Gore can expect busy day vs. Patriots
Running back Frank Gore will be a busy man on Sunday against the
Patriots. Gore leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 412 yards
525 yards in four games. He'll undoubtedly be the focus of Bill
Belichick's defense.

But that's not all. The Patriots like to create mismatches in which a
running back is responsible for pass-blocking OLB Adalius Thomas. So
Gore has to be ready for that, too.

"We'll take care of that," Gore said. "We do different schemes. If I
get caught up on him, I got to do the job and try to stop him. (But)
we'll try not to put me on him."

The Patriots figure to see Gore take some direct snaps after the
success the Dolphins' Ronnie Brown had against New England two weeks
ago. Brown took six direct snaps. He ran three times for 69 yards and
three touchdowns; he threw a 19-yard TD pass; and he handed off twice
to Ricky Williams for 31 yards.

Gore said he can throw the ball. He said he compares favorably to
reserve running back Michael Robinson, who played quarterback in
college.

"Mike's got a pretty good arm," Gore said. "I'm close to him. I told
him I could've played quarterback at Penn State, too."

Here's are some of the questions I asked Gore today:

Q: Think they're going to try to beat you up?

Gore: (Laughs) "What do you mean, beat me up?"

Q: Remember the Super Bowl when they wanted to hit Marshall Faulk any
time he came out of the backfield and make things rough on him . . .

Gore: "Yeah? They might just try to do that."

Q: Have teams tried to do that on you?

Gore: "Yeah. New Orleans tried to do that. They had two 'backers
follow me all over."

Q: Belichick is considered a defensive genius. . .

Gore: "We've got a genius, too. Coach (Mike) Martz, man. I love him. I
like this offense a whole lot. It's all about taking care of the small
things. They went at it before. They'll go at it again. Coach Martz,
he's a great coordinator. I love his offense."

Q: But Belichick had two weeks to prepare. You're the central guy in
this offense. Do you expect to see something you haven't seen before?

Gore: "Nah. I know they'll probably come out, like you say, and try to
get to me, hit me around. But that's the game, period. I just got to
stay mentally into it and go out there and take care of the all the
little things. When the opportunity for a big play comes, I have to
make it. . . . It'll be great, you know.

Q: You sound pretty excited?

Gore: "Yeah, it'll be good."

* * *

Patriots WR Wes Welker (groin) went through limited practice today. WR
Kelley Washington (ankle), LB Eric Alexander (hamstring) and CB Lewis
Sanders (hamstring) did not practice.

The 49ers' practice is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m.