Gore's intensity rubs off

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Frank Gore walked around shirtless after practice the other day showing off his sculpted physique, confident as ever.

Gore feels so good, in fact, after an offseason of workouts back in Miami that San Francisco's star running back keeps referencing his career-best Pro Bowl season of 2006 — because he believes he's primed for a sequel.

It sure can't hurt that Mike Singletary is pushing a power-run offense in the coach's first training camp.

"I feel strong. I feel fast, quick and ready," said Gore, the former Miami Hurricanes standout. "I put the time in. Every time on the field, I visualize myself in the game."

Gore hasn't taken a day off through the first 10 days of camp and hasn't asked for one, either. That effort and energy is catching on with his offensive linemen and others. The coaches are closely monitoring Gore's workload to make sure he stays healthy and fresh, and he will be limited in Friday's exhibition opener against Denver.

"Frank is a workhorse out there," center Eric Heitmann said. "I've never seen Frank take a play off. He's always running downhill, trying to get the right cuts, blowing up the hole. He's working tremendously hard this camp. He's taking a ton of reps and looking extremely good. It's a tremendous motivating factor for us to have a running back with that much intensity and enthusiasm about the game. It really fires us up and it's fun to block for a guy like that."

Monday was a scorcher — the hottest day yet for the Niners during camp — with the temperatures reaching the low 90s with no breeze. Yet play after play, there was Gore adding an extra 10 to 20 yards to every run, channeling a tradition established in the days of Jerry Rice and Roger Craig and their extraordinary work ethics. Those two made plays in practice, then ran a little further just for the fun of it.

"I think Frank has a tremendous attitude this training camp," Singletary said.

The 26-year-old returned to UM for his offseason regimen this year, rededicating himself to the kind of training that worked so well for him in 2006. He turned himself over to Hurricanes strength coach Andreu Swasey, the same man who helped Gore during his college days and early years in the NFL.

"I wanted to go back to him since '06 was one of my best years. I went back to all my old ways, like when I first got in the league," Gore said. "I feel so strong right now. I just go on the practice field and visualize myself in the game. That's why I like to get the reps and why I go so far."

He has missed only three games in three years despite the constant pounding his body takes.

"I think he has the eye of the tiger this year," said new Niners offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. "From what I've seen, his work ethic has been outstanding and he's looking forward to a good year — and we are looking forward to him having one."



(sun-sentinel.com)