Here’s the question of the week: Should Frank Gore play against the Cardinals?
He bruised his ribs in the second quarter against the Seahawks last week. He practiced on Monday and he says he can play against the Cardinals, but he probably will not be 100 percent healthy.
The 49ers need Gore in December and January for their Super Bowl run. It would be wise to rest him in the middle of the season if he’s hurt, especially when he has two healthy backups – Kendall Hunter and Brandon Jacobs.
On the other hand, the 49ers will be the overwhelming favorites to win the NFC West if they beat the Cardinals in Arizona next Monday. The 49ers are undefeated in the Harbaugh Era when Gore runs for more than 100 yards. Even if Gore is just 85 percent healthy, he could probably lead the Niners to a victory over the Cardinals.
Is it worth it for Gore to play through bruised ribs? What do you think?
I think the 49ers should sit Gore. Right now, the offense is completely Gore-centric. It would only help the team if the offense could get Vernon Davis and Kendall Hunter more involved in a win.
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Let him suit up but only use him if we struggle.
Have him be active and give no indication whether he’ll play… and keep him on the bench. Let Jacobs and Hunter handle the load.
This is a great time for him to get rest. He would have about 2 and a half weeks to get healthy due to the upcoming bye week. Kendall, Jacobs, and even activate James. I think we would be fine.
What’s the point of having backups if you can’t depend on them when the starter gets injured? They should rest Gore until he’s 100%. Who knows, maybe they could even dress LaMichael James.
There isn’t a player in the NFL who is 100% healthy.
I too think that while this is an important win for the 49ers, it’s not as important as a post season win. I would sit Frank and see what Jabobs can do. Isn’t that kind of why we got him? I would also be happy if the give the rook a shot at a couple of plays.
Jacobs was picked up to replace Dixon. SF didn’t have a goal line short yardage back. Dixon made unexpected contributions as a FB and on ST. That’s why Jacobs hasn’t been activated.
Absolutely Gore should play. This is a big game and he will have plenty of time to rest during the bye. He had 92 of his 131 yards rushing yards and 27 of his 51 receiving yards after the ribs were hurt.
He has to play period…when he is not involved in the offense we almost don’t have one. It would be great if we didn’t over use him against AZ but without gore the offense can’t get going as easy so he has to play and play well for us to be the power house running team we are…it’s like grant said in training camp gore is still the best back on the team hands down so play him or risk losing a very important division game…he’ll get his rest on the bye week
I think he is too important to the offense to sit him. We are 1st in rushing mainly due to him. Jacobs wouldn’t be able to fill his shoes. And without Gore that means Alex will be throwing the ball more. Considering how bad he’s done the last two weeks, thats somethin we should all fear.
Gore also does a tremendous amount of blocking and blitz pick ups. He’s also a receiving threat out of the back field. Those are all areas Jacobs doesn’t fill.
I think you’re wrong! In the games prior to injuring his knee, Jacobs was running with a chip on his shoulder. He didn’t have the happy feet in the backfield like he did in NY. He was hitting the holes hard and fast. He was also glad to be a part of the 9ers because he was getting to catch balls out of the backfield, something he wanted to do in NY. He’s champing at the bit to get in there. Jacobs is exceptional at blitz pickup, not sure where you got that from! Sure I want Gore in there but I wouldn’t feel one bit nervous if he didn’t. Actually, I’m champing at the bit to see him (BJ) play!
Nah dont rest him. The Niners are going to win the division by at least two games can rest him in the last games of the season. However if he cant perform dont be afraid to sit him. The Niners have a real difficult schedule in the remaing nine games, with the easiest game is the Dolphins who currently would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.
If he practices regularly, let him play 12-15 snaps, mostly in the first half as the Niners take a lead. He can rest most of second half.
He should at least suit up, start the game. If he doesn’t feel great let hunter and Jacobs carry the load. The az defense will be after Gore so you know he’s going to take some hits. Yes this game is important but i would much have him healthy in the playoffs. We have rb depth anyway, use them.
This is a Division Game, of course you play Frank. They have a bye the following week, he can rest then.
I’d rest Gore and activate Jenkins or James. Let’s see what we can do.
Interesting question Grant. Catch 22. I actually thought from the beginning of the season that they would limit Gore’s touches. A fresh Gore during the playoffs makes this a dangerous team.
This is a good game to see what Hunter has. And a Jacobs sighting might be nice right about now. Let Frank heal. He began breaking down last season. Well he’s a year older now. He can’t be the work horse he’s been.
If this team doesn’t have a stable of healthy backs that can carry the offense during the playoffs then we are done.
So my suggestion is sit Gore.
It’s hard to sit your best offensive player in a divisional game. There’s too much at stake if you lose.
That said, the best outcome would be, get an early lead, dominate by halftime and limit his touches. Let Jacobs pound them in the second half.
