After the past season, many disappointed niner fans are asking themselves, is this really still an empire? My answer, yes, but the empire has not been coming out in force. The 49ers, who sold out their entire season's eight home games now played their last few games in front of a very empty-looking Levi's Stadium. That being said, Jed York was quick to the make the decision of firing Jim Tomsula and begin the quest for a new coach. In my opinion, Tomsula served his time fantastically with the Niners. He was very successful as the offensive coordinator under Harbaugh but really just lacked the on-field talent after a tumultuous 2015 offseason to really excel with his coaching abilities. There is not a doubt in my mind that Tomusla will find a new coaching home where fans respect him just as much or even more than the niners did.
The Niners front office has been quick to flip the page on 2015 after a couple week extravaganza and the swift hiring of Chip Kelly. Are there opportunities for this team in the upcoming season? There are a few but as a die hard and lifelong fan, there will have to be a rebuilding phase, and this will just be the beginning of a multi-year process. With Chip Kelly under head, Colin Kaepernick will be given another chance to prove himself to his contract but, I think the future of the niners has Blaine Gabbert written all over it. That being said, will Chip Kelly help return Kaep to his rookie dominance? Kelly might be a plus but that is not the answer for him, as rumors emerge of Kaep wanting to be traded. Kaepernick has vested himself as a very interesting figure in the mind of Bay Area sports fanatics. He has been someone who restored the greatness of a franchise which lacked greatness for over two decades, but nevertheless has seemed to be a figure that always had haters. With his downfall, the haters have come out in full force and advocated for his removal from the organization altogether.
Many fans, including myself, believe that the next couple drafts will be key for the 49ers. They will need to address major issues on the o and d Lines, particularly the O-Line, they will need to look out for a quarterback they can call their future if Gabbert does not work out, and focus on strengthening an up and coming secondary. Many Bay Area natives want the 49ers to take a chance on Cal-Berkeley standout Jared Goff. Whereas this might work out, it could also turnout as another huge Alex Smith dilemna. At this point the near future of the niners looks bleak but I can confidently say that the worst has absolutely past.
