Chad Erickson Posts

Gore is ready for the offseason. It is the first time in a long time that he is healthy and ready for the offseason. Darryl Johnston and Curt Menefee were discussing Gore during the Broncos game and Moose mentioned how Gore told him he will take a week off then it is back to work. It seems Gore has his mind set on 2200. The pro bowl back is focusing on breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record. Asked what he can do to eclipse his record breaking season, Gore had this to say...

"I'm going for 2,200 (yards) next year," Gore said. "That's the record, isn't it? Yeah, I'll get that."

And Gore had this to say about his first healthy offseason in a while...

"Last year, I didn't start working out 'til the end of summer," said Gore, who averaged a hefty 5.4 yards per carry. "I couldn't run, couldn't lift with my upper body. After a whole summer to work out, next year is going to be crazy, real crazy."

Everywhere Kansas City Chiefs fans are thanking the 49ers for spoiling Denver's shot at the playoffs. The 49ers went into Mile High and upset the Denver Broncos knocking them out of the playoffs. Thanks to the 49ers defense and Frank Gore.

The 49ers finished their season at 7-9 and went all the way down to two minutes remaining in overtime to get their seventh and final win. The 49ers defense abused rookie quarterback Jay Cutler all game, at one point knocked him out of the game, but Cutler still did what he could to get the Broncos the win but the 49ers defense wouldn't have any of it. Twice the Broncos had the ball inside the five and both times the 49ers defense clamped down and the Broncos walked away with threes. On the offensive side of the ball for the 49ers it was once again Frank Gore who finished the day with 153 yards rushing to not only surpass Garrison Hearst as franchise's leading rusher in a season, but also he took the NFC rushing crown with 1695 yards on the season.

The 49ers can capitalize on this season and head into next with their heads up high. They have a good nucleus with Alex Smith, Frank Gore and Vernon Davis and they also have 41 million in cap space and eight picks in the first four rounds of the draft. Things are only going to get better in Ninerland.

The 49ers didn't allow their starting safety to test the free agent market. On Friday it was reported that the 49ers have extended the contract of Mark Roman for three years. The details of the contract are not disclosed.

Roman was signed to a one year deal at the beginning of the season after being released by the Green Bay Packers. After the Packers signed Marquand Manuel, Roman asked for his release or to be traded and the Packers obliged. Roman started the season as a backup to Tony Parrish, but about four to five games into the season he took over the starting spot and has been the starter ever since. He has played well enough that the 49ers felt it was wise to release the veteran Parrish. Roman has played in all 15 games this season and 59 tackles, one interception and eight passes defensed. This is a solid move by the 49ers, who felt Roman was one of the better safeties set to become a free agent.

The 49ers travel to Denver for their last game of the season. What a difference a week makes. Last week they still had hopes for playoffs and now, nothing, nada, zilch. 6-10 or 7-9 does it really matter at this point? The 49ers have already started their offseason looking ahead to the 2007 season. This game will mean more to the Broncos still fighting for a playoff spot then the 49ers, who if they win most likely move out of the top ten in the draft. Perhaps the only reason this game has any interest is to watch Frank Gore surpass Garrison Hearst as the 49ers all-time leader rusher for a season. Gore needs only 29 yards to overtake Hearst.

Aside from that I'm sure Nolan may play his younger guys more. Expect to see lots of Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Brandon Williams and a few others. Just look at this game as an early start to training camp and just remember to tell yourselves, the 49ers have 41 million in cap space and eight picks in the first four rounds of the draft. Now that is something to get excited about.

Well, so much for that. The last meaningful game in San Francisco in four years and the 49ers lose a shot at the West, and the playoffs, losing to the Cardinals 23-20. Yes the scoreboard may say 26-20, but a missed field goal was ruled good. That sums up the 49ers season right there. Things very seldom went their way. The 49ers kept on fighting but two back to back turnovers did them in and with Boldin and Fitzgerald on the other team it really didn't matter who was quarterback for the Cardinals, Matt Leinart, Kurt Warner, or Neil Lomax. All they had to do was find one of them and that was about all there was to it.

Not all was lost in this game, Vernon Davis had another solid game and showed he could take a hit. Gore rushed well when he got the carries, but the 49ers will always struggle to win when their offense only get 11 carries a game. Again the Cardinal receivers were just to much for the 49ers to handle and until they upgrade their secondary and get a solid pass, receivers like Boldin and Fitzgerald will continue to eat them alive.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports is reporting that the NFL has suspended 49ers wide receiver Antonio Bryant four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy which was a result of Bryant's arrest last month on suspicion of drunk driving. Bryant will miss the final two games of the season and the first two games of next season. If the 49ers happen to make the playoffs those games will count towards the suspension as well.

