Gore's chore: Carry 49ers

SANTA CLARA — Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye brought a little perspective to the 49ers’ quarterback resolution.

In the grand scheme of things, it did not matter whether Shaun Hill or Alex Smith won the starting job. The focal point of the team’s offense was not going to change, Raye said Tuesday.

“This deal is 21,” said Raye, referring to running back Frank Gore’s jersey number.

“This ballclub is going to be run by No.21. It was never going to be that the lead dog in this race was going to be the quarterback. The bell cow in this operation will be No.21.”

Gore became the first player in 49ers history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. He has also led the 49ers in receptions during that time. Coach Mike Singletary said he believes Gore is one of the top five running backs in the NFL.

Singletary announced Monday that Hill won the quarterback competition over Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Now that he’s the starter, Hill said he might be more apt to approach Raye with ideas about the offense that he feels might work better to his strengths.

“The thing that is a little bit different is if I feel like things need to be tweaked or changed to make me more comfortable, I can express those things now, whereas before, you can’t really do that because it changes for everybody, all the quarterbacks,” Hill said. “Now we will be able to adjust a few things here and there. If something makes me more comfortable, we will be able to do it.”

While Raye made it clear that he would listen to all of Hill’s ideas and suggestions, he said he would do nothing to compromise Gore’s ability to carry the team on his back.

“It’s like I tell them, it’s democratic, but it’s not 50-50,” Raye said. “I’m the last word. The quarterback’s job is to make sure (he) plays within himself and makes the plays available to him.”

Former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz said he did not believe Raye had to make any alterations to his offense because of Hill’s strengths and weaknesses. In fact, Martz spoke highly of Hill’s ability to adapt to the system.

“Shaun surprised me when he played, with the things he can do,” said Martz, whom Singletary fired at the conclusion of last season.

“He sees things and can digest things as a quarterback at the snap much better than he appeared to do during practice. I don’t think you have to make any concessions with him. I was amazed and impressed with him coming down the stretch last year, and I was kind of tentative about him — wasn’t real sure. The more he played, the more a fan and believer he made of me.”

Martz took part in a conference call to promote “The NFL Head Coaches,” a weekly show on the NFL Network that debuts Sept. 14. Martz said he is less certain of Smith’s ability to achieve success with the 49ers.

“Ultimately, he’s going to need to go to another team,” Martz said. “He deserves another opportunity. I think he can play. I think it would help him to be in a whole new environment and get rid of that baggage that he has to think about and affects his confidence each day.

“He needs to jettison that out. He needs to go, find another team and start over again. And I do think he has a future in the league, and he’ll be fine. But I do think he needs to probably move on.”



(pressdemocrat.com)