Live: Jarryd Hayne’s San Francisco 49ers v St Louis Rams
SAN Francisco has reacted to a disappointing season by sacking coach Jim Tomsula. What will it mean for Jarryd Hayne’s future?
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JARRYD Hayne’s future at the San Francisco 49ers has been thrown into further doubt following the sacking of head coach Jim Tomsula.
The 49ers announced the decision two hours after finishing their season with an unlikely 19-16 overtime win against the St Louis Rams in which Hayne barely played.
“Jimmy has been a valuable member of the 49ers organisation for the last nine years,” 49ers CEO Jed York said.
“We all know he is a man of high character, and his contributions on the field and in our community have always been greatly appreciated. This entire organisation is proud and grateful to have worked so closely alongside Jimmy. We all wish him and his family great success in the future.”
Tomsula finished his first season in charge with a 5-11 record after taking over from Jim Harbaugh. The 49ers weren’t expected to be a play-off team this year after losing a swag of talent through retirements and free agency but their performance still didn’t meet the expectations of ownership.
Before the announcement, Tomsula attempted to deflect attention away from his position in his post-match press conference.
“I’m not going to make this about Jim and Jim’s job status here today. I’ve got a group of guys here, players who just won a football game,” he said.
“Today is all about those players. My job status and anything going forward there can be handled later in the week.”
Asked if he deserved to coach the 49ers for a second season, Tomsula said: “You’re a coach. You always think that. (But) how you think about that and those things, that’s irrelevant.”
Speculation about who could replace the former defensive line coach has already gone into overdrive, with the likes of recently dumped Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly, former 49ers offensive co-ordinator Mike Holmgren and fellow Super Bowl winners Mike Shanahan and Sean Payton on the list.
49ers thinking on Jim Tomsula began to change midweek with firing of Chip Kelly in Philly. Kelly under strong consideration in San Fran...
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 3, 2016Among those who have reached out to express interest in a potential 49ers opening: Chip Kelly and Mike Shanahan. Others to come...
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 3, 2016Regarding Mike Holmgren's very real interest in #49ers. He's not interested in personnel control; money unlikely to be a huge issue.
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) January 3, 2016Keep an eye on Sean Payton and the #49ers. If the #Chargers are keeping Mike McCoy, this is Payton's best chance to move near his daughter
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 4, 2016A new coach would likely add even more doubt to Hayne’s future, despite the recent contract he signed after rejoining San Francisco’s 53-man roster.
Some held Tomsula personally responsible for Hayne’s lack of playing time this season. If that was truly the case, his departure could be a positive.
But Hayne considered Tomsula an ally when he picked the Niners ahead of other teams like Seattle and Detroit — and there is no way of knowing if San Francisco’s next coach will be a fan of the Aussie.
The new doubt made Hayne’s lack of involvement in today’s game even more frustrating. He was only sighted on one play — as a member of the coverage unit during a kick-off.
The former Parramatta Eel did not feature at all on offence a week after being promoted to the starting running back position. DuJuan Harris (16 carries for 67 yards, eight catches for 86 yards) and Mike Davis (10 carries for 34 yards, two catches for 15 yards) shared the running back duties.
Hayne told Bay Area News Group reporter Cam Inman his playing time in the final game of the season “is what it is”.
Jarryd Hayne on 1-snap finale: It is what it is. Overall the year I've had & to be here, it's been incredible, more than could have imagined
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 4, 2016The former NRL star later added on Instagram: “What a way to finish the year! Blessed to be apart of the 49ers franchise. The love and support has been great. Forever thankful.”
Positions at running back will be even more competitive next season because of the number of players the 49ers trialled there this year because of injuries.
Round one starter Carlos Hyde will be back from a foot injury, while the team seems committed to rookie Davis. Late season call-ups Shaun Draughn and Harris will also come under consideration after impressing.
Tomsula praised Harris’s performance after the journeyman joined the team late in the season. “This guy comes in, what was it, two weeks ago?” Tomsula said. “Hats off to him and his efforts.”
Hayne also saw Bruce Ellington preferred in front of him at punt returner. Ellington chose not to return any punts during the game. Continue reading for a quarter by quarter breakdown of the game.
FIRST QUARTER
The Rams (7-8) entered the game riding a three-game winning streak but endured a rough start on offence. Running back Tre Mason fumbled the ball on the opening drive and while the Rams recovered the ball, they were forced to punt. Ellington called for a fair catch.
