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          NFL Nation

          What are 49ers players saying about Jim Tomsula?

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterJan 15, 2015, 02:35 AM
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          Anquan Boldin, the San Francisco 49ers' leading pass-catcher, was one of a handful of Niners players, both present and past, to publicly endorse the team's somewhat controversial promotion of defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to head coach.

          "I think it's a good move," Boldin told Sports Illustrated. "He's a guy that everybody is familiar with. He's a guy that has a pretty good feel for the locker room, so I think it's a good move.

          "He's a great coach, first of all. For teams to be successful, you have to have as much continuity from year to year as much as possible. Hiring Tomsula gives us that continuity. The less change you have, the better chance you have of being successful the following year."

          In a strange twist, Tomsula, whose only previous head coaching experience came with NFL Europe's Rhein Fire in 2006, represents continuity without being connected to Jim Harbaugh.

          Tomsula, the Niners' D-line coach since 2007 and who served as the team's interim coach for the 2010 season finale, preceded Harbaugh and is a locker room favorite. Though cynics will counter and say the Niners let a great coach get away in Harbaugh and promoted Tomsula over the best coach remaining in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

          You also have to wonder what effect Tomsula will have on Justin Smith, who excelled with Tomsula as his position coach but is contemplating retirement.

          "He will make a great head coach," Smith told 49ers.com. "Number one, he knows what the heck he's talking about and, number two, he has the personality to go with it. A lot of times those don't always match up.

          "He's a fiery guy. He's not just a rah-rah guy, there's a lot more to him than that. He knows his stuff so you don't have to yell and just jump around all the time. You can actually talk. He'll give us some information, some input, how we're going to shut it down and that's what I appreciate about him."

          The team's official website also quoted other current defensive linemen.

          Nose tackle Glenn Dorsey: "He's a hard-working, blue-collar guy and a lot of guys in the locker room can relate to him. He knows how to put football stuff in life terms that you can understand. He brings a lot of enthusiasm to the game, and a lot of wisdom. He works well with us and we respond well.

          "He'd make a great head coach. He's just a tremendous coach, and he's helped me a lot, on and off the field."

          Nose tackle Quinton Dial: "He's helped me out a lot as well. He's helped me go into my playbook and making sure I'm sharp in everything I'm doing. You need to be prepared to play the game. He's hard on me, to keep me on my toes, keep me going and keep me working hard."

          Nose tackle Ian Williams: "I'm blessed to be with the coaches I've had like Jimmy T. I've learned so much, too much to talk about, a lot more about life with Jimmy T, and more about the fundamentals and having more confidence in myself."

          Defensive tackle Tony Jerod-Eddie: "He can get intense. My first year was pretty rough to say the least. But as I've gotten older and more mature football-wise, he's backed off. But he can still get intense at times; he does a good job. Jimmy is on you about everything little thing. Now I appreciate him for it because I've come a long way."

          Per ESPN Stats & Info, since 2007, Tomsula's first year with the Niners, only the Baltimore Ravens have allowed fewer yards per rush.

          "He'll be the same way, but I just think he has a pretty good feel for the locker room," Boldin told SI. "Not saying coach Harbaugh didn't. I don't think coach Tomsula will be as tough as coach Harbaugh was."

          Other players took to Twitter: