Gore's Camp Diary, Raiders

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)