a 1-on-1 interview he did later on, which he handled much better. He also intentionally didn’t talk about scheme, a good idea given he still needs to hire an OC and DC.

      2. How is he different than Singletary. Surely Singletary knew defensive X/Os as a middle line backer. Barrows is suggesting that it’s the case. I don’t know if it’s relevant unless the head coach interferes with the use of X/Os by his coordinators. John Harbaugh probably didn’t know much about X/Os when he took over the Ravens. He certainly couldn’t bring a strong offensive or defensive scheme to the job.

        George Seifert has been called Bill Wash’s secret defensive genius. Steve Young has said that when George would want to get involved with the offense, they would tell him “Sure George” and then ignore him. George’s HC genius was that he actually let his players and coaches do their thing even if it wasn’t the way that he and Jerry Rice were used to. Jerry on the other hand, didn’t like that change.

        If Tomsula was following a lot of other ex 49er coaches I wouldn’t be upset. I would enjoy watching how it developed. I’ve done a lot of that over the years.

        That this was a year long maneuver to get rid of an outstanding coach, rather than to work with him, is what upsets me.

        1. “John Harbaugh probably didn’t know much about X/Os when he took over the Ravens. He certainly couldn’t bring a strong offensive or defensive scheme to the job.”

          There is a big difference to not knowing much about Xs and Os and not bringing a defensive and offensive scheme/ play book to the job. John Harbaugh comes from a coaching family, I’m sure he knows plenty about the Xs and Os of the sport.

          Tomsula has been coaching for a long time, from position coach, to DC and HC. He also is the guy that has been on the sideline working with the players during the games going through the film with them, while Fangio is in the booth. To think he doesn’t know much about the Xs and Os doesn’t ring very true either.

          Singletary I’m sure had a firm understanding of translating a coaches plan to the football field from his time as a player. But its one thing as a player to carry out your responsibilities, another to coach them.

    1. Yeah, people may ridicule this interview, but I think he handled it ok. He’s not a media guy, so expecting him to be at ease is unfair. But he wasn’t being churlish, he was being Jim Tomsula.

      1. Ridicule no, raise some eyebrows? Yes. Why? He’s been in preparation for the position for over a year….

        1. Only if you believe he was the hatchet man behind the scenes, razor. If you do, why the heck do you still have him is your avatar, because you clearly don’t respect him.

          1. Smash Mouth spread thinks it’s the Hollywood movies. Between him and Ninermd aka Shadow Man, everything is a conspiracy!

              1. He should be practicing a threesome with his new York blowup. And yet here he is again “shadowing” another. He’s also copying oregons lame conspiracy theory comment. He NEEDS a friend.

          2. When I see smoke, I yell fire. I have no conflicts, no debts with Mr. Tomsula. Did you need me to change my avatar mate?

            1. No, just find it interesting you would want to sport an avatar of someone you believe is a back-stabber.

              1. I understand it’s business, nothing personal. Tomsula did what he had to do for his family. I wish him the best….

              2. So it is ok for Tomsula to work behind the scenes to remove Harbaugh, but not Baalke or York?

              3. Not sure what you mean by “ok”. It’s a business, and right now Baalke is in charge and Tomsula is the ringmaster. I don’t imagine an improvement in staff, although I was quite surprised to hear Shanahan would be interested in the OC position….

        2. Razor, it’s just a rumor that he was the “hatchet man.” I suggest you give him the benefit of the doubt. While I think his job is really to be Trent Baalke’s assistant and not the HC, it’s a job I think he would have been a fool to refuse. Did he know about it a year in advance? Also a rumor. But if true, I don’t think he had anything to prepare for, since Baalke seems to be calling all of the shots.

          1. Maiocco reported a year ago Tomsula was the guy. Tomsula admitted it was uncomfortable. Hatchet man? No. Inveigler? Perhaps….

    2. But those not familiar with Tomsula will think the 49ers lost their minds.
      —————————–
      Plenty that are familiar with him are losing their minds too.

      1. Grrr, darn phone;

        “Plenty that are familiar with him think the 49ers have lost their minds.”

    3. Well why didn’t he do that when they ask him to describe his offensive scheme. Then maybe Baalke wouldn’t have felt the need to explain what Jim was trying to say. It’s to the point, simple, articulate and accurate. It comes naturally to Jim, and it’s what Baalke is looking for.

      He will get the talking to the press part down in time.

  26. Jim T. kinda flunked a one-on-one interview. ESPN ran a clip. He was muttering and left some awkward silences. Finally he said he wasn’t going to address the speculation on Asst.s because it might be disrespectful to some by omission. I think he’ll learn to say that sooner in an interview or Presser just to deflect it. He’s pretty much a genuine kind of guy, doesn’t naturally mislead or deceive. I think he’s also personally not an evasive person, but he understands he’s carrying the keys to the shop and has to guard what he says. He’ll get better at it, but the Press will gnaw on him for a while as he’s learning. The right stuff on the field will speak loudly.
    For perspective, BB today declined to answer specific game planning questions. He said something to the effect of — it doesn’t matter, what you guys write is just a bunch of hot air — (shrugs)

    1. Have you seen the whole thing Brotha, or just a clip? Also, it should be noted that the interview is up on CSN Bay Area is in two parts.

      The one that is getting shown mostly is the second half of the interview. It starts off with the interviewer asking about the coordinators and Tomsula is being evasive. It looks like it starts off badly if you watch that one first, but that was a follow up from another question where he’d already answered what he was going to do with selecting his staff.

      1. Scooter
        I’d only seen the clip ESPN ran, so thanks for that, but the national media narrative is going to be snickering for a bit, which in turn will insight some pack mentality in the local media. I think a shrewd scribe might read Jim T. like I do and begin to lay the groundwork for a trusting relationship now that would be beneficial to said journalist later.

