Coach Janky Spanky

ISNANITY?

Running back Frank Gore is lining up in the slot. Receiver Ashley Lelie is running reverses. New receivers Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson are moving faster and catching more passes than just about anybody who played that position for the NFL's worst offense in the last three years.

"Practicing right now, I like it," said Gore, also the 49ers' receptions leader in each of the last two seasons. "We're spreading the ball around, and hopefully this year we won't see eight, nine men in the box every play. I think I'll get used in the passing game, too. I want to show I can do it all - run, catch, block. People think I'm just a running back."

HAIL GLORIOUS QB LEADER

Smith did look more fundamentally sound and said that he's trying to rid himself of bad throwing habits. He said that Martz is focusing on how he holds the ball, his eyes, his posture and footwork. "All that stuff is getting coached," Smith said. Smith's dad, Doug, a former high school football coach told Mike Silver of Yahoo that Alex was never taught the fundamentals since he's been with the 49ers.

AWESOME COACHING JOB THERE.

WOOT

Martz spent the last two seasons as Detroit's offensive coordinator under coach Rod Marinelli. The Lions started out well in 2007 at 6-2 but then lost seven of their last eight games. With a lousy defense, the Lions had to throw the ball to try to keep pace and Martz's reputation as a pass-happy madman only grew.

"I come from a team that was 32nd in defense," Martz said of the Lions. "People ask why we threw the ball so much. Now we can come in and play 'normal' football and have patience. At Detroit, we couldn't do that. You look up at the scoreboard and you're down 21-0 at the end of the first quarter."

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While the 49ers' Frank Gore is not an exact fit in the Faulk mold, he's close. The two backs are of similar size and both are excellent receivers as well as runners.

"He has that type of multiplicity, if you will," Martz said of Gore. "He's a very unselfish player. He's a better pass-blocker than Marshall was. He has excellent receiving skills. He's a guy you can pound without worrying if he'll hold up."


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"Mike Martz is hopeful he can build an offense around Frank Gore the way he did Marshall Faulk with the Rams. "

THANK YOU, OH GOD, MAKE THE PAIN STOP