There are new individuals in place in each of the key coaching spots on the 49ers’ staff. And as many as nine players who started a significant number of games last season will not be back, either.
But 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin said this week he expects improvement from a team that went 8-8 and failed to reach the playoffs after three consecutive trips to the NFC Championship game.
“For us, we just have to move forward,” Boldin said this week on The SiriusXM Blitz. “We just have to improve on what we did last year. We can’t let last year be a repeat this year because we’re better than that.”
The huge turnover on the roster and coaching staff is to be expected in the NFL, Boldin said. The most notable change is at the top, as Jim Tomsula takes over as head coach for Jim Harbaugh. Boldin said he believes Tomsula will be just fine in his newfound leadership role after spending eight seasons as 49ers defensive line coach.
“I’ve always thought he was very energetic,” Boldin said. “I thought he was very detailed in what he did and how he coached the defensive line. And he was a guy who let them play but had parameters built in. He communicated well with the defensive line.
“Everybody who played for him, they busted their butt for him. He went to bat for his players, so that’s something you’re excited about. I think he’ll do well as a head coach because I think he deals with different personalities that guys bring to the table, he deals with that quite well.
"That’s the characteristic you have to have when it comes to being a head coach.”
