The San Francisco offense, which was led by backup Troy Smith for five games, is now without Frank Gore, who is on the injured reserve after a season-ending hip injury. Productive as a blocker and receiver as well as a runner, Gore was the dominant force in the offense before being hurt.
"Any time you lose a player of his caliber, it's difficult,'' Smith told the Seattle media in a conference call looking ahead at the 4-8 49ers' must-win game against the 6-6 Seahawks Sunday. "He does so much for us.
"He's such a versatile back in the run game and in the pass game and in protection. So you look at how much production he's had for us this season, and obviously it's an adjustment.''
Brian Westbrook, the former Eagle who only had a handful of carries before moving in to take over many of Gore's carries, is sharing snaps with Anthony Dixon. Sunday will be the first game experience for either back with Alex Smith, and the quarterback suggests the transition will be smooth.
"(These are) different guys,'' Alex Smith said. "Obviously Brian has done it a long time in this league at a really high level and can do a lot of different things and is going to have to step up for us, like he has.
"Anthony Dixon (is) a young guy (with) a lot of energy, but (he's) a bigger guy -- a different style to him as well in his running style. So (these are) two very different guys in different places, you know. You got the old vet and the rookie. But the two guys are going to have to step up and kind of share the load with Frank gone.''
Speaking of stepping it up, Smith will have to be doing lots of that. The 49ers need to beat the Seahawks Sunday and win two of the final three games after that to have even a chance at the playoffs.
Coach Mike Singletary is taking something of a risk in moving Alex Smith, who was 1-6 in his 2010 starts, in over Troy Smith, who was 3-2 when he was at the controls. Troy Smith got his chance when Alex Smith suffered a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury.
"In his words, (Singletary) felt like it gave us the best chance to win,'' Alex Smith said. "Those were similar questions I had when the decision was made. (I'm) obviously excited to get back out there, but just kind of wanted to know why. Basically, that was the gist of it.''
During his time on the bench healing, Alex Smith said he watched his replacement and the rest of the San Francisco offense intensely.
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