Yesterday, Matt Maiocco had his post about trading Gore, and came to the conclusion that he was still too valuable for this team. I also had my long look back, brief look forward post on halfbacks, and I echoed the same sentiments. To me, Gore is worth far too much, especially without knowing who the 49ers quarterback will be in 2011. We very well could be seeing a rookie, so you have to figure someone like Gore would be awfully nice to have around.

His hip is recovering nicely and ahead of schedule, so we’re told – which means he should be good for another 1,000 yards in 2011, though it’s a shame it will no longer be for the continuous record. The guy can run as well as just about anybody in the league, will get at least 400 yards receiving (likely more over the course of a season), can pass protect (which is crucial if there’s a rookie quarterback there) and is just an overall leader on the football team.

Most importantly, the 49ers have nobody to replace him. Anthony Dixon isn’t ready and Brian Westbrook might just be gone in 2011. Even knowing that there weren’t any options last season, though, I still saw people suggesting a trade. People were thinking Gore should be traded for a second round pick while the 49ers had only Anthony Dixon, Glen Coffee and Michael Robinson for the foreseeable future. Yeah, alright.

So, anybody still think this?

For now, Gore is out of the game and we have no idea on a possible return.

Gore reportedly took himself out of the game, letting Brian Westbrook take the majority of the carries for now.

Gore rushed four times for 43 yards on the 49ers’ opening possession, then headed to the locker room with members of San Francisco’s training staff. He came back for one carry on the team’s next possession — a 9-yard run — then hobbled to the sidelines and did not return to action.

Brian Westbrook filled in admirably for Gore on Monday night, carrying the ball 23 times for 136 yards and a touchdown in the 27-6 victory. Third-stringer Anthony Dixon added 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. That duo will likely split time in the 49ers’ backfield if Gore is, in fact, done for the year.
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Gore appeared well on the way to his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season — through 10 games, he had piled up 801 yards on the ground, as well as 452 through the air on a team-high 46 receptions. If he cannot return to the lineup, this will mark the first time since his rookie season of 2005 that Gore does not hit the 1,000-yard plateau.

The injury would obviously be a huge blow for a 49ers team that’s somewhat remarkably still in the hunt for the NFC West title, despite an 0-5 start to the year. Monday’s win moved San Francisco to 4-7, just one game behind division leaders St. Louis and Seattle; the 49ers still have one game left against each of those teams down the stretch.

After all, he had a front-row seat.

It was Smith’s second year in the NFL, and Turner was brought in as the 49ers offensive coordinator. Turner had a reputation for grooming young quarterbacks, so the two spent a lot of time together.

Smith has grown a lot since then, and Turner has kept track of his former pupil. He was impressed by what he saw last Sunday when Smith played perhaps the best game of his career, and Turner believes the sixth-year signal caller still has plenty of time to prove he can be a quality NFL quarterback.

“There’s no question in my mind,” he said Tuesday in a conference call with the Bay Area media.

And Turner has plenty of reason to believe so. When he thinks back on 2006, the first thing he remembers is Smith leading several late-game scoring drives to seal victories.

“That’s a quality I’m not sure if you develop, I’m not sure if you coach,” Turner said. “I think it’s a quality some guys have – when things get hot and heavy they step up and make plays – and he certainly showed me that.”

After that 2006 season Turner was named the Chargers head coach, and over the last three-plus seasons he’s spent considerable time grooming another quarterback, Phillip Rivers.

On Tuesday, Rivers spoke about Turner the same way Smith has. Rivers called his coach a great teacher of the game and talked about how Turner allows each player to be themselves while staying within the system.

And Rivers knows he will need to do both Thursday if he wants to beat a 49ers defense that forced five turnovers against the Seattle Seahawks.

Although the preparation time is nearly cut in half due to the short week, Rivers isn’t concerned. Both teams have to face the same challenges, he said, and Rivers has had little trouble adjusting to everything thrown his way in 2010.

The Chargers have had to piece together their offense all season due to injuries, holdouts and suspensions, but Rivers hasn’t missed a beat. He has completed passes to 17 different players, and ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (3,868), third in passer rating (103.1) and third in touchdowns (26).

While his top target from a year ago Vincent Jackson is finally back with the team, Rivers may be without the services of tight end Antonio Gates, whose status is still uncertain, Turner said.

I’ve been here with the 49ers for a little more than two weeks now and it’s been a great experience. When you’re used to something for nine seasons like I was in Pittsburgh, you never know what you’re getting into with a new organization. But from the first time I walked into the building everyone welcomed me and made me feel very comfortable.

We had to face some rough weather in my first two games, but I feel like I kicked the ball pretty well. Green Bay was cold and windy, and just because I have experience in that doesn’t mean it makes it any easier. But as soon as I made my first kick there, which was my first in a 49ers uniform, I was good. Before last week I had only played at Candlestick Park one time, and that was about five or six years ago. People talk about how difficult it is to kick there, and for me the depth perception was the toughest part because the net is so far behind the uprights – a 30 yarder looks like a 45 yarder. But I really hit the ball well.

I think the reason I’ve kicked so well is because of the chemistry I developed with long snapper Brian Jennings and holder Andy Lee. Those guys are money. It’s tough to find a guy who can hold for a left- and right-footer, but Andy has been great. After holding for Joe Nedney, a lefty, for the last five years he had no problems switching sides of the ball to hold for a righty like me. He basically just asked how I like the ball, and it only took him about two days to get it right. I can’t say enough about both of those guys, they make my job a whole lot easier.

I mentioned Joe earlier, and I’ve known him for a long time, played against him numerous times, and I respect his game. I’m just in here filling in for him. I don’t know when he’ll be back or anything like that, but for right now I’m just focused on San Diego.

