The 49ers will have road trips in 2016 to Atlanta, Carolina, Buffalo, Miami and either Chicago or Detroit. So they’re using Sunday’s game against the Lions to form some opinions on how to plan their travel for next season.
Typically, whenever the 49ers travel at least one time zone away, they leave two days before the game.
But with Christmas on Friday, the 49ers decided to allow the players time with their families and move back their departure to Saturday morning.
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Coach Jim Tomsula said he spoke with Keena Turner and Tom Rathman about the team’s travel schedule when the organization was known for his dominance on the road.
“What did they have? Eighteen road wins?” Tomsula asked. “They left at 9 o’clock in the morning on Saturday. They had their meeting and got on a bus and left. That’s the way they did it. We’re mimicking that.”
While the 49ers might have left on Saturdays for some shorter road trips, former San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ira Miller remembered, “They always used to leave on Fridays for Sunday afternoon games in the East.”
In 10 seasons from 1981 to ’90, the 49ers compiled a .809 win percentage on the road and .671 at Candlestick Park. Beginning in 1988, the 49ers won 19 consecutive road games.
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The 49ers are 1-6 on the road this season, so Tomsula said he is examining all the possibilities.
“We are looking at it,” Tomsula said. “I’ll be honest with you – change up how we do things on road games. This was a great opportunity to do that.
“We’re going to look at it. Why not? When you play or coach for the Niners, you’re going to be going that way (East) quite a bit.”
---Tomsula, as expected, downplayed the suggestion that general manager Trent Baalke puts on his coaching hat during practices. Earlier this week, defensive backs Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt said Baalke will offer them tips on technique during practices.
“I’ve never seen Trent run a drill,” Tomsula said. “He’s never run a drill. Trent, just like I think all general managers, when he’s in town, he goes out to practice. Personnel guys go out to practice. We’re all in this together.
“I don’t know what he’s . . . you know, ‘Defend the ball’ or ‘Great play.’ We’re all invested here. I don’t see anything to that at all.”
---The 49ers have until 1 p.m. (PT) on Saturday to make a roster move for Sunday’s game. Running back Shaun Draughn is day-to-day with a knee sprain, and Tomsula offered no hints on whether the 49ers plan to activate another running back to join Kendall Gaskins and DuJuan Harris, if Draughn is unable to play. Jarryd Hayne is the only running back on the 49ers’ practice squad.
“Jarryd is doing a really good job, OK?” Tomsula said. “He is getting better, OK? But we’re going to see where everybody is.
“I think you have to consider everything. We’ve considered going in with two guys with Bruce (Miller) being able to handle things, but we’ve considered going in with three or four, too. We’re working through all of that.”