    2. BT,
      I saw the espn clip of Tomsula one on one interview with Kozimor. I must admit that when they had their laugh at Tomsula’ lack of verbose, I felt a surge of anger.
      I guess the old adage is true; I could beat up my brother, but nobody else can (or something like that).

  27. I watched the whole video and I thought Tomsula came across EXTREMELY well. I taught public speaking for years in the corporate world and Tomsula has a VERY affecting sincere style and he seems sincere and not fake either. Now none of this predicts how well he will do as an HC of course. And ultimately it will all really depend on the talent he is given. Anyway I like him. But it is hard not to loathe Baalke and York. Did y’all watch Jed when Tomsula went on his spiel about “earning your way.” Yeah … Jed really earned it .. uh UH.

    1. I agree Kezar. I think most people are seeing just bits of the interview, without the entire picture.

    2. Why do you loathe Baalke? He’s doing what he believes will make Niners successful. He bought in Harbaugh after getting to know him over two years when Harbaugh was at Stanford. Harbaugh appeared to have increasingly alienated significant part of the front office and Jed starting from his second year with the Niners. Baalke was his supporter even though they clashed with each other over personnel matters. I don’t think Baalke initiated the Browns’ trade offer or the leaks. My impressions are based on reading or listening to two of the reporters whose sources are accurate: Maiocco and Ted Robinson.

      1. Mood Indigo – good question. I guess as a passionate sports fan who enjoys living and dying with his team, I really appreciate a coach who comes in and gets the team WINNING, especially after almost a decade of boring, losing football. I don’t REALLY care how he gets along with management IF he does the job on the field. Frankly, I feel Harbaugh was a LOT more competent on football matters than Baalke, so my guess is that JH was probably in the right when they clashed (I’m not going to even mention Jed, who knows virtually nothing). It was clear going into this season that there was something terribly wrong with this team and that they were not going to win big (trying to trade the winning coach and not giving him a new contract really spelled out where this was all going). Still a break and there and this team would still have had three more wins. So the coach who instantly turned this team around is gone because he can be an SOB (Walsh, Landry, Lombardi, Belichik, Noll, Shanahan … the list of hard assed guys who won goes on and on). Baalke? Well, he will be judged on the players he supplies the team. So far, I think he’s been a VERY mediocre GM, a bunch of wasted high draft picks. So, he either puts together a contending team next year or he doesn’t. I’ll judge him on that. Very bad sign that the assistant coaches who Tomsula called up declined to stay with him and the 49ers. I’d like to think the rumor of Mike Shanahan maybe being the new OC has some credibility but I think it unlikely that Baalke would hire such a high profile guy. We’ll see.

        1. Mike

          I see your viewpoint. Winning in the NFL is tough and I really would have liked Harbaugh to stay. But I have to disagree on Baalke. I think he has done an above-average job in drafting, signing key free agents, extending the contracts of ascending draft picks and putting a value on each player. Baalke appears in the top 10 list of GMs in pretty much every website or publication that ranks GMs (Rotoworld, Sporting News, etc.) and I see no reason to disagree with them.

      2. I’ve never read Matt Maiocco doing any attempt to analyze motives or other aspects of the 49er front office. I’m neutral on Matt.

        Ted Robinson is an enjoyable 49er employee. He is what he is and never pretends to be anything else. I never thought of Ted as someone to go to for an understanding of anything but the latest public relations task that he’s been assigned. Ted the reporter? Amazing.

  28. Excuse me…I still don’t see how likeable translates into victories.
    .
    Let’s say, for arguments sake, that Harbaugh was disliked by 50% of the team and 100% of the management.
    .
    Bottom line was, he won games–ALOT of games.
    .
    And nobody can say that Fangio was disliked that much…and Donatell was disliked that much…and Roman was dislik…well maybe Roman…
    .
    (Is Seely still around?)
    .
    Anyways…Tomsula can be the greatest motivator and likeable guy in the world, but that doesn’t necessarily win games.
    .
    Top notch players and coaches do.
    .
    They got top notch players…
    .
    .
    .
    ~ALOHA~

    1. Are you joking about Seely? On the remote chance that you’re not, his invitation to come in Thursday morning was to inform him that a mutual departure had been completed for him.

      1. My mistake. I confused the offensive line with special teams. They will certainly save money by replacing Seely. He’s probably the highest paid special teams coach in the NFL.

    2. @Kauai Robert

      As long as you state that ir’s just for argument….No Harbaugh didn’t win a lot of games…not one pass thrown, not one yard gained rushing is accredited to him. If anything, there are several times that he may have cost us games by throwing the challenge flag around like he had a box of them at home. Right ! Fangio was NOT disliked that much, nor was Donatell nor Seely. Vic was a competitor for the job that Tomsula won, and could have become a giant distraction behind the scenes for vindictiveness if nothing else….He even gave warning that it was “his way or the hiway”. We do not know that Seely and Donatell weren’t asked to get on board and declined, which triggered the ‘mutual parting’.

      Top notch coaches and players are here…more are coming…be patient

      1. Scooter,
        This article disgracefully level-headed and utterly, completely unacceptable to us fans. We are (rightfully) mad at York. We need a scapegoat to slander — and Baalke is conveniently close to York!

    1. What’s amazing are three silly conclusions at the end of the article that in no way supports them.

      “Other suggestions that York is nothing more than someone who inherited the organization with a silver spoon in his mouth is also completely false. More than that, the idea that Tomsula will act as a yes-man to York borders on complete ignorance.”

      I am very interested in any factors outside family that brought Jed to his current position. That goes for Eddie to. It doesn’t mean they can’t grow, but Glenn Dickey has his doubts. He doesn’t think Eddie grew as much as Ed Sr. sent Policy out to control him.

      Maybe the comment about Tomsula being a yes-man to York was meant to be Baalke. The Internet does lead to a lot of typos.