Does it really matter who runs over the Cardinals? Their run-defense is horrendous and Hunter/Jacobs/James would do just fine. Sprinkle in a couple of reverses to Williams and a couple of 78 yard TD runs by Alex Smith and this one’s in the bag.
A bruised rib is not an injury really, it’s just painful. If he feels fine to go, he’s not in much danger of hurting it worse. Plus, they’re going into a bye week, so he’ll have 13 days off after the AZ game. Give him 15 or so carries as long as he feels fine.
If Gore is healthy enough to play then yes of course he plays. What kind of a questions is that?
The Point here is to start employing more of the other RB’s so you can start cutting back the work load but you don’t competely shut down Gore. C’mon people.
Depends on how he feels, we need him in the playoffs, perhaps see how well he plays and hold up in the first quarter.
Silly question…If he is healthy enough to play effectively without risking further injury then he plays. No way Frank is sitting one out against a division rival with a one game lead and heading into the bye. A lighter load perhaps, a few more carries for Hunter & possibly Jacobs. There’s not much you can do for bruised ribs so if he can stand the pain then let him play.
Gore should suit up and play, but it would probably be wise to spell him with Hunter a little more . This also opens up the opportunity to have Jacobs play a few snaps to acclimate him to how this offense works.
No player in the NFL is 100% healthy. Gore will play because SF quite frankly needs him to play.
He’ll be used for 10 to 12 carries. That will be enough to keep him in “game mode” and then the team will rest him during the bye.
Az has a great secondary. The game plan will be run run run again this week. Brandon Jacobs is not Frank Gore. He isn’t even an Anthony Dixon. He’ll get you the 1 to 3 tough yards on the goal line. He isn’t going to break off a 15 yard chunk. He hasn’t seen live game action all season and puting him in for more than 10 to 12 carries would be a “fumble” liability.
I expect to see Gore 10-12 carries. I expect to see Hunter get 15 carries. Jacobs will get 5 carries. I expect more Kaepernick runs this game. I also expect to see Smith bootleg at least 5 times.
Az has a great secondary against the pass, but not so good against the run. SF game plan, “Back to Basics.”
Yes. Tough call!! But. We have to play him. Let him play a few series and see what happends. See how he feels. Although Kendall and Brandon can run the ball fairly well, how well can they block, pick up blitzes (which the cards will surely do a lot of), catch, etc. It’s a divisional game … away. We need him. Period.
It all depends on how frank feel by next Monday! I would keep him active but play hunter and Jacobs! We need Frank healthy down the stretch. Go Niners
The reason you went out and got Jacobs was so that if Gore went down, you would have someone to fill in with Hunter carrying the load. Now that Gore is ailiing and we need him more than ever in December, we should play him even if he is hurt?
Its is an important division game but this is why we all this depth at the RB position. It makes no sense to play Frank Gore when you have capable back ups. Rest him and give Jacobs a chance. If you don’t its almost certain Jacobs is done mentally as a 49er.
Axel
A division game is the most important game on a schedule. I love KH, and I think we should use him more. Especially in the passing game.
But FG is one of a kind. He is the best. And we’ll need our best to beat AZ in AZ where we lost last year.
But now you have told the Cardinals that Gore has bruised ribs and bounty gate or not, they are going to go after Gore with everything they have. Stop the run, you stop the Niners.
You also take away the ‘bell cow’ of the offense and emotional leader if he gets hurt even more. That defense would feast knowing they took Gore out of the game.
Division games are important but so is the longevity of your best offensive player. Why the risk when you have 3 capable backups and the reason you brought in all those other guys?
I think NO tried that approach last year in the playoffs. Gore had a concussion. Heck, they even have tape of Williams admitting as much. How’d that work out?
Gore did not have a concussion going into the playoff game. They had 2 weeks off before the game, he was healthy. Gore is clearly hurt as of today and bruised ribs linger. If he is healthy play him, if he 90% why play him when you have 3 guys waiting and capable. Its not like Hunter cant do it and Jacobs has been ready for two weeks now.
Axel, I see your point. It’s completely valid. But my gripe is … Gore does more than just run the ball. Can Jacobs and or Hunter block, pick up blitzes, and catch as well as Gore does. Maybe they can. Maybe I’m looking to much into it. But that’s why I say put Gore in for a few series and see how he does/feels. Any other day I would say rest him. But as tight as the NFCW is right now, we need to win these divisional games.
That’s a wacky question. If Gore can play, he plays.
Frank has had 10 days to rest the ribs if we sit him by the next time he plays it would have been 24 days since the injury. As important as this game is the next 8 games (4 of them division games) are just as important. If gore gets dinged vs Arizona it would be a setback that could linger in to the second half of the season. Now seems like the perfect time to give BJ some snaps. If he can do well against a decent Ari D then JH will have more confidence in using him the rest of the season. Its a big gamble but IMO its worth the risk to si him