By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif.(AP) -- Frank Gore has a straightforward
offensive strategy: make positive yards every time.

That's what the running back regularly reminds his San Francisco
49ers teammates about - small gains are better than no gains or
negatives.

"We're getting better," Gore said Wednesday. "Like I keep
telling my guys, 'We've got to get positive yards every time we
run the ball."'

Sounds simple enough, yet the 49ers have been inconsistent on
offense all season and are still trying to find that identity
repeatedly mentioned by coach Mike Singletary since the start of
training camp. He is standing by coordinator Jimmy Raye, strong
running game or not, spread offense or not, criticism or not.

The Niners (3-4) know they need to get the offense back on track
in this Sunday's home game against the Tennessee Titans (1-6),
who snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating Jacksonville
last week.

"We will," Gore said. "As long as we do our job and everybody's
on the same page, we're going to be a good offense."

It hasn't helped San Francisco's cause that the offensive line
has changed so much. Right tackle Tony Pashos went on injured
reserve last week with a broken left shoulder blade, and left
tackle Joe Staley is sidelined for six weeks with a sprained
right knee that he hurt in last Sunday's loss at Indianapolis.
Staley will miss the first game of his career.

"We're not down at all," said tight end Vernon Davis, who has
been a big bright spot with 32 receptions and an NFL-leading
seven touchdown catches. "We're just looking forward, trying to
keep our confidence. We know we have a championship team."

While San Francisco has had success in the spread offense the
past two weeks, Singletary isn't ready to make it his primary
attack and put that kind of pressure on quarterback Alex Smith
considering the former No. 1 draft pick has been back as the
starter for only one game. He took over for the demoted Shaun
Hill after halftime at Houston on Oct. 25.

San Francisco has lost three straight and is taking some heat
about its offensive plan. Singletary is still focused on running
the ball, but also wants more balance - and Smith has shown he
can effectively throw the ball. The 49ers produced only 297
yards in a 24-21 loss to the Texans, then just 295 in an 18-14
defeat by the Colts.

Raye is the team's seventh offensive coordinator in as many
years, and Singletary insists it will still take time for him to
get accustomed to just what he can expect from his players in
various situations over the course of a game.

"I 150 percent back what he's doing, absolutely," Singletary
said. "There's not one iota that I'm wavering here or there,
whatever. Jimmy knows there are some things going forward that
he has to learn about our players, what they can and cannot do."

The team passed on 36 of its 54 offensive plays against the
Colts. A three-receiver formation worked well as the Niners
tried to rally back from a 21-0 deficit at Houston, but late in
the game last week it was primarily Isaac Bruce and rookie
Michael Crabtree as the lone wideouts on the field.

San Francisco finished with 113 rushing yards, better than the
59 it gained against Houston.

"When you're lopsided either way, I think it makes it easier on
(the defense)," Smith said.

Singletary certainly believes in his personnel, with Smith, Gore
and Davis leading the way - and top draft pick Crabtree making
strides each week after missing 71 days during his contract
impasse that ended Oct. 7.

Singletary never said a turnaround would happen overnight. He
points to small improvements each game and finds plenty of
encouraging signs.

Smith is "ahead of schedule" according to Singletary, and the
coaches will keep adding to his offensive load as he gains more
experience.

Smith isn't picky about running or throwing the ball.

"Winning," he said when asked what he favors. "Whatever it is,
whether it's Frank running for a bunch of yards, or us throwing
for a bunch of yards or both. In the end, that is what is going
to change things around here."

Smith's teammates have all the faith in him he can get this
offense going and get the Niners back to winning.

"Right now we're doing everything we can to get our playmakers
the ball," Davis said. "We've just got to take advantage of it."