      1. I’m curious, where in the article does the author suggest Jed York didn’t inherit the position?

        My understanding is the author is simply saying that York is more than just a guy that inherited the job, i.e., he inherited it, but there is more to him than that. He doesn’t go on to elaborate though, so I’ve no idea what else he was referring to.

        1. Jed hasn’t inherited the team. It belongs to his mother.

          He did graduate from college, work in a NY financial institution, and then work his way up from towel boy to CEO of the 49ers. He also either led or hired the guy who ran the new stadium effort along with finding the credit. Additionally he may have duped the vast metropolis known locally as Santa Clara.

          He has avoided, along with his dad, bringing in a senior level respected football man into his organization. That’s also a topic he doesn’t seem to want to talk about.

          From that point of view he’s probably done more than his uncle at the same age.

  29. Don`t know if this has been brought up, but me personally, im looking forward to us maybe switching to a 4-3. Mainly because we get lynch and smith with their hands on the ground bullying people. Also if borland (tackling machine), bow and p-willy are our 3 backers, and cowboy, if he doesnt retire along with a healthy dorsey, williams, dial, tje, and tank. Our front 7 would be better than our 3-4 front 7. We just have to adress that secondary. I believe it could be done with perrish, and a healthy brock, our d is about to get better.. and maybe scarier

      1. Dial and williams are some big boys. So are lynch smith and cowboy. We wouldn’t be that light

        1. I’ve discussed this at length in other threads. Basically if they go a 4-3 I would be very surprised to see Aldon and Lynch manning both ends of the line in the base formation. Neither guy is a run stopping DE. More likely would be that Quentin Dial plays the strong side DE (if they play an under front), similar to how the Seahawks used Red Bryant. Aldon and Lynch would be the DEs in nickel packages.

          Williams and Dorsey would not be playing regularly as the 1-tech and 3-tech together, or at least shouldn’t be. One of those guys would likely be a backup. Cowboy or Tank would likely be the 3-tech, to provide penetration.

          And none of Willis, Bowman or Borland are suited to playing the Sam backer role.

          If they used the front 7 you described, the opposition would run power plays to the right all day, and win, as the strong side of the D would not be able to hold the point of attack.

          1. Good points, one i disagree with is saying neither one of those 3 would be a good Sam backer. Great players adjust. These arent mediocre linebackers switching positions. These all pros, well except borland. (See Clay Matthews) it could very easilybe done with those 3.

            1. What a waste of Willis or Bowman’s talents it would be to put them at Sam. And while I agree they could do the job, and be decent at it, I do think neither guy is truly suited to taking head on and shedding lead blockers all day.

              Borland is just too small to play that role.

              1. Scooter are you a down under transplant. If not, where did you come by your solid knowledge of American style football? Please don’t tell me it was Google.

              2. Born and bred Aussie ht. Had to learn about the game the hard way – lots of reading and lots of watching.

                I have to say I was completely lost when I first started watching the game, but I was intrigued by the strategy behind it. Inspired me to put the effort into learning what was going on.

              3. If you put that much into a hobby, I hate to think how good you are at the serious stuff. Amazing.

                I was in the fifth grade when I saw my first football game. It was high school, and all I understood was the score board.

              4. “Born and bred Aussie ht. Had to learn about the game the hard way – lots of reading and lots of watching.”

                Why the 49ers?

              5. Cubus,

                I watched a few games here and there in the early 1990s, but I didn’t really get into it until I watched a 49ers game late at night on TV in 1994. I can’t remember who the 49ers were playing, but Steve Young and Jerry Rice were destroying them. I just remember seeing them replaying the plays each time Rice made a catch, and being amazed at how he was able to get so open. And the precision and timing with which Young passed the ball was, quite frankly, a beautiful thing to watch.

                So that was where I developed an appreciation for the 49ers. Didn’t hurt that they went on to win the SB that year!

              6. If he hadn’t done his knee in his second or third season, whichever it was, I think he may have gone down as one of the best FBs of all time.

            2. Steel- Clay went from Will to Mike because he could penetrate and vex blocking run & pass, and back to the edge on 3rds. Brooks moved from Mike to Sam, but at 255 he’s better suited to holding the point against big TEs and OTs. Trent usually wants bigger bodies on the edge and guys that can run & cover inside.

    1. “…..Why do you loathe Baalke? He’s doing what he believes will make Niners successful…..”

      Mood …
      I don’t trust him because ..
      he has beady eyes !

      “….I believe it could be done with perrish, and a healthy brock, our d is about to get better.. and maybe scarier….”

      But only if .. “Jimmy the T”
      (u-hhhh … I mean Baalke)
      …. chooses the right guy for DC

      1. Now that you mention, those eyes are beady and too close to each other — maybe I should re-think my opinion of Baalke.

    1. Cubus: Oh my we do hold grudges don’t we? And, you must like your women young and dumb. Haha.

      BTW did you ever get a chance to look at Week 1-16 of the Seahawks injury report like I asked? I tried to get the same info off the 49ers by week but low and behold, it wasn’t avail.

      Here, I’ll assist you. Haha

      http://www.seahawks.com/team/injuries.html

    1. Did you hear what Ray Ratto had to say just after the interview ended? I was pumping gas and don’t know what led up to his comment, but I did hear Jeff put himself forward as wanting to be the 49er quarterback coach.

      Ratto pointed out that there were a very large number of guys looking for that kind of job and that self promotion in the media probably wouldn’t get the desired results.

      1. I don’t think that he was saying he wants to be the 49ers quarterback coach. I think he was saying that Kaepernick should have chosen to work with him in the offseason.

    2. I caught part of it Hammer. I was advocating for Garcia helping CK since last TC when reports were coming out about Kap’ accuracy issues.

      I’ve always been impressed with Garcia’ knowledge of the game from a technical standpoint and the few times that Grant featured any of Garcia’ comments on the PD he was informed and in tune with the present state of the NFL.

