Joe Staley on the 49ers’ future: “I feel optimistic.”

SANTA CLARA

Here’s what Joe Staley said in response to a question I just asked him in the 49ers locker room.

ME: “How do you feel about the future of this team?”

STALEY: “I feel optimistic. I think we have a lot of young guys on this team, a lot of guys that are stepping up. We need more guys to get into those leadership roles. I see the traits and qualities that are needed out of those young guys, but that can’t be something that’s forced upon someone. That’s kind of got to grow naturally for it to be effective. I think with more opportunity for guys to be playing and see success on the field — we’ve seen Jimmie Ward the last four or five weeks really really playing amazing. He’s a guy that really works hard. And you see (Jaquiski) Tartt, a young guy. And (Arik) Armstead. And you see Trent Brown really playing really great last week on the O-line. And (Andrew) Tiller. All these guys are kind of stepping up into roles where they haven’t had a lot of playing experience. But, when they get opportunities and see success individually, then they start becoming more confident and feel like (they) have a voice more.”

This article has 10 Comments

  1. Joe Thomas also feels optimistic in cleveland. Until the team gets a goid front offive and coack we are tge Raiders of the 2000’s.

  2. What is he going to say ? This team is run by bunch of morons from top to bottom and have a bad reputation in the league if he decides to leave the team or get his contract revoked for insubordination.

  3. Staley is on comment autopilot when he is cooled down.

    A better question might have been, why haven’t some of those great young guys been playing sooner?

  4. I feel optimistic too. When in a deep pit, the best thing to do is stop digging. I think the shovel broke.

  5. By specifically praising Brown and Tiller, Staley is hinting at his sentiments about Deavey and Pears…

  6. The only thing the Niners have been consistent at this year is being inconsistent. And I put inconsistency on coaching. Staley is right. There is talent on this team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. And Mangini has done an okay job with hand he’s been dealt, not only with the players, but also with the offense being to putrid always putting the pressure on his defensive unit to keep them in games. It’s the punchless, gutless offensive game planning and the lack of a competent head coach that’s emptied Levis stadium during games. And I put that on York and I put that on Baalke who has been terrible at drafting offense.

    Sadly, I don’t see how anyone more competent than Jeep (who names their kid that?) Chryst wanting to work under Tomsula, who by all accounts and against all logic and reason will be returning next year. So yeah, Joe, Niners do have talent, but the fish rots from the head down and those at the head of this organization are all under qualified in their respective positions.

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