Tomsulary and pompinstance

SANTA CLARA

Jim Tomsula had an endearing moment during his Monday press conference.

Q: What do you recall from that Thursday night game against them here last year? It was Thanksgiving and Richard Sherman was eating turkey on your field and there were a lot of elements.

TOMSULA: I didn’t remember that until you just brought that up. Yeah, I don’t really pay much attention to the pompinstance around it. If that’s a word. There I am making up vocabulary again. It’s Pittsburghese coming out.

This article has 187 Comments

  1. Grant,
    On a scale of 1-10, how hard will the NFL and Goodell try to hide Jed York from the pompinstance of the Super Bowl activities?

  2. I’m a spontaneous spoonerizer. I accidentally say “larking pots” instead of “parking lots.”

    When I was six years old I enraged a teenager when I spoonerized her name… Terry Fitzgerald. She wanted to kill me.

    I like deliberate spoonerisms too.

      1. Seriously, she was a quintessential 1967 “tough girl”, about 17, mean as heck. The kind that carried a sharp handled hair teaser to stab people with. I ran for my life.

  3. Well, ‘pompinstance’ has two fewer syllables than “pomp and circumstance”, making it more efficient phonologically. ;)

    1. The Niners better get busy for the Thursday game, else the bands of fan will be playing Pomp and Circumcision….

    2. Actually, since you reference syllables and the word in question is a portmanteau, Tomsula’s rather elegant neologism more accurately represents a morphological efficiency than a phonetic (not phonological) one. (It’s nice to read a fellow pedant on the blog, if for no other reason than as (comic?) relief from the seemingly endless hypercritical comments about Colin from some of the local 49er aficionados.)

      1. Most unintentional blends (‘portmanteau’ is not current usage in structural linguistics, and if used, often refers to an intentional sub-type of blend) are a product of phonological efficiency rather than morphological efficiency. And yes, phonology is the correct field with respect to the tactical organization of speech sounds (including syllables and syllable structure). Phonetics is the study of speech sounds, not the arrangement thereof. Morphology (with respect to linguistics, not biology) is the study of morphemes (i.e. units of meaning) and the combination thereof. And while morphological efficiency is relevant in the creation of blends, it is only primary in the case on an intentional blend; it is usually secondary to phonological efficiency in the case of an unintentional blend.

        Finally, I am far from a pedant, at least with respect to language. Usually language pedants are those who believe they understand language but only understand it in such a limited, superficial way as to believe it is static and rule based rather than dynamic and governed by tendency and efficacy.

        1. I typed my email wrong and thus did not have my normal avatar for the prior post. Oh well — I kind of like the one above, especially with respect to the post which it accompanies.

        2. Again, you took syllable count as a measure of efficiency. The syllables of the word in question are morphemes and the phenomenon in question – the coining of a new word – falls most “comfortably,” though not of course exclusively, under morphology. Certainly other linguistic processes are necessarily at work here, including phonological ones. You mentioned blending; fore clipping and back clipping are just two others. While “portmanteau” may no longer be au courrant in structural linguistics, it works just fine in the context of a comment on a sports blog – and just how old is Saussure’s “Cours de linguistique generale now? A century? In the meantime, many academics prefer M.A.K. Halliday’s work on Functional/Systemic Grammar over Chomsky’s Generative Grammars. The work of Laurel Brinton at the University of British Columbia also merits and rewards serious study. You write that “phonology is the correct field with respect to the tactical organization of speech sounds.” Precisely my point. Your initial focus was in counting, in numbers as a criterion of efficiency. Phones, being real manifestations of those theoretical constructs called phonemes, are eminently countable. Your initial interest was not in the phonological rules that constrain word formation at the level of sound (phones).

          Only a pedant would feel the need in an obviously linguistic context to distinguish between “morphology” as it’s used in Biology and as it’s used in Linguistics. And now, Young Sir, re-read your post, especially that last paragraph. It comes across as a lofty lecture saturated with, as Monsieur Tomsula might say, “pompousinstance” – one of the major hallmarks of the pedant.

          Finally, a gift. You seem the sort of guy that just might enjoy and benefit from – and be capable of – reading this life-changing tome: Wilden, Anthony – “System and Structure: Essays in Communcation and Exchange.”

          1. Warning – no football talk. :)

            I have read Wilden. My life was not changed. I would suggest reading Sydney Lamb’s Pathways of the Brain, but first read his older (and outdated) Outline of Stratificational Grammar, as it helps in understanding and appreciating his later work. And then, if you can find it, read anything by Philip W. Davis. Oh, and also anything by Tom (Talmy) Givon and Lawrence (Spike) Gildea. Kenneth Hale’s work, specifically on phonology, would be beneficial as well, even though he was a bit too enamored with Morris Halle’s generative phonology.

            Finally, my last paragraph in the prior post was a self-deprecating nod to my own hypocrisy of being a linguistic pedant but not a language pedant. It is akin to something I used to tell students – I only have three pet peeves with respect to English usage – use of ‘so’ as an intensifier, use of ‘you’ as a generic third person pronoun, and people with English usage pet peeves. The hypocrisy is obvious and amusing. The more subtle irony of listing two pet peeves of English usage that are prescriptively problematic but are functionally effective in communication was, alas, lost on most students. But, is it not often thus with subtle ironies?

  4. Pompinstance is what Jim calls the Pillsbury Doughboy. Somebody mentioned Thanksgiving and got him thinking about crescent rolls.

    1. Sir Pompinstance and the Cranberry Sauce Cavalcade. Jim’s mouth started watering and his mind started wandering at the thought. Tomsula seems like the type of guy who would hit his culinary peak after eating Turducken.

  5. I wonder what would happen if HCs had to take the Wonderlic test and their scores were published for all to consume? Owners and GMs also.

      1. I also want to thank the football gods for the runner up’s in the competition

        1. Cody Pickett, 2. Tim Rattay, 3. Bj Daniels 4. Jt Osullivan, 5. Damon Huard
        6.David Carr 7. Den Dorsey 8. Brandon Domain 9. Trent Dilfer 10 scott Tolzein

          1. Always happy to correct a mistake, yes, Sean Hill at #11…Also, at 12. Jamie Martin (Weber St. QB), and 13. colt mccoy

    1. Why would we need to sign Ray Rice when we have the best RB in the NFC already on the team.

    2. On KNBR, Larry wanted him, but Jed would put his foot down and veto that decision. At least he should veto it if he wants to have any class at all.
      Why are they dithering about a red flagged RB when the bigger needs are a pass rusher and a competent O lineman?

  6. Prime, I was thinking the same thing. Quickly though 1. Bad PR move? Cowboys are getting some flack for Hardy, who didn’t make that big of headlines. 2. Does he have any gas left in the tank? If I remember correctly, he was on the decline when he was cut by the Ravens. Another free agent would be Trent Richardson…don’t really need to elaborate on why that wouldn’t be ideal. What are some RB’s around the league worth trading for? I mean the Rams have a huge stable, but being in our division, so that’s off the table.

    1. Rice was quick, had good feet and good vision. A good change of pace back.
      He made a huge mistake but does that mean he should not be given a chance? Jed York preached winning with class. This might not meet his agenda.

          1. Yes, right again Seb, I’d rather elevate Kendall than sign Thomas off the street. The problem with Gaskins is that he fits the same role as Hayne, and Hayne has more value on ST. If Baalke wasn’t asleep at the wheel, he could have claimed the Rams scatback, Trey Watts out of Tulsa. I was hoping Baalke would jump on him after the Rams released him last week. I know the Rams are high on him, and they promptly signed him back onto the practice squad the moment he cleared waivers.

            TREY WATTS III (son of OK QB JC Watts, who was named – CFL Gray Cup MVP in 1981), 5’10”, 200 lbs – SCOUTING REPORT: Watts is a prototypical 3rd down RB who displays outstanding vision, and the patience to find running lanes by allowing blocks to develop. He’s a solid receiver out of the backfield who extends his arms to make catches away from his body. He’s a quick-footed multi-cut runner who strings several moves together on a single run.

            He would have been a reasonable substitute for Reggie Bush’s 3rd down role, while Reggie remains sidelined with a curious calf injury. It’s an overrated tactic, it might not be a bad idea to pick his brain a little in terms of the Rams offense as well. We’ll have 10 days to prepare for St. Louis after Thursday’s game, so there might have been an opportunity there. It certainly wouldn’t hurt.