      CK made a decision to go with Warner and co. and I take that as a sincere effort on his part to improve in the aspect of his game that is lacking: pocket awareness, and all that comes with it.
      I like that Garcia respects CK’ choice and that he gave high respect for Warner as well.

      It’s obvious that Garcia loves the game now as he did during his playing days and hopefully the 49ers will wakeup one day and create a position for him as an assistant or consultant on the team.
      I believe Garcia is a great resource that is being missed/ignored by the 49ers.

      1. Just on that, Garcia is a guy that had to work his behind off to get where he got. Nothing was given to him. And he did it all with limited physical gifts. In my experience those are the guys that tend to make better teachers than guys that it came naturally too.

        1. Garcia was really quite an athlete. More than people give him credit for. Having said that, I never was completely sold on him. I’m sure he’s better than most and not as good as some as a teacher….

  30. Looks like Garcia really wants in. Per Cam Inman:

    How do #49ers get most out of Kaepernick?
    “You start by hiring Jeff Garcia as his quarterback coach.” — Jeff Garcia, now on @KNBR

    1. Jeff Garcia- still the ONLY 49er QB EVER to throw for 30 TDs two years in a row. A real gamer. He’d be great. (though I thought the 49ers are keeping their QB coach from last year.)

    2. I’m sorry. Garcia sounds desperate in selling himself. If he was so good Kaep would have picked him. Sour grapes (bad continuing sales tactic) and he was a middle if the pack QB. Just ask TO :-). Must need the money

      1. Niner Al,
        You call Garcia desperate, I call him a 4 time pro-bowl QB. That’s not desperate in my book, that’s resourceful.

        1. AES, those are my thoughts. That was then this is now. Most guys work their way up to a position within the coaching ranks. Kaep right or wrong can pick whom ever he chooses. It’s his career and dime

          1. Not, debating CK’ choice, just happen to disagree with your take that Garcia is desperate.

            Garcia is and will always be a 49er. He made his name around the league as a 49er and he has never begged for a job with the Org since he retired.
            His only concern with the team has been to assist Kaepernick, but only if CK ask for his help. I believe that JG see’s similarities in CK’ game that reminds him of himself during his rise as an NFL QB.

            I’m the one that said I would like to see the 49ers create a position for Garcia because he would be a great resource. Garcia is currently employed in the CFL and he will be successful where ever he decides to work.
            That’s far from being desperate.

      2. “If he was so good Kaep would have picked him.”

        Don’t know if Garcia would be a good hire, but I wouldn’t say Colin’s decision not to go with him is evidence that he isn’t good.

        Colin is hardly the greatest of decision makers – this is the guy that spends his past offseasons training with Olympic track athletes & at Bommarito (where Frank Gore & Anquan Boldin train).

      1. I don’t follow the Raiders (I know he’s at Alabama now and I believe he was at USC), so I know little to nothing about Kiffin. What are your thoughts on him?

        1. dunno cubus .. but .. I’m thinkin’ ..
          Shanny over him …@ OC ..

          ya kno .. “better the devil you know” .. and all that

        2. Cubus, I think he’s a pretty good coordinator, but its been pretty widely reported he’s got a massive ego and he lets it get in the way. He’s created drama at every stop he’s been at. I really hope they avoid him.

          1. Drama and hatred. Every team that he has been either the head guy or a member of the coaching staff has a fanbase that loathes him, including his current stop.

              1. Yeah, but I won’t be the bit surprised if Baalrk ignore all of that and hire him anyway.

              2. What does it say for him when the AD at USC wouldn’t let him ride the team bus home from his last game. Yeah, lots of respect there….

        3. Al Davis (the late crazy version) used his overhead projector to fire Lane. He was the head coach at University of Tennessee for one year and quite to go to USC as head coach. USC fired him after three years. He’s the offensive coordinator at Alabama.

          He was the youngest NFL head coach with the Raiders, and his dad is a famous defensive coordinator who has won at least one Superbowl.

          Lane has sometimes been thought of as a head case.

    1. I believe that Ted Robinson made it clear on KNBR that Tomsula had been interviewed extensively. Ted’s view is that agents of the coaching candidates leak the interview information to gain leverage in negotiations for other openings.

      Robinson’s and Maiocco’s common sense analyses are an antidote to the barrage of conspiracy theories and rampant speculations from the Kawakamis.

      1. Keep in mind that Ted Robinson works for the 49ers. He is calling their games on the radio at their pleasure. He is not a reporter.

        And Matt Maiocco defines his role as a beat reporter as facts not opinion. Matt is correct about his role.

        Tim Kawakami is a columnist and his job is his opinion. Tim, Lowell and others are correct about their roles too.

  31. Reports are coming out that Kyle Shanahan has turned down an interview for the 49ers OC position.

    Starting to look unpleasantly like the situation after Dingleberry had fired Mike Martz. Nobody with any credentials wanted to coach under Ding, and ultimately we wound up with Jimmy the hat Raye. Remember how that turned out.

    1. Rick, no that’s not the case.. Kyle pulled his name out cause his dad is a candidate for the OC job. Plus Kyle has a strong relationship with Quinn who is the favorite for the Atlanta job.. Niners waiting on chudzenski from Indy who would be a great fit.

      1. OK. Maybe I overreacted. Singletary was a total fraud, and everybody in the coaching fraternity knew it. By all accounts, Tomsula is very respected around the NFL so hopefully a well respected offensive mind will be willing to work under him.

        My other concern is that even if we find a good OC now, the man will likely be gone in a couple of years if the team wins. That is why I am against hiring a defensive coach as the HC.

        I am keeping my fingers crossed. The OC position in in many ways more important than the head coach.

        1. If you go back to Nolan, we lost two good offensive coordinators to head coaching jobs after one year each which started Alex Smith off on his new coach every year path.

