SANTA CLARA – Mike Martz said running back Frank Gore was quick on the playing field and even quicker in the classroom this spring.

"He's a one-time guy. You tell him once, and he has it," the 49ers' offensive coordinator said of Gore, who is entering his fourth season. "That's really a remarkable quality. He really learns fast. He's a very sharp guy. So that means you can use him in a variety of ways."

The statement is telling.

Gore suffers from dyslexia, and entering the 2005 draft, many teams wondered whether he would be able to absorb an NFL playbook. Gore hasn't had any problems in the classroom since joining the 49ers, and Martz's notoriously large and complex system hasn't thrown him, either.

Upon joining the 49ers, Martz said he would build his offense around Gore the way he once built the St. Louis Rams' offenses around Marshall Faulk. Gore, however, won't be a Faulk clone.

"I think Marshall's Marshall, Frank is Frank," Martz said. " … There are things that we'll play to that are really strengths of his. He's got that speed and explosiveness. He does it all. He's a physical guy that you can hammer, or you can use him as a perimeter guy."

Gore arguably has more support in the San Francisco backfield than Faulk had in St. Louis.

Source: Sacramento Bee

If you are hesitant to believe that Gore is primed for his biggest season to date, this article might help convince you.

I told Martz about Gore!

Will the body take the pounding?

The beauty of this system is the way it helps get the ball to it's back in space.

I can see how everyone is buying this. I mean, after all, the Rams didn't have any speed, at least not like the Niners. And the Lions WR's are far worse than what the Niners have.

You could dip Gore in the number 28.

People please.

I don't think anybody is claiming that the 9ers are going to duplicate "The Greatest Show On Turf", just a simple comparison of running backs with similar skills being used in a similar way.

Looking back though, remember when Martz got ahold of that Rams offense? He took Bruce who had been tagged as an injury prone receiver that couldnt be counted on, Holt who was an unproven rookie with high expectations, a running back who was a 4 yard per carry guy with good receiving skills, and a complete unknown at quarterback and won a freaking Super Bowl.

Faulk was good, but Faulk wasn't the Faulk we know now until he arrived in St. Louis. Faulk exploded in the Martz offense.

Pretty sure that you could have gotten any of those players (outside of Faulk) at a very good value in your 1999 fantasy football draft.

Gore is no Faulk but I think he can be pretty close. I see the niner offense showing some life this season with Martz, heck I'll go out on the limb and say they could win the NFC West. Their defense should step up even more now that they have a year under their belt and picked up some key free agents. They will be fine as long as Martz gets the offense going.

I agree with MJ, I just don't see it. Gore is NOT even close to how Faulk could run. Nor is he the same type of reciever, who can break runs after receptions for long gains. I also don't think ANY wr in San Fran right now is even close to the threat either Bruce or Holt were, and thus defense can and WILL focus on Gore. I just don't see it.

I don't think anybody is calling Gore and = to Faulk. The point is, Gore is already putting up good numbers and is a good receiver. It just makes sense that his numbers should be better in Martz system.

I understood your point the last three times you typed it.

What you fail to be reading is some of our's beliefs that Martz system won't work until he has the TOOLS to make it work. Yes, Gore can catch the ball. But a lousy Qb, lousy Wrs and a fairly bad O-line means the defense will take Gore away. And while Gore is a good receiver, he is not a Faulk type that can make yards for himself after the catch. He isn't the elusive type.

Again, I just don't see it. Not this year.

When Martz was at Detroit, he made the same staements. Kevin Jones was his next Faulk then. But as soon as Detroit got behind, (which didn't take long), Martz did nothing but throw the ball. He'll abandon the running game in a heartbeat if he needs to put up points, and we all know that won't be effective unless there is running game threat to begin with.

All this damn Gore talk is making me think long and hard about him.....I have flip flopped on him at least 3 times today alone.....

I only have 4 first round targets. 5 if I get first pick. Westbrook, Gore, Addai, and Moss after pick 8.

I'm a Gore fan. I love the way he runs. He'll put up big #'s this year if he stays healthy. I'd have a hard time passing him up if I'm drafting at the 1.06 spot, thats for sure.

If memory serves Faulk was able to stay healthy till the end. Gore is always damaged.