49ers RB Frank Gore Campaigning for 2015 After Strong Week 16 Outing
Running back Frank Gore could very well be suiting up for his final game with the San Francisco 49ers.
The 31-year-old franchise rushing leader is finishing off the final year of his three-year, $19.21 million contract and shall be a free agent following the season.
"I've been here 10 years, and it could be last two games here this year," Gore said via Eric Branch of SFGate.com prior to Week 16. "It's weird knowing that I won't be under contract anymore. But I've been in the league long enough to understand it's a business."
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It's a business that will be complicated by the 49ers' contractual restraints in 2015.
San Francisco currently sits at almost $3.5 million under the salary cap. Some players, like wide receiver Michael Crabtree and offensive guard Mike Iupati, might price themselves out of the 49ers' future plans. But will Gore be a part of that equation?
Gore has stated that he wants to play next season and has hinted at testing the open market, per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee.
At an age where most running backs have already ended their careers, Gore is still showcasing why he's such a valuable commodity. His performance against the San Diego Chargers in Week 16 was a perfect example.
Yet will a performance like this be enough to convince someone to take a flier on him next year?
It is, in Gore's mind.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Prior to Week 16, Gore needed 196 yards to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for the eighth time in his storied career.
Given the inconsistency in which the 49ers offense has used Gore, one might have speculated that the veteran wouldn't have received the chance over the remaining two games in what has been a lost season for San Francisco.
But these prospects were put back into focus with an awe-inspiring performance in the first quarter against San Diego.
Gore gashed the Chargers for a 52-yard touchdown run on the 49ers' opening drive. We'll get to that play in a bit, but his efforts helped set up a strong offensive showing in the first half. Gore had already surpassed 100 yards on the ground shortly into the second quarter.
He credited the success, not to his own abilities, but to his offensive line.
"My whole offensive line was there," Gore said via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. "All year, we missed one guy here, one guy there. I think that is what the problem has been. My O-line dominated their D-line tonight."
Unfortunately, as has been so often the case, the 49ers offense could not adjust in the second half.
San Diego made its defensive adjustments, which held Gore to just 29 yards on 12 carries after halftime, per Gutierrez.
Still, San Francisco's No. 1 running back amassed 158 yards on 26 carries—an average of 6.08 yards per attempt, which is the highest in any of his efforts this season.
With 962 rushing yards under his belt, Gore needs just 38 more to crest 1,000. He'll have to do this against an Arizona Cardinals defense that ranks No. 8 in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed (1,533).
Breaking Down the Film
What makes Gore so special is his patience and vision. While his age might have hindered his first-step burst at this point in his career, Gore is still able to maintain his effectiveness using the strengths that made him one of the league's most prominent rushers.
It also helped that his O-line was doing its job for the first half.
One can see these elements in Gore's second-longest rush of the game. This play was a 16-yard gain at the 9:26 mark of the first quarter.
Gore is lined up in the offset-I formation with fullback Bruce Miller ahead and to his right. San Diego's front-seven defense is expecting that Gore will stick to his bread-and-butter approach—a run in between the tackles. Instead, Gore will use the exterior blocks from Miller and wide receiver Anquan Boldin to exploit the point of attack.
After evading the interior pressure, Gore pauses for a second to allow right tackle Anthony Davis to execute a key block. This opens up a lane in which Gore can make it into the secondary, where there is a lone defender to beat.
San Diego's defense is finally able to converge, and Gore is pushed out of bounds at the Chargers' 5-yard line.
San Francisco was set up for another score that would have put it up 13-0, but Miller fumbled on the subsequent play, and San Diego recovered. Still, the opportunity was set up by all the things that makes Gore great—vision, patience and his veteran prowess.
But Gore's longest rush—his 52-yard, opening-drive touchdown run—suggested anything but the veteran being 31 years old.
Gore is again lined up in the offset-I formation with Miller ahead and to his right. This play is similar to the one that netted Gore 16 yards on the 49ers' subsequent drive. Gore will cut to his right behind the blocks of Miller, tight end Vernon Davis and the O-line. Note Boldin at the bottom of the screen. He'll deliver a key block later in the play.
A small window opens between Anthony Davis and Vernon Davis, upon which Gore bursts after a brief pause. One can also see Boldin's critical block that allows Gore to get into open space.
At this point, we would expect Gore to be brought down. Two defenders are lining up for the tackle, and if they had been able to do so, the play would have gone for a decent five- or six-yard gain.
But that didn't happen.
Gore has one man to beat in order to break free to get into the end zone. But instead of a bull-rush speed effort, the veteran uses his patience and blockers to exploit yet another lane in San Diego's secondary. Gore will pause for a moment to allow his blocks to take place. Once these occur, Gore is off for the touchdown.
Younger, less experienced backs might have not seen this play develop in such a way. But Gore's vision and patience are still as good as ever. It's hard to teach that.
Take a look at the play in real time. You can see all of these elements as they happen. Gore runs as if he's a 25-year-old back—breaking tackles and outmaneuvering defensive backs.
San Francisco might have lost this game, but this one play was pretty special.
Gore's Future
There is no doubt that Gore still plays at a respectfully high level. While he may not possess the same burst that younger backs have, his patience and vision are things that are at an upper echelon.
But the 49ers' situation may dictate the franchise moving in a different direction.
Salary concerns have already been discussed. There is also the age factor. Will 2015 be the year when Father Time finally catches up to Gore? And what about No. 2 running back Carlos Hyde?
San Francisco's rookie backup has shown promise in 2014. But he still remains the second-best option behind Gore, which contrasts the notion that he could have taken over the No. 1 job this season—a possibility once discussed in the video below.
Hyde didn't take over in 2014. But will that be the case next season? Will Hyde be the featured back with the 49ers?
It's a tough question to ask. But sentiments and speculation both lead one to believe that Gore and the 49ers are seeking a 2015 reunion.
When asked about Gore's uncertain future with the franchise, general manager Trent Baalke responded, via Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area:
"He understands what he means to this organization. He would certainly like to be back, and we would certainly like to have him back. Now, whether we can make that a reality or not, time will tell.
You have to look at the situation. Frank is going to want to discuss his role, and what that role is going to be moving forward. What is the contract itself is going to look like? We can both want each other’s company, but to make that happen, there are hurdles that are going to have to be crossed.
"
Gore's sentiments have tied him back to San Francisco as well, per Janie McCauley of AP Sports:
Whether or not this will happen shall depend on both parties' mutual understanding of the situation. Contractual terms and roles will play a factor. The middle ground has yet to be determined.
Still, it is possible to see Gore in another uniform next year. 49ers greats of years prior have taken this route. Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott are among many who finished their storied careers elsewhere.
Gore is campaigning for his own story to continue.
While the business element could take his services elsewhere next season, one thing is for certain: 49ers fans want to see Gore retire in red and gold.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of Spotrac.com.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers news, insight and analysis.
Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.
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