  32. Mike Florio on PFT, while crediting “Tom” Kawakami, says in his opening sentence:
    “Throughout the 2014 regular season, it was an open secret in league circles that 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would succeed head coach Jim Harbaugh if/when (when) Harbaugh left.”
    Reeaaalllly? Then why oh why didn’t Florio or anyone else put their money down and call that shot from the get go? Some on our Peanut Gallery called it, but what media guy? Maybe Jack Hammer did, I dunno. An open secret? Where’s Sheftner & Mortensen? Mike Silver?
    Matt M. got on the bandwagon earlier than most, but not out of the gate as I recall.
    Final point: the national media (and nfl fandom in general, judging by the PFT comments section) think Jim T. is a buffoon and that the Niners have imploded. I think neither.

      1. I’ll take your word for it and stand corrected. I may have forgotten that because even 2 weeks ago I wasn’t buying it, so I may have tuned it out. I never thought I knew who it would be, I just saw Jim as more of a GunnySgt than a Company Commander. I’m looking forward to him proving me wrong. And “Mustang” Officers were typically OK to serve with.

        1. I didn’t want to believe it either, but I’ve found him to be highly accurate when it comes to insider (leaks) 49ers information. As a marine, I had more respect for the Mustang than the Regular….

  33. A Mike Shanahan hiring would beg the question, is Tomsula merely a “Gerald Ford” coach in the aftermath of Baalkegate? If he falters, the old Red Lobster will be there to steady the ship and take over….

    1. Someone asked a similar question on Twitter yesterday. I say no, it shows Tomsula knows what he’s doing. You want to hire guys who could eventually take your job. It’s part of being a successful “CEO”.

      1. Hammer says@”I say no, it shows Tomsula knows what he’s doing”. You mean Baalke right?

      2. I agree. If you only hire guys that you know aren’t a threat to your job if you stumble, you increase the chances of stumbling. See: Singletary, Mike.

        Any good HC should want a bevy of coaches that have the skills and desire to be a HC. That’s when you know you’ve surrounded yourself with quality.

          1. As Tomsula said, it is inaccurate to portray it as the 49ers got rid of them all. Both sides have to want to stay.

              1. A fiction formed in ignorance. We have the choice to either perpetuate that fiction, or convey to others it is a misinformed perception. I choose the latter.

              2. Yes, I’m not surprised. You are definitely on the conspiracy theory band wagon.

                Personally I don’t find it hard to understand why Fangio would want to leave (as opposed to being “gotten rid of”) or hard to believe that coaches such as Donatell, Leavitt, etc, that were brought in by Harbaugh and worked closely with Fangio may prefer to move on than stick around. That is, in fact, quite common in this business.

                Were the FO quite content to see these guys leave? Sure, that is possible, maybe even likely. Holding onto guys that were tight with the previous coaching regime could cause friction, so makes sense the FO wouldn’t be averse to seeing these guys go. But I’m pretty confident in saying a lot of these coaches were happy to go, too.

              3. I don’t understand why it’s conspiracy? It’s just a fact. They’re gone. You yourself pointed out the caliber a good coach needs to surround himself with. He had that in spades. To your point, yes Fangio is understandable but, the rest? Reminds me of “Let the name of Moses be stricken from every book and tablet, stricken from all pylons and obelisks, stricken from….” You get the picture.

              4. Facts:
                – There were strong rumours the 49ers tried to trade Harbaugh to the Browns.
                – There were leaks about Harbaugh being gone after this season since this time last year.
                – There were rumours Tomsula would be a top candidate to get the job.

                Conjecture:
                – All the above rumours are true.
                – Some combination of York, Baalke and Tomsula were involved in spreading these rumours.
                – Tomsula intentionally undermined Harbaugh.
                – All the coaches brought in by Harbaugh and Fangio were “gotten rid of” to clear the Harbaugh stench from the building.

                The truth lies somewhere in between the facts and the conjecture. Conspiracy theorists will paint the picture that all the conjecture is 100% true, that all three of York, Baalke and Tomsula have been planning to oust Harbaugh all year, and that all the coaching staff that were let go were let go against their desire to stay.

                Personally I believe a lot of the rumours were indeed true. The front office probably did try to trade Harbaugh, and they likely have been planning to get rid of him for some time. As to who was involved in this, I’m not sure, though I’m guessing Jed York figured prominently. As for Tomsula, I don’t think he was ever informed he would be the next HC (though I’m sure he was aware he could be), or actively worked against Harbaugh to undermine him.

                With regards to the coaching staff, I find it very easy to believe the guys that have been working with Harbaugh and Fangio, that were brought in by Harbaugh and Fangio, feel some loyalty to Harbaugh and Fangio. And they also know they’ll likely get a job with whichever team Fangio goes to.

              5. Scooter, if you believe Tomsula was in the dark while the rest of the world had their night vision goggles on, more power to you mate!

              6. One perception I noticed was the game where Tomsula came on the field to get in the offensive linemans faces, and he just looked like he knew this team belonged to him….

      1. Do offensive coordinators ever get to pick their offensive line coaches, or their quarterback coaches? Are the horses ahead of the OC coach? Maybe, like with Tomsula, the new OC is already picked and is happy with these hires. The search for an OC may be just another information gathering exercise.

  34. Lots of anger and resentment directed towards Jed and Trent; understandable. I think the accusations of empire building and protection of personal power by Trent are over the top and more importantly completely miss the point.
    How can Trent solidify his professional reputation?
    One way: By continuing to build strong rosters and by the team winning. So whatever we think about his motivations or maneuvers, he helps himself only by winning. Be he right or wrong, he’s doing what he thinks will produce wins.
    We’re not going to know too much about the thinking process because TB’s pretty tired of the media. Tomsula being met with scoffs and smirks ain’t going to get him to open up too much either.
    Fans and FA players will have to make some judgement about the team’s direction based on the staff the Niners assemble. I think Frank Gore, for instance, will look at the offensive coaches as he makes his personal plans. If we see Frank re-sign with SF I think it will be a positive clue for fans. If he doesn’t, it could be money or it could be doubt.

