49ers need to be careful with Frank Gore, use Kendall Hunter more.
Frank Gore is probably the hottest running back in the NFL over the last 4 weeks. He’s had 4 straight 100 yard games and at least 1 rushing TD all 4 weeks. He is and should be the workhorse of the 49ers offense. His 31 carries on Sunday were still too many considering speedy rookie Kendall Hunter was limited to just 3 carries. Gore has played just 1 full 16 game season in his career and being worn down by overuse has been given as a common reason why season after season. The 49ers finally found a perfect RB to compliment Gore’s bruising power style. Time to give Gore the breather he needs to stay healthy. After all it’s not just this season the 49ers need to worry about with Gore after giving him a new 3 year extension in training camp.

Delaine Walker needs a new contract today: Walker does so many things for the 49ers it’s easy to miss him on the field due to his versatility. Walker plays TE, WR, HB and FB and is a huge contributor in the run game as well as providing miss matches for defenses as a TE that runs like a WR. Walker signed a 6 year $5.5 million deal which expires after next season. It’s time for the 49ers to extend one of the truly unique players in football.

Page 2: The rest of my week 8 observations
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49ers 25-Lions 19 FINAL

Wow!  I mean wow what a game by the San Francisco 49ers.  Vegas and everybody else had the 49ers losing this game (but not us!) , you heard it all the crowd will be too much, teams never win 3 straight road games, Megatron will be too much for the 49ers (props to our own Jared Quan  for squashing that one).  The first half was an ugly slugfest that was very frustrating to watch.  In the end Alex Smith came up big for the 49ers with a game winning touchdown pass to Delaine Walker followed by 1 last stand by the defense to win the game. 

The 49ers won the battle up front giving up just 2 sacks to the Lions  famous defensive line that many thought would man handle the 49ers offensive line.  The 49ers defensive front 7 needs to finally get the respect they deserve as a unit, possibly the best in the NFL right now, yes I said the best in the NFL.  The group put together 5 sacks including another 2 from rookie sensation Aldon Smith, 1 for a pivotal safety in the first half.  Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman both turned in excellent games once again.  Willis did a nice job breaking up at least 3 passes and laying a couple big shots on Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford. 
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Aside from the team’s surprisingly strong 4-1 record the 49ers have had a few pleasant surprises this season that have been very interesting to watch develop. First is the play of Alex Smith, has anyone beat the odd’s more than this guy in 2011? Alex’s play under pressure and improved decision making has made Jim Harbaugh look like a genius for bringing him back.

Next is the play of Navarro Bowman, I think even Trent Baalke the guy who pulled the trigger on Bowman in the draft and let Takeo Spikes walk away in favor of him still couldn’t think Bowman would be THIS good THIS fast. Please do not get me wrong here, I think Patrick Willis is the best Inside Linebacker in the NFL right now and will be for a long time. With that said Navarro Bowman would make a lot of teams happy as their version of Willis or other feature ILBs like Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher you get the picture. The point is the guy is a STUD. The one element of his game he may actually have on Willis is his pass rush ability, combined with Patrick this could be the best ILB combo in the NFL today.

How about the play of Trent Baalke’s 2011 draft class? While Colin Kaepernick’s career has consisted of some awkward handoff’s and 3 passes thus far the other 49er rookies have shined. First round pick Aldon Smith currently leads the team with 3.5 sacks after breaking out vs. the Eagles with 1.5 sacks only to follow that up with a fantastic 2 sack performance the next week. Fourth Round Pick Kendall Hunter led the NFL in rushing during the preseason and has given the 49ers something they desperately needed the last few seasons, a change up RB to pair with star Frank Gore. Hunter has shown big play ability as a rusher and a receiver and has already came up big in week 3 scoring the go-ahead TD with Gore on the sidelines. Then there’s Chris Culliver, the Cornerback turned Safety in college turned CB in the NFL with the 49ers when they made him their 3rd round pick. Culliver has proved at least in the short term he has what it takes to play CB in the pros after playing significant time in week 4 and again in week 5 Culliver has come up big. Several other rookies including Bruce Miller who is making a nice transition to Fullback after playing defense in college along with Colin Jones, Demarcus Dobbs, Ian Williams, Mike Person, Daniel Kilgore and Scott Tolzien have found their way onto the 49ers roster this season.
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