DuJuan Harris started at running back after an impressive debut against Detroit last week. But he was stopped three yards short of the line of scrimmage with his first carry and the 49ers were also forced to punt.
A 54-yard reception by Kenny Britt allowed St Louis to score the first points of the game. Kicker Greg Zuerlein made no mistake from 33 yards to give the Rams a three point lead.
Davis entered the game on the 49ers’ next series and picked up a first down with his first carry. But quarterback Blaine Gabbert continued to find it tough to gain any significant yardage and the 49ers punted again.
NaVorro Bowman stepped up and made a big tackle on third down to force a Rams’ punt and as the first quarter expired the 49ers began putting together their best drive of the game to this point.
SECOND QUARTER
The #49ers scoring drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:27 resulting in this 33-yard @AnquanBoldin TD! https://t.co/yRnLvkjQLF
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 3, 2016The 49ers scored a touchdown with the opening play of the second quarter to take a 7-3 lead. Anquan Boldin walked into the endzone after making a 33-yard reception to cap a drive which also featured a 31-yard catch and run by Harris.
The Rams got creative after being stalled just outside field goal range on their next drive, running a fake punt which involved Johnny Hekker throwing the ball into the endzone.
But Ellington managed to bust up the play and the Niners took over in good field position. A 47-yard Harris run gave San Francisco first and goal but Gabbert threw two incompletions and the 49ers were forced to settle for a field goal.
The Rams answered by going 66 yards on 12 plays and nailing a field goal of their own to reduce the margin to 10-6.
St Louis took the lead just before the half after Eugene Sims intercepted a tipped Gabbert pass and took it 42 yards to the three-yard line. Two plays later Mason was in the endzone and after another 49ers’ punt the Rams added a field goal to take a 16-10 lead into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
San Francisco put together a 12-play 70-yard drive to open the second half, which included a 44-yard Gabbert-to-Ellington connection. But the drive stalled in the red zone and the Niners were forced to settle for a field goal.
The Rams followed that by taking more than eight minutes off the clock during a 14-play 46-yard drive but Zuerlein missed a 52-yarder and the visitors came up empty.
The 49ers took over with great field position and moved into Rams’ territory as the third quarter ended.
FOURTH QUARTER
Steph Curry with the belt boy! @StephenCurry30 @LukeRockhold @warriors #STLvsSF pic.twitter.com/nX6b4D3jhn
— UFC (@ufc) January 3, 2016An ugly offensive series ended up with the 49ers turning the ball over on downs as Gabbert and his receivers again failed to produce.
San Francisco went for it on fourth and four on St Louis’s 39-yard line but Torrey Smith was unable to hang on to a downfield pass and the Rams maintained their advantage.
The Niners put together another decent drive but a misdirected pitch from Gabbert to Harris at third and one cost them any chance of a touchdown. Phil Dawson tied the game with a 38-yard field goal.
Hayne made an appearance on the coverage unit in the ensuing kick-off and helped push Rams returner Benjamin Cunningham out of bounds.
Aussie Jarryd Hayne in on the tackle for 49ers kickoff coverage. He hasn't played an offensive snap in this finale.
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) January 4, 2016The 49ers’ defence continued its second half dominance by forcing a three-and-out and giving the offence a chance to win the game.
Gabbert got the home side close, reaching the Rams’ 37-yard line before the drive stalled. It left the Niners with a field goal of around 56 yards — but Tomsula opted to play it safe and punt instead. His decision was widely slammed by 49ers beat writers and drew jeers from the crowd.
“We probably could have but kicking that way (against) the wind ... we didn’t want to do that,” Tomsula said post-game.
The 49ers defence stood firm, forcing a Rams punt and sending the game to overtime.
OVERTIME
The block! #STLvsSF pic.twitter.com/UelS0ZvZYr
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 4, 2016San Francisco won the coin toss and chose to receive — but another messy drive which featured a recovered fumble from Gabbert ended in a punt.
The Rams proceeded to move the ball 51-yards in 12 plays to set up Zuerlein with a 48-yard field goal to win the game.
But Johnson made a spectacular dive to get a hand on the ball and deflect the kick. It fell short and was recovered by Jimmie Ward, giving the 49ers another chance to win.
The unlikely comeback was complete when Quinton Patton caught a swing pass from Gabbert, broke a tackle and scampered all the way to the St Louis five-yard line. Dawson converted a 23-yard field goal to give the 49ers a 19-16 win.
Originally published as Live: Jarryd Hayne’s San Francisco 49ers v St Louis Rams
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