Kevin,

I think it's a lock that Frank Gore passes 10,000 yards in a 49ers uniform next year. For some reason, he has looked better - more agile, more physically tight and resilient - with each game over the last two years. I can easily foresee him coming back next year and putting in one of the all-time great seasons. Indeed, if he gets lucky and avoids major injuries and is allowed to run behind this current awesome O-line for another two or three years, he may well lift himself into the ranks of the top ten yardage RBs of all time. I never expected that to happen - like you I thought he'd be done, really done, after 5 seasons or so on account of those early surgeries - but now I believe he really is one of those rare players who buck the odds and do the Energizer Bunny for way longer than anyone forecast. That might not be the best thing that could happen for the team, I appreciate that, having seen other RBs who were superlative in their way but never quite enough to lift their team to a championship. But it probably means that we'll be saluting another 49er as he enters the Hall of Fame 8 or 10 years from now.

(Jack - I realize that you disagree about Gore's HOF chances.)

More interestingly, don't you think that if last year's draft amounts to anything - and right now that means Jenkins, James, Kaepernick and Looney panning out - it will mean that our offensive personnel resemble in many ways those of the Philadelphia Eagles of recent years? I'm sort of groping in the dark on this issue, because I really like certain aspects of the specific talents of all of them - I mean Jenkins, James and Kaepernick - but right now I'm not sure I'd be tremendously comfortable if those three were supposed to be our main force on offense at QB, RB and WR. I think Kaepernick has the potential to be infinitely more resilient than Michael Vick, but you get my point about the ultimate shortcomings of the Philly triumvirate - Vick, McCoy, Jackson - at the three key offensive skill positions, right?

Last Edited By: Win80 02/08/13 01:42 AM. Edited 1 times.