This Just In: Frank Gore Is The Best Player On The 49ers' Offense

With the fourth practice session behind us, we're slowly starting to get a couple of answers to our ever-mounting questions about the San Francisco 49ers, as both Head Coach Mike Singletary and Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Raye were in a talking mood on Monday afternoon.

Obviously the two most oft-asked questions so far have been (and will continue to be): 1) Who's the starting quarterback? and 2) When will he get the chance to throw it to Michael Crabtree?

But for all the "Quarterback Controversy" mumbo jumbo, this morning practice was a jarring reminder that regardless of who winds up being the guy handing the ball off to him, running back Frank Gore remains the most important player on this offense and that as long as he's upright and being fed a steady diet of carries, the 49ers have the potential to be an above average offense.

The team worked Gore hard in the morning, both in 9-on-7 and full 11-on-11 drills and he looked to be in Pro Bowl form, changing gears effortlessly in and out of his cuts and looking considerably faster and more elusive than the team's other running backs.

Even in "thud" drills - basically training camp vernacular for "two hand touch" it was very difficult for any defenders to lay a hand on Gore until he got to the second or third level.

Gore being at his peak will be vital for the offense to have any consistency and the early concern is that he will once again have to be the workhorse. Third round pick Glen Coffee has looked very ordinary so far and has not distinguished himself from the other backs in camp, Thomas Clayton and Kory Sheets, respectively.

Raye Likes His Receivers

When the team did work on the passing game, the throws and the routes from both Shaun Hill and Alex Smith looked more crisp and fluid than the first couple of days and both the guys vying for the starting split end job—Josh Morgan and Brandon Jones—continued to impress on what few balls were intended for them, with Jones looking particularly impressive on a leaping grab over dime corner Marcus Hudson.

Raye spoke highly of both receivers in his press conference afterward, saying that he was impressed with Morgan's explosiveness for such a big receiver and with Jones' ability to adapt to a new offensive system coming over from the Tennessee Titans.

Raye also added that Morgan and Jones are two of only three wide receivers on the squad who can play both the split end and flanker positions (Morgan can play the slot as well), with Arnaz Battle being the third.

The team continues to install plays where tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker look like they're the main options, so for now the wideouts aren't getting much work.

For the record, Hill looked a bit better than Smith in the morning, but he also got to work with the first team receivers a lot more.

Backup defenders getting their chance to impress

With nicks and bruises becoming the norm, several second-teamers are getting an opportunity to audition for bigger roles for Singletary and Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky.

In some cases, such as when Jeff Ulbrich subs in for Patrick Willis (see below) it won't matter, but one example where it might is with Ahmad Brooks, who is seeing a lot of reps with Parys Haralson continuing to nurse a sore right hip flexor.

Singletary, who is usually frugal with his compliments, said that he was very excited about Brooks and praised the ex-Bengal for "flying around out there making plays."

Speaking of ex-Bengals, right end Justin Smith was given a day of rest for the morning period so the team could get a look at last year's first round pick Kentwan Balmer with the first unit. 

Balmer, who's rookie year was largely a disappointment, did just "OK" according to Singletary.

Another guy looking to start, cornerback Dre' Bly, didn't appear to help his cause any this morning when given another chance with the ones while Tarell Brown missed another day with a sprained toe on his left foot.

Bly gave up several completions during the team's 11-on-11 drills, but was his usual boastful self with the media afterward. We'll see if he can back it up in the afternoon...

Willis Day-to-Day

Immediately when you see the word "injury" connected to the words "Patrick Willis" there is the sense to panic, but the star linebacker suffered what Singletary termed "a very slight ankle strain" late Sunday afternoon and shouldn't be out very long.

Jeff Ulbrich—he of the pregame Viking chants—replaced Willis.

Notes

Fullback Moran Norris returned to practice after two excused days off to deal with an undisclosed personal matter and he "picked up right where he left off in minicamp" according to Raye.

Norris was signed with the expectation to be the team's lead blocker for Gore and the other running backs and Raye personally doused any speculation that Michael Robinson might challenge him for the job, saying that the former Penn State quarterback isn't as physical as the hulking Norris.

Raye did praise Robinson for his versatility in the passing game, however.