Frank Gore Is Natural Fit with Indianapolis Colts' Power-Run Game

The new deal that brings running back Frank Gore to Indianapolis allows the Colts to fill an immediate need with a proven, veteran player who is still producing numbers in the NFL.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Gore’s contract with the Colts is a three-year deal for $12 million that includes $8.5 million in guarantees. That's good money for a running back at this stage of his career.

Before Gore flipped on his initial offer over the weekend from the Eagles, I had no problem calling him a fit for Chip Kelly’s system in Philadelphia because of his running style. He attacks the hole with speed and displays excellent vision to find daylight. That sells in a zone-based running scheme.

However, with Gore choosing the Colts, it’s easy to see this as a more natural fit under offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton because of the power-run concepts that are at the top of the call sheet in Indianapolis.

Gore put up numbers in San Francisco running the ball out of reduced formations in the "Power O," "Counter OF," "Lead" and "Wham." Those are your core power schemes in the NFL that cater to a back who allows blocks to develop before finding a running lane and getting small in the hole.

Here’s an example of the Power O (fullback kick-out, backside guard pull) from the 49ers-Cowboys tape with San Francisco shifting to an unbalanced line (tackle over).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

In this scheme, there is really nowhere to hide with the 49ers blocking down, pulling the guard and creating an inside hole. That allows Gore to display his speed through the hole (with no wasted movement) to attack the second level of the defense. This is old school stuff—and Gore has shown he will produce when given the opportunity to carry the ball in a system that caters to his skill set.

The fit for Gore is easy to see, but more importantly, this gives the Colts a No. 1 back with the uncertain future of Trent Richardson in Indianapolis and Ahmad Bradshaw now on the free-agent market. 

At the end of the 2014 season, Colts running back Dan "Boom" Herron saw the majority of the touches and did produce some numbers. And I like Herron’s game. He hits the hole hard and has some shake in the open field, the lateral movement to make defenders miss. Plus, Herron can produce as a receiver out of the backfield.

The way I see it, Herron will get touches in the game plan in 2015, but Gore is the guy, the experienced vet who should get the majority of carries for this team while also showcasing his ability to protect quarterback Andrew Luck on passing downs. Gore is excellent in pass protection, which is a very important part of playing the position at this level.

That’s the dirty work you expect from a veteran back—to pick up blitzes versus defenses that love to send pressure. Put a helmet in someone’s chest, and give Luck the time he needs to get the ball out. That’s the drill.

Don Feria/Getty Images

While Gore does fill that need for the Colts in the backfield, I have to mention the amount of cash invested in a back who will be 32 years old at the start of the season.

Yes, Gore did rip off another 1,000-plus-yard season in 2014 with the 49ers, and he has been extremely durable the last four seasons. I get it. But when will the production start to slow, and how many carries does he have left in those veteran legs? Those are fair questions to ask when looking at a back in his 30s.

As I said above, this offense under Hamilton caters to Gore. He can use his vision in the zone schemes, and I love the idea of him going to a team that features the power-run game. That’s where he can grind out yards and showcase the running style that led to so much production for the 49ers.

The Colts and Luck needed a No. 1 back. Gore fits that role in Indianapolis, but there is some risk involved here that his numbers begin to fade given his age and the number of hits he has taken over his career.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41