Tomsula Says 49ers 'Building' Despite His Uncertain Future
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - With his disappointing first full season as 49ers head coach coming to a close, Jim Tomsula said Monday that his team is building for the future.
But whether or not Tomsula will be a part of that future remains to be seen.
"I'm going to coach until somebody tells me I'm not," he said.
Tomsula noted he speaks regularly to his superiors, but conversations about his immediate future have not happened, yet.
"The biggest thing that I get asked is, 'Can we help? Is there anything we can do for you? Do you need anything?' Quite frankly, from that end of it, (they) couldn't give us any more than they're giving us," Tomsula said.
The 49ers host the Rams this week, and will finish the year with 11 or more losses for the first time since 2007 after Sunday's dispirited 32-17 road defeat to the surging Lions.
With little to play for, San Francisco will continue to evaluate its young roster heading into an uncertain offseason.
"Where we're at, the way I see it, we're definitely on a one-week calendar, in terms of this team, and where we're going, and what we're doing, and preparing to win a game," Tomsula said. "But to me, in that itself, we're building. Building week to week and the way you prepare and the way you work, and what you've got to have done, and where you need to be when you show up on game day."
While losing five of their last six, the 49ers have talked about establishing a young nucleus of players that's coming together.
Players like 2014 first-round draft pick Jimmie Ward, outside linebacker Eli Harold, safety Jaquiski Tartt and nose tackle Ian Williams have all been tabbed as future centerpieces by Tomsula.
"That's what we want. We're building," Williams said. "It may not be a 12-4 season, or 10-6 season, but we're getting there."
Williams, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, became a starter after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2011. His progression to one of the defense's most consistent players is a credit to Tomsula, who was Williams' position coach during his ascension before Tomsula replaced Jim Harbaugh as head coach.
"He's building something. We all see it. You guys see it," said Williams. "The record may not show it, but the culture here, in the locker room, just what we're trying to do, it's going to be seen. And I'm hoping everything works out."
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