More pressure will be put on Frank Gore to succeed
this season as the team's best offensive weapon.
(AP Photo/George Nikitin)
The 49ers will be overhauling the team from what it was last year. By this, the 49ers know that they must change their offensive approach. With that in mind, the 49ers fired Mike Martz and hired Jimmy Raye to run the offense.
Martz's high-octane pass-friendly offense led to high risk plays which at times led to many turnovers. But with Raye, there will be a more balanced attack between the pass and the run-- with a little more emphasis on the run.
Last season, running back Frank Gore reached the 1,000-yard rushing plateau in the final game of the season. With that total, the star back has reached that mark in three consecutive seasons. This season, we should expect Gore to reach 1,000 yards way before the team's final regular season game.
As part of Martz's offense, Gore played in only 14 games and averaged 74 rushing yards per game. Gore received only 240 carries, which was a clear sign of the team's approach to passing the ball.
For the new 49ers offense, the established run will carry the team all season long. Gore will now be relied upon to set the tone for the offense.
The 49ers signed fullback Moran Norris this off-season and they expect him to help Gore return to his 2006 form. Norris was Gore's teammate in the running back's first two seasons as a starter.
The 49ers also drafted running back Glen Coffee and they expect him to help Gore with the load. As Gore has been battling injuries the past two seasons, Coffee will be relied on to make this two-back system successful.
With Gore, we should expect at least 300 carries from him this season. If he can handle the bulk of those carries, the 49ers will have established a solid running game that has eluded the team the past couple seasons.
The pressure will not be on Gore but also on the offensive line. A lot of credit was given to guard Larry Allen during Gore's breakout year in 2006. Now the team will rely on veteran tackle Marvel Smith and youngsters Joe Staley and guard Chilo Rachal to help open holes for the running back. If Gore does get his 300 rush attempts, he will surely make it to 1,000 yards and possibly a return to the Pro Bowl.
In Gore's 2006 Pro Bowl year, he was a relative unknown that took the NFL by surprise. Now he is the team's feature back and team's best offensive player. The opposition will surely be prepared to stop him. Gore will have a lot on his plate this upcoming season.
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Comments
If I saw this article at this time last year, I would be horribly worried to hear this. However, last year Gore proved that he could improve on his ability (or lack there of) to hold onto the ball. I can't wait for this new niner season..They have so many more weapons to add to their arsenal.
I'm looking forward to the 2009 season. Along with Frank Gore there is more guys like Glen Coffee , Michael Crabtree , Josh Morgan , and Vernon Davis that the opposition has to look out for. With the way Shaun Hill played last year I would like him to get the starting job in 2009. I'm also looking forward to Patrick Willis having another pro bowl season.
I am very excited about this season and think we will finish with 10 wins this season. Gore will amass 1300 yards and we will have our own version of thunder and lightning. The added depth and talent to our wide reciever corps will only help Frank be better. I would love to see some more use of a heavy 22 package with vernon motioned out to wideout, pascoe blocking, norris and gore in the backfield to run rough-shod over the defense. What do you think about this?
gordon, i like that formation. however, i dont want to see alot of two tight end formations b/c that means the defenses and stacking the line and have no respect for the passing game. if things go to plan gore will have plenty of running room in i-form or even singleback.
How can they rely on him even more, when they've been riding on his back since 2006.
Gore was hurt last year and barely got the needed rushing attempts he had to get to become effective. Instead, the team passed way too much (obviously in Martz's system) and Gore was ineffective for the offense.
los, i agree but if that is the case then the other wideout, crabtree or hill, puts on the burners and take a shot deep. but yes, we couldnt play that formation often but i think it would very effective and create mismathc problems to exploit.
If the O-Line can hold their own, I would love to see Davis in motion. The problem is that Davis had to block a lot because the O-Line wasn't strong at all last year. I would at least hope the team uses Davis more as a receiver this year. His physical strength should create many mismatches down the field.
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