Faulk's comments leave Gore upbeat

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."