San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary announced the firing of offensive coordinator Mike Martz on Tuesday, which shouldn't be much off a surprise considering the their contrasting personalities.

From a fantasy perspective, this could mean more consistency from Frank Gore (pictured) in 2009.

I'm no football genius, but my guess is Singletary wants Gore to be like a certain RB who used to play for the Chicago Bears. We're not saying that Gore will in fact be the next Walter Payton, but Singletary likely will hire a coach with "an establish the run first" philosophy.

So what do we make of Gore heading into next season?

Gore wasn't horrible this season. He hit 1,000 yards for the third straight year, and he totaled eight TDs. Gore's production in the second half of the season, however, was disappointing.

He had just 407 yards and 2 TDs in San Francisco's final eight games after racking up 629 with 4 TDS in the first half. Gore did not score a rushing TD after Week 11.

The emergence of DeShaun Foster didn't help. Foster averaged 47.5 rushing yards in the 49ers' last four games. He could steal more carries from Gore to start next season.

As a result, Gore likely could fall from a first round pick in 2008 to a middle-of-the-second-rounder in '09. Depending on who Singletary brings in to call the plays, Gore could be the steal of the draft at that point.

From a personal standpoint, I won't be drafting Gore in the first or second round next season. I needed Gore to deliver late in the season (Weeks 12-13), and in those two games he totaled 92 rushing yards, 29 receiving yards and no TDs. You need more from a first-round stud, especially when it counts.

Your thoughts? Will you gamble on Gore in the first round again?

(sportingnews.com)

SANTA CLARA – The question seemed like a ridiculously easy one for Clinton Portis: Which former University of Miami tailback is the best NFL rusher?

Like most ex-Hurricanes, Portis doesn't lack self-esteem, and he has a well-developed sense of humor. The question was a softball, and the Redskins running back would oblige by hitting it out of the park. The next words out of his mouth would be "Clinton Portis."

Instead, his smile disappeared and he grew serious.

"Honestly, I always thought Frank was the best one out of all of us, and I'm big on myself," Portis told the NFL Network in June.

When you're a key player in a high-profile college program, you don't always root for your understudy to succeed. But to hear Portis and Frank Gore tell it, there wasn't a speck of jealousy between them at Miami.

Gore said Portis, who was a junior when Gore was a freshman, treated him like a younger brother, teaching him the playbook and letting Gore hold his car – an old, gold Toyota Camry – whenever Portis was away. In return, Gore's mother, Liz, threw Portis the mother of all draft parties at her home in Coconut Grove, Fla., when Portis left Miami for the Denver Broncos in April 2002.

Portis said he was impressed with Gore even before the latter set foot on campus. While Gore was in high school, Portis and his Miami teammates sat in the stands as Gore's school, Coral Gables High, took on the school of future Miami wide receiver Sinorice Moss.

"They ran a four-receiver, run-and-shoot set and just gave (Gore) draws," Portis recalled. "He single-handedly ran through Carol City (High School), and they were the top team. That wowed me."

Far from begrudging him playing time, Portis said he would remove himself in the second half of games to give Gore extra carries. Before Miami was to play Nebraska in the 2002 Rose Bowl, Portis turned to his roommate.

"He said, 'I'm going to give you the rock,' " Gore said. " 'This is my last game. Now you've got to hold it down for me.' I was excited about that. Now I get the chance to be the man."

Which isn't to say the former Hurricane tailbacks don't have a brotherly rivalry.

The two have gone head to head only once, in 2005 when Gore was a backup to Kevan Barlow. Late in that game, Gore broke a 72-yard touchdown run, and he finished with 89 rushing yards.

Portis, however, was 12 yards better, and he scored three touchdowns in a 52-17 Redskins rout.

Gore also knows Portis has the edge over him this season in rushing yards, 1,407 to 978.

"We're so competitive we always want to outrush each other," Gore said. "He got me this year, but you know, I'm going to try and come back this Sunday and outperform him. We've got to win. If I do that and win, hey, we're good. Happy New Year to me."

(sacbee.com0

He got his 1,000 yards, gimpy ankle and all.

Frank Gore went into Sunday's season-ender against Washington needing 22 rushing yards to attain 1,000 for the season and become the first 49er to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.

Gore, who had missed the previous two games with a sprained ankle, finished with 11 carries for 58 yards to end the season with 1,036. Joe Perry (1953-54), Roger Craig (1988-89), Garrison Hearst (1997-98) and Charlie Garner (1999-2000) all rushed for at least 1,000 yards for two straight seasons.

"It's great to be the first running back in this team's history to do it, especially with all the great players who have been here," Gore said. "I'm very happy. Everyone wanted me to do it today. I have a record in this great franchise's history, and that's a great thing."

Coach Mike Singletary was mindful of Gore's ankle and limited his playing time. DeShaun Foster played well in relief of Gore with nine carries for 44 yards and a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

(sfgate.com)

SANTA CLARA — Twenty-two yards short of becoming the 49ers' first running back to gain 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, Frank Gore said Monday that he plans to practice this week in hopes of playing in Sunday's season finale against Washington.

But the milestone isn't Gore's only motivation.

Sunday's game also is an opportunity to renew a friendly rivalry with Redskins running back Clinton Portis, Gore's former teammate at the University of Miami.

"We talk to each other during the season," said Gore, who has missed the past two games because of a sprained left ankle injury. "We're so competitive. We always want to out-rush each other. He got me this year, but I'm going to try to come out this Sunday and out-perform him. If I do that and win, hey, it'll be a Happy New Year for me."

Competition aside, Gore noted that during his freshman season at Miami, Portis essentially served as his big brother. He helped him with the playbook, loaned him his car, etc.

"He used to look out for me," Gore said. "You know how other players would be (with) a young freshman coming in and playing right away, they probably wouldn't help him out or do anything for him. But he was different. He helped me out a whole lot."

49ers coach Mike Singletary said he wants Gore to get his 1,000th yard but only if the ankle is OK.

"Hopefully, he's healthy enough to go," Singletary said. "But if he can come back next year and get 2,000 (yards), that's even better. I'm good with (playing him), depending on where he's at."

(insidebayarea.com)

Frank Gore seemed much more sprightly today than he did a week ago, but he said his availability for Sunday was "50-50." Gore, who is dealing with a sprained ligament in his left ankle, will not practice today but he will do some on-field work with trainers, something he wasn't able to do last week. As was the case a week ago, the 49ers are calling Gore's ankle injury a game-time decision. Gore didn't even test the ankle before Sunday's game in Miami, but he said he planned to do so this coming Sunday in St. Louis.

(sacbee.com)

49ers feature running back Frank Gore is still dealing with soreness in his ankle. As disappointed as he might have been not to be able to suit up in his hometown of Miami on Sunday, the fact that he was limping all week is enough to confirm that resting was a smart move. The next question is whether he will be ready for a favorable matchup Sunday against the Rams. At this point, he is very questionable, and fantasy owners should prepare a backup plan. But if he makes major progress with the ankle, we will upgrade his status.

(espn.com)

Matt Maiocco, of The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore (ankle) missed the team's practice Thursday, Dec. 11, and it is looking doubtful he will be available for Week 15. Head coach Mike Singletary is calling him a game-time decision.


(kffl.com)

Mike Singletary just wrapped up his Wednesday press conference. The big piece of news is that running back Frank Gore has what the coach described as "an inside sprain" of his left ankle and likely will be a game-day decision. Gore will not practice today and Singletary said that DeShaun Foster will get the bulk of the practice repetitions this week. If Thomas Clayton is elevated to the active roster, it will be later this week, perhaps Saturday. The good news is that Gore does not have a high-ankle sprain, which almost certainly would have knocked him out a week or more.

(sacbee.com)

Frank Gore said he intended to play in Week 15 after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday's win.
"I'm going to come back and play," he said, although he was limping noticeably after the game. Coach Mike Singletary would only say that Gore was sore and the team would have to wait and see if he plays against Miami. Gore isn't likely to practice much this week.

(rotoworld.com)

Running back Frank Gore exited the game at the start of the third quarter with an ankle injury, but not before doing some damage of his own first, including a 4-yard touchdown catch from Shaun Hill to put the 49ers up 14-7 at the half.

The heart and soul of the 49ers offense needed just 74 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He got 52 of them in two quarters and two plays on 14 carries for 3.7-yard average against a Jets defense that entered the game ranked fourth against the run.

“I was going to have a great game,” said Gore. “I was going to have a big game today, but it just wasn’t meant for today. Things happen and I have to try and get well. I’m trying to get alright for the Miami game.”

Gore required assistance clearing the field after picking up a first down on a 5-yard carry at the start of the third quarter. Shortly thereafter, he headed into the locker room on a cart for x-rays.

He returned to the bench area later in the game, hobbling back and forth as he cheered on teammates.

“It’s tight. Tight and sore. It’s sad, but I’ll be fine,” he said.

