San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore was on a teleconference with Seattle-area reporters Wednesday, and in that seven-minute interview, the veteran running back was both funny and honest when talking about the Seahawks success, as well as his own team’s struggles.
To start off, Gore was asked about San Francisco’s running game, which hasn’t been as good as in recent years.
“Tell me what y’all think, then I’ll tell you what I think,” he said.
When people suggested he isn’t getting the ball enough, or that the blocking isn’t what it used to be, or that the 49ers aren’t using as much play-action, he said, “I’m just go with what y’all said. I’m riding with the Seahawks reporters today, man.”
Gore then continued, “Things just haven’t been right for us. It’ s just been a different year for us. As a guy who’s been in the league for 10 years, I’m blessed, and I’m just going to try to finish it off right. Hopefully we’ll come up there and give them boys a good game. We’re trying to get the win and move on, but I’m just having fun. I’m not happy about the situation where we’re at, but I’m still blessed.”
Asked about the team’s struggles this year, Gore said, “It’s tough, man. The last three years, NFC Championship, Super Bowl, and this year it’s been difficult for us. We’ve had ups and downs, I feel like the games we should have won, we didn’t take control of them.
Talking about the Seahawks and how they shut the 49ers down on Thanksgiving, Gore said, “They’re a good team, man. They’re a great defense, they play fast. I can’t take nothing away from them, we know what type of game it’s going to be when we play against Seattle.”
Gore saved his biggest praise for middle linebacker Bobby Wagners, saying, “Especially No. 54, Bobby, he’s (expletive) fast as (expletive), man. They play great together, man, they do. I respect that team a lot. They play great together. We’re hoping we can go up there and do whatever it takes to win and still have a shot at the playoff, you know?”
On the rumors and reports that Jim Harbaugh won’t be the 49ers coach going forward, Gore said, “We don’t pay no attention to that. we feel like our coach is a winner. Since he’s been in the NFL, he’s done a great job. This year, since training camp it’s just been weird for us. Injuries, ups and downs, us not playing well, you go through that, but we still believe in our coach. I like him a lot, I like him and our coordinator; it just ain’t happening for us this year.”
Asked a follow-up on Wagner, Gore said, “Man, he’s fast, he’s real fast. He’s smart. They play well together. As a defense, they play great together, man. Every time you see a tackle you see not just one guy, you see three or four guys around, and that’s a great thing about what they do.”
The 31-year-old Gore will be a free agent after this season, and is already past the age when most running backs are considered well past their prime, but he says he wants to keep playing, whether in San Francisco or elsewhere: “I still love the game, I still feel like I can still be me. Me being here next year? I don’t know. Like I tell everybody, I would love to be here, but if they want to move on with the young guys, I’d say they did me great here and I’ll take my talents somewhere else.”
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