2012-GameRelease-Divisional

''It was tough. That's one of the reasons I didn't go to the Pro Bowl,'' he said. ''It broke me down for a
while. How close it was, just looking back, all the tough times we had here to be that close to going to the
big dance, that was very tough. ... I took a little longer this time because we played a little longer last year.
I had a few more bumps and bruises to get back together. So I took a little longer. Now my body is
starting to get back.''
While Gore is still the main man carrying the ball in Harbaugh's offense, Hunter made an immediate
impact as a rookie. He carried 112 times for 473 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 264-pound
Jacobs has an impressive physical presence and could be the banging big back the 49ers have lacked
for short-yardage situations.
Jacobs, released March 9 by the Giants after the sides failed to work out a restructured contract, ran for
571 yards and seven touchdowns last season as his role diminished behind the emerging Ahmad
Bradshaw.
''He's a big guy,'' Gore said. ''I'm happy we have him.''
General manager Trent Baalke said during the draft last month that the 49ers have ample options at
running back, and they like it that way.
''It's like poker, it's a full house. That's good, right?'' Baalke said.
And the players seem to like the idea of sharing the touches – for now anyway. The 49ers appreciate
seeing Gore on the field, too.
''It doesn't make just individuals better, it makes everybody better, and it's good for the team,'' Hunter
said. ''I think it's big (that Gore's here). Not only to the players but the organization because he's a leader
and he does what it takes to win and he knows what it takes, and he can help the younger guys.''
Harbaugh has described the competition this way: ''It's going to get real real, and it's going to get real real,
real fast.''
James ran for 5,082 yards and 53 touchdowns on 771 career carries in three seasons at Oregon. That
included 49 carries for 382 yards and four TDs in two games against Harbaugh's former Stanford team
before the coach jumped to the NFL in January 2011.
''We envision him coming in and competing,'' Baalke said of James. ''Like we always say, we're trying to
create as much competition as we can. This does that. One thing about this football team, they're up to
the challenge. They're not afraid to compete.''
Center Jonathan Goodwin is eager to see what the Niners can do with so many options, including
experienced newcomers Randy Moss and Mario Manningham in the receiving corps.
''This offense has a lot of potential,'' Goodwin said.