In his absence, DeShaun Foster took the bulk of the carries, gaining 35 yards on 16 carries with a long of 6. Foster did fumble once, but guard David Baas quickly fell on the loose ball.

Gore was disappointed about sitting out, but still had a huge grin on his face following the victory.

“I was happy man. Shaun Hill, the receivers, DeShaun, Mike Rob – they did a great job. That’s what we need. The more depth we have on the team, the better your team will be,” he said.

Gore expects to know more about his playing status by Wednesday or Thursday, but if he has any say, he’ll be in action when the 49ers go again next Sunday in Miami.

“Aw man, I haven’t played at home in four years,” said Gore. “I’m ready. We’ll just take it one day at a time and try to get better, go into Miami, get my 1,000 yards and try to get a win, then bring it back to the West Coast for my fans on the West Coast.”

(49ers.com)

Frank Gore rushed 24 times for 66 yards and caught three passes for 23 yards in Week 13 against the Bills.
The 27 touches are Gore's most since Week 3, but he's produced just 2.4 yards per carry over the past two games and doesn't figure to find much success against the Jets' stout run defense next week. Despite the poor two-game stretch, Gore is on pace for 1,700 total yards on 340 touches as the focal point of Mike Martz's offense.

(rotoworld.com)

With each passing week, the Bay Area turns up the dial on Mike Nolan's hot seat.

On Wednesday, it was New York's turn.

Reporters in the Big Apple asked Frank Gore what it's like to play for a coach with such uncertain job status.

The 49ers' franchise player responded with a strong vote of confidence.

"Coach Nolan is a great head coach and a great guy and I like him a whole lot,'' the running back said.

Nolan is 18-36 since arriving in 2005, and the team's erratic play during a three-game losing streak has led to increasing questions about his employment.

Gore insisted he hasn't heard any such talk and remains a fan both personally and professionally. "I talk to him about more than football,'' he said.
Meanwhile, keeping Gore involved on game days could be the key to Nolan's future. The 49ers haven't gotten him 20 carries since a Week 3 victory over Detroit.

The team is 10-4 in Gore's career when he gets at least 100 yards.

For that reason, the Giants are expecting to see a steady dose Sunday.

"I think what makes Frank Gore a great running back is the fact that you can't pinpoint what type of running back he is,'' Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said. "He's a slasher. He's a downfield runner. He's patient. He's quick. He's elusive.

"He fits just about every category you can say about a running back, but you really can't pinpoint on how you need to attack him. "... He definitely has all of the tools to be a great one."

(mercurynews.com)

SAN FRANCISCO – Frank Gore is not that easy to overlook. This isn't the same Gore who wins peace prizes and quietly runs around trying to save our planet.

The 49ers' Gore runs through people. And around people. And sometimes right past people. At 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds, with a thick neck and wide, compact frame, his rushing style is noisy and muscular, and effective enough to command attention around the NFL.

But early in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles? With the 49ers leading 26-17 and presumably intent on running clock and maintaining momentum? Gore? Earth to Mike Martz, to Mike Nolan. The guy is really good.

Good, but forgotten. Through the first three quarters of Sunday's 40-26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Gore rushed 17 times for 98 yards. He squeezed through holes and busted loose for one impressive 25-yard sprint. On several other occasions he broke tackles and stubbornly lugged defenders along for extra yards. He also provided a balance to the offense, and of no less significance, appeared to have a calming influence on an erratic J.T. O'Sullivan, the former UC Davis and Jesuit standout who is struggling to establish himself as a starting NFL quarterback.

But that fourth-quarter evisceration was swift, inexplicable, stunning. Candlestick Park became so silent, you could almost hear the flights landing at the nearby international airport. Closer to the carnage, Nolan fumbled through his postgame news conference, sounding like a teenager who had just been pulled over for speeding. There was a lot of explaining to do. A lot of explaining.

There was the timeout situation and his two challenges – the first on Donovan McNabb's deep throw to DeSean Jackson and the second on David Akers' 38-yard field goal. There were questions about O'Sullivan's job status (no change yet), and a hint that Nolan's own future will make for some hearty Monday morning chewing. Yet most notable were the inquiries about Gore's mystifying absence during the first two possessions of the final period.

Ignore the NFL's third-leading rusher at the wrong time and this is what happens: O'Sullivan incomplete pass on second down. O'Sullivan sack. Andy Lee punt.

O'Sullivan incomplete pass. O'Sullivan incomplete pass. O'Sullivan pass to Vernon Davis for minus-seven yards. Lee punt.

Gore, who still finished with 101 yards on 19 carries (for a hefty 5.3 yard average), spent most of the closing minutes watching O'Sullivan fumble once and twice throw interceptions, all of which contributed mightily to the Eagles' 23-0 eruption. And none of which was enough to prompt anything controversial out of Gore.

That's never been his style. The 2006 Pro Bowl selection remains the consummate pro, the company man. He runs, he scores, he catches passes. He wants to win, desperately. But he leaves the grumbling to others and the coaching to his coaches.

"I'm just frustrated that we're not finishing," he said afterward, visibly upset. "If we had finished today, we'd win the game. … I'm not the coach and I don't make the calls. We made mistakes and we lost the game. Our coach did what he thought was the best thing for us to get a first down and move the ball."

There were no shots at Martz for favoring the pass, nor at Nolan, who allowed it to happen. Still, no doubt he was wondering what his coaches were thinking. Nolan seemed to distance himself from the offensive woes, dancing around the Where-Was-Gore question and failing to offer anything resembling a detailed response.

"I thought we were moving the ball well the entire game," said Nolan, speaking rapidly. "I thought we had a good mix. I thought we kept them off balance. I thought it was a good plan. … "

Did he really? Sounds like pollution to me.

(sacbee.com)

Nolan took his lumps about his defense Monday and Tuesday but he wasn't shy about mentioning the lopsided time of possession and the lack of action for Frank Gore. Nolan talked about this at his Monday news conference and more stridently on his radio stint Tuesday on KNBR's Morning Show with Murph and Mac.

Along with saying his defense had to stop the opposition on third down, Nolan also said, "The offense needs to stay on the field longer. We were able to run the ball better than we thought we would be able to going into the game. If we had had more opportunity we would have been able to show it."

He's right. I don't see the Patriots enough to know if they use their goofy two-lineman, three-linebacker and six defensive-back alignment all the time. They used it a lot against the 49ers, even against the 49ers' two-receivers looks. This defense is basically begging the 49ers to run. It would be interesting to see if Miami's "wildcat" formation was used against this defense two weeks ago when the Dolphins upset New England. The wildcat puts three (or four receivers out there if you count the quarterback) with a direct shotgun hike to the running back who then takes off. The 49ers used the wildcat once against the Patriots 2-3-6, and Frank Gore gained an easy 7 yards. Why not keep using it until the Patriots prove they can stop it?

(sfgate.com)

The Press Democrat reports 49ers HC Mike Nolan reiterated on Monday the importance of getting the ball in the hands of RB Frank Gore. Up until the 49ers fell behind by two scores and ended the game with 10 consecutive passes, the 49ers called 25 pass plays in the huddle,compared to 12 Gore runs. Gore had just 16 touches in the game, including four pass receptions.

(ffmastermind.com)

FOXBOROUGH - Vince Wilfork and Frank Gore are friends, former University of Miami teammates now playing at a high level in the NFL.

Wilfork said there will be no conversation between the two during this week, what with Wilfork's New England Patriots and Gore's San Francisco 49ers set to meet Sunday on the West Coast.

Wilfork will certainly see his share of Gore come Sunday. But the more significant question is will the nose tackle and his teammates simply catch glimpses of the running back or will they be able to wrap him up - in bear hugs, if you will - more times than not?

The 5-foot-9, 217-pound Gore is averaging 19 carries per game and 4.9 yards per carry for the 49ers, and he also is tied for the team lead with 15 receptions. He has surpassed 1,000 yards rushing in each of the last two seasons.

The fourth-year pro is an incredibly helpful weapon for young quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan not only because he can produce big plays on his own but also because he can help his QB open up the downfield passing game which has been the trademark of offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

"We just need to make sure we wrap him up," Wilfork said. "There are times (on film) when you think they have him, but he pops out. We've just got to be really good about wrapping up people, especially him.

"It starts with stopping the run," he added, "that puts you in good situations."

The Patriots are coming off a dismal defensive performance against the Miami Dolphins, a 38-13 loss. Opponents are converting at a crisp 48 percent on third down, and they are averaging 140 rushing yards per game.

At this point, the 2-1 Patriots are simply a defensive unit coming off a bad performance. If the 49ers are able to find holes and those numbers on third down and in the run game persist another week, however, then the Patriots could start to look like a team with more signficant flaws.

Gore has much more of a track record than O'Sullivan, so the Patriots will undoubtedly try to attack a quarterback who has been sacked 19 times through a 2-2 start.

New England coach Bill Belichick pointed out that O'Sullivan, who spent a short time on the Patriots' practice squad in 2006, is more mobile but less experienced than other quarterbacks such as Kurt Warner and Jon Kitna who have directed offenses for Martz in the past. The former UC Davis QB has completed 61 percent of his passes this season with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

"Athletic, good arm, live arm, can make all the throws, quick feet, can stay alive in the pocket, improvise, make some plays scrambling around," Belichick said when asked about the 6-foot-2, 227-pound O'Sullivan.

"I don't think it was a question of talent or anything else. For us, it was more about opportunity and reps and how many quarterbacks you can work with. He got into a good competitive situation in San Francisco and made the most of it. I think he deserves credit for perseverance."

O'Sullivan, a sixth-year pro with no starts prior to this season, does not look forward to facing a 3-4 defense - three down linemen and four linebackers - and this is one which has stifled many a young quarterback. A 3-4 means there is an extra linebacker in the game, a defender who might rush or might drop into coverage.

"Most quarterbacks will tell you that they don't love the 3-4 because there is extra guy standing up," O'Sullivan said. "Once you've seen it, you understand they are trying to do certain things with their front. We're trying to stuff with our routes and protections. You get a little more comfortable with it, but I think you would rather see seven guys standing up than eight."

(masslive.com)

SAN FRANCISCO - Frank Gore moved into seventh place on the 49ers' all-time rushing list over the weekend.

That's nice, he said.

But hold the champagne.

"I want to be No. 1, you know?'' Gore said. "That would be great."

Anything seemed possible to the running back Monday, a day after another productive game under offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Gore rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 32 yards.

That helped the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 31-13 and top 30 points and 300 yards for a second consecutive game.

"It just seems so easy,'' Gore said.

A year ago, it seemed so hard. Gore fell woefully short after publicly declaring his goal was to break Eric Dickerson's single-season NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards.

He avoided similar proclamations this season - until Monday. In the span of a few minutes, Gore said he wanted the franchise's all-time rushing record, the NFL rushing title and the league lead in total yardage.

Oh, and he wants to be the NFL's best blocking running back, too. Gore managed to say these things without a hint of brashness. He's soft-spoken by nature.

He was just trying to give a sense of how the universe has opened up with the arrival of a new offensive coordinator.

When I talk to Coach Martz, I tell him that,

'Coach, I want to be all I got.' I even asked him if he can help me be the best back in this league,'' Gore said.

He is also delivering as a blocker. Gore and tight end Vernon Davis were called upon to pass protect against the Lions' blitz late in the second quarter. They bought quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan enough time to hit tight end Delanie Walker for a 24-yard touchdown.

"Whoever you're playing against, you have to do all three things - run, catch and block,'' Gore said.

He said he checks the league leaders weekly to see how he stacks up against the NFL's top threats. He noticed, for example, the Dallas Cowboys' Marion Barber rushed for 142 yards Sunday night.

"I thought, 'OK, next week I have to do this,' " Gore said.

(sltrib.com)

Frank Gore moved into seventh place on the 49ers' all-time rushing list over the weekend.

That's nice, he said.

But hold the champagne.

"I want to be No. 1, you know?'' Gore said. "That would be great."

Anything seemed possible to the running back Monday, a day after another productive game under offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Gore rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 32 yards.

That helped the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 31-13 and top 30 points and 300 yards for a second consecutive game.

"It just seems so easy,'' Gore said.

A year ago, it seemed so hard. Gore fell woefully short after publicly declaring his goal was to break Eric Dickerson's single-season NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards.

He avoided similar proclamations this season — until Monday. In the span of a few minutes, Gore said he wanted the franchise's all-time rushing record, the NFL rushing title and the league lead in total yardage.

Oh, and he wants to be the NFL's best blocking running back, too. Gore managed to say these things without a hint of brashness. He's soft-spoken by nature.

He was just trying to give a sense of how the universe has opened up with the arrival of a new offensive coordinator.

"When I talked to Martz before the season, I asked, 'Can you help me be the best back in the league?' '' Gore said.

Heading into play Monday night, Gore led the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 412. (He has 287 rushing yards and 125 receiving yards.)

He is also delivering as a blocker. Gore and tight end Vernon Davis were called upon to pass protect against the Lions' blitz late in the second quarter. They bought quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan enough time to hit tight end Delanie Walker for a 24-yard touchdown.

"Whoever you're playing against, you have to do all three things — run, catch and block,'' Gore said.

He said he checks the league leaders every week to see how he stacks up against the NFL's other top threats. He noticed, for example, that the Dallas Cowboys' Marion Barber rushed for 142 yards Sunday night.

"I thought, 'OK, next week I have to do this,' '' Gore said.

(mercurynews.com)

SANTA CLARA — Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has a number in his mind.

He would like to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers, such as tight end Vernon Davis and receiver Isaac Bruce. But he believes he must get the ball repeatedly to one player, in particular: running back Frank Gore.

Bruce was shut out in his 49ers debut on Sunday, a 23-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, Davis caught three passes for 51 yards, including a 37-yard reception, which is longer than any play in which he was involved last season.

“How much he gets the ball will be predicated on what’s happening offensively in terms of the defensive structures and match-ups,” Martz said Thursday. “If we have the opportunity for him to make a play then we’ll do that, but don’t worry about anybody but Frank on how many touches they get.

“Frank has to touch the ball, He’s got to be one of the very, very elite in this league. We know we have to feature him and find ways of getting him the ball. Isaac and Vernon and all the other guys, they’re all good players and they’ll have their opportunities. But (Gore is) the only guy that you go into a game and say, ‘You know what? This guys needs to touch the ball X amount of times.’ ”

When asked if Martz has a number of plays he wants his running back’s hands on the ball for every game, he answered, “Yes, I do, (but it’s) nothing that I would ever share with you guys.”

Gore figures to be play an integral role against the Seattle Seahawks when the teams meet on Sunday at Qwest Field. Gore has enjoyed two of his top four rushing games against the Seahawks, including a club-record 212-yard performance in 2006.

He opened the season in a big way, rushing for 80 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in the first half against the Cardinals. But in the second half, when Gore usually gets stronger, the 49ers were held to just 14 offensive plays. Gore carried just three times in the second half for 16 yards.

“It was frustrating, coming back out we went over everything we had to do,” Gore said. “It was so frustrating that we couldn’t get back out there. The passing game was starting to open up.”

There should be more opportunities for the passing game to open up against the Seahawks, as clearly their No. 1 goal is to slow down Gore.
“In my mind, if they bring eight men in the box, we’re going to throw the ball,” 49ers quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan said. “That’s the way the majority of offenses would work. I’m all for it.”

Martz generally liked the way the 49ers’ offense worked in the opener, though he did notice that the receivers were lacking some crispness — a possible result of Bryant Johnson, Arnaz Battle and Bruce being held out of so many practices during training camp.

“With our starters together, that was their first outing together and we weren’t always on the same page,” Martz said. “That will get a lot better each week. Having those guys all together, is a big deal.”

Martz said some routes weren’t run properly, as they did not get the proper depth on some of their patterns. Martz said O’Sullivan had a strong game, and shows a good command of the offense. In fact, he said O’Sullivan was not to blame for his interception on a pass intended for Battle.

“We had a broken route,” Martz said. “We didn’t run the right route. The ball was thrown where it needed to be thrown. So obviously that wasn’t his fault.”

Said Battle, “We have to be able to make adjustments on the move. We have to play fast, and everybody has to be thinking the same thing that the quarterback is thinking.”

(pressdemocrat.com)

Last weekend, the San Francisco 49ers opened up the regular season against NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals for the third consecutive year. Unfortunately for San Francisco, for the second time, it's 0-1 to start the season. And again, much like last season, the offense is to blame; this time, the unit didn't do enough during a 23-13 defeat.

Quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan’s first NFL start was nothing to write home about. He completed 70 percent of his passes but turned the ball over three times (two fumbles), was sacked four times, and never seemed comfortable. The 49ers’ offense, under the direction of new coordinator Mike Martz, only mustered 13 points against a Cardinals defense which finished 27th in the NFL last season.

At times, the offense was able to move the ball, but turnovers ultimately killed any momentum it had built up. Remarkably, the Cardinals only scored seven points off five 49er giveaways, four of which the offense was responsible for.

On the bright side for the Niners, third-year linebacker Parys Haralson -- who racked up four tackles and 2 1/2 sacks -- was all over the field. Defensive end Justin Smith, who signed a big-money contract with San Francisco in the offseason, applied constant pressure on Cards QB Kurt Warner; what's more, he was terrific against the run in racking up a game-high seven tackles, including a half-sack.

The one positive on offense was running back Frank Gore. As usual, No. 21 punished the opposing defense, giving 49er fans and coaches alike something good to take from the loss.

Midway through the first quarter, Gore gave the 49ers their only lead of the game, 7-3, when he dashed 41 yards for a touchdown. He finished the game with 151 total yards (96 rushing); unfortunately, most of his teammates didn't join the party.

