Shout it out: 49ers lead NFL in rushing 49ers

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In the final game of Jimmy Raye's ill-fated tenure as the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2010, Kansas City defenders called out telegraphed plays - often handoffs to running back Frank Gore - before the snap.

Two years later, Gore smiled Sunday when asked if opponents are still bellowing before runs by the 49ers' bell cow.

"They can't," Gore said.

Indeed, defenses no longer can predict running plays. As a result, they've been powerless to stop the 49ers' ground game when it has been unleashed.

In Sunday's 45-3 win over the Bills, the 49ers collected 311 rushing yards, the fourth-most in franchise history and the highest total in the NFL since Oct. 24, 2010. The performance came on the heels of a 245-yard effort against the Jets, meaning San Francisco has rushed for more yards in its past two games (556) than 18 teams have collected this season.

The 49ers lead the NFL in rushing (195.8 yards per game) and their 6.1 yards per carry is the second-highest average after five games since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, according to Grantland.com.

Opponents know San Francisco wants to establish its power run game, but they no longer know how it will do so. On Sunday, San Francisco filleted the Bills through the air before gashing them on the ground.

At halftime, 74 percent of the 49ers' total yards (237 of 320) came from Alex Smith's passes. In the final two quarters, 76 percent of their yards (228 of 301) were on the ground.

49er running back Frank Gore runs for a 1st down in the 49er victory over the Buffalo Bills at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 7th, 2012. 49er running back Frank Gore runs for a 1st down in the 49er victory over the Buffalo Bills at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 7th, 2012. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Shout it out: 49ers lead NFL in rushing 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

It's not what Buffalo defensive tackle Marcell Dareus was anticipating.

"We kind of expected them to run the ball pretty heavy, wear us down and then try to open the pass game up," Dareus said.

In the 49ers' run game, Gore (432 yards) remains the headliner, but he's no longer a solo act. Elusive understudy Kendall Hunter (201 yards) is matching his average of 5.4-yards per carry. Gore and Hunter are the only NFC running backs averaging more than 5.2 yards an attempt among those with 20 carries.

However, it's not merely the running backs.

In a nod to creative play-calling, wide receivers and backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick have combined for 178 rushing yards and averaged 11.1 yards a carry. In addition, Smith (18 carries, 107 yards), who has been given more freedom to take off if he can't locate an open receiver, already has the third-highest rushing total of his eight-year career.

After five games, wide receivers Mario Manningham and Randy Moss are combining to average only 5.6 receptions and 57 yards per game. But the speedy offseason additions have assisted the running game by forcing safeties to back away from the line of scrimmage.

As a result, Gore isn't running against the eight-man fronts he has seen frequently throughout his career.

And he's no longer hearing defenders call out plays before he takes a handoff.

"Our coaching staff does a great job of putting us in great situations," Gore said, "and we're just growing. We're having fun out there."