This was it. This was the 'statement' game for the Jim Tomsula regime. Good and great teams dominate bad ones. Teams that are on the corner of becoming relevant again beat the bad ones.
A team takes on the identity of its coaching staff. I truly believe that, especially having played myself. I remember what it was like to have a coach who had you completely prepared for your opponent, who had you fired up and made you want to drop the hammer on anyone who got in your way. I also remember the coaches who were utilizing the 'fake it til you make it' methodology, and had you taking the play call in the huddle and changing it. Bottom line – I think you know which I think Jim Tomsula's 49ers represent.
The 49ers were coming off a dramatic road win against the Chicago Bears. They were now facing a Cleveland Browns team that was, at least on paper, the NFL's worst team. In spite of myself, I really believed that this would be the 49ers' most dominant performance of the season. The problem is, the 49ers believed that too. They figured they would run all over the league's worst run defense. They assumed that they would stuff the league's worst running offense and tee off on Johnny 'Football' Manziel. They dreamt of outcoaching a Browns staff that is likely gone after the season and celebrate in the York's back yard.
This was an abomination of football. The 49ers were outclassed, outperformed and outcoached in every phase of the game. Blaine Gabbert looked more like his Jacksonville persona than the gutsy, new and improved version we have seen in previous weeks. He completed 18-28 for 194 and a score – but 75 of those yards and the score came on the teams final drive, at which point the game was over. Stats don't always tell the whole story. Gabbert didn't force anything – as reflected by multiple check down reads on 3rd down. Gabbert needed to push the ball down the field, but there was one big problem – no one on the offensive line seemed willing to help. The wide receivers seemed to disappear altogether from this game. When they were there, they were running the wrong routes or dropping the football. At least tight end Blake Bell looks like he might have a future.
Giving up nine sacks to a team that hadn't put up those kinds of numbers since their head coach was some guy named Bill Belicheck (1993) was a damning indictment. I'm sure Tomsula will say something coach-like such as 'we didn't execute like we should' or words to that affect – which is true. However, what really happened is that they were unprepared, ill-equipped and unmotivated. I say again – out-coached. And a running game? Forget it. Despite facing the worst run defense, the 49ers called three straight passes to open the game, couldn't get any traction and couldn't get a consistent ground game going to take even a little of the pressure off the passing game. Shaun Draughn was even touted as a sleeper fantasy pick up this week – no joke.
If you were hoping the defense was going to carry the team to victory, you were in for a letdown. Once again, the team couldn't tackle, left holes in the secondary big enough to fit a Death Star through, and even when they got it right and forced the Browns into conceding a potentially game changing safety, it was undone by an untimely facemask penalty. The pass rush was so laughingly inconsistent that, at times, Manziel was standing flatfooted in the pocket. I honestly can't recall ever seeing that. If that is his technique, that's one thing. No one should ever feel that comfortable in the pocket. Arik Armstead had some good pressure and got himself a sack, and if I didn't know who was coaching the team I would be shaking my head as to why he doesn't play more. I am not shocked that he doesn't play more.
In what has become a trend this season, what was last week's Achilles heel was this week's bright spot. The special team's coverage was generally good and the blocked field goal was outstanding. There were some nice gains in the return game as well. That said, this constant inability to get the team on the same page in all 3 phases of the game has become par for the course for Tomsula and his staff. Good and great teams play great in all three phases – consistently. This team is a Galaxy far, far away from being a mediocre team, let alone a good one.
Last week, I wrote a piece that talked about whether or not this coaching staff deserved another chance, especially considering the hand that they had been dealt. I feel I should clarify that I was playing the devil's advocate and that I don't think they should have another chance. However, I am not Jed York. This is his handpicked choice for head coach. I truly doubt that Jed will have the stomach to admit his mistake and pull the plug after one year. He may very well believe that with all that happened during the offseason, he wants to see what Tomsula can do with a clean slate. Without agreeing with it or condoning it, I see his point. Some would even say that he needs to keep Jim Tomsula for one more year just to preserve the appearance that this is not a franchise that has no clue. Truth be told, that secret is out already.
It is long overdue for Jed to take a good, long look at the state of this franchise. The team entered this game still mathematically in the running for the playoffs. The coaching staff should have been pushing the team with that goal in mind, no matter how remote, until someone tells them they have been eliminated. They were playing the worst team in the NFL, at least by record. All of their supposed weaknesses should have tied directly into the strengths of the 49ers. The coaching staff should have had this team prepared to go out and dominate.
Instead, what we saw was a team woefully unprepared, undisciplined, and if reports from the locker room are to be believed, a team that truly underestimated their opponent. All of this in the backyard of the York family. That had to be embarrassing and this ownership has demonstrated on numerous occasions that appearances matter.
This team was more than capable of winning this game, like many others this season. But they did everything they could to make sure they didn't. That is what Jim Tomsula and his staff brings to the table. Sure, they were dealt a poor hand. The best coaches and the championship caliber coaches take those hands and find a way to win. This game should have proved, even to Jed, that these are anything but the best coaches.