(realfootball365.com)

Coach Ken Whisenhunt admitted Wednesday that he didn't know much about 49ers running back Frank Gore before the Cardinals played the 49ers last year.

Whisenhunt was in his first season with the Cardinals, and Gore didn't play much last preseason because of a broken hand.

Gore didn't do a lot in the teams' first meeting, which came in the season opener, but he exploded for 116 yards rushing and 98 yards receiving in the second game. He also scored two touchdowns.

"He kind of ripped us up pretty good," Whisenhunt said, "so I said, 'Wow this is why they talk about him the way they do.'

"He's an outstanding football player. The more I see him, the more I understand what a dynamic player he is. He is really somebody you'd better account for, or he's going to really hurt you, whether it's catching the ball out of the backfield or even on the run game."

(azcentral.com)

(08-30) 16:35 PDT -- Frank Gore is as giddy as a kid with a new 160-gig PlayStation 3 with DualShock 3 controller.

He's talking about the new playbook devised by offensive coordinator Mike Martz and an offense that he thinks will take maximum advantage of the 49ers' options.

"I love it, man," he said. "I've got a great feeling about it."

No longer, he feels, will opponents stack the box with everybody but the quality-control guy in their fever to stop the 5-foot-9, 217-pound running back. Last year, the 49ers' passing game worried nobody except the 49ers.

"You can't do that now," he said. "When we played Chicago, you saw guys you never heard of getting open and making good plays. Our second group was going against their best defense and doing what they wanted to to them."

The 49ers scored 37 points that night, their highest total in a preseason game since 1989. That's a sharp contrast to last year when, under coordinator Jim Hostler, the 49ers were last in the NFL in yards per game - nearly 40 yards worse than the second-worst offense.

"It would take us a whole half to cross the 50-yard line," Gore said.

Martz has completely repainted the picture. According to Gore, his offense gives players more flexibility to change their assignments on the fly
depending on what the defense does. "This gives us more options," he said. "It makes the game easy again."

Of course, Martz also walked in the door with instant credibility, based on his track record in St. Louis and Detroit.

"You saw in the past with your own eyes what his offense could do," Gore said. "We've got a new leader on the ship. When he stands up in the room, you know he knows what he's talking about. Everything's going to change this year."

He appreciates that Martz is an equal-opportunity critic in meetings.

"No matter what you have done in this league, he makes you feel like you still have to prove yourself," he said. "If I mess up he's going to get on me. That's what I like about him. He treats everybody the same."

Martz might be able to unleash more options than the 49ers could last year, but the top one remains Gore.

"I haven't seen anything he can't do," Martz said. "He's what we thought he'd be and more. He doesn't make mental errors. ... He's the kind of player to build an offense around."

Gore is an excellent receiver as well as a runner, prompting comparisons to Marshall Faulk, the record-setting all-purpose back for Martz's Rams. Martz said last week it's unfair to compare them; he didn't want to slight either one by doing so.

Then he proceeded to compare them: "They can both catch the ball and they're outstanding runners, but they're just different. Frank is a more physical and powerful back inside, and Marshall is very elusive."

Gore has learned not to set goals based on the accomplishments of other elite players. Shortly after finishing the 2006 season with a franchise-record 1,695 yards, he announced he was taking aim at Eric Dickerson's NFL record of 2,105 yards in 1984.

He barely got halfway, with 1,102 in 2007. He broke his hand in preseason when he caught it in a teammate's pads during a blocking drill. An ankle injury against the Giants in the sixth week forced him to play at "80-85 percent" almost the rest of the season, he said.

The death of his mother, Liz, to kidney disease the second week of the season was an even more devastating and lasting setback.

"It was very tough," he said. "After practice I'd look at my phone and (wouldn't) see a phone call from her. ... I'll never get over it, but I'm getting better."

(sfgate.com)

For Frank Gore, the hardest part of a hard season was checking his cell phone on game days. That's when Mom used to call.

Liz Gore had always checked in with some last-minute coachin g. Remember to do this. You'd better not do that.

"You know, just little things,'' Gore said Monday.

Liz Gore died of kidney failure Sept. 12, 2007. She was 46.

Her son kept checking messages anyway. He couldn't stop. "Even after practice, I look at my phone,'' Gore said.

That was his heartbreak of 2007. There was also frustration: An injured ankle. A lousy offense. A losing season.

Gore made the Pro Bowl as an alternate, but it felt like a letdown.

And now?

Gore is smiling again. He's laughing easily and roaring around the practice field — a happy new year. Gore still misses his mom. "I'm dealing with it. I will never get over it,'' he said. But everything else has him revved up for '08.

Atop his list is new coordinator Mike Martz, who has the offense sing ing in 11-part harmony. The 49ers' 425 yards of total offense against the Chicago Bears last week marked their highest total in an exhibition game since 1996.

"We have a new leader, man, a new leader on the ship,'' Gore said of Martz. "When he stands up in the room, and you hear him talk, you know that he knows what he's talking about. Everything is going to change this year."

Gore said he likes this offense even better than the one Norv Turner ran— the one in which Gore set the 49ers' single-season record with 1,695 yards rushing.

If he prefers Martz's system to Turner's, you can imagine how much better he likes it than Jim Hostler's. Last season, the 49ers looked like they were trying to move a boulder uphill.

"It had to take the whole half to get across the 50-yard line,'' Gore recalled.

Hostler's schemes lacked imagination — but not common sense. At least Hostler was smart enough to get the ball to Gore as often as possible. Gore had 40.5 percent of the 49ers' net offensive yards, the highest percentage in the NFL, according to Stats LLC.

San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson was second at 38.6, and Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook was third at 36.7.

The problem for Gore was that his carries became too predictable. Defensive coordinators, as well as fans, reporters and beer vendors, knew when Gore was going to get the ball. Opponents lined up eight-man fronts and dared the 49ers to pass.

"They can't do that anymore,'' Gore said. "Even when we played Chicago, you saw other guys — guys you never heard of — getting open and making good plays. That's a big thing."

Gore noted that the 49ers racked up 37 points that night even without receivers Arnaz Battle and Bryant Johnson. Plus, he added, Josh Morgan is a rookie still learning how to play in the NFL.

"When everybody is on the same page,'' Gore said, "it's going to be crazy."

With the arrival of Martz, there are frequent comparisons of Gore to Marshall Faulk, the do-everything back who thrived with Martz and the rollicking St. Louis Rams.

Gore is honored by the talk, but said he and Faulk are "two different players, two different guys."

Martz, though, will probably use Gore the same way he used the 2000 MVP.

"Any time you can take somebody like Frank and put him out on the perimeter, or get him one-on-one with someone, that is what you want,'' Martz said. "You want to put Frank in an environment where he can get the ball away from the pack because his open-field running is pretty special."

Even after a so-called down year, Gore trails only Tomlinson and Westbrook in yards from scrimmage since 2006. Gore's 921 receiving yards during that span rank fifth among running backs and his 5.4 yards per touch rank sixth overall, according to Stats LLC.

Gore did all that as a marked man.

So imagine what he can do as a Martz man.

"No matter what you did in this league, Coach Martz can still make you feel like you have to prove yourself,'' Gore said. "That makes you want to play hard. I have a couple of great years in this league, but if I'm messing up, he's going to get on me. That's what I like about him.

"I'm going to be all over the place. I'm going to have fun."

(mercurynews.com)

Every now and then Frank Gore likes to switch roles with the media. If reporters are standing around the locker room, he'll come up and canvass us about what we think of how he played or how the offense is looking. He's interested in outside opinions. Sometimes, he'll stop me in the locker room and ask how he looks. By that, he wants me to say whether I think he looks lighter or heavier than last season. (Answer: lighter). This happened today when Gore walked up to me and Maiocco.

"What do you think?" he said. "About Frank Gore?" I said. "No, about the offense."

I told him that the first half against the Bears is just about as well as I've seen the offense play since I've been covering the team.
Gore asked me how long I've been covering the team and I said since 2003. In hindsight, there was a game in 2003 in which Jeff Garcia and the 49ers beat Arizona 50-14. And last year's game in Arizona was a pretty decent offensive showing, too. But I could tell that Gore agreed with my assessment. He's said in the past that he felt as if a "black cloud" was hanging over him and the 49ers last season. This summer - and today in particularly - he seemed carefree and bouyant, chatting with everyone he passed in the locker room. It sort of symbolized how the team as a whole is feeling right now -- relieved that the offense finally has come together and eager to show it off in the regular season.

I asked Gore whether he was excited about playing the Dolphins this year in his home town. He said he wasn't even thinking about that. I pressed him a little - "Come on, you have to have at least thought about it..." - but he insisted he's not looking ahead this season, a mistake he may have made before the 2007 campaign. Gore said he thought he might play a little Friday against San Diego. Mike Nolan might have another idea. Nolan speaks at 3:45 p.m. today ...

(sacbee.com)

It was a great trip to Chicago, especially going up there and getting a W. The offense moved the ball very well against what is supposed to be a very good defense, and I felt good about that.

