Time for Coffee in San Francisco

September 28, 2009 · Paul Raymond · Jump to comments

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The San Francisco 49ers received some bad news today after their heartbreaking loss to the Minnesota Vikings yesterday. Frank Gore left yesterday’s game very early with an ankle injury, which is now being called a high ankle sprain according to the Niners official blog.

The injury will cost Gore three weeks of the 2009 season, potentially more if he heals slowly. Replacing Gore, will be rookie running back Glen Coffee.

Coffee has struggled early in his NFL career, against the Vikings tough run defense he gained only 54 yards on 25 carries. Not many defenses are as good against the run as the Vikings, so you’d expect those numbers to eventually rise.

“As a professional you always have to be ready when you’re number is called. That’s just the way I look at it,” Coffee said. “I just have to step in for Frank and I can’t let there be any slide in execution or production.”

Fortunately for him, the Niners trust him and will give him the touches. Shaun Hill is developing into a solid QB but if they don’t keep defenses honest (by using the run) they can’t succeed.

Over the next two weeks he’ll get to play the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons. Those are two good opportunities for the rookie to show what he’s got.

If he can perform against those two defenses he’ll definitely get a chance to be more then a replacement player. He could even start to steal carries away from Mr. Gore.

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