Speedy Gilmore Makes Mark
Chrissy Mauck
Wide receiver Bryan Gilmore’s entire NFL career has shadowed that of 49ers wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan. Sullivan moved from the Arizona Cardinals to the Miami Dolphins and then to San Francisco, and at each spot Gilmore eventually became part of the mix of Sullivan’s receiving corps, thus the case this off-season when he signed on with the 49ers as a free agent.
“He’s my coach,” said Gilmore. “He’s who I tell everyone is my coach. He’s taught me things that I’ve carried with me everywhere I’ve been, even when I wasn’t with him that one year. I try to do his techniques because they work. He’s a wonderful technician and he’s hard on details and that’s what separates the good receivers from the great ones and I want to be one of those top receivers in the league.”
After spending two years mostly on the Cardinals practice squad, it was expected to be Gilmore’s coming out year as the speedy deep threat receiver. Gilmore was the third wide receiver behind only David Boston and Frank Sanders. Instead Gilmore’s promising season came to an unfortunate end in a roll up collision with a photographer in the back of the end zone.
“When I signed here I was like, ‘wow I’m going back to the place where I broke my leg,’” said Gilmore. “I was just really getting my start in football when that happened so it was unfortunate, but it happened. I’m just glad I’m still here playing the game.”
Gilmore’s blazing speed is what opened the door to the NFL for this undrafted free agent out of Midwestern State. However, after six years in the league, this veteran receiver has continued to add new dimensions and depth to his repertoire.
“Back then I was running like a chicken with my head cut off. I was just trying to run fast,” said Gilmore. “I really didn’t understand football. Now I understand how the schemes fit together. It makes your job a lot easier when you know why you are doing what you are doing.”
The polished receiver also makes the catch – even the type of grabs that had his teammates wondering where this new guy came from. Seldom, if any balls thrown his way during the OTAs fell incomplete.
“It just comes with time and confidence,” said Gilmore of his hands. “When you have guys around you who catch the ball like Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle, it creates a good environment. It’s not a competition so much but a good camaraderie where everybody is doing their job and their confidence and desire rub off on you. Being around guys like that, and guys like Chris Chambers and Marty Booker while I was in Miami really helped me.”
But to answer his teammates’ question, Gilmore was born and raised in Lufkin, a city located in East Texas. Although Gilmore calls Phoenix his home these days, his southern accent indicates his Texas roots, assuming that is if you happen to hear him talking; Gilmore isn’t much for idle chatter.
“I don’t like to talk a lot,” said Gilmore. “I find that guys who talk a lot, it comes back to bite them. I just focus on doing my job.”
From being reunited with his coach, to the welcoming locker room, to the timing developed with quarterback Alex Smith over the off-season, to the shared work ethic of his receiving corps, Gilmore is poised for a productive season with the 49ers and a chance to store away happier memories at Monster Park.
“That’s why I came here,” said Gilmore. “I knew Coach Sullivan was going to give me a chance to get on the field. It’s up to me to prove I can play and that’s all I’m trying to do, prove that I belong on the field and hopefully our receiver corps can be one of the best in the NFL this year.”
Chrissy Mauck
Wide receiver Bryan Gilmore’s entire NFL career has shadowed that of 49ers wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan. Sullivan moved from the Arizona Cardinals to the Miami Dolphins and then to San Francisco, and at each spot Gilmore eventually became part of the mix of Sullivan’s receiving corps, thus the case this off-season when he signed on with the 49ers as a free agent.
“He’s my coach,” said Gilmore. “He’s who I tell everyone is my coach. He’s taught me things that I’ve carried with me everywhere I’ve been, even when I wasn’t with him that one year. I try to do his techniques because they work. He’s a wonderful technician and he’s hard on details and that’s what separates the good receivers from the great ones and I want to be one of those top receivers in the league.”
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In addition to working with Sullivan at a third spot in the NFL, as fate would have it, Gilmore will now become a regular at Monster Park, the very field that he broke his leg on in October of 2002 when the 49ers hosted the Cardinals. After spending two years mostly on the Cardinals practice squad, it was expected to be Gilmore’s coming out year as the speedy deep threat receiver. Gilmore was the third wide receiver behind only David Boston and Frank Sanders. Instead Gilmore’s promising season came to an unfortunate end in a roll up collision with a photographer in the back of the end zone.
“When I signed here I was like, ‘wow I’m going back to the place where I broke my leg,’” said Gilmore. “I was just really getting my start in football when that happened so it was unfortunate, but it happened. I’m just glad I’m still here playing the game.”
Gilmore’s blazing speed is what opened the door to the NFL for this undrafted free agent out of Midwestern State. However, after six years in the league, this veteran receiver has continued to add new dimensions and depth to his repertoire.
“Back then I was running like a chicken with my head cut off. I was just trying to run fast,” said Gilmore. “I really didn’t understand football. Now I understand how the schemes fit together. It makes your job a lot easier when you know why you are doing what you are doing.”
The polished receiver also makes the catch – even the type of grabs that had his teammates wondering where this new guy came from. Seldom, if any balls thrown his way during the OTAs fell incomplete.
“It just comes with time and confidence,” said Gilmore of his hands. “When you have guys around you who catch the ball like Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle, it creates a good environment. It’s not a competition so much but a good camaraderie where everybody is doing their job and their confidence and desire rub off on you. Being around guys like that, and guys like Chris Chambers and Marty Booker while I was in Miami really helped me.”
But to answer his teammates’ question, Gilmore was born and raised in Lufkin, a city located in East Texas. Although Gilmore calls Phoenix his home these days, his southern accent indicates his Texas roots, assuming that is if you happen to hear him talking; Gilmore isn’t much for idle chatter.
“I don’t like to talk a lot,” said Gilmore. “I find that guys who talk a lot, it comes back to bite them. I just focus on doing my job.”
From being reunited with his coach, to the welcoming locker room, to the timing developed with quarterback Alex Smith over the off-season, to the shared work ethic of his receiving corps, Gilmore is poised for a productive season with the 49ers and a chance to store away happier memories at Monster Park.
“That’s why I came here,” said Gilmore. “I knew Coach Sullivan was going to give me a chance to get on the field. It’s up to me to prove I can play and that’s all I’m trying to do, prove that I belong on the field and hopefully our receiver corps can be one of the best in the NFL this year.”