My legs felt a bit tired in the game, a little heavy. I don’t know if it was the quick trip and all of the flying but I was a bit tired. I felt that my eyes were good. I was seeing things well and my linemen were blocking very well and I was getting the rock and getting some runs. I just want to get my legs fresh this week. I might have to get in the cold tub some this week.

We got to our hotel about 10 on Wednesday night. Vernon, Delanie, Moran, Thomas and I went a few blocks over to get something quick to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. On Thursday I slept in and then hit the Louis Vuitton store and picked out some shoes, got me a little nap, ate the pregame meal and got ready for the game. It was a quick trip.

I went straight to the hotel when we landed from Chicago. Coach cancelled the meetings we were going to have on Friday and since it was the day we got to break camp, some guys just went on home. Since we didn’t get there until after 4am, I figured I’d just go ahead and sleep there for a few hours because I was so tired. So, I got up around 11 and then went ahead and moved my stuff home at that point.

I am very happy to break camp. Camp is the same all the time, you go to work, come back to the hotel for lunch and a short break, go back to work, eat dinner, go to meetings and then maybe have an hour left before curfew. You get very small windows to be out in the real world, and other than that, it’s all football and all of your time is planned out for you. 

This training camp was a whole lot better for me, on the field and off the field. Last year I didn’t get to do anything because I broke my hand. That was frustrating, plus everything with my mom was so tough. So, this year was much better. I came in at a great weight, had a good camp, and am excited about the offense.

The highlight of camp for me was messing with Vernon. From his hair falling out to just messing with him if he got frustrated over making a mistake on the field, it was funny. You can get him mad to where he wants to fight you, but then you start laughing and he knows you are just giving him a hard time. That’s my boy right there. That dude is funny.

So it’s good to be out of camp, and to be back home. Plus, it means the season is almost here, which is the best part for me. I’m excited about the season, especially after the way we played the last two weeks. The offense has put up a lot of points and I’m excited about the way we have moved the ball up and down the field.

Friday afternoon I watched one of the football games – Dallas and Houston – and I saw it come across the ticker that J.T. O’Sullivan was our starter. I kind of figured that just because he had started all three preseason games, and the third game is always a key one. So, that’s when you pretty much knew who it was going to be. I felt like all three quarterbacks competed very hard, but I think J.T. had a little jump on them because he had been with Coach Martz the year before. So, whoever Martz and the coaches feel is the best guy, I’m with it. But I definitely think that with any of them, we’ve got a great chance to win because I think they can all do the job.

We came back in on Saturday for a walk-thru, meetings and then an afternoon practice. It was a good day and nice to have the quarterback situation settled. I decided to go out on Santana Row last night and cheat on my diet and eat whatever I wanted to eat, but it’s right back on today. I’ve got a chef who drops off healthy food for me, so that’s what I’ll eat on this day off.

I was hoping to get to watch the Raiders/Cardinals game but I guess it was blacked out. Hopefully they’ll have it on sometime today. Otherwise, I’m sure we’ll get the film soon so we can start checking out Arizona since that’s our first game.

We have today off, so I’m just going to relax most of the day and get ready for Monday and another week of preseason play. I don’t know how much they’ll let me play this last game against San Diego. I’ll work hard during the week and be ready and if they don’t let me go, I’ll run a bunch of sprints before the game and get some good work in. It’s always good to talk to LaDainian Tomlinson. I’m always competing against other guys in the league so I’m sure we’ll challenge each other this year to see who does the best. I think if you are a true competitor you should always do that. And, I believe I’m a true competitor.

Thanks for reading my camp diaries. I’ll have one more next week to wrap up the preseason, so check it out.

(49ers.com)

Backup tailback DeShaun Foster didn't make the trip with the 49ers. Instead, he flew to Los Angeles to be with his family following the death of his grandfather.

As a result, Frank Gore had more carries than normal (8 for 51 yards) in a couple of impressive early drives. He said he hasn't felt this good about the offense "in a long time."

(sfgate.com)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — These are supposed to be the dog days of NFL training camp, but San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore must not have received the memo.

Gore is having a blast in the summer heat, learning new offensive coordinator Mike Martz's high-voltage scheme. What's more, he's just happy that the 2007 season is behind him.

"It's very fun," Gore said after Wednesday morning's practice. "Last year was tough on the field and also off the field. I'm a stronger man, especially with accepting and dealing with the passing of my mom."

A year ago, Gore still had a cast on his right hand protecting a bone he broke on the second day of training camp. He didn't play a single down during the exhibition season.

Things only got worse.

Four days before the 49ers' Week 2 game against the St. Louis Rams, Gore's mother, Liz, died at 46 after a long battle with kidney disease. After watching her go to dialysis since his junior year in high school, her death hit Gore extremely hard.

On the field, there was more bad news.

A nagging ankle injury plagued Gore for most of the season and cost him one game. As the losses mounted and the 49ers offense continued to rank at the bottom of the NFL charts, Gore's frustration grew.

"It was a tough year, man, a very tough year," Gore said.

This year, though, could be a big turnaround for him. In Martz's scheme, Gore will play the multi-dimensional role that Marshall Faulk played when the Rams boasted the Greatest Show on Turf.

"I think it's going to exploit the versatility he has and the things he's able to do," 49ers wide receiver Arnaz Battle said. "Running the ball, trick plays, mismatch opportunities. He has a great opportunity in this offense to do a lot of the things Marshall Faulk did for a lot of years."

Gore had a breakout year in 2006, rushing for a team-record 1,695 yards and catching 61 passes for 485 yards. Last year he rushed for just 1,102 yards while catching 53 passes for 436 yards.

But with Martz calling the shots on offense, Gore's numbers should improve.

"When Coach Martz came in, he told me the more I understand what he's trying to do, the more I'll like it," Gore said. "I see it. I see it. It's going to be fun this year."

Gore should be better prepared to hit the ground running when the regular season begins. Unlike last year, Gore has been able to practice full-speed, and he's getting some game action, too.

According to coach Mike Nolan, Gore should play as much as a quarter Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers.

(honoluluadvertiser.com)

Last time I checked in had just gotten up to Napa. It was tough up there against the Raiders because you couldn’t really hit or take people to the ground, and you want to do that when it’s a different team.

I think they have a pretty good defense in Oakland but I think our offense is going to be very high powered. Coach Martz, just being around him the last couple of months, I like him a whole lot. I think he’s a great leader, and if I think we have a great leader, I’m willing to follow him.

Coach Nolan did give us a practice off when we got back from Napa. I think he knew we needed some time to get our bodies back, and feeling good. Even though we couldn’t hit full-go, it was two physical practices against them. So, he cancelled practice and we went to the movies, and I fell sleep before it even started. I woke up for one part when Batman and the Joker were falling off a building. I don’t know if one died or not because I went right back to sleep.

I think we had one night off from meetings last week too, but I don’t remember when it was. I used my time to stop by and check on things at my house and that was it.

The Raiders game on Friday night was okay.

They told me the most I was going to get was 8 plays, and at least 3. It was three and out, so I had to get off the field after only three plays.

The first carry was a pretty good run. I almost came out of there, and I wish I would have because then I would have felt better about getting out of the game. The 3rd and 1 ticked me off because you always want to get those short yards and move the chains. Plus, if I had gotten the first down we could have kept going and I probably could have gotten more reps.

I was kind of upset because I wanted to play more. When you are in uniform and your team is going against an opponent, you are hyped up and you want to play. It’s fun and I love the game so it was tough not to be out there longer, but I understand it is just preseason and we have a long year.

I thought with the ones we did pretty good. I really believe it’s going to be a great year and we are going to have fun. We just have to see who our quarterback is going to be and then get ready to roll for what I truly believe is going to be a great year.

I won’t put my personal goals out there anymore, but I do hope to have a big year. Usually if I do well I reward myself with something nice. After my Pro Bowl year, I bought myself a Bentley. Last year, I didn’t do anything because it was a tough year, very rough.

It was good to have the day off on Saturday, but yet I was bored. I went to sleep, watched some of the Bills preseason game against the Redskins and then Moran Norris and I went to grab Applebees since it was close by. I have been on this real health kick for a while now so I’m very careful about what I eat. I don’t eat much bad food these days and since I feel so good from this diet, I think it’s important to just stick with it.

After dinner we went back to the room and I just fell asleep. I thought about going home, but I was afraid I’d fall asleep there and I wasn’t going to make my teammates have to run because of me. If you miss curfew, everyone has to run.

I also caught some of the Cardinals game the other night, but it wasn’t the one’s. I don’t watch as much preseason or check out the stats too much because guys aren’t really playing right now. When the real deal gets going, I track everything and I like to know how guys and teams around the league are doing.

I just want to keep learning this offense. I keep saying the more comfortable you are with the offense, the more productive you’ll be. I’m getting to the point where I hear the quarterback call the play and I just know it. I don’t have to think too much.

