Professor

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...rancisco_49ers

excerpt:
After fumbling four times in four games, Frank Gore spent part of last week at practice trying to get a grip.

On Sunday, the 49ers put the game in the running back's hands, and he never let go -- at least not until he spiked a game ball Coach Mike Nolan presented to him in the locker room after a 34-20 victory over the Raiders.

``We never lost confidence in him,'' 49ers quarterback Alex Smith said. ``There were a couple weeks where he had some problems with the ball, but as far as running for those tough yards and the job he's done this year, you can't say enough about him. That's what he should focus on, and to see him come out in a physical game and get those yards and handle it the way he did, I'm really happy for him.''

Gore prepared in part for a rugged Raiders defense with an unusual training drill. He toted a football under each arm and squeezed one or the other tightly in response to running backs coach Bishop Harris' tugging on cords attached to the footballs.

The extra work paid off with his unshakable grip against the Raiders. Only Gore -- not the ball -- was popping loose this day. He ran 27 times for a career-best 134 yards and added three receptions for 38 yards.

``Bishop working with me really helped,'' said Gore. ``I'm happy it went well today, but I know I've got to keep working on it.''

Gore had entered the game having fumbled once every 38.8 touches in his career, the worst rate among ball carriers over the past two seasons. The only other running back since 1996 to fumble in four consecutive games was Tiki Barber of the New York Giants.

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