Last week, former NFL scout and current NFL Network analyst dropped this nugget on Twitter:
Frank Gore leads the NFL in explosive runs. He has 7 runs of 20+ yards.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) October 21, 2013
An impressive feat for the 30-year old RB, but not completely unexpected given Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers dedication to the power run game. Reviewing all of Gore's 20+ yard runs, the 49ers blockers are able to get Gore past the second level (past the LBs) and then Gore works his own magic by making a defender or two miss and utilizing his down field blockers to tack on extra yards. The 49ers run scheme is pretty simple, but they keep the defense off balance by running the same plays with different personnel from various formations. Another big part of the 49ers run game is pulling their athletic guards and getting them out in front of the play where Gore is able to use his patience and vision to read the best lanes. When I went back to look at Gore's big runs, the staple of the 49ers power run game were very evident. Of Gore's seven 20+-yard runs, six of them used pulling guards, often pulling from the back side on a basic trap block.
Before the Colts started to suffocate the 49ers in Week 3, the Niners run game looked sharp and Gore gashed Indianapolis twice on what look very similar runs to the right. The variation between the two plays is an example of what "football people" who swoon over the 49ers run game appreciate. The first play is run from the I-Form Twin Left and both RT Anthony Davis (#76) and RG Alex Boone (#75) will pull to the play side (right) while TE Vance McDonald (#89) will block down on the Colts DE. This frees up Davis and Boone to get their big bodies onto the smaller bodies of Colts LBs, Davis will clear out the OLB and Boone will take out the RILB as he flows to the ball. FB Bruce Miller (#49) is now free to run at the safety as Gore follows and jukes back inside to pick up an additional five or six yards.
Two plays later, the 49ers will run to the right off tackle again with Gore following a lead blocker out of the back field and Gore cuts back inside as he nears the sideline to gain an extra five yards. I'll put the GIF of the second run up before the diagram, so you can see how similar the runs look.

Both plays are off tackle runs to the right, but the variation of personnel and blocking assignments keep the defense guessing. Since Linebackers will read the guards movement to key which direction and gap they will be filling. On the first play, the 49ers pulled the RG while running right and on the second play they pulled the LG while still running right. There is one tiny example of why the 49ers run scheme is ballyhooed.
Pulling back side guards is the bread and butter of the 49ers run game. They will trap on any play, even 4th and 1. Typically, on a 4th and short play, blocks need to happen fast and pulling a guard could create a gap that a defensive lineman can exploit and shoot into the backfield. The 49ers are good at pulling their guards and they stick with what they're good at on 4th down, which is a good idea, whatever your scheme may be. Here, the 49ers bring in an extra OL on the right side, #69 Adam Snyder and have two TEs on the field and only one WR. At the snap, Snyder will head directly for MLB James Laurinaitis while everyone else on the OL takes the Rams defender across from him, except the pulling LF Mike Iupati (#77). Not only does the block develop as designed, but when Iupati comes around to the play side, he is able to take out two Rams defenders and helps spring Gore for the huge touchdown run on 4th and 1.
The one 20+ yard run by Gore that didn't feature a pulling guard, was a wham play that had TE Vance McDonald (#89) doing a faux pull. The wham play is when a defender is purposely left unblocked by the OL and he is then met by another blocker that as built up momentum to create a big "wham" meeting between the two.
The 49ers are in I-Form 2TE Right and LT Joe Staley (#74) will go off the line and hunt down the LB as LG Mike Iupati (#77) moves to his left to kick out the DE, creating space to run left of the center. As center Jonathan Goodwin (#59) moves to block a Rams LB after the snap, TE Vance McDonald (#89) will come from the left side of the formation and get the wham block on the Rams DT. FB Bruce Miller (#49) picks up the remaining Rams LB and Gore is off to run into the St. Louis secondary.
Here against Houston, the 49ers present a similar Offset-I 2TE formation, but they will run to the weak (non-TE) side. Again, LG Mike Iupati (#77) is the man pulling from the back side to trap a Houston defenders. You can see how the Houston defense has the 2TE side of the field more tightly packed, just the look the 49ers were hoping to see.

The 49ers aren't afraid to telegraph their runs, either. Here they are lined up in an I-Form with seven (!) offensive linemen and a TE and they are going to run right through the overloaded left side.
Even with the extra OL, the 49ers still can't help themselves and will trap with RG Alex Boone (#75). The huge morass of blockers and defenders come together and Gore is able to dance to his right a little as he waits for a hole to develop and then he speeds through into the wide open secondary. If you watch closely, you can see Daniel Kilgore (#67) get shoved off his block by the OLB, but the 49ers bring so many blockers to that side, all the defenders are still accounted for.

Calais Campbell falls forward as he is expecting Iupati or Staley to contact him and his first sight when he glances up is Alex Boone (#75) crashing into him. Campbell is so good he is still able to get a hand on Gore's ankle, but it's not enough to slow Gore down as he takes the ball and bounces outside for another 20 yards.
There's a comprehensive review of Frank Gore's 20+ yard runs this year. On display are the 49ers power running game and the variations they present to the defense as well as Frank Gore's ability as a running back to run patient and with vision. Frank Gore deserves all the praise he receives and he's a great fit for the running scheme the 49ers employ. Jim Harbaugh, surprisingly enough, had one of the better quotes about Frank Gore earlier this week on KNBR radio here in the Bay Area.
“The more I get to know Frank I just love him so much. He’s a mystical type of guy. He’s got a spiritual connection – he sees more than most of us do. He’s a very deep guy."
"Power" is usually the first thing that comes to mind with Gore, or maybe "yards after contact," but the more you watch Gore run, the more you can appreciate his vision of the field and how he uses his blockers and his ability to make good cuts to gain more yards. Maybe he does really see more than most of us do? So, when you watch the 49ers in London tomorrow against Jacksonville, keep an eye for pulling guards, wham blocks and enjoy Frank Gore.