If you need a refresher on the rules for the series or a run down of previous match-ups? Here is the rules and history thread:
"Close Calls 2008" - A Sports Outlaw Exclusive
Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues.

Today's Match-up:

Frank Gore, RB, SF *vs* Larry Johnson, RB, KC

Last Year's Stats:
Frank Gore - 15 gms - 1102 yds - 5 TD's - 53 rec - 436 rec yds - 1 TD
Larry Johnson - 8 gms - 559 yds - 3 TD's - 30 rec - 186 yds - 1 TD

This match-up pairs two RB's who ended up being two of the biggest disappointments of the draft last year. Two backs who were top 5 picks a year ago are now looking at being taken towards the end of the first in hopes of bounce back years? So who will bounce back? Can either regain the form they had in 2006? The number per game last season were very close for these two, so who is the pick? These are the questions you need to answer in today's "Close Call".

Jesus Harold Christ I dont want either one of these guys near my Black Knights.

Im going Gore. Better opportunities in the Martz air show.

Now this is truly a close call. Anyone who owned either of these 2 clowns last year still has a bitter taste in their mouth. It just so happens I had my boy LJ. Being a Cheifs fan I know what KC is really capable of...and it ain't much. I don't see the running game getting any better this year, in fact I think the wall in front of the endzone is only getting higher.
Sending Jared Allen to Minnesota takes a big chunk out of the defense. This equals more opponents points, which in turn equals more throwing and less running. Shitty.
I gotta Gore.

wow, this one couldnt be any further apart for me. you got one guy who i wouldnt draft if you paid me, and then the other one who is probably the most likely of the not-consensus top 5 RBs to get back into that top 5. great coach, great system, great talent. yeah. im gonna go with gore.

I'm taking Frank Gore without hesitation

All this Gore love kinda suprises me. i know many are expecting Martz magic here, but I'm worried about this. Smith doesn't stike me as a Martz system QB and I think this whole offense is going to struggle more then expected.

LJ has had a chance to recover and get his legs back. This line is not what it once was, but not as bad as it was last season either. If they can get something out of QB, they finally have another receiving threat to go with Tony G, they may be able to find a little balance. Overall, I think LJ gets more consistent opportunities and runs up some great yardage and ok TD's. 1500 ru yds, 350 rec yds and 10 TD's are attainable numbers for Johnson. With Gore, 1100, 450, 8 is about what I see from him.

Johnson it is for me.

Yep. Better take the time to think about that Gore fellow.

Larry Johnson got put on notice that his touches are dropping during this years NFL Draft, and Larry Johnson is the type of running that needs high carries to be truly effective. Only problem is, he can't maintain a high level of carries and stay healthy.

Guys that run behind a young and healthy Tony Richardson and what used to be a dominating Chiefs offensive line tend to run extremely well. Richardson left a couple years ago, then that once dominating line ended up going away was well due to old age by 2007. The result? A much less productive Larry Johnson (as predicted).

As for Frank Gore, if Martz can make his offense work in San Francisco, Gore is a potential goldmine.

If I am faced with the choice of drafting one of these guys, I am going to take Gore.

It seems the case for this one comes down to 60% distrust in LJ, 40% faith in Gore.

While LJ has slowly crept up my draft board, I still have Gore ahead of him.

It doesn't suprise me, but it does, you know what I mean?
Martz is going to do the same thing in Frisco that he did in Detroit, with less talent. Why on earth does SF need Mad Mike going XYZ when the D is the strength of the team?

Gore struggles...Mightily. jmo

I still have the worst taste in my mouth from last year. I remember telling sarge that LJ would get his money and then he would play great....i will never draft LJ again...

8 gms - 559 yds - 3 TD's - 30 rec - 186 yds - 1 TD

I could crap more productive numbers even with an injury....i seriously think that he never scored me more than ten points when he did start.

I would draft Gore with out an after thought to LJ just because i now have an eternal hatred for 3 things in life...LJ, Sgt. John, and Hollywoodnash.

This is going to take a minute, so I guess you are all stuck listening. Click off if you don't want to hear the truth! WTF are some of you talking about? This rant is not about this Close Call, which as Bomb pointed out, isn't very close. This rant is about anyone complaining about taking Gore last year in the first round, and then feeling violated somehow. Here is a list of the backs that were taken either in round 1, or right on the corner in most drafts. LJ, SA, Rudi, Bush, Maroney, SJax, Parker, Brown, and MJD. Then there were these 4, all taken in round 1 in the first 7 picks: LT, Westbrook, Addai, and Gore.
If you happened to select Gore at pick #5 thru #7, you ended up with the 9th overall back last year, who had combined yardage of over 1500 yards with 6 td's. He did this on a terrible team with no clear offensive plan other than to ride Gore. He had no help. We all know how LT, Westy, and Addai did, so those of you who selected those 3 were cheesin'.
Now lets look at the other nine backs that went in the first round or as #1 backs on some teams.
LJ: He went in the top 10 and ended up 40th. This was predicted by many.
SA: He went in the top 10 and ended ??????? I don't even know.
Rudi: He went in the top 10 and ended up 47th. I fell for this one.
Bush: Went on the corner and finished 24th. Congrats!
Maroney: He went in the top 10 and finished 25th. Kudos!
SJax: Some of you are cumming all over yourselves on this guy who was drafted 2nd or 3rd in most drafts, and finished 33rd!! Splendid! I want him at #2 this year.
Parker: Many proud owners of this top 10 pick who finished 16th. You guys did pretty good.
Brown: Great grab, but injury caused him to finish 27th.

I don't remember where McGahee went but he was in late 1 through mid 2, and he finished 8th. I know that many people took MJD right around the corner and he turned in a 13th. This brings me to rant #2.

Edge!!!!!!!!!! Edge was picked up mostly around the middle of the 2nd round, probably about the 15th to 20th back taken. All he did was combine for 1440 yards and 7 Td's, 10th overall. Yeah, I'd say Edge is finished! The other backs mentioned above simply kick his ASS all over the field!

I will be smiling if I get Gore in the first round, anytime after pick 4, as I would much rather have him than SJax. Give me a top wideout in round 2, then let that cripple named Edge fall to me in the 3rd.

Gore in this close call.

Great rant RC. This explains why I like to reach to a top WR anywhere from 9th-12th.