Gore Figures His Yards Will Come

Shapecity · Sep 16, 2008

SANTA CLARA — Frank Gore walked gingerly out of the 49ers' facility Monday. He smiled surprisingly wide for a running back that had been battered and bottled up a day earlier.

Gore managed only 61 yards rushing against Seattle. But, unlike so many previous opponents, the Seahawks paid a price for focusing their defensive game plan on him.

J.T. O'Sullivan burned them for 321 passing yards and receiver Isaac Bruce broke loose for 153.

Gore knows future defenses will take note.

"And I can go crazy again," he said.

Crazy is the right word to describe 49ers' offensive surge. The unit that finished last in virtually every category last season is suddenly capable of winning a shootout such as Sunday's 33-30 overtime victory at Qwest Field.

Entering play Monday night, the 49ers ranked 14th in the NFL in total offense. Maybe it's not the Greatest Show on Turf, but at least the 49ers are emerging from the dark ages.

They have not ranked any higher than 26th in total offense since 2003.

"It starts with Mike Martz and the coordinator," coach Mike Nolan said. "From the time I hired him, he's got a great command, not only of the offense, but he's got a great command presence with the players.

"They've got a lot of belief in what he does. They know that if they just do what he says, they've got a great chance to get the ball — and every player wants the ball."

O'Sullivan became the first 49er with a 300-yard passing game since Tim Rattay threw for 417 in an overtime game against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 10, 2004.

Martz and O'Sullivan get a chance this week to game plan against their old team, the Detroit Lions, who visit Candlestick Park on Sunday.

Gore expects another opportunity to build on the budding offense. From 2004-07, the 49ers averaged just 15.9 points and 156.9 passing yards per game.

"Man, it's fun. It's a whole lot different than last year," Gore said. "I used to watch the Greatest Show on Turf. Now, I'm in the type of offense I saw as a kid."

As Nolan pointed out, seven of O'Sullivan's passes went for at least 20 yards. All four of Bruce's catches went for at least 20 yards.

The 49ers' big-play capability — and when was the last time anyone used that phrase? — allowed them to employ an unorthodox defensive scheme against Seattle.

Nolan kept five defensive backs on the field against Seattle, a curious ploy given that the Seahawks were playing with an injury-decimated receiving corps.

Seattle running back Julius Jones bludgeoned his way for 137 yards, but the 49ers held quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in check (18-of-36, 189 yards, two interceptions).

Nolan said the 49ers beat Seattle two years ago using the five defensive-backs scheme. The point, he said, is to throw a curveball at Hasselbeck and coach Mike Holmgren, who calls the offensive plays.

"Seattle does a great job with preparing for what you do," Nolan said. "You don't want to go in there, looking like you have forever. "... Anytime you can show them something that creates some kind of hesitation, it's important that you spend your day doing that."

Notes: There was no update on the status of injured right tackle Jonas Jennings, who left with a shoulder injury and did not return after halftime. Jennings had two false starts and a holding penalty against Seattle. But Nolan said the oft-injured Jennings will remain the starter whenever he is able to return. "Look, it's as much of a disappointment to him as it is to all of us,'' Nolan said. "Hopefully, whatever comes out of this it's not a long injury." ... Nolan said there was shared blame for the eight sacks of O'Sullivan. He said sometimes it was the quarterback's fault for holding on to the ball too long and sometimes it was the offensive line. "I think (O'Sullivan's) durability is very good, but you don't want your quarterback taking hits," he said. ... Bruce was shut out in the opener. This time, it was Vernon Davis' turn. The tight end went without a catch, raising the question of whether Davis helps the team more as a blocker than running routes. Nolan said that the "personality" of the game dictates the way in which Davis is best utilized.
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Source: Contra Costa Times

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Gore Figures His Yards Will Come

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Gore Figures His Yards Will Come

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