Originally posted by buck:
Originally posted by fryet:
Originally posted by buck:
If Gore had better production, we would have won the game.
I tend to think the loss is on the team. I hope your are not putting the loss on Gore.
Response: 11 carries for only 14 yards. No one else had as many opportunities as Gore to positively impact the game and did so little. Sure it is a team game, but if the 49ers had won, it would have been despite Gore's lack of production.
If Gore is on the team, Lattimore won't even be suiting up for games.
Barring catastrophic events, Gore will be on the team and Lattimore will not only suiting up but also playing.
Response: The 49ers aren't going to suit up 4 RB on game day. So that means either Lattimore is a bust, or a talented player is doing nothing for the team.
Now as for the unknown, neither Hunter nor LMJ are unknown. They have both shown that they are capable of moving the chains.
James played 30 snaps last year. He had 2 receptions for 16 yards. He rushed 12 times for 59 yards.
I think he is still somewhat unknown--at best.
Response: James played more extensively in 2012. He has done enough to show that he can move the chains for the 49ers. Granted, I would be worried if he was the only RB we had, but a Hunter/James combo would be quite good.
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The offensive line shares responsibility for the lack of rushing production. We did not lose the game because of Gore. It was a team loss.
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I do not think I was clear. Let me restate. Not only will Lattimore be suiting up but he will also be playing. Or Lattimore will be active and play. Gore will be on the team.
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James played 57 snaps in 2012. He has played 87 snaps in two years.
In contrast, Hunter played 172 in 2012 and 202 snaps in 2013. Hunter has played 374 snaps in the last two years.
I do not feel that we have seen enough of James to say that we know he can move the chains. I hope he could do so, but I am not willing to say that after seeing him play 87 snaps.
I do not want, or expect to see, Gore released or traded this year.
If you want him cut, we disagree.
Yes, we do disagree. For James, do those numbers include playoffs? Regardless, he isn't a total unknown, plus I don't see him starting. Hunter would be the starter, and James the backup. This assuming that Lattimore doesn't do anything to get on the field.
I do agree that the OL didn't play well, but that does not totally excuse Gore's lack of production. RB can't expect great blocking on every play, and Seattle didn't blow up every single one of our runs. Lynch's line also had a difficult time run blocking, but still Lynch managed to make significant contributions. As already stated, Hunter with much fewer carries managed to do more than Gore did.
As for Lattimore suiting up, do you really think the 49ers will have 4 RB on the 46? Maybe if Dixon doesn't come back, although even then, Dixon's replacement would be primarily for special teams. Otherwise, the only way Lattimore gets on the 46 is if he beats out LMJ, in which case LMJ is the player that we are under-utilizing.