Sarge's Rap Sheet #6: Frank Gore

Holy Crap! Its FRANK GORE!!!!!!!! HE FELL TO ME!!!! (Good example of half of you on draft day). WTF! Man I didnt want to have to choose between him and such and such (The other half of you on draft day). Lets take a look at the man turning your insides out in the 1st round.

The Stats:

5-9lbs, 223lbs, 4th season of professional football. 2006 NFC Rushing Champion. 2006 Pro Bowl selection

The Early Years:

Born May 14, 1983 in Coconut Grove, Florida, Gore was a superstar from day one. He set a Dade County, Florida record for rushing yardage in a season in 2000 with 2,953 yards and 34 touchdowns. The year before he rushed for 1,559 yards and 28 touchdowns,in addition to 301 receiving yards and four more scores receiving.

He also set the Dade County single game rushing record in 2000 with 377 yards and six TDs on 38 carries during a 48-0 victory against the South Miami High Cobras. Fast, strong, agile, and tough, Gore was one of the most heavily recruited backs in his class. Gore settled on the University of Miami Hurricanes.


College Career:

Gore burst on the scene as a true frosh in 2001, totaling 854 yards with eight touchdowns on 62 carries (a 11.3-yard avg), and was named Big East Freshman of the year by the Sporting News. Then, the injuries that would become a hallmark of his career began. He suffered a torn ACL in his left knee at spring practice in 2002 and spent the following season recovering from knee surgery. Making the timing of the injury worse was the fact Gore had beaten out Willis McGahee for the starting tailback spot prior to going down. He returned in 2003 and rushed for 100 yards in each of his first three games of the season. Gore wisely did not enter the 2004 NFL Draft and returned for his senior year when he ran for nearly 1,000 yards.

In 28 games with the Miami Hurricanes, Gore rushed 380 times for 2,500 yards (a 7.2 rushing average) and 20 touchdowns. Very impressive numbers for the time he was on the field, but inopportune injury prevented Gore from having what might have been a legendary career with the Hurricanes.


2005 NFL Draft

Talent and potential alone got Gore in the good graces of some GMs. A slow 40 time (4.68) and his injury history dropped his stock. Gore was selected 65th overall in the third round by the 49ers.


Professional Career:

Gore played in 14 games, starting one in 2005. He was inactive for two contests with a groin injury. He finished the season seventh among all NFL rookie running backs in rushing average with 4.8 average per run. He led the team in rushing with 608 yards on 127 carries and three rushing touchdowns. He had major surgery on both shoulders after season was over. (Seeing a pattern here?)

Gore was elevated to the top of the San Francisco 49ers' depth chart for 2006 following the trade of Kevan Barlow (Who?). After blowing up the competition, Gore stuck his name in the hat as one of the NFL's elite backs. He carried the ball 312 times for a franchise record 1,695 yards, eclipsing Garrison Hearst’s 1998 record of 1,570 yards. He also set a franchise record with 2,180 combined yards (1,695 yards rushing and 485 yards receiving), Gore had a slight fumbling problem in the beginning of the year, losing four, but then only lost 3 more all season. Not great, but an improvement none the less.

One thing that set him apart from other backs was his breakaway ability, which helped him finish the season averaging 5.4 yards per carry, placing him third in the entire NFL. He finished with 8 TDs on the ground, tied for the third most in a season by a 49er. He finished the season with a team high 61 receptions. He also led the NFL with 16 rushes for 20 or more yards. After Gore’s tremendous season, he was named the starting running back to the NFC Pro Bowl team.

Gore had benefited that season from the tutelage of then-offensive coordinator Norv Turner, whose offensive scheme places a heavy emphasis on running the football.

Gore signed a contract through 2011 after the year worth an estimated $28 million. Gore then made the brash statement it was his intent to surpass Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record in 2007. He said that he would gain 2200 yards.

Then injury reared its ugly head again. Gore broke his hand in a non contact drill and missed the entire preseason. Gore then dealt with his mothers death on September 13, 2007. He missed a practice, but returned to the team and scored two touchdowns the following Sunday in a defeat of the St Louis Rams. Gore finished with 1,102 yards rushing and 436 yards receiving. This was good enough for 6th overall, but a far cry from the predictions of Dickerson like heights.