One of the funny things about training camp is that Vernon Davis has been losing at least one dred every day at practice. We keep finding them out on the field so we’re trying to get him to go on and cut them off. Zak Keasey has them too, but his are alright. They are thick and strong and he’ll have to cut them off eventually, but Vernon’s are just coming out. It’s crazy and we are really trying to get him to just get rid of them.

We’ve got practice this afternoon and I’m ready to go now. My body didn’t take too many hits the other night, but my calves were stiff yesterday from jumping up on my toes during the game. Anytime I get excited, I jump up and down on my tip-toes and man I was a little stiff.

But, I like to study my plays and then go practice them right away. That’s how I learn the best. Since I’ve been studying the last day and a half, I’m really to check my progress by getting outside on the field later this afternoon.

(49ers.com)

Not much going on in Santa Clara Tuesday, just a single special teams practice in the late afternoon. So, with all the negativity surrounding the 49ers' offense and their passing game, we thought we might try to lift some spirits and turn to Frank Gore.

This is the the best shape I've seen him in. He said he dropped 10 pounds and he said he weighs about 214. He's never had the cut physique of a Vernon Davis, but gone is last year's baby fat. I don't blame him for that. Last year was one of the toughest of his life. He lost his mother, Liz, in September and then good friend Sean Taylor later in the season. He wanted to gain over 2,000 yards and he barely made half of that with 1,102 yards. He also saw his yards per carry drop from 5.4 in 2006 to 4.2 last year. He battled through a sprained ankle for most of the season and had to watch opportunities disappear while the offense put together the most three-and-outs of any team in the league.

Gore has the type of personality where he blames much of last year's offensive woes upon himself. So this year he decided to take a different approach. He's doing everything future Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk is telling him to do.

"I talked to him three of four times," Gore said. "Before training camp he told me some things."

The first was to get down to 212 pounds, the same weight Faulk was when he was the centerpiece of the Rams' offense under Mike Martz. He told Gore to run after practice every day. Gore does that. And he said to pepper Martz with questions and Gore is complying there too.

The mimick of Faulk is going well. Gore looks like a more polished receiver and he's darting into holes with razor-like cuts.

Martz is likely to use Gore differently than Faulk - more running and less pass receiving. Martz is also likely to do everything he can to get defenses from loading up against Gore by using three- and four-receiver sets and lots of motion.

Maybe Gore does rush for 2,000 yards, just a year later than he anticipated.

(sfgate.com)

SANTA CLARA – Step aside, Jenny Craig. Frank Gore has a weight-loss routine that's guaranteed to shed the pounds.

If it doesn't kill you first.

The 49ers tailback, who weighed about 225 pounds during June practices, returned a month later 10 pounds lighter and looking far more fluid. His secret? It involves a truck tire, a length of rope, a steep hill and a murderous Miami summer during which the heat index sometimes soars past 110 degrees.

Kyle Wright, the 49ers' No. 4 quarterback and a former teammate of Gore's at Miami, said he and other Hurricane players would run the same hill in that city's Tropical Park to prepare for the college season.

"It's probably the tallest hill in Miami, and it's not very tall," Wright said. "But it's long and gradual. It's about 180 yards. It levels off and gets a little steeper at the end. It's tough."

While the Miami players might run the hill 14 times in a day and always run up the gradual side, Gore runs it from the opposite – and steeper – side. And he does it 25 times per session … while dragging a truck tire … that's progressively filled with weights.

He has had the same grueling summer routine since high school, and he still commandeers some of his former high school coaches to help him train.

What some people might consider torture, Gore, 25, finds therapeutic. Indeed, everything associated with football – from weight training to watching film – is welcome routine for Gore. Football is his sanctuary.

And that was the problem last season. Gore had no escape.

His terrible year began on the second day of training camp when he broke a bone in his hand. In Week 7, he twisted his ankle, an injury that slowed him for most of the remainder. In between came the hardest jolt, the death of his mother, Liz, who had been everything to him – best friend, inspiration, confidante.

Even on the football field, there was no safe haven.

Runs that Gore routinely ripped for 25-yard gains in 2006 were bottled up in 2007. The 49ers' offense was dull and unimaginative. If the 49ers needed a crucial yard, everyone – the fans, the media and especially the opponent – knew they would try to get them by sending Gore off the left guard.

He finished the season with a respectable 1,102 rushing yards. But his average run dropped to 4.2 yards from 5.4 the year before. His rushing touchdowns fell from eight to five, and he crossed the goal line only twice after Week 2.

"It was tough because, one, the situation with my mom," Gore said. "Then nothing was going right on the field. We kept losing, losing, losing. We couldn't get in a zone running the ball or passing the ball. It was like a black cloud was over us. Nothing would go right. Especially for me."

Coach Mike Nolan, who lost his father last season, sometimes would be working late at his office and find his running back at his door.

Said Nolan: "He was frustrated with his injuries, and he was frustrated with us losing as I would expect any good player to be."

This summer, there's a sense that the black cloud has lifted.

The plodding offense from 2007 is being replaced with a more wide-open attack that offensive coordinator Mike Martz is building around Gore in the same way he built his Rams offenses around Marshall Faulk.

Said Martz: "We use him everywhere we can in the running game, of course, and in the passing game, we'll use him everywhere possible – as a deep threat, as a short threat, as a crossing threat."

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the change is to look at who's leading the way for Gore.

Last year, his lead blocker was fullback Moran Norris, a 252-pounder with boulder-like shoulders who is most effective smashing things straight on. This summer, Zak Keasey – who weighs 15 pounds less than Norris – has gotten most of the first-team repetitions. Martz said Keasey is better at working his way through traffic to deliver blocks. And he's also able to stay ahead of Gore on running plays that stretch wide to the right or left.

"It's tough," Keasey said of blocking for Gore. "You've got to get out there and get off the ball quick. You definitely have to be moving out there when he's behind you."

Gore also wants to answer Martz's challenge.

He said he reported to training camp seven pounds lighter – 215 – than he did last season. And aside from the hill work, which is designed to build power and explosion, he spent hours weaving in and out of cones to improve his quickness.

He also worked on his hands.

While in Miami, he grabbed former Jaguars and Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich, who also was working out in South Florida, and ran as many routes as he could. When that session ended, he went home and had a younger cousin throw him more passes until the sun went down.

"I've got moves. I've got power," Gore said. "I feel I have the whole package. Whatever they want me to do, I can do it. I just have to keep working."

(sacbee.com)

Veteran running back Frank Gore will check in throughout the 2008 Training Camp with his Camp Diary. Enjoy finding out how things of gone for the 49ers starting back in his first entry!

We started camp on Friday and for that first practice, I was very tired, but since then, it’s been good. I feel the more you learn and the more you know, the better camp is for you.
We are all still learning this offense, but I think it's coming along and I feel that I’m picking it up pretty good so far. We just have to keep working at it and following the captain of our boat in Mike Martz. I think if we do just what he says and keep studying and staying in the books, we’ll be one of the best teams in the league.

The first couple of days everybody is always happy and flying around and that’s good to see. For me, I’m very happy this year just to be out there with my guys. Last year I was frustrated because I broke my hand and then my mom was in the hospital. It was a frustrating year for everyone, but for me it was that way from the start because of the injury in camp and everything else.

I try not to think too much about last year though. I trained very hard this off-season and I’m at my fighting weight, and just happy to be out there with my guys, and happy that my body feels good.

I’ve made mistakes here and there but so far I feel like I’m coming along and that I’m doing what I need to so that I’ll be ready for the season. The line is doing a good job for me. Everybody is learning, but they’re pretty good.

I am doing new things this year, but one play that is my favorite is where I’m running a route out of the slot. I usually have a linebacker who comes over top on me and then I just read off what they do to figure out which way I want to go. Sometimes it’s Patrick Willis, sometimes it’s Jeff Ulbrich covering me, it all depends on the defense, and I feel like I should be able to beat a linebacker every time. That’s just me.

If I do mess up in practice, I try to figure out how to do better the next time. I’ll talk to Coach Nate (Tony Nathan) and find out what he thinks I should do. I’m more familiar with him now, and so I am starting to ask him more questions. I also go ask DeShaun Foster to see what he thought I should have done because he’s been in this league for a while. We’ve got a bunch of great guys in our room and they all help out.

Speaking of my guys, MRob went down in practice today and he’s a big player on our team, so of course you worry for a minute. We need him. In the NFL, the healthier teams are, the better they are. I think he was just more scared when it happened, but I think he’ll be alright.

I think I’m a bit different than some guys when it comes to camp. A lot of guys rush home to sleep, but I can’t ever take naps between practices. I don’t know why, but I just can’t. It works for me though because I always feel better in the afternoon practice than I do in the morning for some reason. By the afternoon I always have more of that “I’m ready to go.”

