Jim Tomsula and his recently announced coaching staff are under plenty of pressure to show 49ers fans that they can pick up where Jim Harbaugh and Co. left off.
It helps that new offensive play-caller Geep Chryst has the support of his players.
"I've known Geep for a long time," wideout Anquan Boldin said, per the team's official website. "He was actually my quarterbacks coach in Arizona my rookie year. He's a great football mind, and I think he can bring a spark to the offense."
After serving as the team's quarterbacks coach over the past four seasons, Chryst faces his share of challenges in taking over for the departed Greg Roman. Lead running back Frank Gore and wideout Michael Crabtree are both set to become free agents next month. At tight end, it's fair to wonder which version of Vernon Davis the 49ers will see come September.
Colin Kaepernick is the biggest concern after a skittish regular season under Chryst's watch, but the 49ers quarterback praised the hire.
"I'm very excited about Geep being our OC," Kaepernick said. "Great person, brilliant guy. And I think he's very open to what the players input is during the game, during the week. And also, open to taking shots down the field and opening up the playbook. So, excited to see what he has in store for us."
With owner Jed York openly calling for Kaepernick to "run the ball" more next season, we expect Tomsula's charges to lean on the ground game. If Chryst, though, can't mend Kaepernick's hot-and-cold pocket play -- something he couldn't do last season -- San Francisco is going to struggle again on passing downs.
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