Gore and Co. find weakness in Seattle middle

[travisduncan]

October 18, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs the ball against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 13-6. Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

By Travis Duncan
Seahawks Huddle writer

Frank Gore, 5-foot-9, 217 lbs, strong and full of power, took the ball from Alex Smith 16 times and ran straight in to the heart of the NFL's second best run defense.

Each of the 49er back's 16 runs were through the middle, through the tackles, in a perfectly executed run blocking scheme by Jim Harbaugh and his coaches. Gore totaled 131 yards, the fifth most of any running back in the league this season and the Seahawks lose by a touchdown, 13-6, in a contest they were trying to make a win-by-a-field goal type of game.

To show just how well San Francisco's offensive line executed the run blocking scheme, according to ESPN Stats and Info, 107 of Gore's 131 rushing yards came before a Seahawk defender made contact.

Seattle had been the only team in the league this season not to allow 100-yards or more in a game this season.

Conversely, Russell Wilson completed 9 of 23 passes, for 122 yards with an interception. Four passes were dropped by Seahawk receivers. Marshawn Lynch totaled 103 yards on 19 carries but totaled 15 yards on four carries in the fourth quarter, three of those carries resulted in six yards total.

Pete Carroll was clearly disappointed and knew his defense had not played their best game. He gave credit to the Niners ability to find weaknesses in the Seattle defense, and hinted that he was outcoached by his Bay Area counterparts.

"I'm not pleased with what we did on defense," said Carroll.

"We allowed them to run the football on stuff that shouldn't happen. They did a great job. They schemed beautifully. Frank ran great. But we need to do better. That's now how we play. Particularly scheme wise they did a nice job."

As for the momentum killing, dropped passes, Wilson, ever so positive, responded this way.

"Every loss is frustrating," the rookie quarterback said.

"We could have done some things better. I could have done some things better. We've got to move on. We have to focus on things we can control now and continue to work at what we need to work on. Just stay positive. We've got a good team, we played a great team out there in San Francisco. We're a great football tam. It was a battle all the way to the end. "