:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/8511867/20120818_jla_ad1_602.jpg)
The 49ers held press conferences in Santa Clara on Monday where Jim Harbaugh, Frank Gore and Isaac Sopoaga all stepped to the podium. Harbaugh seemed chipper, some hopefully that meant he liked what he saw at practice. Meanwhile, players like Gore and Sopoaga seem eager to get this season underway.
San Francisco is kicking off their work week fresh off a Week 2 exhibition loss to the Houston Texans. And this week, the Niners are set to play Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. But in Monday's pressers, the Green Bay Packers received the most mentions out of the three teams.
We are just weeks away from the start of the regular season, and it seems that not just fans are ready for it to get going.
While Harbaugh is taking it one day at a time, Gore seems more enthused about the games that matter.
Jim Harbaugh on Frank Gore:
He looks spry, as you put it. Expectations are always really high for Frank. You know, we've got a lot of admiration for Frank and his abilities and respect for his game. He's looking good so far; so far so good.
Gore on his status:
When I got out there against the Houston Texans, you know, I wanted to keep going, especially after I got the first carry and it was a pretty good run. You know, get that rhythm and keep going but I got to listen to the coach, he knows what's best for me. Whenever it's time for me to go, hopefully against Green Bay, I'll be full speed.
Gore understands the potential for his team this season and can't wait to get things going. He also loves the game of football and knows that once the games matter, his reps will increase tenfold. The fact that San Francisco also has such a headline-worthy game to kick off the season does not help matters.
The Niners are always looking to make a statement, especially their veteran leaders like Gore who have been with the teams through the bad times and still don't feel they get the proper respect. Gore is going to want a piece of that Packers defense in Week 1 come September.
On the team in 2012:
Everything was new last year. Now, we're just going from where we left off last year.
Like I said before, everybody was learning last year, so there was a lot of thinking. Now, we know what we got to do, we know the looks and we can just play football, so that's why I think we look so much better this year at this point.
Gore is in a new situation in 2012, as the leader of a potential attack-by-committee. He has been humble about the new role, simply stating that he just wants to win. He is a real team player and will do whatever it takes to bring home wins instead of losses. Furthermore, he believes in this coaching staff's ability to game-plan and cultivate wins.