            1. I agree. getting a quick scatback runner would be nice, but I would just use Ellington on those roles. He could do those fly sweeps and run reverses. Of course, Ellington is nicked up too.
              Somehow, many other posters discount the value of intel from former team players. By intention, I did not bring up Torrey Smith and the intel on Flacco’s tendencies and preferences, but that may have helped win the game. Flacco had several passes to S Smith, but since they were contested, he dropped them. Sounds like Torrey helped the DBs get into tight coverage by detailing the Ravens offensive strategy, since he caught balls from Flacco and knew where he liked to throw it.

              1. Maybe it would, but Torrey was intimately involved in the offense, and caught balls from Flacco for years. At least you could acknowledge that Torrey might have a scintilla of insight to help the Niners.

          2. Pierre Thomas makes more sense because he could give the 49ers the pass – catching change of pace RB they foolishly thought they were getting whwn they signed Bush the china doll.

  7. Well at least he didn’t say okay in any part of his answer. I guess that’s progress?

  8. I thought this was a football blog,not a Damn English class.can we talk football not bs.yeah JT may not be the most sophisticated or eloquent verbally but if he starts winning all yall might have some crow to eat.JT reminds me of what we use to call the working class, the people who built this country and still do but get abused the whole way.They just keep chugging along.success is built from the fondation up not over night.The saying goes romewasn’t built in a day.At least I think that’s right.

    1. I agree – this is not the proper forum for an English class. That is why I limit my posts to the three Ls of football: linguistics, logic, and law. Wait, that is not right. Shoot! Quick, what is something football related we can discuss that will not ‘devolve’ (don’t get me started on the intellectually bankrupt notion of ‘devolution’) into primates slinging invective?

  9. Maybe not sure.doesn’t really bother me since its a football blog…. Hey check this Navarro bowman 2nd in NFL in tackles. Wait isn’t this the same guy grant wanted to get rid of last week.

  10. Jon Gruden started his thought with, “One thing about Beckham…” then proceeded to say three things about Beckham. He’s good.

    1. Grant… if the 49ers retained Fangio’s base down under fronts, would Williams, Dial and Dorsey would surpass the corners as “strength of the defense?”

      1. I would say yes Brodie simply because Fangio’s defensive scheme and Tomsula’s ability to forge diamonds from the rough out of the DL were an excellent formula for success.

    2. The DBs in general are the strength of the defense. Even the safeties, though they have been exposed on occasion, particularly week 2 when asked to do too much against the Steelers.

      The DL was meant to be strength and is solid enough against the run, but as you point out they do not provide much of anything as pass rushers. Tank Carradine was the guy they were relying on this year to provide some rush capability from the middle but he’s rubbish. No moves, and for a guy with reportedly great strength he doesn’t get much push, which suggests his technique must suck. If only they’d listened to me and taken Kawann Short! :-P

        1. Acker, Ward, Brock and Bethea have been mostly solid. Reid has been hit and miss, but mostly ok since Week 2. Johnson hasn’t played much the past three weeks due to changes in Mangini’s approach, but was doing pretty well the first few games.

          Tartt has struggled a bit, but he’s been playing more as a LB than a safety. And Reaser has barely played so can’t really say much about him.

          1. Scooter,

            Yep, as you outlined in a recent post, LB is the soft spot in the defense. I overestimated this group during the off season assuming Bowman to come back stronger, Brooks to be better, given the encouraging reports about his fitness, and that A Smith could somehow stay on the field. Clearly, I was too optimistic.

      1. The DBs in general are the strength of the defense. Even the safeties, though they have been exposed on occasion, particularly week 2 when asked to do too much against the Steelers.

        I agree with all of this, but I still feel like we don’t have a true #1 CB. Brock is good, but he’s not a #1 in my honest opinion, and the same applies to Acker.

        1. I agree the 49ers don’t have a true shutdown #1 CB, but I also don’t believe the team needs one. Never have done. With a good pass rush and sound safety play you can have an excellent D with two solid starting CBs.

          1. Normally I would agree, but a true shutdown #1 CB has been a staple in each of the defenses coached by Mangini. I think we’ll need one if Mangini is still the DC next season.

              1. Given the strengths and weaknesses of this team, is it possible the 49ers already have the making of some good CBs if they had better pass rush helping them out?

                At this point in time I think CB is one of the lowest priorities in terms of upgrading for next year.