    1. When Eddie hired Joe Thomas, did Joe do what he thought would make him a success? Baalke will work with JimT as a member of his team, just like he said that he worked with Harbaugh. I don’t doubt that.

      I don’t doubt that there is a Baalke like the one that interrupted JimT during the news conference. JimT will not challenge that Baalke. It’s hard to imagine Mike Shanahan being interrupted in that fashion.

      1. Very provocative question h.t. regarding Thomas. Yes, of course he thought he was doing the right things.
        I seem to remember that Thomas was experienced but also known around the league as d*# before he arrived in SF. It seems to have been a good scouting report on him.

        1. Thomas was a friend of Ed Sr. Eddie went against his father when he hired Walsh.

          As I recall, Joe Thomas was given credit (wrongly) for putting together the undefeated Miami team. He certainly wasn’t an introspective guy.

      2. @htwaits

        As far as I’m concerned, you just blew the lid off with your first Question…. I Do remember when the world collapsed on Joe Thomas. His statement was “They asked me to clean up an aging team without damaging the image. I gave them two local stars, OJ Simpson to run the ball, and Jim Plunkett to throw it. Before we could clean up the dead wood in the O-line, they let us go….” (paraphrased). Like you, I’m buying into Tomsula full-bore. Tomsula is a football man….buy in now or chance missing the market….

        1. What I meant is that Tomsula will colaberate with the “good” Baalke, and avoid any conflict with the “bad” Baalke.

  35. Is there anyone better then Tomsula? Did any of the candidates interviewed bring that inspired “This is one great Coach”, I think not. None of them were eye opening candidates can’t miss coach. When was the last time the Niners hired a proven NFL HC? Walsh, Seifeirt, Mooch, Nolan, Singletary, Harbaugh and many more were first time HC for the Niners. Its not the Niner way to hire proven HC. Time will tell if Tomsula can do the job. He is horrible in front of a mic but that doesn’t mean he cant coach. The players seem okay with the hire and for me that’s a good start.

    1. “….The players seem okay with the hire and for me
      that’s a good start….”

      A bus-load of lawyers going off Devil’s Slide ..
      is also called .. “a good start” ! … but ..
      I get your point, under center …
      I think it’s just that the way Jimmy the T was hired ..
      (“leap-frogging” over Fangio) .. seemed unprecedented ..

      No doubt Tomsula will be a good coach
      (he already is) .. but ..few, here, actually think
      that he will be afforded the courtesy of assembling
      his own staff …

      The elephant in the room is Baalke …

      This whole episode just reeks of a major
      power struggle which The Harbs was left
      holding the short end of the stick …

      And when something like that happens ..
      (especially in the press) .. one can’t help to
      not only question Baalke’s motives ..as well as
      his intelligence

      1. MWN

        bus-load of lawyers going off Devil’s Slide ..is also called .. “a good start” !

        I would actually call that a great start.

  36. Any word on where Gase is going to land? If he’s not going to get a HC job, would the 49ers renew their interest in him? I would like to see him as the OC, over Chud. Chud would be a nice consolation prize, though…

    1. I recently read there were four teams interested in him as HC: Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, and us. If Kubiak is HC at Denver, the OC position might close up for Gase. Atlanta is rumored to want Quinn, who’s rumored to be tied to KShanahan. That leaves Chicago and us. Fox is now HC, so you would put some money on his going to Chicago.

      1. I’m afraid this is like Singletary’s OC search. Lots of sexy names thrown around in the media, while nobody checked to see if they even wanted the job.

        “The San Francisco 49ers would like to welcome Jimmy Raye as our New Offensive Coordinator. Mr. Raye developed the high powered Dag Gum Yahoo offense, and was a pioneer in not getting the plays to the quarterback in time.”

        My preferences:

        1) Gase – Creative. A master at getting calls to the QB in record time. Had a productive offense even with Tim Tebow as QB. (imagine that)

        2) Chudzinski – A good fit for what the 49ers already have. Fits the 49ers personnel.

        Gase as OC seems unlikely, but you never know.

        1. It’s probably going to be Geep Chryst in the role of Jimmy Raye.

          Chryst, like Tarver, is best buds with Tomsula.

        2. Boy, was that embarrassing! Singletary interviewed about 10 guys for the job, and Ray was the last one, I recall. No doubt to avoid looking like a fool, Sing claimed Ray was the one he was looking for all along. All bs from the guy who manned the sidelines with a huge cross around his neck. And remember Ray’s weird looking hat with the large floppy brim? Almost as funny as some of the moments of Tomsula’s first press conference.

      2. George,

        I can see what you’re saying; he knows fox, knows how he works, knows the level of autonomy running the offense he’d likely have.

        Those things all would make Gase choosing to go to Chicago with Fox be pretty likely.

        But, if the 49ers remain interested in Gase, they have an ace in the hole. Gase would have to work with Cutler, if he were to choose the Bears OC slot.

        If I were Gase, I’d see a lot more upside in working with CK than Cutler. Of course, he’d look pretty good if he wound up getting anything out of Cutler…

    1. Yup.
      Bring Jeff Garcia home (49er payroll) where he belongs. One thing is obvious, Canada appreciates Garcia much more than the NFL.

      1. It might have been better if Jeff had simply ask Baalke for an interview instead of announcing what he was interested in on KNBR. At least that’s what Ray Ratto seemed to think.

            1. Ratto’ observations are known to lean towards the negative. But having said that, I like a good Ratto take every now and again.

    1. Scroll up and read my response to Brotha regarding this. I suggest everyone watch the preceding four minutes of this interview BEFORE watching this.

      This is the second half of the interview. He had already just gone through with the interviewer his thoughts on building the staff and that he wasn’t going to name names.

      This is what gives me the irrits about the negative comments on this interview. It takes a portion of it, out of context. The “seemingly innocuous” question that he “stumbles and bumbles” over is one he has already said he wasn’t going to answer.

      1. Hey Scooter, no matter where you start or splice or edit, it will go down as one of the most uncomfortable press conferences in NFL football. Not just my opinion. Will it define his career? No. How you first meet the public, will be how they see you. There won’t be any arguing with them. That will be their perception of Tomsula and an unforced error he’ll have to overcome….

            1. Yes. The press conference did that.

              Now the media is also trying to use this interview to demonstrate the same perception. In this case largely because people are only being given snippets of information aimed at painting Tomsula as a fool.

              Its typical media bashing by presenting only selected items that paint the worst picture. Forgive me if I feel 49er fans may wish to see the full picture.

              1. Scooter, look at it this way. At least he won’t have to tolerate “the perception created by the media that his DL coach is his replacement”(for the sake of argument even though it was reported by M&M January 2014). Remember when Gerald Ford stumbled on the steps coming down from the airplane? He never recovered from the stigma of being a “clutz” even though he was a very good athlete….

              2. I’m not debating that is the perception of Tomsula, razor. I’m just saying that I don’t feel the need to perpetuate a misinformed perception.

                You want to show how bad Tomsula is in front of the media? Look no further than the press conference.

                But if you use that interview as an example of what he is like with the media, use the whole interview.

              3. Agree Scooter. After further review (wink) I now think he was tongue-tied at the end as he tried to figure out how to get his point across and came to realize the futility of the dance.
                I suspect Razor may be right that an early perception has been set, however unfairly.
                At this point Jim Tomsula might as well play the Detective Columbo card. Let the media and public underestimate him. Shrug it off with a smile and get out of the Pressers faster so you can get back to coaching. The media have their narrative. Only Wins will change that.

              4. Gerald Ford, the most valuable player, at center for gosh sakes, in the East West Shrine Game.

                From his obit:

                “Ford, who died at 93 on Tuesday, played center and linebacker on the University of Michigan football team, where he was a three-year letter winner. His teams enjoyed consecutive undefeated, national championship seasons in 1932 and 1933. He was the Wolverines’ most valuable player in 1934 and, on Jan. 1, 1935, he played in a college all-star game known today as the East West Shrine Game.

                Michigan later retired Ford’s No. 48 jersey.”

                I’ll go out on a limb and bet that Jim Harbaugh voted for him.

          1. Steve Young about himself:

            “Perception is who you are in the NFL.”

            That’s in refference to him not being a leader or able to win the big one prior to the 1994 season and 1995 Superbowl.

            1. If the players like and respect Tomsula (as has been reported), perhaps they will use the unflattering remarks made about him over the past few days as a motivation to prove the naysayers wrong.

              How will JT prove the naysayers are wrong?
              9-10 wins in his first season as headcoach should suffice.

              1. Some players, Montana in particular, were very happy when Walsh left and did their best to show it during the next season and Superbowl. It was bad enough that when Montana made up with Walsh some years later, it was an item for comment.

            2. It might work for Jim. Steve Young has wondered why it took his sideline blow up at Seifert to get his teammates fully behind him.

        1. Very true imvho…Just go look at Del Rio’s presser, he was polished, professional, confidant, and articulate, the opposite of what JT was.

  37. I’ve been a proponent of Gase as the OC. But the likelihood of such a “hot” candidate lasting only one season until he is interviewed and possibly accepts a HC position somewhere else is fairly high. Chud is probably less so.

    Does anyone know if it is possible to sign an OC to an x number of years contract and require that the OC stay at least 2 or 3 years unless explicitly given permission to interview for a HC job. I know that a team can stop a lateral move (and typically cannot stop a vertical move up), but can they put in a contract language that restricts the ability to move to a position as another team’s HC.

    Maybe it’s a CBA issue.

    1. There’s always the issue that an employee could become a malcontent, which would be a reason not to keep them on. OTOH, if the OC were to sign a contract with a defined length of 2 to 3 years during which they could not unilaterally seek a HC job (unless the 49ers explicitly provided written permission), would make it less likely that they would become a malcontent. Why? Because they knew what they were getting into from the onset. I suspect the CBA doesn’t allow this.

    2. Someone answered that for you a couple of days ago. The way this blog is structured it’s easy to miss replies.

      No assistant coach may be prevented from interviewing for a head coach job. All other job interviews can be denied by the team holding a coach’s contract. Many times the team give permission anyway.

      The CBA is a player’s union contract with the NFL. It has nothing to do with coaches contracts.

      1. ht:

        I already know all of that and said as much in my question (except the part about the CBA not applying to coaches’ contracts). What I’m trying to find out is if there is anything that prevents a specialized contract from being drawn up if all parties agree. If coaches contracts are not part of the CBA, then it might very well be possible to draw up a specialized contract. Whether all parties agree to something like that, however, is a different question.

  38. Is it possible Foerster was made the OL coach because Red Lobster is going to be the OC?

    1. It points that way, but, if so, why haven’t they announced it already? Also, why would MS want to revert to being an OC again? There’s also the pay structure. You would think they would have to pay him more than Tomsula. Not saying it can’t happen. No idea.

      1. Yea, I would’ve never thought Shanahan would make himself available for a position like that prior to the report. Good for Tomsula and the 49ers, and good either way for Shanahan. If it goes south, he would be there to take the helm and if successful he’d reap some damage control to his reputation and perhaps have time to be a head coach again….

        1. Those are good arguments. I like the one about him being there if it goes south because of Tomsula possibly throwing a wrench in the gears. You can’t see around the corner, and I’d feel better about the whole thing if Mike or someone like him were there.

