49ers vs. Lions: Did Frank Gore's First Quarter Run Save The Day?

by David Fucillo on Oct 19, 2011 6:00 AM PDT in San Francisco 49ers Game Recap, Review 2011

The 49ers huge win over the Detroit Lions was keyed by a variety of big plays with Ted Ginn Jr.'s huge punt return and Delanie Walker's late touchdown catch standing out as two huge plays. Early in the game, Frank Gore had a pair of huge runs as well that keyed ten of the 49ers points. He had a 47-yard run in the first quarter that set up his eventual one yard touchdown run, and added a 55-yard run (69 with the additional horse collar penalty) that eventually led to a field goal.

Yesterday, Derek put together a breakdown of the running game as a whole. The offensive line has improved and the rushing numbers have improved as well. However, I wanted to focus in on the 47-yard rush late in the first quarter. There have been a couple of breakdowns on the run. One was done by myself for SB Nation NFL as we have begun breaking down significant plays around the NFL. A second was done later that day by Grantland. I think mine is better, but some may disagree.

I bring this up because in discussing the most important plays of the game, I like being able to focus in on some of the plays that can be overlooked in their value to the 49ers victory. We all know the big plays late, but I believe the touchdown drive at the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second quarter was as big as anything else in the grand scheme of that drive.

Two of Frank Gore's runs were particularly pivotal. The 47-yard run set up the touchdown, but before that he also put together a 14-yard run that earned the 49ers their first first down of the game. The 49ers were down 10-0 and another punt would have put the Lions in a position to take a commanding lead. The 49ers very well could have come back from a bigger deficit, but slowing the Lions momentum was key. And as is often the case, Frank Gore was at the center of it.

What I particularly liked about both runs was they showed some of the elusiveness and speed that some have said is missing. In the 14-yard run he had a wall of offensive and defensive players in front of him so he bounced the run outside and used his foot speed to hit the hole. On the 47-yard run he got through the hole and then made a quick cut to create a bad angle for a pursuing defender. He was run down before the touchdown, but he got the big gain and the 49ers went on to score a touchdown. All's well that ends well.

Neither team was wildly impressive on offense for much of this game, but that drive got the 49ers in sync and moving forward.The team has had its fair share of struggles on offense this season, but they have found a way to do just enough to take care of business. We'll hopefully see some more blowouts like the Tampa Bay game, but they have shown they can hang tough in the dogfights as well. It's one more way the team's confidence keeps them in game after game even when things get tough.

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These runs were pivotal

Like most long runs, these were huge in getting us the victory. I think they went a long way and tiring the lions defense physically and also mentally. They just didnt have an answer for the running game. I’d like to see Gore get more carries, but if he’s averaging 10 yards a carry, so be it.

by glorydaze on Oct 19, 2011 6:41 AM PDT reply actions

Delanie Walker was a big part of each of those runs.

As he did against Tampa, he went into motion and blocked the NT off to allow a hole for Gore.
I watched he one several times and it was just beautiful as his motions were also used for pass plays. It really disrupted the defense.

I love (yes I do) what Harbaugh and his coaches are doing.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Oct 19, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

"Motion? You mean guys can be moving before the ball is snapped?" -Jimmy Raye

by Da Bum on Oct 19, 2011 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions

The blocking on both long runs was outstanding, AND Gore made 2ndary defenders miss

It was on those runs that we saw the timed blocking that has been lacking basically all year.
When I saw those plays developing, I initially thought Gore would be taken down in the backfield by a penetrating lineman. What the Grantland piece showed really well was that that penetration happened by design: the Niners took advantage of the fact that the DL (Suh, in both cases) wanted to get upfield immediately upon the snap. Suh going unblocked by the OL was by design—it was a set-up for the “wham” block that was going to be delivered by Delanie Walker; as long as Walker delivers that block with proper timing, Gore is in the clear.

To me, this speaks to the creativity of the run game under Harbaugh—which was sorely lacking under Raye/MikeJohnson. The Raye/Johnson running game was almost exclusively the power play (with Iupati as the pulling guard), with the occasional counter flip mixed in (which we also saw with Hunter on a 3rd down play that got stuffed vs. the Lions), whereas now the Niners have mixed in a number of different elements, especially the sweep, now also the “wham” to go along with the power play, which they still run effectively, perhaps .

Three points to sum up:
1) I think the success of the running game this past Sunday helps us to understand the difficulty the Niners had running the ball in the first couple of games; the blocking wasn’t there because the timing on these kinds of plays was very new to this Niners team.
2) I’ve always been an advocate of creativity and being offensively multiple, that is, able to run multiple plays that run in opposite directions out of the same set. The team is starting to get this with Harbaugh’s play calling. As Mike Tanier pointed out, it’s ironic, but it took a West Coast Offense coach to finally turn the Niners into a defense, running, and ball-control team.
3) Frank Gore isn’t the same guy as 2006, in my opinion, when he was breaking a ton of tackles in the middle of the play. He goes down earlier now than he did then. This doesn’t mean he’s an ineffective back, though. Just the opposite; he still has great vision and he’s the most complete running back the Niners have. Hunter is a good complement to Gore because he has quicker feet, but he has less power and size than Gore.