The fans also help give me that excitement about practice when they are here watching, because they really make you want to go out there and practice hard. I think about all of the struggles since I’ve been here, and they’ve still been true fans. So, when they call your name during practice I try to nod and wave at them to let them know I hear them and I appreciate it. It’s been three rough years since I have been here with the losing and they have still been here with us. You’ve got to try and give things back to them.

I don’t really like to get in the cold tub much either. I haven’t gotten in at all yet, although I did get in the hot tub this morning finally. I kind of wait until I feel that my legs aren’t fresh at all. That’s when I get in the cold tub. But, I’ve been feeling good so far. You know, I’m a young guy.

My routine usually after the morning practice is to take a shower here, weigh myself, go home, look over the plays, come back and watch film up until the second practice. After the second practice I run on the treadmill. Coach Carlisle has me doing a bunch of different  things in there to get some extra cardio. I talked to Marshall Faulk and that’s one of the things he told me – just to stay in the best shape so that I can be ready for this offense and do more.

It’s a lot of longs day during training camp. We start early and don’t usually wrap up our meetings until about 9:45 at night. After that I study my playbook back in my room, watch television until it’s time to go to bed, usually by midnight.

My television habits are basically ESPN only. It’s all basically been about Brett Favre lately, and that’s about it. But I like to know what’s going on in the NFL.

Coach cancelled practice this afternoon which took us by surprise. We signed autographs instead, which was another chance to give back to the fans.

We’ve got meetings now tonight and then tomorrow morning we’ll be in pads. As long as I touch the rock and get my reads down pat and get the feel with my o-linemen, I will be alright for the season, and with pads on, you get a better read for running the ball out there. So, I’ll be looking forward to it in the morning.

6. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens. On an offense that can only run the ball, McGahee was the runner. He is a versatile rusher who can attack the edges as well as take on defenders between the tackles.

7. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers. Gore has carried his team in recent seasons and established himself as one of the league's premier backs with little help. With Mike Martz in the fold as the Niners' offensive coordinator, look for Gore to become a force once again as a dual threat runner and receiver.

12. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins. Another back who is a tremendous fit for the zone-blocking scheme. Portis is a power runner with the vision and cutback ability to find daylight and get to and through linebackers.

14. Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals. Although James is on the downside of his career, he is still a productive runner who will benefit from the run-first mentality in Arizona.

Click here to see the rest of the rankings.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the 49ers intend to give running back Frank Gore 25 touches a game: at least 20 carries and five receptions.





(fantasyfootballchamps.com)

Here is more of the Mike Martz interview I have been s ... t ... r ... e ... t ... c ... h ... i ... n ... g out over the past week. And yes, I've noticed that when Martz talks about his new offensive players he sounds like a proud papa reaching for his wallet to show you his beautiful babies. And yes, Martz had many gushing things to say two years ago about his offensive weapons on the Detroit Lions. But I think the bottom line is that over spring practices Martz was pleasantly and genuinely surprised by what he has to work with in San Francisco. The talent level here certainly is better than No. 32, which is where the offense ranked last season.

The key in this segment is what Martz says about Frank Gore's ability to learn his system. Remember, Gore had a low-low Wonderlic score entering the draft, and teams worried about his dyslexia almost as much as they did his surgically repaired knees. Learning the playbook, however, never has been an issue for Gore since joining the 49ers.

Q: Did anything surprise you about Frank Gore during minicamp and OTAs? MM: "He's a one-time guy. You tell him once and he has it. That's really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He's a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways, if you will. So, no, he's been outstanding with that. Usually guys who have been featured runners with a limited exposure, it's hard for them. He's not been that way at all. We've been able to put him out there has a wideout, we've motioned him outside, we've used him in a variety of ways. He's retained it, done an exceptional job with it and just really learns quick. The other thing I didn't realize until I saw him in person is how explosive he is when he runs the football. He has a gear he gets to - you blink and he's in it. He's a special player, there's no question about it. He's an elite player in this league. I'm just so excited to have him."

Q: A lot of people think he's going to be Marshall Faulk. Is that accurate? MM: "I don't think that's right to say. I think Marshall's Marshall, Frank is Frank. Frank has his own skill set. Frank is Frank. There are things that we'll play to that are really strengths of his."

Q: Running between the tackles? MM: "Well, anywhere. He's got that speed and explosiveness. He does it all. He really does. He's a physical guy that you can hammer or you can use him as a perimeter guy. So, I don't think I'd put a limitation on what he can do, really. It will be kind of fun to see."

(sacbee.com)

In his three seasons in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers’ Frank Gore has established himself as one of the premier all-around running backs in the league. Gore is equally adept at catching passes out of the backfield as he is breaking free for long runs.

Gore may not have had the numbers in 2007 that backs like LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Willie Parker and Brian Westbrook amassed, but he is definitely one of the game's top offensive threats out of the backfield. A testament to his versatility lies in the fact that Gore led the 49ers in receptions and rushing yards last season.

That’s why what Gore did on Monday is even more impressive. He went to one of the most prolific running backs in the history of the NFL and asked for advice on how to be a more productive member of Mike Martz’s offense.

Gore asked all-everything Marshall Faulk for some pointers on how he can more quickly adjust to Martz’s offensive schemes. After all, who better to solicit advice from than a man who is a future Hall of Famer and who had some of his best success under Martz in St. Louis? Faulk is a guy who won a Super Bowl, won the league’s MVP award, was a three-time league offensive MVP and set the NFL single-season record for most yards from scrimmage with 2,429.

Here are some of the things Faulk told Gore:

• Always work on things you don’t understand. Don’t just take people’s evaluation, but try to understand why you may not be as good at certain aspects of the game. If someone says that you aren’t as strong of an inside runner, try to understand why you aren’t and work on improving that part of your game.
• I always looked at myself as a football player -- not a running back, not a receiver, but a football player. So when Martz would ask me if I could do something, I would say, ‘I don’t know, but I’ll try.’ Whatever he asks you to do, try your best to get it done.
• Be there for your quarterback. Be the bail-out guy. You’re the last line of defense for your quarterback in the passing game. You can either be the key block that protects him or get open out of the backfield.

Meanwhile, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis heaped praise on Gore.

“Between myself, Edgerrin, Willis and Frank, I always thought Frank was the best of all of us,” Portis, Gore's former University of Miami teammate, admitted. “I’m big on myself, but I always loved Frank’s attitude and willingness to learn. If you look at Frank’s freshman year and my junior year, Frank and I kind of latched onto each other. Anytime Frank got in a game as a freshman, he would go in there and have a spectacular run.”

That is pretty strong praise when you are talking about backs like McGahee. But Gore was in line to be the starter at tailback for Miami in the spring of 2002 ahead of McGahee before he tore his ACL. James has also done pretty well for himself in his NFL career. Portis has established himself as the go-to offensive weapon with the Redskins.

Portis said that Gore’s willingness to listen to Faulk is a testament to his work ethic and positive attitude. If he takes that advice from Faulk and applies it to his already established positive attributes, 2008 might be a special season for Gore in San Francisco.

(realfootball365.com)

SANTA CLARA - Marshall Faulk was at 49ers practice Tuesday in his new role with the NFL Network. But the former St. Louis Rams running back was treated more like a visiting coach than a reporter.

Several 49ers, including running back Frank Gore, drifted to Faulk's side during the morning practice, and Faulk was not stingy about with advice for his former division rival.

"I don't call it tutoring," Faulk said of his relationship with Gore. "We just talk football. Frank's a polished athlete. We talk football, and I try to have conversations with him just about the game in general."

Gore's ability to learn to protect the quarterback in new coordinator Mike Martz's offense - which sends many receivers downfield, leaving the quarterback exposed - is the most critical factor for him, Faulk said. Martz's Detroit Lions team, for example, allowed 54 sacks last year and 63 in 2006.

Faulk said Gore's experience in pass protection is nothing like the responsibility he will shoulder this season under Martz, St. Louis' former coach and offensive coordinator.

"Whether (a sack) was his fault or not, you wouldn't know," Faulk said. "In this offense, you're going to know when Frank's guy is the guy and he missed him."

He also predicted Gore wouldn't be featured as prominently as a receiver as Faulk was when he joined the Rams in 1999. Faulk already had had plenty of experience in that role with his first team, the Indianapolis Colts.

"I know a lot of people, including myself, are wondering ... how is that going to work? Because Frank seems like a one-dimensional back," Faulk said. "But I think he hasn't been used in that way, and Mike is going to bring him along slowly."

(sacbee.com)

He'll be working for his fourth offensive coordinator in four years, but what's that mean for Frank Gore? Gore became the first rookie in 15 years to lead the 49ers in rushing under Mike McCarthy in 2005, became a Pro Bowl starter the next year under Norv Turner, then had another productive season last year under Jim Hostler. But now that Mike Martz is in charge, Gore says the best is yet to come.

Gore admitted this spring that it's not the optimum situation for a running back of his pedigree and skill to have to start over again and learn a new offensive system with a new coordinator, which is something Gore has had to do in each of his four seasons since entering the NFL with the 49ers.