          1. George:

            I posted the following link yesterday without a caption, so I’m thinking many may have missed it. Since you seem interested, I’ll repost the link:

            http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1906112-a-complete-timeline-of-mike-shanahans-demise-with-the-washington-redskins

            It’s pretty complete regarding M. Shanahan’s time in Washington. If you read it, you’ll probably get the sense that the authors do not like MS. However, a lot of what they state is fact based. The whole situation in Washington does not paint MS in a good light. As I noted above, it could be different in SF because he would not wield the same power that he had in Washington. But I’m not sure I have a good feeling about bringing him in as OC.

            1. Nolan hired a very good OC because he was a DC. That’s the head coach playing at noon tomorrow in the black pit up North.

              One and out to a promotion.

              The second OC was also very good. You may remember him for several years as the head coach in San Diego. Now he’s the Viking’s OC.

              One and out to a promotion.

              The whole logic behind hiring an outstanding OC, to be the 49ers head coach, was based on avoiding that type of one and promoted scenario.

              Baalke going with Tomsula or any other defensive coach, indicates to me that Baalke may not value the offensive side of the ball. He may think of creative offensive coordinators in the same light that Singletary saw quarterbacks — just one of the guys and easy to replace.

              Baalke may see the world something like this. If I’m significantly stronger than you, I can just knock you on your ass. I don’t have to be clever within the rules of football if I can do that to you.

              Bill Walsh thought differently, but Parcells is the one Baalke admires. It seems that Baalke wants to be the baddest Parcells of this era. I think football is a lot smarter than that now. Even the Seahawks are smarter than that. They knock you on your ass by getting you off balance and getting you to chase your tail first.

              We need to replace the grass at Levy’s with dirt so that we can clearly see the cloud of dust Baalke is working toward.

  39. In all the conjecture about Deep Throat Niner I’ve been amused that most are giving Paraag a pass. Tomsula, Baalke, York all cyber-indicted as likely sources but no mention of Paraag? Many Bay Area media writers seem pretty mum tossing his name out there. Protecting a Deep Background source?
    Hah! How’s THAT for baseless speculation? You know; he’s never been suspected or accused as far as I know, so he MUST be guilty as sin! And he might be, hahahaha! But I’m just working on my blog era journalism skills…..

    1. What I really need to know is why that silent “c” is in indict? Or has my hearing really been that bad all my life.

        1. With those ears? Come on, they are too pointy for the stage. I replied way more than enough above. Sorry.

  40. This pattern of leaks to the media about player dissatisfaction/rumors of trading or firing of the HC did not start in the case of Jim Harbaugh.

    —In the weeks leading up to the firing of Mike Nolan, any week/day now was the talk in the media. IIRC, it got so bad that Nolan finally went to McCloughan & Jed and asked for it to be over, that was in Oct 2008.
    —Mike Singletary openly talked about a rat in the building during his second full season.
    —Then you have the Harbaugh saga which started in late Feb 2014.

    A pattern that has occurred over three coaches and six years. Jed, Trent, Paraag and Tomsula were all present during this timeframe. As to who might be the leaker is up to conjecture….seemingly this does not seem to bother the 49ers.

    1. It’s easy to understand why no one in power is bothered because it’s the “power” targeting the negative leaks. Some organizations are structured that way.

    2. @Skeptic

      Good theory…Some people and organizations just cannot exist without crisis, because crisis gives them a ‘reason’ (excuse) why something did or did not work as they wanted or promised promised. For that reason, it’s more reasonable to assume that the leaker is the ‘offended’ one themself. I still think Y.A. Tittle should be QB…..

  41. To Gase – “We’re going to move in another direction”

    Yep! The Downward Spiral!

    Aren’t these the same guys that said, let’s move up and get this guy from Louisiana because Harbaugh liked him in H.S? Aren’t these the same guys that said I saw Dahl one game and paid to get him? Aren’t these the guys that moved up for a guy from a less than stellar program that looked awkward who’s initials are CK? These guys are Yuppies that like football talk and now they hire some DL coach, when there was nothing spectacular this year about the DL, and our #1 need is to get a very stagnant offense going? This is truly a formula for a bottom dynasty in the standings team. The only time the 49ers became a dynasty was when they got a creative offensive guy who knew D as well, and created a West Coast offensive short-passing first game and a complementary running game using his running backs as receivers…..and who told the brass he was not going to coach as long as he had some Yuppie weasels in the Front Office excavated before he would sign any deal. Deja Vu all over again!

      1. I am sure he did. Maybe even offense too. He was already a head coach before he came to Stanford under Walsh. Hard to say how their D knowledge might have morphed or not. I assume Walsh was the one who brought him aboard to the Niners. He has two SB rings and was almost as huge as Walsh for the dynasty.

        1. George was head coach at Cornell University. He was fired after going 3-15 in two seasons. I don’t think Cornell University has scholarships for football or other sports – like Harvard and Yale.

          As a person, George Seifert is my favorite 49er coach. I also don’t think he has ever gotten full credit for what he accomplished on defense and as head coach. I think he was very wise to stay away from meddling with the offense.

  42. Wow! I refrained from examining this situation for a week. The hire was uninspiring and as I began to “look under the hood” uninspiring was replaced with another adjective – connived. Coaching search = a purposeful exercise needed to distract attention away from a decision made months, perhaps one year ago. The first published trouble and Harbaugh was February 2014. This interview had me questioning if JT was high. Seriously – his answers remain unstated and elliptical . Did he actually answer a question straightforward? These answers, if they indeed classify as such, are disjointed, obtuse, and inarticulately verbose. WTF is he saying ran alongside this interview. JT is either an amazingly intelligent man whose acumen includes an ability to speak nonsense and remain composed or he is exceptionally Umb-Day. I regret this hire and must begin preparing for the thrill of finding chores to do instead of watching my hometown team. “It’s over Johnny!”

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