I hope 2011 is Harbaugh-some!
Twitter me at twitter.com/grantmp1

by grantmp on Oct 19, 2011 6:45 AM PDT reply actions

Gore has lost a step

But I think thats natural. Still an elite back, and I love it when he gets the ball. He just knows how to create angles. He was never fast, but I dont think we’ll see many more games when he breaks 80+ yard runs. But I’ll settle for averaging 10 yards a carry against one of the best D-lines in football.

by glorydaze on Oct 19, 2011 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Gore's YPC is one of the reasons I think anybody that thinks SJax is better than him is crazy.

I hope 2011 is Harbaugh-some!
Twitter me at twitter.com/grantmp1

by grantmp on Oct 19, 2011 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions

SJax

Is done

by glorydaze on Oct 19, 2011 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, but most people think he's the same guy from 2007.

His ypc have been terrible for the last couple of years.

I hope 2011 is Harbaugh-some!
Twitter me at twitter.com/grantmp1

by grantmp on Oct 19, 2011 7:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Gore has never had a step, and hasnt lost much. He may be running hurt, but the consensus in the forst few weeks was that Hunter needed to be in.

The reality is that the timing of the blocking was off. Gore is Gore, he has always been caught from behind, but his vision is far better than Hunters.

Alex Smith's best is yet to come. However, wagering a long deal in anticipation of him improving more during the offseason, is not an investment I'd make.
1. Dre Kirkpatrick 2. Robert Griffin 3. Vinny Curry 4. Dontari Poe 5. Don barclay
6. David Ruffer

by rlott#42 on Oct 19, 2011 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions

I never called for Hunter to be in, and I'm not calling for Hunter to be in now.

It’d be nice to have a Jamaal Charles or Darren McFadden-type home run hitter, but Gore’s patience makes him a great back for the Niners’ system.
I totally agree that the timing of the blocking was off.

I hope 2011 is Harbaugh-some!
Twitter me at twitter.com/grantmp1

by grantmp on Oct 19, 2011 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I am calling for Hunter to be in!

Gore cannot carry the whole load all season long. We need a rotation and Hunter needs to learn. I have never been that excited by Dixon and it seems Harbaugh isn’t either. Hunter is exciting. He is not an every down back either and he needs Frank as much as Frank needs him at this point in Frank’s career.

by Da Bum on Oct 19, 2011 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Hunter should play but 10 carries is enough. Frank is breaking more long runs. He had very few more runs than Hunter and a lot more production.

by rlott#42 on Oct 19, 2011 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Far better than Hunters?

how do you make that judgement?

Harbaugh will find a QB and he will succeed.

by goatfather on Oct 19, 2011 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Because week in and week out he shows it. He makes more plays with nothing and has done that for a few years, I mean REALLY???

by rlott#42 on Oct 19, 2011 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Still 10 games left in the reg. season...

wouldn’t be surprised if Gore breaks through the line, finds open field, makes a safety or corner miss a tackle, and gets the right angle to take it 80+ yards for a TD!

by Ryan Cuthbert on Oct 19, 2011 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions

gore

thats why i think the hunter pick is so huge. we always ran gore into the ground until he got hurt. now we have a guy to step in to spell him even give him a “pitch count” even tho im not saying they have any set number of carries. i love the way they use those guys hunter is runs really well i like his vision too.

by mikec49 on Oct 19, 2011 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

The nice part is that when Hunter comes in, they can still run the same plays and others.

The defense can no longer know what is going to happen on any play.
Same thing with the 3 TE set.. that can be used effectively for the run or pass plays.

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Oct 19, 2011 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions

I made my remark above before reading your entry. You saw the same thing I did. I love it!

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Oct 19, 2011 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions

its a good point!

i cant wait for nate byham to return to the fold. i think the offense will just be that more effective with a third guy that cant block very well and catch the ball. we are loaded at te and i think nate will make us that much better

by mikec49 on Oct 19, 2011 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Save the day?

YES. The first points on the board are big especially on the road. That run had alot to do w those points.

by On the fifty on Oct 19, 2011 6:48 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Every time Andy Lee punted the ball

was a great play in my book.

"Handshake was too hard."

"Just accept the fact that you are a masochist, like most of us here."

by DudeDontTazeMe on Oct 19, 2011 8:22 AM PDT reply actions

Andy Lee is one of the most valuable players on the team. He is a total team player

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way, YOU'RE RIGHT !"

by Eastbayjim on Oct 19, 2011 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

when’s Andy’s next contract come up? any1 know?

by Doni S on Oct 19, 2011 10:28 AM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Here

3/7/2007: Signed a six-year, $7.1 million contract. The deal included a $1.66 million signing bonus. 2011: $1 million, 2012: $1.1 million, 2013: Free Agent

"Handshake was too hard."

"Just accept the fact that you are a masochist, like most of us here."

by DudeDontTazeMe on Oct 19, 2011 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions