Frank Gore Headed for Breakout Performance in Week 4 vs. Eagles

Three weeks into the NFL season, Frank Gore has been virtually invisible for the San Francisco 49ers. That will all change in Week 4 as Gore and the Niners host the Philadelphia Eagles.

So far, Gore has seen his touches significantly decrease on a weekly basis. After rushing 16 times Week 1 against the Cowboys, he had 12 carries Week 2 and only six last week.

He hasn’t really been effective with those touches, either. His season totals are 34 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown. That’s an average of 3.5 yards per rush.

Although, before you go and drop him from your fantasy team, let’s examine how Gore will break out of this slow start.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The first thing going his way is the fact his team faces the Eagles this week. Philly’s offense is one of the best in the league and can basically score when it pleases. Head coach Jim Harbaugh can counteract this by maintaining possession and running the football.

A year ago, San Francisco ran the ball at will. Running was a huge part of the offensive scheme and what the team did to win games. The 49ers finished 2013 as the third-best rushing team, averaging nearly 138 yards per game.

This year has been much different. It’s not that Gore has been particularly bad; it's more so that the play-calling has disregarded the running game as a whole.

Through three games, San Francisco has only 80 rushing attempts. That’s tied for 21st in the NFL.

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

In order to get back to their winning ways, the Niners need to focus on what they do well and run more often. Someone should remind the coaching staff how well it performed in 2013.

Another reason San Francisco should turn to the run is because the team as a whole is losing because of a lack of it. The offense is much too reliant on quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and it clearly hasn’t worked. Since beating Dallas, the Niners have lost two straight. The 996 yards of offensive production is good enough for only 21st in the league.

Some may think that rookie Carlos Hyde has been taking away some of Gore’s opportunities, but that’s just not the case. In three weeks Hyde has only 14 carries himself.

It’s not a coincidence that, the only week the 49ers won, Frank Gore rushed more than 15 times. By handing the ball to his running backs, Kaepernick will have less pressure to make a big play every time he runs. It will also force the defensive front to be more honest, which will then open things up for the quarterback.

Expect Gore to have a much larger role Week 4. He still has plenty left in the tank to deliver; he just needs to get enough opportunities from the coaches. Watch the veteran carry it close to 20 times this week and reach 100 yards for the first time in 2014.