The idea was that Westbrook could spell Gore and give the 49ers offense a different type of running back. Having Westbrook was supposed to also lighten the load for Gore with hopes that he could actually make it through an entire season without missing a game. Gore has a history on not making it through an entire season--the last time he played in all 16 games was in 2006.
So far the plan to play both Westbrook and Gore has not worked. Gore has had 172 touches in seven games compared to Westbrook's 6 touches. Whether Westbrook's lack of action is related to the 49ers lack of creativity to get him on the field or another reason its hard to say but it is clearly a mistake by the 49ers coaches to not have him more involved.
But that's all suppose to change this week. Mike Singletary said in his media session on Friday that he expects to see more of Anthony Dixon and Brian Westbrook.
But we heard that tune before and the result has been six touches by Brian Westbrook and four touches by Anthony Dixon in seven regular season games.On whether you expect to see more of RB Brian Westbrook and RB Anthony Dixon this weekend:“It’s possible.”
On whether that is a priority for you:“It is a priority, yes it is.”
It would seem like a good idea for Westbrook to get some touches this week after what Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders was able to do against the Denver Broncos last week. Most of their running plays were stretch plays to the outside and off-tackle runs which are the type of runs that are better suited for Westbrook's running style compared to Gore's. Full transcript after the jump.
Head Coach Mike Singletary
Press Conference – October 29, 2010
San Francisco 49ers
On TE Vernon Davis’ status for practice:
“I think that’s going to be one of the things depending on how the trainers feel before we go out and practice. It’s still a day-to-day thing and I think he’ll be fine. As far as practicing today, we’ll be smart about it.”
On whether Davis has an ankle injury:
“It’s an ankle.”
On whether it is different than his knee:
“Yes.”
On whether it happened in Carolina:
“Yes.”
On whether TE Delanie Walker would start for Davis:
“It depends, it could be Delanie. It could be [TE Nate] Byham because they do different things. So, it will depend.”
On the week of work:
“I thought the week was good. I thought the thing that we accomplished, the mental work that we needed to get in and some of the bonding. The guys spent a lot of time with each other this week. I think it’s a good time to do that. Overall, I thought it was very good for us.”
On it being a good time because of the new QB:
“The quarterback, the way the season has gone to this point. So, I think a number of reasons. I think the time that we have spent over here has been well served.”
On the wet conditions and how the playing surface held up during the week:
“I think the surface has been fine for what we were doing. It wouldn’t be ideal for training camp, but it was fine for what we needed.”
On whether it is good because Wembley may be wet:
“Yes, that’s something we discussed early on in the week knowing that the situation that we’re going to play in is going to be very similar to what we have out here. Rather than try and find a bubble or something like that, let the guys out and experience what the field is pretty much going to be like because the grass is cut just about the same level at Wembley as it is here.”
On what he knows about QB Troy Smith now that he didn’t at the beginning of the week:
“I think it’s kind of like I’ve said before, you never really know about a quarterback until he plays in a real game. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how he responds on Sunday.”
On how much of the play book will Troy Smith have down:
“He’ll have enough for us to function and to get where we need to go.”
On whether he will be calling his own audibles:
“Not a lot of them.”
On the problems Broncos QB Kyle Orton poses:
“Well, the biggest thing that Kyle does is that he gets the ball out. He really gets the ball out quick, and I think when you face a team that does that, it makes you work that much harder in terms of trying to apply pressure. As a defense you have to figure out different ways of defending against that.”
On whether you expect to see more of RB Brian Westbrook and RB Anthony Dixon this weekend:
“It’s possible.”
On whether that is a priority for you:
“It is a priority, yes it is.”
On whether you consider Dixon your number two running back:
“No, I wouldn’t exactly say that, I think both he and Westbrook, we just need to figure out ways to get them in and different packages or what have you. We just know that [RB] Frank [Gore] is the primary and as far as Westbrook and Dixon, we just have to do a better job of getting them in.”
On whether there is a guy on the roster that could step in at quarterback in case Troy Smith or QB David Carr are injured:
“Yes. No [Laughing].”
On what kind of game you can promise London fans this weekend:
“Promise? It’s going to be a good game. I don’t know what Denver is going to do, but I can say that we will play well.”
On why you say that:
“Why? Ok now you have to watch the game and then you will see.”
On why you didn’t activate QB Nate Davis to the active roster and have an emergency quarterback:
“Because there are other needs that we have on the 45 man roster and there are only so many people you can bring up. We have one or two guys that could step up in case of emergency and if we have to go through two quarterbacks, hopefully our offensive line can block a little better than that.”
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