This doesn't come at a worse time. The 49ers have a shot at the playoffs, and Bryant had one of his best games of the season against the Cardinals in the opening weekend. The 49ers will look to fill the lose of Bryant with receivers Brian Gilmore and Taylor Jacobs.

Bryant was asked to be excused from practice on Thursday due to personal reasons. At the time Mike Nolan said that the team was not disciplining Bryant when it was hinted that he may miss this weekends game. We now know why he asked to leave.

All 49er fans know how big this game is this weekend against the Cardinals. A win and a Seahawks loss and they are one step closer to the playoffs. This may be the biggest game all season, the 49ers are coming off a huge primetime win over the Seahawks, who they swept by the way, and are in a good position to make the postseason. Of course they need help, but they still have a chance.

The key to the game is going to be Frank Gore, he is coming off another solid performance and needs only 80 yards to pass Garrison Hearst and the 49ers rushing leader for a season. The last time Gore ran against the Cardinals he rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns, but since then Gore, along with the offensive line, has only gotten better. Looking at the stats Gore should run all over the Cardinals. In their six road games this season the Cardinals have given up an average of 169 yards a game. If Gore continues his record setting year the 49ers will be in good shape to get win number seven.

Alex Smith is coming off one of the best halves of his young career. He threw two touchdowns and ran for another late against the Seahawks. Now the question is which Smith shows up. The Smith from the first half of the Seahawks game or the one from the second half. I hope it's the latter. Although the offense goes through Gore, Smith must have good command of the game and not turn the ball over and hit his receivers in key situations, mainly third downs. The offense should have Eric Johnson back this weekend and he along with Vernon Davis, who has been on fire as of late, will get Smith more weapons to make things happen.

In the end I the game is going to come down to the 49ers defense. They struggled in the first matchup to keep Fitzgerald and Boldin in check. One plus is Warner is on the bench, which is a good thing, because Warner like Favre has done well in his career against the 49ers. So the defense needs to step it up and get pressure on Leinart, who will make mistakes, and not allow Fitz and Boldin to run free. Then there is Edgerrin James, who the 49ers should be able to contain. The run defense plays well at home and to be honest James isn't playing as well as he has in the past. It will come down to stopping the passing game.

49ers 31 - Cardinals 17.

Tiki Barber may have been the number one vote getter at running-back for the NFC by the fans, but that doesn't mean he gets to start. That honor goes to second year back Frank Gore. The NFL Network released the results of the players selected to the Pro Bowl during their live results show at 4:00 EST today and not only did the 49ers back get selected to his first Pro Bowl but he also is making his first start in the Pro Bowl. Not bad for a third-round pick who Sports Illustrated deemed the most overrated back in the 2005 NFL draft. It's nice to see that the other two-thirds of the voting realized that Gore is the more deserving of the start than Tiki. But at least Tiki can always look forward to next season. Oh, wait...

Joining Frank in Hawaii will be guard Larry Allen who is making his 11th trip to the Pro Bowl. Two other 49ers were selected as alternates. Walt Harris is a first alternate and Bryant Young is a second alternate.

I can't recall the last time the 49ers played a game in December that actually meant something. This December the 49ers have a longshot to do something they haven't done since 2002, that is make the playoffs. Of course they need a lot of stuff to take shape in order for that to happen, but it still could happen. It's starts with the 49ers having to win out by beating the Cardinals and the Broncos, then hoping that the Seahawks tank the rest of their season by not winning another game. Not only would the 49ers make the playoffs at 8-8, but they'd all win the NFC West.

All of this will me nothing if the 49ers don't beat the Cardinals this weekend and the Seahawks somehow find a way to beat the Chargers, but just imagine if heading into the last week of the season the 49ers are sitting at 7-8 and the Seahawks are at 8-7. That Sunday will certainly be a good one. Better yet just imagine if before the kickoff against the Broncos the scoreboard shows that the Seahawks lost to the Buccaneers. A win by the 49ers and they are in. That would be amazing and a great end to the season. Okay, I better stop before I really start to get ahead of myself. It's time to focus on the Cardinals then start rooting for the Chargers.

I woke up this morning and had to turn on ESPNews to see if what I witnessed last night was all a dream. After I saw the highlights of the defense stopping the Hawks on 4th and 1, the interceptions, Gore running mad, and Smith throwing for two and rushing for one. I realized that it actually happened. The 49ers went into Seattle and walked away with their brooms swinging. This season has toyed with my emotions so many times and knowing that the playoffs are still a long shot, it was sweet knowing that the 49ers swept the Seahawks.

Before I hand out the praise I want to mention something that has been lost in all the excitement. That being the loss of Eric Heitmann. Heitmann broke his tibia last night and he was the one piece on the line that has been consistent all season. The loss of Heitmann really hurts and here's to hoping that Wragge or Baas step up and fill the void.