Frank Gore Thread

Originally posted by SunDevilNiner79:
I think a lot depends on what your criteria is for a HOF RB.

To use recent inductees as standards for a HOF RB, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis, Ladanian Tomlinson, and Terrell Davis all recently made the HOF.

I think the biggest knock on Frank Gore is he never really had 2-3 years where you could say "yep, he is the best in the league" or that he lead the league in rushing. Instead he was basically a consistent top 5 RB in the league. So I think Gore's career is comparable to Curtis Martin, as I don't think Martin was ever THE top RB, he was just consistently good.

Some people act like Gore is playing in his 16th season getting 100 yards or something to pad stats, lol. Dude is still effective and he has played basically just as long as Martin or Bettis.

I think Gore does deserve it because not only is he #8 rushing all time, but he is also #10 in yards from scrimmage. I mean for people to sit there and say he isn't HOF material, man, you guys must really not like him! Almost every player around Frank Gore in the record books is in the HOF.

And do you really think Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis, or Thurman Thomas is that much better than Gore? All 3 of those guys were never "the best" RB in a given year IMO. They made it because they were consistently good.

And then IMO you throw in Gore's blocking ability and respect around the league? Definitely a HOF player. Its just a question of how long he waits. The HOF already has the criteria established that longevity is a positive factor over just 1 or 2 amazing years. I think of the HOF as really an award of elite level professionalism in the sport, someone that brings it year in year out to build a long successful career. And on that criteria, I don't know how you can't put Gore in there.

Take players like Larry Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Arian Foster etc. Sure they had some epic years, but they wont get that HOF nod because the HOF requires a long career of success. Its about a career not just a few years.

Finally, you got to look at the RBs of his era. Who had a better career than Gore? The only guys I'd say are a clear cut above him are Adrian Peterson and LT. Gore is in the 2nd group along with guys like Edgerrin James, and Steven Jackson. And out of those guys, yeah I'd put Gore behind AP and LT in terms of a successful career.

Every single piece of this

Originally posted by SunDevilNiner79:

I think a lot depends on what your criteria is for a HOF RB.

To use recent inductees as standards for a HOF RB, Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis, Ladanian Tomlinson, and Terrell Davis all recently made the HOF.

I think the biggest knock on Frank Gore is he never really had 2-3 years where you could say "yep, he is the best in the league" or that he lead the league in rushing. Instead he was basically a consistent top 5 RB in the league. So I think Gore's career is comparable to Curtis Martin, as I don't think Martin was ever THE top RB, he was just consistently good.

Some people act like Gore is playing in his 16th season getting 100 yards or something to pad stats, lol. Dude is still effective and he has played basically just as long as Martin or Bettis.

I think Gore does deserve it because not only is he #8 rushing all time, but he is also #10 in yards from scrimmage. I mean for people to sit there and say he isn't HOF material, man, you guys must really not like him! Almost every player around Frank Gore in the record books is in the HOF.

And do you really think Curtis Martin, Jerome Bettis, or Thurman Thomas is that much better than Gore? All 3 of those guys were never "the best" RB in a given year IMO. They made it because they were consistently good.

And then IMO you throw in Gore's blocking ability and respect around the league? Definitely a HOF player. Its just a question of how long he waits. The HOF already has the criteria established that longevity is a positive factor over just 1 or 2 amazing years. I think of the HOF as really an award of elite level professionalism in the sport, someone that brings it year in year out to build a long successful career. And on that criteria, I don't know how you can't put Gore in there.

Take players like Larry Johnson, Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Arian Foster etc. Sure they had some epic years, but they wont get that HOF nod because the HOF requires a long career of success. Its about a career not just a few years.

Finally, you got to look at the RBs of his era. Who had a better career than Gore? The only guys I'd say are a clear cut above him are Adrian Peterson and LT. Gore is in the 2nd group along with guys like Edgerrin James, and Steven Jackson. And out of those guys, yeah I'd put Gore behind AP and LT in terms of a successful career.

Excellent post and I agree completely with the Martin comparison. If Gore plays another couple years he'll probably ride in on the precident Martin set. They had similar production, though I'd give the nod to Martin. He had some bigger seasons and retired a year removed from being an All Pro.

Among the top 15 rushers, the only backs with a higher YPC than Frank are Jim Brown and Barry Sanders. Frank is tied with Eric Dickerson for 3rd at 4.4 YPC. Yet somehow there's this popular myth that Gore is a plodder and a compiler. The fact is that he never got more than 300 carries in a season except for 2006. Compare that to LT, for example, who had 7 seasons over 300 carries, or Curtis Martin who had 8. It's not his fault that we were constantly playing from behind during his early years and he never got the same opportunities that other backs did. Don't forget that Alex wasn't the only one who had to go through 7 OCs. There was alot of stuff that Frank had no control over, but he always produced at an elite level whenever he got the ball.