I’ve played against their returner Darren Sproles probably four times now, and he’s great. He’s only 5-foot-7, not a big guy, but he knows how to break tackles and make big plays. Every single time I’ve played against him he’s done that. But as long as we play the way we’re capable we’ll be alright.

From what I can tell over the last two-plus weeks, this is a solid coverage unit. They know their assignments and they get down the field ready to make plays.

With that in mind, I don’t expect to too much change when we face Sproles. Every team I have been on, and here is no exception, we don’t want to play scared. We plan on going out there and just doing what we do. I like it like that, you just kick it and cover it. I’m a big hang-time guy, so if I can give our guys four seconds I feel like we’ll be good.

However, one guy I remember not kicking straight up to from my days in Pittsburgh is Ted Ginn Jr. That man is fast and I’m glad he’s on my team now. He knows where the holes are as soon as he gets the ball. When I faced him I remember kicking away from him, using squib kicks, mortar kicks – we did everything to get it out of his hands and he still made plays against us.

Hopefully Ted can get a big return Thursday, I’ll try to keep making my kicks, and we want to leave San Diego with a win.

And if indeed Aubrayo Franklin is channeling his inner Saint Nick, he was certainly in the giving mood on Sunday when the 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks 40-21.

The 49ers nose tackle finished the game with humble stats, just three tackles, but his effort helped give his teammates one the best gifts any defender can ask for: an interception.

The picks began with Takeo Spikes ’ midway through the second quarter. Then came Reggie Smith ’s. Next Dashon Goldson got in on the action and returned his for a touchdown. Finally, Nate Clements all but sealed the 49ers victory when he intercepted Matt Hasselbeck in the end zone.

After the game they all deflected the praise. They said those turnovers came as a result of quality team defense, and that the opportunities wouldn’t have been there without the guys up front applying pressure on the quarterback.

And as defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said last week, all of the pressure his unit generates begins with Franklin, the man in the middle.

“Well of course, it all starts with the nose,” Manusky said. “I’ve been saying that since I got here. I think it’s a vital part of the defense because it’s the nuts and bolts of it and everything acts off of it.”

While Franklin may not always be the one bringing the pressure himself, he’s the one taking on the extra blockers and freeing up his teammates to do so. His presence may not show up on the stats sheet, and some people may overlook what he does, but turn on the film you can see how much of impact Franklin makes on every snap.

“Playing nose tackle is sort of like offensive line in the sense that if your name isn’t said very much you’re probably doing a good job,” Franklin’s backup Ricky Jean-Francois said.

Said Franklin: “It’s a thankless job. I just go in there and do what I can to free up my teammates. I have some of the best people in the business around me, and I know if they get the chance they’ll make the plays.”

At 6-foot-1, 317 pounds, Franklin weighs about the same and is nearly three inches shorter than most of the offensive linemen he lines up against every week. So what allows him to regularly take on two of them at a time?

Technique, knowledge of the playbook and some veteran savvy.

Jean-Francois called Franklin the “Bruce Lee of nose tackles.” He said his mentor has nearly perfected the craft and that he hasn’t seen anybody with better technique. Franklin’s pad level is low, he fully extends his arms to strike the offensive linemen, and he knows exactly when and how to attack.

But all that technique would go for naught if Franklin wasn’t aware of everything around him. As Manusky said, everything starts with the nose tackle, so Franklin has to be aware of which guys are his responsibility so his teammates can run free and make plays.

That isn’t easy. Franklin has to know where all 11 defensive players are on every snap so he can direct the offensive linemen one way or another.

But the eight-year veteran doesn’t mind the hours in the playbook and film room. That’s what got him this far and that’s how he’s going to keep getting better.

“I’ve been doing it for so long, you just get used to it,” he said. “When you get to the NFL everybody is good, so you have to put in the extra effort if you want to stand out.”

And it’s not just on the field where Franklin stands out. Jean-Francois said Franklin is “the best-dressed 300 pounder in the league,” but the ever-humble Franklin said he’s just wearing what he thinks looks good.

However, he couldn’t help but flash a smile through his thick beard.

That’s what you come to expect after spending time around Franklin. He has been playing the thankless position for so long he almost shies away from praise, but you can tell he appreciates it.

When asked to describe his play this season, he gave a typical Franklin answer – an unassuming “consistent.” He added that he isn’t focused on his individual play because right now all he cares about is winning.

But even if the 49ers can accomplish Franklin’s goal – win out and make the playoffs –don’t expect much self promotion.

While some players might revel in the moment, you’ll likely find Franklin in the film room, working on his craft, sporting what one teammate called, “the best beard in the business.”

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The same can be said for his players, who want nothing more than to get the 2010 preseason started on a positive note this Sunday when they visit the defending AFC-Champion Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.

But before the 49ers can kickoff the preseason in a positive fashion, they’ll have to prepare themselves by setting the tone with a couple of strong practice sessions to finish out the week.

“My approach to preseason is we want to win every game we play, but the most important thing for us is we’re not looking at Indianapolis and going to do a tremendous game plan or anything like that,” Singletary said after Wednesday’s pad-less morning practice.

The team also announced that LB Scott McKillop has been waived/injured. LB Martail Burnett has been placed on the Injured Reserve List after having cleared waivers.

Guillory (5-10, 180) joins the 49ers as a rookie free agent out of the University of Central Missouri. He played both running back and wide receiver for the Mules, while also serving as the primary kickoff returner as a junior and senior. A native of Vallejo, Calif., Guillory transferred to Central Missouri from Solano Community College.

It’s great to back at camp and to be doing my blog again for all of you. It was nice to get back out there for the first week, get the pads back on and get things popping. There were some mental mistakes the first couple of days, but we’re cleaning those up. It’s just exciting to get back here and see all the guys.