49ers Training Camp, Frank Gore and the 2009 season

by David Fucillo on Aug 9, 2009 8:00 AM PDT in Preview

If you had a chance to check out the Golden Nuggets this morning, you might have noticed a good number of articles pertaining to Frank Gore. Gore proclaiming he's in the best shape of his life! Jimmy Raye proclaiming Gore has "the eye of the tiger!" (Definitely a favorite line).

Prior to all these articles I had not noticed much mention of Frank Gore in recaps or features or anything of the sort. Heading into the draft there was discussion of a need for a handcuff to Gore. The team grabbed Glen Coffee in the third round and I still am curious what the plan is for utilizing Coffee. In reading about him he sounds like a similar runner to Gore. The team does also have options like Kory Sheets and Thomas Clayton, who if either made the 53-man roster would certainly complicate the answer.

Up to this point it sounds like Coffee is getting a whole lot of first team reps. Maybe not as many Gore, but plenty nonetheless, in all aspects of the offensive scheme (rushing, receiving, blocking). I don't do much in the way of preseason community projections, but for this particular position, I'm curious what people see happening at the running back position, assuming all the backs stay healthy.

You can respond however you'd like, whether it be general statements, or specific predictions on carry splits (a specific number, or just a percentage breakdown such as 70/30). If Coffee can establish himself as a reasonable alternative to Gore, then you start considering utilizing both guys in the same backfield. A quality second running back opens up numerous options for the offense.

If you look at the top rushing offenses last season, one thing they had in common was at least one additional running back who could punish opposing defenses. Even teams like the Jets and Cowboys who relied primarily on Thomas Jones and Marion Barber respectively, had a decent backup option. The Jets rolled out Leon Washington (448 yards @ 5.9 ypc, 355 yards receiving), while the Cowboys had Tashard Choice (472 yards @ 5.1 ypc). And the Cowboys get back Felix Jones this year as well.

Now I'm not saying Glen Coffee is a guarantee to turn into a solid second option, but I do think if he can step up and take some of the load off Frank Gore, that will most definitely be a good thing. Maybe Gore would even avoid some of those tedious injuries that have cost him a game or two here or there. Either way it'd be nice for somebody to fill the role DeShaun Foster was supposed to fill last year. I'd hope it can only improve the team.

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75/20/5

I like(d) Clayton a lot but Sheets brings a better complimentary style to the table, I think it might be another year on the PS for Clayton with a decent chance of being elevated due to injury

by foosball4949 on Aug 9, 2009 8:12 AM PDT reply actions

How I see it from the Pacific Coast

I don’t have stats here (Danny?) but after three or four years even the best running backs start the downside of their careers. I see Coffee as the guy who keeps the wear and tear down on Gore. I see him getting a lot more carries to save Frank. Sheets is a very fast runner, a great change of pace, and if he proves himself to be NFL-worthy, I can see him coming in later in the game to blow out tired opponents’ defenders.

I don’t see many backfields with both Coffee and Gore. The return of Norris suggests that the Niners are scheming more conventional running plays, with a fullback clearing out for the ball carriers. And Robinson would be the backup for Norris as well as providing other options or being a third down pass receiver.

That seems to leave out Clayton once again. Seems like his move to the 53-man roster last year was just to protect him from being snatched up by the Eagles. Maybe this year he doesn’t make the roster and he lands on another team. While I’d hate to see him gone without getting a shot in a real game, that would suggest that the Niners depth chart is getting deeper.

In short, if Frank is a good as he has been, when added to an effective passing game the Niners would be pretty tough on offense. I haven’t said that since Jeff Garcia was quarterbacking here.

by Bob In Beaverton on Aug 9, 2009 9:09 AM PDT reply actions

The issue will be Frank the tank him self

Like all great players, he wants the ball and has said again last week that he feels he improves as the game wares on. He feels like he gets into a rhythm the more carries he has.. If they intend to to the RB shuffle and interchange Coffee and Gore It could be counter productive.. It will be interesting to see how Gore adjusts to sharing the load. Not that he would create an issue ( ego) but that if his rhythm is disrupted then we not get the results we are hoping for. Personally I think it will work out ok.

by WC-Ninerhead on Aug 9, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Frank the Tank

I think Gore gets like 75% of the carries to Glen Coffee’s 15%. Frank is a beast, and I can’t really imagine that his carries would be spread out too much, even though that’s what the coaching staff has been preaching. The remaining 10% of the carries will go to either Kory Sheets, or Clayton. I’m not too high on Clayton, so I would hope it is Sheets. I don’t think the Niners will keep both Sheets and Clayton on the roster, unless Sheets is put on the practice squad. Obviously, though, this is all contingent on how well the young backs transition into the NFL.

by crevis1987 on Aug 9, 2009 10:53 AM PDT reply actions

Coffee

I believe the key reason Coffee was drafted, and why hes getting as many first team reps as he is, is a simple matter. Because the offense is built around not only the running game, but Franks particular running style and game (that physical, one cut with speed run style I love so much) that we bring in a guy like Coffee so that when frank sits out for any reason, the offense moves on and doesn’t have to change. You dont have to change how you call plays, what sets you run, you can still have the same impact (or same type, itll never be truly the same cause theres only one Gore) without having to adjust as much. So if we can get something like that in Coffee, its truly valuable. Throw in Sheets or Robinson as your “change of pace” back and its a pretty powerful combo. Some would argue Thomas Clayton could be the same thing, but for whatever reason the coaching staff seems not to agree at the moment.

by Sloan on Aug 9, 2009 11:09 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

yea, basically agree

They tried to phrase it as a different style of back in the draft so as to not overtly state “Frank is eventually going to miss games, he missed games last year, we want another back like him just in case.”

I also think the whole “the good rushing teams had a punishing other back” thing is kind of overblown. The best rushing teams generally rush a lot, and thus they generally have other backs they run out there in certain non-rushing situations. They get a big average, they’re generally not good backs. Lendale White being your prototypical example.

Personally I prefer the 75% back to be a good all around guy. Basically Gore, if Gore could catch without my heart being in my throat every time that he’s going to tip the ball up. Sheets could be a great change of pace back, which is why I hope he’ll make the squad. I’m a little weary that Robinson is getting drawn into the offense very specifically. I’d rather he just focus on special teams and backup in injury situations.

Gore 75, Coffee 20, Sheets 4, Norris 1

Gore Injury

Coffee 75, Sheets 20, Robinson 4, Norris 1

by whistlingmountain on Aug 9, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Well said

I agree with this.

by Brendan Scolari on Aug 9, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Can Coffee catch?

Its all about having a fresh guy that can come in and isn’t as winded as the #1RB. So long as he is capable. If they took Coffee in the third round they must have seen just that.

65% Gore
25% Coffee
10%other.

If Gore plays all 16 games, his number could go up 10%

Bernard, Percy and AP oh my!

by VikesPma on Aug 10, 2009 6:05 AM PDT reply actions