By the way does it seem like everyone forgot he broke his hip in 2010? It's already been six seasons going on seven and he hasn't missed a game since. No back, maybe even player, even comes close to how many major injuries Frank has overcome, let alone his production. Add in all the other intangible stuff and you can be damn sure you gonna piss off some people when you question his place in history.

Originally posted by znk916:

Among the top 15 rushers, the only backs with a higher YPC than Frank are Jim Brown and Barry Sanders. Frank is tied with Eric Dickerson for 3rd at 4.4 YPC. Yet somehow there's this popular myth that Gore is a plodder and a compiler. The fact is that he never got more than 300 carries in a season except for 2006. Compare that to LT, for example, who had 7 seasons over 300 carries, or Curtis Martin who had 8. It's not his fault that we were constantly playing from behind during his early years and he never got the same opportunities that other backs did. Don't forget that Alex wasn't the only one who had to go through 7 OCs. There was alot of stuff that Frank had no control over, but he always produced at an elite level whenever he got the ball.

By the way does it seem like everyone forgot he broke his hip in 2010? It's already been six seasons going on seven and he hasn't missed a game since. No back, maybe even player, even comes close to how many major injuries Frank has overcome, let alone his production. Add in all the other intangible stuff and you can be damn sure you gonna piss off some people when you question his place in history.

What he said.

That intangible stuff aint so intangible though.

Young Frank had some nasty burst.

Originally posted by znk916:


Young Frank had some nasty burst.

FRANK! Come back!!!!!! HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Just listened to Frank on Rome. Not the easiest listen, lol. But Frank is a total bad ass football player. Looking forward to see him stay healthy and get 1K this year.

Go Frank!

Originally posted by Morgan49:

Just listened to Frank on Rome. Not the easiest listen, lol. But Frank is a total bad ass football player. Looking forward to see him stay healthy and get 1K this year.

Go Frank!

Hope he gets 1k I drafted him on my fantasy team

The Curtis Martin precedent should IMO put Gore in the HOF one way or another, esp. if he goes up a few levels on the all time rushing list. Does anyone think back to Martin and see him as an all time Jet or Patriot? I think the main reason I remember him is that I grew up in NY and knew every major player for Jets and Giants.

Outside of 2006 Gore hasn't had insane single season stats, but that really shouldn't matter. And considering the context of the team in 2006, he had a ridiculous season putting up over 100 yards a game at a high YPC with no real support.

Remember that Marshawn Lynch despite 1st round with measurables was a nobody until he went to Seattle, where he got to spend his prime years on a great team. If we had younger Gore during Harbaugh, I think I could safely guarantee we win at least 1 SB. We would have beat the Giants even with a non existent passing game.

The key special stat for Gore is that he was 4.0+ for a season as many years as Barry Sanders and one less than Jim Brown (I think Gore had 9 years between '06 and '14). That's heady company of reliable production you can count on. His all time YPC of 4.4 is very impressive to me. In the context of relying on someone to build around long term, Gore is/was the man.

Longevity for an RB is underrated for sure. You're looking at guys like AP and Lynch who have missed a good chunk of time in this league that came in 2 years after Frank. It's probably expected they will be retired or irrelevant before him as well.

Jamaal Charles barely made the Broncos roster? Seriously? The guy has been insane the last few years, credited as carrying Alex Smith (much like Gore). You would have laughed at the idea of anyone on Denver's RB roster being on his level only a year or two ago.

I would say one of my favorite Gore games was 2012 at home against Seattle. After that embarrassment the week before against NYG, I figured SEA would come in and kick our a*** too. The pre-game announcers said Gore would have to carry the Niners to win, and that he did putting up like 135 against them with some backbreaking runs to win it.

I hope Indy puts together a decent supporting cast this year so Gore can continue to Gore.

First ballot hof.

Go tank!

LOL. First Ballot. Not even a question. He is as good as in.

Man.. And im not gona explain anything .everybody on gods green earth knows Gore should got the rock in his hands all 4 downs(hand off ..skip screen..bublbe screen)You die with your Riders.

He should still be a 49er...the biggest mistake of Jed and Trent. Miss you Frank

Originally posted by Eastcoastniner:
He should still be a 49er...the biggest mistake of Jed and Trent. Miss you Frank

this++

HOF.