Digging for Gold

Frank Gore needs 966 yards on the ground to move from No. 9 to No. 5 (behind Garrison Hearst) on the 49ers all-time rushing yards list. Gore currently has 3,405 yards, and he realistically can surpass Steve Young (3,577), Kevan Barlow!! (3,614), Hugh McElhenny (4,288) and J.D. Smith (4,370) this season. Hearst is at 5,535, so I suppose Gore could get there with an incredible season. That would take at least 2,131 rushing yards this year for Gore to pass Hearst. But if Gore stays healthy ? a potentially big if given his lengthy injury history ? then he should surpass Hearst and Ken Willard (5,930) next season to move to third. And who are the top rushers in 49ers history? Roger Craig (7,064) and Joe Perry (7,344).