NFL 2015: How will the first-year coaches perform?

Jim Tomsula – San Francisco 49ers

This is an impossible spot for Tomsula. The 49ers had been one of the best teams in the league during the four-year reign of Jim Harbaugh, making the NFC Championship game the first three campaigns, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 2012. Harbaugh, for all of his faults, was beloved by the San Francisco faithful for turning around a storied franchise which had fallen on hard times.

Now, after Harbaugh was forced out, Tomsula steps in and sees his team dismantled. The first huge blow was inside linebacker Patrick Willis unexpectedly retiring. Then, only days later, fellow inside linebacker Chris Borland retired out of fear for his brain’s health following an impressive rookie season. Months later, it would be veteran Justin Smith who decided to hang up his cleats.

Additionally, receiver Michael Crabtree and All-Pro guard Mike Iupati went to the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals, respectively, in free agency. The crushing blow might have been Frank Gore, who departed for the Indianapolis Colts. Tomsula is now left with a shell of an offense, an angry fan base and a defense with a crippled front seven. It is going to be a brutal year for this first-time head coach.

The best Tomsula can hope for is Colin Kaepernick discovering his game. Kaepernick was supposed to be the next big thing when he replaced Alex Smith as the starting quarterback midway through the 2012 season, but has regressed since the start of 2014. Last year, Kaepernick was drawing boos at Levi’s Stadium after falling apart down the stretch with bad interceptions in a Thanksgiving night game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Wish Tomsula luck. He’s going to need it.