              2. Point taken Scooter, however, given the position is the hardest to play after quarterback, I don’t think a true shut down cornerback is ever a low priority in the NFL, and as you well know, an addition like that not only affords the DC more options, it also can help a poor pass rush with coverage sacks….

              3. Sure, a true shutdown CB can help out a poor pass rush. Just like a good pass rush can help out poor DBs. Its a symbiotic relationship.

                I think the 49ers DBs are good enough that they should focus on other areas this offseason. I’m not saying they can’t be improved upon, but I’d rather address the atrocious pass rush than the decent DBs.

              4. I think it will depend on what type of defense the team will want to be in next season Scooter. I believe that the team is gearing up to switch to a hybrid 4-3 and we have some pieces already in Armstead, Lynch, and Harold in order to do that.

              5. Harold? Are you serious? What has he done to suggest he’s a piece in place? Does he even have a pressure yet this season?

                I certainly hope Harold progresses, but right now there is very little reason to think he’s the answer moving forward to replace Brooks.

                As to your point, I think they are gearing themselves up to be exactly the type of D Mangini is trying to run. A 3-4 on base downs, that goes to a 4-man front in nickel/ dime. A key piece to the puzzle is an OLB/ DE opposite Lynch that can also consistently create pressure, as well as DL that can create pressure.

                I agree Armstead shows some promise, but that gives them Lynch and Armstead. They still need two more pieces to that puzzle to be consistently good.

                At CB, a guy that can truly take a WR away would be awesome, but they are hard to find. I’d rather have two pretty good CBs + a good pass rush than 1 excellent CB, 1 pretty good CB + a rubbish pass rush.

                But then I have always been a firm believer that pass rushers are more valuable than CBs.

              6. Harold has been less than encouraging from what I’ve seen as well. I don’t see a spot on this defense for him.

                Scooter, I like an elite pass rushing beast too, however, when facing a quarterback that can get the ball out in two seconds, i. e. Brady/Rodgers, it pretty much nullifies him. I would take the shut down corner, because he can erase Edleman forcing Brady to hold the ball, and allowing you to double team Mongo with a corner and safety….

              7. A pass rush that forces a QB to get the ball out quickly allows the rest of the DB to play more aggressively, without as much worry they will be left exposed for a big play. Again, its a symbiotic relationship.

                Playing against a QB that gets the ball out quickly to avoid sacks doesn’t mean having a pass rush that can collapse the pocket is pointless. It can still put such a QB off, and when the play they want isn’t there can come up with important stops.

              8. I agree with the symbiotic relationship, but case in point, look what Sanders was able to do for the 49ers. He made a good defense great. Same with Revis and the Patriots last year. I believe both personnel were key additions that jettisoned them to respective Super Bowls….

              9. Yep, both guys made good D’s great.

                The 49ers don’t have a good D atm. They need to sort out their weakest areas first. Once they do that they may be surprised to find that the CBs they have that are playing ok on a bad D are actually very good CBs on a good D.

              10. He’d definitely be a consideration. But not sure how likely it is the 49ers will get a shot at him.

                Emmanuel Ogbah, Shilique Calhoun and Kenny Clark are on my radar.

              11. Yea, I really like Ogbah. Clark is an under the radar guy who probably won’t be come combine time….

          2. Sorry to disagree, Scooter, but any team that wants to go deep in the playoffs needs a shutdown corner, especially if the pass rush is pedestrian. With the rules nowadays, it is more like glorified flag football. With a playoff QB, those WRs are going to get open, so the DBs need tight coverage.

            1. I don’t think any team goes depp into the playoffs with a pedestrian pass rush.

              The 49ers made 3 deep playoff runs in a row without a shutdown CB.

      2. Scooter:

        I’ve been wanting to ask you and your post provides a good segway, what value do you think Tank has in a trade? I’m thinking trade him to a team that runs a 4-3 defense. But has he gained too much weight to play as a DE in a 4-3 scheme. I wouldn’t think so, but don’t know.

        1. I just don’t know that any team putting on tape of him at the 49ers wouldn’t feel he is worth giving up a draft pick for.

          I think to have value to a 4-3 team he would need to lose 10 – 20 lbs.

