Lets just stop all this silly Faulk VS Gore talk. It's just ridiculous.
Why are so many people willing to annoit Martz as this offensive savior? I just don't see it. Alex Smith is going to have to develop a lot and they are going to need a deep threat to emerge for this offense to really take it to the next level.
That being said, I'm still a Gore supporter. I will gladly take him in the mid to late 1st round and won't bother looking to grab another RB until the 4th or 5th.
Frank Gore is to defenses what Conan The Barbarian is to camels.

especially the non-filtered ones.

I hate to do this...but I have to disagree with your comment. In Gore's three seasons with the 49ers, he has 45 plays of 20+ yards...which makes him a big play threat any time he touches the ball. While Faulk had 158 plays of 20+ yards, which gives him roughly 12 per year...while Gore is currently averaging 15 per year...without Martz...

Another side note...Faulk's durability was a question at the time also. He only played one full season after coming to the Rams...1999.

I am not saying Gore is better than Faulk...or that Faulk is better than Gore...but the kid has the ability to be one of the best in the league given the chance.

........"The FORCE is strong in this one Luke".........

Marshall Faulk took one of my teams to a FF championship, so I'll always hold him in high regard. If you check out his best three seasons as a Ram (and one comprable season with the Colts is 1998), you'll see why comparing anyone to him is a tough sell as he put up amazing numbers.

Year 1999: 2,400+ total yards and 12 TDs
Year 2000: almost 2,200 total yards and 26 TDs
Year 2001: 2,100+ total yards and 21 TDs

Rushing Stats
Year Team G GS Att Yards AVG LG TD 20+ FD
1999 St. Louis Rams 16 16 253 1381 5.5 58 7 9 65
2000 St. Louis Rams 14 14 253 1359 5.4 36 18 6 78
2001 St. Louis Rams 14 14 260 1382 5.3 71 12 8 70

Receiving Stats
Year Team G GS Rec Yards AVG LG TD 20+ 40+ FD
1999 St. Louis Rams 16 16 87 1048 12.0 57 5 14 4 40
2000 St. Louis Rams 14 14 81 830 10.2 72 8 6 2 42
2001 St. Louis Rams 14 14 83 765 9.2 65 9 5 1 40

So, what could Frank Gore do, realistically, this year with Martz at the helm? Rushing should be in the range of 1,000 to 1,200 yards, and receiving should fall somewhere between 500-700 yards. Hmmm, 1,500 to 1,900 total yards? That sounds pretty solid to me. If Martz can weave a little of his magic, Frankie could lead the 9ers to 10 TDs (7 to 9 rushing, 1-3 receiving)...like a 1995 Marshall Faulk (1,078/11 and 475/5).

Well said.

Of all the possible approaches for SF to take, they have chosen an OC that chills the run.

SF's strength is their defense.

Nolan is all but gone.

If Gore goes off and produces Faulk-like numbers not only will it be a waste, it will be a miracle.