Frank Gore – November 21, 2018 (Conference Call)
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Wednesday, November 21, 2018
RB Frank Gore Conference Call with Indianapolis Media
(How are things going for you down there so far this year, for you and the team?) – “It’s going great. I’m enjoying it. I like the coaches. I like the players. We started off real hot and things haven’t been going our way lately but we’re fighting as a team.”
(When you signed here, you said the reason you came was because of QB Andrew Luck. He was injured most of the time you were here but when you see him now that he’s returned to form, what do you think of the way he’s been able to play now?) – “I’m happy for him. He’s balling. I’m happy for him because I know how much he loves the game of football and how he approaches the game. I’m happy for him. He’s back … especially when you watch him early on. When I watched him early on, you could tell he was kind of timid; but now he looks like that boy coming out of Stanford.”
(Do you ever find yourself saying ‘only if’ you would’ve had a healthy QB Andrew Luck your three year here?) – “Yeah, I wish I could’ve played with him, especially being around him for three years and knowing how much of a football player he is and how he loves the game. Knowing that, I would’ve had some easy running lanes, because having a healthy Andrew Luck, you’re going to get six or seven in the box, which is something I never had in my career.”
(What are your thoughts on this offensive line and what you’ve seen from G Quenton Nelson and what RB Marlon Mack and some of these running backs have been able to do this season?) – “I know they’re happy. Not just them, but the group is playing well. They’ve got good schemes. I’m happy for Marlon because just seeing him go from Year 1 to now. They should be happy. They don’t have to deal with what I was dealing with when I was there. (laughter)”
(This is probably an offensive line you would’ve dreamed to run behind I’d assume?) – “It’s just consistency. When you know who you’re playing with, the o-linemen, once you get to know your guys, you can pre-determine certain runs just off of looks. They are doing a great job. I’m happy for them. I’m happy for them.
(Did you sign with the Colts three years too early?) – “I can’t say that, man. They were coming off the AFC Championship (game). When you’re looking from the outside looking in, you don’t know what’s in the locker room until you get there. Andrew Luck, I think the year he did come back and we beat Denver, I think we could’ve gone on a run. We were one of the first teams to beat Denver. I think we could’ve got on a run but he got injured again. When you’re playing with a bunch of injured guys, that’s tough in this league. It’s already hard to win when you’ve got guys healthy. So imagine when you don’t, especially the main guys who run the show. I had a great three years there. The organization was great. Great people. We were fighting. Things just didn’t go the way I was planning.”
(What were your conversations with Colts GM Chris Ballard like earlier in the offseason? Was it always just kind of a mutual agreement that you guys would part ways?) – “One thing I always respect about Chris is that he’s honest and he’s straight up. As a man, that’s all you want. Especially in this league, there’s a lot of BS. He said he was happy that he got a chance to be around me playing ball because he respects the way I play the game of football. We still talk. We still text. He still checks on me to see how I’m doing – him and (Assistant General Manager) Ed Dodds. I respect Dodds a lot. I think we look at football the same. I respect that – Chris Ballard and Ed Dodds. He told me that he was going to get it right, especially starting up front, and those guys have done a great job.”
(When we talk to guys about you throughout the league and even here, they say they don’t notice any fall off from your play. How much longer are you going to do this? Have you thought about it or are you still a year-to-year type of thing?) – “I’m still year-to-year. I’m going to really take a look at me after the season. Hopefully I can try to finish strong and do whatever it takes to help my team be successful and also have individual success. I’m going to just evaluate myself and my body and see if I really want to do it again this offseason. I take it one year at a time.”
(You have a lot of football knowledge that you’ve shared with guys over the years. Do you feel like that’s something in the future that you’re going to put to use after you’re done playing?) – “Yeah, I think I want to stay around the game. I think that will help me because of how much I love the game of football. Yeah, I think I do want to stay around it.”
(A lot of the young guys here have talked about what Running Backs Coach Tom Rathman has meant to them this season. How instrumental was he in your career when you were first coming into the league in San Francisco?) – “I think he came into my career at the perfect time because I was young and when I made the Pro Bowl … Sometimes when you make the Pro Bowl early on, you can kind of be cocky. Once he got there, we used to bump heads because I felt like I arrived already; but I think he took my game to another level. Just all-around game. He made me look at the game differently and try to do everything right. I think that’s one of the reasons why I’m still playing because of the way he moved my mind on the game of football.”
(I know you were only here for three years but do you think there will be any emotions for you coming back to Lucas Oil Stadium or just another game for you?) – “I’ll be excited to see all of the guys like ‘T’ (Assistant Equipment Manager Brian Seabrooks), ‘Frog’ (Equipment Manager Sean Sullivan), all of the trainers and some of the guys I played with. It’ll be good. We’re both 5-5. We both want to win. I’m coming there to try to help my team get a victory.”