          1. I guess I’m thinking that another team might think there is value in Tank, it’s just that the niners haven’t used him correctly; i.e. he’s better suited to a 4-3 per his college tape and has shown little to nothing in a 3-4 defense. It’s like trying to find an undervalued stock. I’m sure there are GMs who look for undervalued players, the trick maybe is how to market them without looking desperate to unload a guy.

        1. Matt Barrows ✔ @mattbarrows
          From @PFF: Glenn Dorsey getting pressure on 3.8% of pass rushes, Dial 3.6%, Williams 3.2%. 2014: McDonald was at 8.9% and Justin Smith 7.7%.

            1. Not at all. I wonder if Dockett could have been effective. Pass-rushing defensive lineman is a clear need.

              1. For sure. I think Nkemdiche is a better fit for a 3-4 than Bosa but others have said otherwise. I’m not sure the 9ers will be high enough in the draft to get either of those guys anyway. In that sense beating the Ravens was counter-productive.

      3. While the DBs have been among the best unit of the defense, I think Lynch is the best single player in the squad. The DBs in general have been guarding too much grass in their zone coverage leaving receivers wide open.

        Other than that they have done a great job…

        1. Would seem a waste of a pick to me for a team with so many other glaring holes.

          If the 49ers done’t take a pass rusher, OL or QB in the first round next season, at this stage I’d be shocked.

          1. I think taking a quarterback in the first round would be a waste if the current regime is still intact. I’m not saying the position shouldn’t be addressed, but you’ve got to have someone that can develop him and I’m not confident they have that guy….

            1. I should have said first few rounds/ picks.

              I think another QB does need to be taken early.

    3. Lynch is a 5th round steal. A great addition. Easily the best 49ers pass rusher, rounding out into a complete OLB.

      But the 49ers need another edge rusher. Not sure the lighter Eli Harold fits that bill. If I were a quarterback and saw Harold in the game I’d audible to a run right at him.

      I like Harold. Very athletic. Smart. I don’t think he’ll become Lemonier 2.0. But its hard to find a role for him at this point.

      With improved technique he doesn’t need to gain 25 lbs to set the edge… but it will have to be perfect technique.

      1. I’m not impressed by Harold at all. He’s got ok speed, but he’s not an explosive upfield rusher that can create havoc with a speed rush, and he’s way too thin to bull rush effectively, and he struggles to disengage.

        He definitely needs to spend some time in the weight room.

    4. Grant Kaep was outstanding week 2 against the steelers. You cant even use simple facts to write a artile

      1. Kaepernick was outstanding in garbage time after the Steelers were far ahead and let up on the defensive side of the ball. That’s an example of those simple facts.

        1. You shouldn’t have. Kaepernick’s stats against Pittsburgh came in garbage time and with Steelers defense relaxing due to a huge lead. Saying anything else is a fallacy.

    5. On the season, the 49ers are scoring touchdowns in the red zone just 36.8 percent of the time—fourth-worst in the NFL.
      ——————–
      Who are the top 5 teams in the red zone?

    6. Grant, why no mention of the score when the 49ers got conservative with their playcalling after going up 19-6 with 7 minutes left in the 3rd QTR? Don’t you think that’s pertinent information to consider when analysing Kaepernick in that article?

      “Kaepernick threw for 340 yards against the Ravens on Sunday. Cleveland Browns QB Josh McCown threw for 457 yards against the Ravens the week before. Let’s keep thing in perspective.”

      Here is a perfect example of why I have a problem with some of your articles and analysis. How’s this for “perspective”? You apparently failed to take into consideration (yet again) in your FLAWED analysis of Sundays game: The Browns trailed the Ravens 14-9 at halftime and 21-16 going into the 4th QTR. The Browns and Ravens traded the lead 4 times in the final 15 minutes of the game, and the game went into overtime. McCown threw for 32 yards in the overtime period alone.

      How can you be taken seriously when you fail to factor in the difference between going conservative and milking a 13 point lead late in the 3rd QTR, compared to a tight game, with multiple lead changes in the 4th QTR, resulting in an additional 8 minutes of overtime?

      Can you admit this was an egregious oversight on your part and explain your reasoning? Unfortunately, I suspect one of two plausible reasons for your oversight.

      A) Your lack of understanding about how a tight score throughout a game, and an extra 8+ minutes of overtime, would likely have a direct impact on passing yards.

      or

      B) You purposely ignored these factors because they don’t fit your narrative, in which case you cannot be taken, on face value, as a journalist.