But there is starting over, and then there is starting over with a guy such as Martz running the show.

"It's tough," Gore said. "But working with a guy who's had a lot of success in this league, that's been a head coach in this league, it make you really want to work for him and listen to him. Because you know that he really knows what's going on."

Gore, like most of San Francisco's offensive players, never had that feeling last year with Hostler, who was unable to build upon - or even maintain, for that matter - the momentum the offense carried into 2007 after a year of rising promise under Turner's direction. Instead, the San Francisco attack took a nosedive south, finishing last in the NFL in eight offensive categories with historically bad numbers.

But while the 49ers were finishing last in the NFL in total offense, last in scoring and last in the eyes of analysts everywhere, Gore was quietly fighting through an ankle injury that forced him to miss one game and hampered him in others to assemble a fine season - particularly considering he was the only thing the offense really had going right for it the entire year and truly was a marked man every time he stepped on the field.

Gore doesn't see that happening now that Martz is at the controls.

"I mean, this is going to be a fun offense," Gore said. "We're going to be spreading the ball around. We have a lot of sets, doing two backs, motion everybody out, we go empty (backfield). This year, we won't see eight, nine men in the box no more. I like it like that, you know?

Yes, Frank, we know.

Even with defenses stacked to stop him with multiple defenders crowding the line because they had absolutely no respect for San Francisco's anemic passing game, Gore still finished fifth in the NFC with 1,102 yards rushing last year, averaging a respectable 4.2 yards a pop. He also led the 49ers in receptions with 53 and produced 1,538 yards from scrimmage.

This came a year after Gore had captured the attention of defensive coordinators throughout the NFL with a breakout 2006 season during which he led the NFC with a franchise-record 1,695 yards rushing and led the 49ers with a career-high 61 receptions.

With the progress both he and the offense made during Turner's one season as 49ers offensive coordinator - Turner left the team in February of last year to become head coach of the San Diego Chargers - Gore boldly stated goals of challenging for NFL records and breaking the 2,000-yard rushing barrier in 2007.

After the humbling experience of last season in Hostler's extremely rocky debut as a NFL coordinator, Gore uses no numbers in talking about his goals this season. But that's not to say his goals aren't big.

"I don' t want to put no numbers out there," Gore said. "I just want to go out there, have fun, play hard and try to win some games, hopefully go back to the Pro Bowl. And that's what this offense is about. It's going to be a fun offense."

And, just like he has been in the past two incarnations of San Francisco's offense, Gore will be the main man in that attack.

"The potential to build that offense around Frank Gore is pretty exciting," Martz said. "He's really a complete player, and that's hard to find in this league anymore. I think you can put him as the centerpiece and build around that."

Gore looked like the centerpiece during the 49ers' spring minicamp earlier this month, lining up as the single back in a variety of formation and slashing through the line with the ball cradled in his chest.

But that was just the half of it. Gore also could be seen going in motion to leave an empty backfield, lining up in the slot and in wing positions along the line, and even splitting out wide in some formations.

In other words, he's not just going to be a running back in the Martz offense. He's also going to be a pass-catcher.

And Gore, for one, is all for that.

"I'm touching the ball more in the passing game and getting out in the slot running routes and showing people I can run routes, showing them I can catch the ball very well running routes out of the backfield," Gore said. "People don't know I can do that. It's going to be a surprise to a lot of people."

The natural comparison observers make is that Gore is Martz's new version of Marshall Faulk, and naturally that's all right with Gore. Gore already has spoken with Faulk several times, with Faulk offering Gore help any time he needs it, even saying he was willing to meet up with Gore when Gore is training at the 49ers facility in California or at his home in Miami.

Gore is soaking up whatever tips he can get from Faulk, because that's the prototype for the position he's now playing.

"(Martz) will use me in the same way," Gore said. "All the success that he's had with other guys, like Marshall … I want to be a guy that one day (Martz) can go tell other people that he once coached Frank Gore."

(sfo.scout.com)

The Sacramento Bee reports San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore went through the minicamp weighing 224 pounds, about 12 pounds above his playing weight. Gore said he plans on losing that weight over the next month in his hometown of Miami, where his workout regimen includes sprinting up hills while pulling a truck tire.

(ffmastermind.com)

The Associated Press reports San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore is excited about the look of the new offense led by offensive coordinator Mike Martz. "We're spreading the ball around, and hopefully this year we won't see eight, nine men in the box every play. I think I'll get used in the passing game, too. I want to show I can do it all - run, catch, block. People think I'm just a running back," Gore said.

(kffl.com)

SANTA CLARA -- When Mike Martz was hired as 49ers offensive coordinator, many believed the hiring would be bad news for running back Frank Gore.

Gore heard the same things. But all it took was a conversation with Marshall Faulk to convince him otherwise.

Gore said he is excited about the possibilities in the new offense. After all, Martz has already proclaimed Gore will be the centerpiece of the offense -- just like Faulk was during Martz's time with the St. Louis Rams.

"I think I'll touch the ball more in the passing game," Gore said Saturday during the 49ers' mandatory three-day minicamp. "I just want to show that I can do it all, that I'm a complete running back."

Gore has done a pretty good job of displaying his versatility in his two seasons as the 49ers' full-time starter. In addition to rushing for 2,797 yards, Gore also led the team in receptions the past two seasons with 61 and 53 catches.

Faulk told Gore that playing for Martz will be a challenge. Running backs have to learn everything about the offense -- from all the reads on pass routes to the detailed blocking assignments. Gore said he expects to line up in the slot as a receiver on occasion, something he has rarely done in his career.

Faulk, who works as an analyst on the NFL Network in Southern California, gave Gore his cell phone number and offered to travel to the Bay Area -- or Southern Florida -- to help Gore with the offense.

Gore said he stayed in the Bay Area for the past two months to get a head start on learning Martz's offense. After the minicamp concludes today, Gore plans to return to his home in Miami to resume his training.

After rushing for 1,695 yards in his first season as the starter, Gore stated his goal last season was to rush for more than 2,000 yards. Although he ranked sixth in the NFL in yards from scrimmage, Gore was stopped well short of his goal with 1,102 rushing yards.

This season, his sights are set to a more realistic level.

"My goal is to have fun and play as best I can," Gore said. "I want to play hard and try to win some games."

While the competition at quarterback continues between Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan, Gore seems certain of one thing: Whoever wins the job will be capable of preventing offenses from keying on the run game.

"I like that we'll be spreading the ball around," Gore said. "We're going to be more of a passing team, so I won't be facing eight or nine guys in the box."

Q: How is Frank Gore going to play a factor in you style of offense? Can he be as effective out of the back field as Marshal Faulk was for you in St. Louis and do you plan on using the running game as much as it has been in the past years?

A: We just have to make sure that Frank has a lot of touches in every game, whether we throw it to him or hand it to him. Some weeks he might have more carries, and some weeks he might get more catches. To compare anyone to Marshall is almost unfair. Frank has his own style, and I wouldn’t compare Frank to anybody. He has his own way of receiving and running. He’s very unselfish. He’s a very violent and physical runner and yet he has the jump cut and quickness that Marshall has. The difference between Marshall and Frank is that Frank can carry the load 25-30 times a game. Marshall can too, but Frank is a very stout and physical player. Marshall was a lot more slight and he could take those amount of carries, but we would have exposed him to potential injuries. I’m just excited for the competitiveness and the ability that Frank has. When I first met him, I was taken aback by what an engaging personality he has and I can see why this team has so much respect for him as a man and a player.

(sf49ers.com)

Much like last season, this off-season started off a little rocky for 49ers running back Frank Gore. Going home to Miami when the season ended has always brought an ear to ear grin for Gore, but returning back to Florida this year is when it finally hit home that his beloved mother Liz, who had succumbed to a long and hard fought kidney disease prior to the 49ers week two game last year against St. Louis was truly gone.

“The season kept my mind busy last year, but it was really tough once I was staying back at the house and I’d sit there remembering so much stuff,” said Gore. “When she was sick, I’d lay in the bed with her and we’d just talk about everything. I just miss being with her and talking to her and seeing her be so happy just because I was home. So, that was really tough, but I just have to stay strong and try to get better at dealing with it.”

Gore has also been dealing with recovery from last year’s high ankle sprain, one that likely would have shelved most players, but the 2006 NFC leading rusher had already missed training camp and the preseason with a broken hand. He allowed himself to rest the ankle only one game in 2007, and then gutted it out and became only the fifth player in team history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons with 1,102 rushing yards.

“It was tough every week with people grabbing it,” said Gore. “After the games, the painkillers went away and I could barely walk, but it was a tough year for everybody. I love the game and my team, and I just wanted to keep fighting with them.”

Even after a month of rest, the ankle was still sore when he began his off-season training at Perfect Competition. Eventually the soreness wore off and Gore was able to benefit from working with other top NFL athletes including Anquan Boldin, Plaxico Burress and Fred Taylor. Click here to continue reading...