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“Yes, kind of ‘thunder and lightning.  You know, that’s been used a lot through the years with running backs but with both those guys it literally is applicable.” Mike Singletary said Wednesday.

Even with Brian Westbrook’s big game against the Cardinals last week the 49ers offensive philosophy minus Frank Gore will feature heavy doses of Westbrook and rookie running back Anthony Dixon sharing the load.  Mike Singletary has shown his love for the one running back system since becoming head coach working Gore to the point of injury in each season with the team.  Singletary applied his run, run, run offense with no adequate backups until Westbrook arrived this season with Singletary rarely using him until Gore went down.  There were reasons for Westbrook not playing much during the season which include him not knowing the pass protection schemes and Gore not wanting to rest and come out of the games.  Another reason is that Gore was a beast at picking up the blitz.

The 49ers will employ their version of thunder and lightning not because Westbrook or Dixon cannot get it done by themselves but because of Westbrook’s age and injury history and Dixon is a rookie with his only experience coming in the preseason.  Westbrook still has his legs underneath him however his body has suffered numerous injuries in the last few years ranging from an ankle repaired by surgery to his multiple concussions. To expect Westbrook to carry the load like he did against the Cardinals or similar to Gore is unwise.  Westbrook is still a good running back but the 49ers cannot risk him getting injured because the 49ers overworked him after hardly using him in the season’s first 11 weeks.

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