      Which is it Grant?

      1. The lack of bold coaching almost cost them the game. I want them to play NINER FOOTBALL, and get that third down so they can run out the clock and not let Flacco to even have a chance to get the football. Luckily, the Ravens wasted time outs, and it cost them the game.
        The Niners should have rolled out Kaep, and let him keep picking apart the defense.The coaches should have sternly told him ahead of time to keep the clock moving, so he should just slide feet first if the pass is not there, or take off and use his legs to win the game. Running 3 times into the teeth of the defense just reminded me of the JH/Roman offensive strategy.

  11. Less we leave lengthy loquacious literate lessons limiting linguistic lexicons, we should let our leaders lapse into their local literal lingo.

  12. Interesting discussion about Peyton Manning this morning. Joel Dressen a former TE and teammate of Manning said that he’s being asked to read defenses post snap and he’s not used to doing that. He said Manning would play in the gun and make pre snap reads and determine where the ball was going before it was snapped enabling him to release it so quickly. Under center he said Manning is struggling to read his progressions and get the ball out quickly and accurately. His numbers this year are the same as Tebow’s through six games.

    We’ve always held Manning up as a master reader of defenses, but maybe there’s more to this post snap stuff than people realize. and why there are so few elite qb’s. Our qb struggles here a lot under center. What do you guys think of Dressen’s assessment? The qb’s are worlds apart but if its true the issue is the same. Knowinghan post s where the ball is going and getting the right match up before the snap is easier than post snap reads. It would seem there’s more offenses in the NFL that do this than realized.

    1. Peyton has made his millions reading and manipulating the defense pre-snap. That’s his forte.
      http://www.si.com/nfl/audibles/2014/01/30/peyton-manning-reads-plays-breakdown-zac-dysert-super-bowl-xlviii
      “How successful Manning is may depend on how well he can diagnose situations before the snap. As Dysert, Knapp and plenty of Denver’s previous opponents have stated, few NFL QBs are better in that regard.”

      Greg Manusky had success with Nolan’s Niners in bottling up Peyton when he was with the Colts by moving defenders all over the place post-snap.

      1. People around here talk like every QB in the NFL except ours can make post snap reads and get to their progressions. Call me late to the game, I was a bit surprised that a future HOF QB as you say made his millions determining where the ball would go before the snap. Still doesn’t help our QB.

  13. Some people call me the space cowboy.
    Yeah! Some call me the gangster of love.
    Some people call me Tomsula,
    ‘Cause I speak of the pompatus of love.

    1. Really? The 49ers NOT HAPPY WITH HAYNE? Do you purport to know how the coaches feel about Jarryd Hayne, because Barrows made no mention of that in the very article you linked?

      Seriously TrollD, what sort of insight does your puny little brain believe you are adding to this forum? I’m just curious?

      1. And FYI, I don’t think anyone on this forum finds you insightful or entertaining.

        A little word of advice for what you are accomplishing trolling the internet.

        It’s better to let people think that you’re an idiot, than it is to use your computer and prove it! And thanks to your need to troll the internet for self worth, you have left no doubt. You know so little about football, you probably think a quarterback is some kind of refund!

          1. After ripping Cosell unmercifully in the past, I will admit that his last show on KNBR was objective and insightful, not objectionable and inciteful.
            It helps when the QB has a win and a 128 rating.

            1. Before you get too happy with Cosell, he basically said he was impressed by how the coaches decided to use Kaepernick, and gave him plays that he can make. They simplified everything and Kaep gets the credit for making nice throws.

              And basically they bring the offense down to a level that he can process and handle. He actually gives Chryst and Tomsula a lot of credit. Roman and Harbaugh put alot on Kaep’s plate, Chryst and Tomsula are taking a lot off of it.

              They are running the offense through a base personnel. Lots of TEs and 2 Backs.

              So this is the offense we get until Kaep evolves, learns, whatever

              1. Well, at least he is not pontificating that Kaep will never be elite until he becomes only a pocket passer. When the coaches let him roll out, I was jumping for joy.

              2. Seb,
                Sometimes you gotta go a few steps backwards in order to go forward.
                He also see limitations for Russell Wison as well.
                I think Kaep will do best with a guy like Chip Kelly, where his entire offensive philosophy goes against the norm.

              3. I just hope Kaep stays as the Niner QB, and helps them win a few rings. Otherwise, if he goes to another team, they might use him properly and he could haunt the Niners for years, a la Charles Haley.

            2. And yet Seb, Cosell’s approach to breaking down film hasn’t changed.

              What effect did your “unmerciful attack” on Cosell have?

              1. I remember Larry Kreuger had an orgasm describing how much he liked Cosell, after I and many others were ripping him right and left. Sounds like they heard the chatter loud and clear, and tried to do some damage control.

        1. 49, please do not feed the trolls. I appreciate what you write, and it is spot on, but you are falling into his trap. TrollD says outrageous things just to get attention. If everyone ignores him and does not respond or acknowledge his existence, it will frustrate him to no end. Maybe he will lose heart and troll another site.
          Sometimes I have been the target of his insulting screeds, but try religiously to just ignore them.
          However, I do not suffer fools gladly, so I just use his own words against him. TrollD just stuck his foot in his mouth again, by writing about his pal Richard Sherman, so now I know he is a Seahawk Troll who agitates and prevaricates just to ruin this site for all the True Die Hard Niner fans. I guess the biggest tip off that he was a Seahawk Troll was the glaring fact of his total lack of football knowledge.
          I hope you post more. I like your keen insights about the coaching. Try not to get too down on Grant, I have come to expect his writing to be formulaic, but his reporting on the preseason practices was decent, so take all he writes with a grain of salt.
          Please do not feed the trolls.

    1. Nice! Didn’t know they were still rockin’ it. My first concert was Loudness opening for Motley Crue at Cl Expo in ’85.

    1. I’ll take 2 popinstance , I mean popinfresh, with turduckett and my pal,
      Richard Sherman on the 50 yd. line this Thursday.

      1. 49reasons,

        Have you checked on those critical reading startup kits yet?…I guess I’ll have to spelll it out for you, (hesitating to call you moron), it may delay your entrance into emergency reading labs…Please stay don’t drive, for public safety reasons, as that requires critical reading at speeds in excess of 55 mph.
        Via Matt Barrows:
        The 49ers seem hesitant to give Australian Jarryd Hayne any meaningful snaps. He was in on nine offensive plays Sunday but never touched the ball.

        Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article40465794.html#storylink=cpy

  14. Jeff Deeney @PFF_Jeff
    2015 Combined Offensive Line Grades:
    #49ers: -29.2
    #Seahawks: -53.6

    1. Highest percentage of passes intercepted Jameis 4.6% Luck 4.2% Peyton 4.2% Fitzpatrick 4.1% Bradford 4.0% Stafford 3.8% Foles 3.6%

    2. Highest percentage of passes intercepted Jameis 4.6% Luck 4.2% Peyton 4.2% Fitzpatrick 4.1% Bradford 4.0% Stafford 3.8% Foles 3.6%

    3. Tom Cable and Chris Foerster are terrible offensive line coaches. ;)

      (players matter)

  15. 6 Blake Bortles JAC QB 138 242 57.0 40.3 1,630 6.7 271.7 13 7 83 34.3 59T 24 5 17 83.5

    11 Alex Smith KC QB 131 210 62.4 35.0 1,573 7.5 262.2 6 3 69 32.9 61 20 5 23 88.8
    16 Kirk Cousins WAS QB 151 228 66.2 38.0 1,420 6.2 236.7 6 8 81 35.5 43 14 1 7 77.4
    17 Josh McCown CLE QB 121 188 64.4 37.6 1,416 7.5 283.2 8 3 62 33.0 56 17 5 17 94.6
    18 Ryan Tannehill MIA QB 119 200 59.5 40.0 1,346 6.7 269.2 9 7 62 31.0 48 15 3 12 80.1
    19 Colin Kaepernick SF QB 111 178 62.4 29.7 1,329 7.5 221.5 6 5 58 32.6 76T 16 7 19 84.7
    20 Marcus Mariota TEN QB 103 161 64.0 32.2 1,239 7.7 247.8 9 5 65 40.4 52T 17 1 19

  16. How to beat the Seahawks. I hope the Niners contain Wilson, but more importantly, get a hand up in the passing lanes so he has a hard time seeing over that waving hand, and maybe the pass rush will have time to get to him.

    1. The pass rush should look pretty good against the Squawks ghastly O-line. The key is keeping Wilson from breaking the pocket. Stay in the rushing lanes and collapse the pocket around him.

      Offensively, it’s time to go back to the outside zone/stretch plays, which lots of teams use effectively against that defense.

      This is all just obvious stuff though.

      1. Maybe…just maybe the lack of upfield pass rush will keep Wilson in the pocket, which is where you want’ him’ operating. :)

          1. Grimey,

            Plaster or pulverize, either one.

            Wilson has taken a number of big hits this year and I believe his play is suffering for it.

            1. I think Wilson is playing well considering the constant duress, he’s under, but I do wonder how many of those hits he can take before he goes down.

              The scramble drill is what scares me most about their offense. When you lose track of their Wrs is when Russell hurts you downfield.

          2. Yep… This could be the game we see Tartt prove his salt by plastering Wilson as soon as he breaks towards the LOS. Containing him is more important than actual sacks if it’s on a consistent basis. Make him play like Brady.

    2. You all are absolutely right about needing to contain Wilson, but don’t you think preventing Lynch and / or Rawls from racking up rushing yardage is a key, as well? If they can limit the damage that Lynch, Rawls and Wilson do with their legs, they should at least be in the game in the fourth quarter.

      1. Seb’s Predictions vs. Matt Barrow, Sac Bee

        sebnynah

        September 8, 2015 at 3:47 pm

        B2W, Hayne will be the Niners new Swiss Army knife. They should utilize all his skills. He is perfect to help set up mismatches.

        Via Matt Barrows:
        The 49ers seem hesitant to give Australian Jarryd Hayne any meaningful snaps. He was in on nine offensive plays Sunday but never touched the ball.

        Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article40465794.html#storylink=cpy

        1. Seb incessant troll-like whimpering that Hayne s/b a Swiss Army Knife in 49er personnel packages, yet again, saddle the Niners with an unprofessional player fumbling punts, much like Seb fumbling prose.

    3. The three keys to beating the Seahawks will be:
      1) Using an effective pass rush
      2) Containing Skittles Lynch
      3) Containing Graham

  17. I hope staff is game planning with our own 12th man in mind: he or it goes by the name sod. Good luck 49ers.

  18. Ryan Sakamoto @SakamotoRyan
    Former #49ers C Joe Looney just signed with the Tennessee Titans. Joins CB Perrish Cox and TE Delanie Walker. #NinerFans #SpotSakamoto

    Chris Biderman @ChrisBiderman
    Looney and Wash. S Trent Robinson would be the only members of the 49ers’ famous 2012 draft class on a 53-man roster

    1. Matt Barrows:

      aside from Smith, look for Quinton Patton to potentially step up, especially after catching a touchdown last week.

  19. To all the erudite posters and etymological experts who thinks that Coach Tomsula meant Pomp and Circumstance was his derivation to pompinstance, I wish to present another possibility.
    Maybe he meant- Happenstance. It is more relevant and fitting. The turkey gobble was not related to pomp and circumstance because it did not involve marching music or formal ceremonies or official decorum.
    It was happenstance, an informal one time event that just happened after a game.

    1. Well, I am not sure there will be much interest at this point, but let’s explore Seb’s proposal that ‘happenstance’ rather than ‘pomp and circumstance’ may be the source of Tomsula’s neologism, “pompinstance’. At the least, it will be fun for me.

      Our first step, albeit not a likely dispositive one, should be to present the alternative utterances to other speakers of the language in order to obtain data regarding which of the proposed source word(s) seem to better fit the context and meaning of the utterance:

      Yeah, I don’t really pay much attention to the happenstance around it.

      Yeah, I don’t really pay much attention to the pomp and circumstance around it.

      So, before looking deeper into the lexicosemantics of the proposed source terms and engaging in a neurocognitive analysis of the neologism, does anyone want to weigh in on which of the above alternatives seems to fit better with the context and meaning of Tomsula’s utterance?

      1. Sure. John Madden started it and the TV guys and gals turned it into a Thanksgiving ritual that has in no way ever been happenstance.

        The baby dodo bird in charge failed to refuse access to the field to the TV guys and gals.

        JimT truly thinks that it was artificial pomp and circumstance and if he was allowed to be himself would have said something to the effect that he doesn’t pay attention to that TV crap.

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