2008 and beyond:

So there you go. When it's good, boy its REALLY good isn't it? Lets look at a few things here. High school was really good to Gore, and he was an injury free man among boys. The next two levels have been filled with flashes of brilliance and injuries "galore", no pun intended.

His relatively injury free 2006 made some of you money and championship gold when you snagged him in the 3rd or 4th rounds. His 2008 cost you money and gold when you grabbed him in the 1st round.

Next to Steven Jackson, no guy coming off injuries is getting hotter press than Frank Gore. Some say with the addition of Mike Martz as San Francisco's new Offensive Coordinator Gore might be the next Marshall Faulk. Now youve got the facts.....you tell me....is this a ride your willing to take? Looking forward to your comments and discussion on what maybe the biggest risk/reward guy of the mid 1st round in 2008.

Sarge

Gore the last two seasons as "Da man" Gore played in 31 of 32 games:

2006: 312-1695-8TDs 61-485-1TD
2007: 260-1102-5TDs 53-436-1TD

I don't really know what to make of Gore. It seems like there is no middle ground when it comes to him. People either want to anoint him or crucify him. Why is there such disdain for a guy who has produced at a good level. Was everyone really expecting him to be this fantasy destroyer because of his high pick last year. I don't hear anyone hating on Steven Jackson. Whats up with that? Now Jackson is still in the top 5 and Gore is dropping down as far as 7th or 8th. Shouldn't these 2 guys be in the same exact boat?

Jackson's injury history and Gore's arent on the same level.

Gore's been getting injured pretty regular since college, Jackson has had only his bout last year and a knee injury he didnt heal from Oregon State and had to have cleaned after his rookie year. He's also not out there breaking bones in non contact drills, having shoulders overhauled, all that junk.

also SF is terrible in all aspects of offense except rb so defense can zero in on gore whereas jackson has support from bulger and holt.

All I can see his production doing this year is improving. He is a very nice receiving weapon out of the backfield, something that Martz will use to his advantage.

As for any injury concern, two years of solid production makes me much less concerned about that than what I was last year with this guy.

His fumbling problem resurfaced during a couple games last year, but outside of that, he looks to be getting that under control.

I dont understand the faulk comparisons. He is not a finese runner hes a down ur throat monster. Just cause mm is there doesnt mean this guy can change the way he runs.

i dont think anyones comparing running styles, more like fantasy monster stats, or at least the possibility thereof. gore is a big time receiving threat like faulk always was. the only thing hes been lacking to make him anything short of a superstud RB are the TDs, and martz has a good history of RB TDs.

What is Martz history in his first year installing his system?

I had Gore on my fantasy team last year, the team that I won my championship with. Obviously Gore wasn't the reason I won, he was on my bench more than he was starting. He came on strong though when I needed him to at the end of the season with 2 decent games and one good game. I would have him on my team again, especially in a PPR league.

Nowhere for the Niners offense to go but up and I think they have the tools to have a very decent offense this season. As the Niners offense improves, so will Gore. I see a jump in his production this year, I would say we see 2000+ total yards and 10+ TD's.

I wouldn't compare him to Faulk whatsoever. How the hell is Gore and Faulk being mentioned in the same sentence as comprable??? If you're going to mention them both in the same sentence, use it like this "Faulk is a helluva a lot better than Gore!" LOL

Gore will be better this season, I will give you that...but he will never have 20 TDs in a season. I can see him getting 10 this season, if someone is lucky, he will get 12-13. I hope he does, but even at 12-13, those are nothing like Faulk numbers.

Good discussion on this situation.

Bear in mind SF still doesnt know who the QB is

49ers | Martz impressed with M. Robinson
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:10:21 -0700

Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz has been impressed with RB Michael Robinson. Martz said he envisions scenarios where RB Frank Gore and Robinson are in the backfield together. "One can block for the other, or (we can) use them both as receivers. There's all kinds of things that can happen out of that," Martz said.

49ers | Gore picking up offense well
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:09:59 -0700

Matthew Barrows, of the Sacramento Bee, reports San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz said RB Frank Gore has been quick picking things up in the classroom this spring. "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," Martz said.

The 49ers have signed ex-Raiders tackle Barry Sims to a two-year deal last Monday. Despite being 33 Simms probably represents an upgrade on the Niners O Line. He wiil compete and probably win the Left Tackle job. If nothing else it is a nice depth move for the OLine.

Little details.