(Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
As of Tuesday the news was good, though it could be better. There were no tears, no rips, and no destroyed ligaments to end Running Back Frank Gore's season.
However, according to Monday's MRI Gore's right foot is a mess. The ankle is strained and the right hind foot is sprained. Estimates have him likely out for the next three weeks.
Certainly, losing Gore creates a significant set of challenges. The question is, what are they and how big are they really?
First, the San Francisco run game hasn't been as dominating as perception may have it.
Ranked 16th overall, the bulk of their rushing yards came on Gore's outstanding 207 yard performance against the Seattle Seahawks. Aside from that, the games against the Arizona Cardinals (38 total yards) and the Minnesota Vikings (58 yards) were far from dominating.
Certainly Gore getting hurt put a damper on the run game against Minnesota, but there wasn't that excuse in Week One.
Before you get irate, consider that this is a good thing. For a team to be winning using means other than the ones they were expected to shows depth and an ability to adjust when things aren't going as planned.
The 49ers have shown a solid, if not spectacular passing game and a good defense. Furthermore these two very important facets of the 49er game are still intact despite Gore's injury.
The plan has always been to lean on the defense running game or not. The team intended to do this in order to keep games close and reduce pressure on quarterback Shaun Hill. That doesn't change now with Gore hurt. The onus remains on the defense to make plays.
The defense is ranked 13th overall in total defense after three weeks with six sacks and four interceptions, and are very solid on the ground. The team has yielded just 200 yards over the first three weeks and ranking fourth against the run. Being able to stifle the run game of an opposing team is a big help in terms of controlling the clock and again, plays into the hands of the overall team plan.
Of course with the exception of the Vikings these were not top-shelf run games. Holding Adrian Peterson to under 100 yards is impressive though and shows the grit this defense has.
Coach Mike Singletary has given this team a hard-nosed personality and it shows on the defensive side of the ball. Gore going down will not send a ripple through this unit.
Note also that despite Gore's absence for almost the entire game, the team was able to keep pace with—and come within a miracle play of beating—Minnesota.
Shaun Hill is not as prolific as Drew Brees. He does not have Tom Brady's ability to will games into wins. He does not have Peyton Manning's poise and ability to read defenses at the line.
Hill does manage the offense well and while he makes the occasional mistake (like an early fumble in the Vikings game) he generally keeps the opposing defenses from stacking eight men in a box.
Frank Gore is a guy who, while he was better with large, gaping holes, didn't need them. Rookie Glen Coffee will and needs the defenses to respect the threat of a pass. While Hill may not be the future of the position in San Francisco, he is able to do enough to keep defenses from stacking the line.
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