Good morning and happy July 4th everyone! Today is my last day on the Nuggets, but I already gave my more sappy goodbye a while ago so I'll spare you from that again. For my last day I want to talk about where I see the 49ers going from here. This season could be rough, but I'm also more optimistic about the 49ers hires on the coaching staff than most. Just my opinion, but it seems that at least some of the skepticism around Jim Tomsula has some to do with him not actually looking the part of an NFL coach. His personality is kind of goofy, he is excitable, and lets be honest, he looks sweaty. As for the coordinators, I wanted Geep Chryst hired midway through last season at the expense of Greg Roman, so I am totally on board with his hire. Eric Mangini is more of a mystery, but I have long held the opinion that he is a great football mind that ultimately doesn't have the fire or charisma to lead a group of egomaniacs.
As for next season, they don't have the roster to compete for a Superbowl unless it turns out they drafted an otherworldly class and some of the injury red shirts step up big time. Still, If Colin Kaepernick has a good season, this team can make the playoffs. And if he flops? His contract is fairly easy to get out of from what I have heard. That is another positive with this team. Unlike the pre-Harbaugh years, they aren't hamstrung by bad contracts. If things go bad, they can shed dead weight and start over with minimal headaches. Trent Baalke and the rest of the football minds in the front office really do run a much better ship than previous management. For one last time, to the links!
49ers 2015 Opponent Breakdown: Minnesota Vikings (Week 1) (Gin)
Former 49ers making seamless transitions with new teams (ESPN)
49ers vets face competition to hold onto roster spots (Maiocco)
Niners' Tomsula Facing More Skeptics Than Believers (NBC)
I usually don't add either Cohn's stuff (especially pieces like this) but figured 'why not once more for old times sake?' What we won’t miss about Jim Harbaugh (Cohn)