Michael Crabtree: Back To 100% And We're Lovin' It

by David Fucillo on Dec 9, 2011 1:46 PM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

The most under the radar news for the 49ers recently is that Michael Crabtree has not been on the injury report. After spending the first three months of the season limited in practice, the last two weeks have seen absent from the report. Crabtree even said after the 49ers win over the Rams that this was the first time he has been 100% healthy this season.

Ever since Crabtree's rookie season, there has been plenty of debate as to what he brings to the table. Some folks grew frustrated with him very quickly, others were just bewildered, and as with any player, some folks stuck with him through thick and thin. Whichever group you fell into, we all now can enjoy the benefits of Michael Crabtree.

As the 49ers prepare to face the Cardinals this weekend, we can look back on Crabtree's strong performance against Arizona three weeks ago. He hauled in seven passes for 120 yards and at times had his way with rookie cornerback, Patrick Peterson. I suspect we will see Peterson matched up again with Crabtree, in what should be a really fun matchup to watch all game long.

Now in his third season, Michael Crabtree has a shot at 1,000 receiving yards and will likely surpass career highs in several categories, including catches and yards. He and Alex Smith appear to be developing a much better chemistry on the field and appear to be enjoying themselves on the sidelines after big plays. Winning can help that, but also simply having a chance to work together consistently on the practice field is so important.

Michael Crabtree is immensely talented and showed during his rookie season how quickly he could step in and make plays. However, getting a chance to work consistently in full first team reps with Alex Smith takes it to another level. The 49ers are still trying to figure out their offense and really are only scratching the surface considering the fact that they have been basically implementing it on the fly. As solid as Smith-to-Crabtree has looked lately, I can't even begin to imagine what we might see in 2012.

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I don't think it was injury or chemistry. I think he matured

Remember earlier in the season when Crabtree started hopping up in down in a sort of tantrum when he was fairly covered and the heat was on Smith. That guy is gone. Now when Smith misses him when he is wide open he jogs back and tries again next time. He is a real tough SOB that is doing what it takes to win. Maybe he did have a diva attitude before, but I don’t see it anymore. I’m a big fan.

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by mcwagner on Dec 9, 2011 1:55 PM PST reply actions

Maturity

It will take a while to demonstrate it. I was down on Crabtree earlier. If he has matured and is now giving us 100% effort all the time… that to me is another win for the Jim Harbaugh story. Singletary got credit for setting VD on the straight and narrow. JH will get credit for doing the same with Michael Crabtree, if that takes.

by Da Bum on Dec 9, 2011 2:01 PM PST up reply actions

Smith did miss him.

"What the hell are you mixing in that look-aid"

by rlott#42 on Dec 9, 2011 2:15 PM PST up reply actions

and he still does

but now Crabs comes back to the huddle and keeps trying to get open. I think its a trust that Crabs knows Alex is looking for him and Alex knowing that Crabs will fight for the ball.

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by mcwagner on Dec 9, 2011 2:46 PM PST up reply actions

no one said he hasn't missed him

by Andrew9erfan on Dec 9, 2011 2:55 PM PST up reply actions

I wonder how much of these players with a diva attitude is a failure on the part of the coaches

To instill a winning mentality instead of a whining mentality. If a man is a whiner instead of a winner, he can have all the talent in the world but he’ll crumble under adversity.

It is on the general manager to determine if a player will be receptive to the attitude change. If a guy is too headstrong and sure of himself, he is likely to reject the possibilty he is wrong. The general manager should identify these guys, and try to aviod getting them on his team.

Here is where a talented player is only great under certain conditions. He will whine when things don’t go his way. If you can’t convince him that whiners aren’t winners, he is eventually going to crumble and be useless, because, as we all know, things do not always go your way. A good coach can point this out to some guys, but not to all guys. Trent has been great about this and has developed a system to fill the roster with coachable guys.

Great coaches and coachable guys can go far in this league. I have always seen Crabtree as one of these guys. He has always seemed like a humble guy to me. A humble guy is usually more receptive to outside influences. If he has good coaching this helps them achieve the common goal. Any frustration he has can be overcome as the results prove themselves to be successful. The real test comes when things don’t go well a couple times. Will Crabtree still be able to hold it together?

If he is a winner then yes. It is not a bad thing to be unhappy with failure. It is bad when you expect success to just be handed to you.

"Hey look over there. Isn't that John Candy?"

by Pat Willie on Dec 9, 2011 3:05 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed 100% Harbaugh seems to know how to bring the best out in his guys

And he has said over and over again that he likes Michael. I wonder if Michael ever felt Singletary was in his corner or if there was always the hold-out stink.

by Da Bum on Dec 9, 2011 3:12 PM PST up reply actions

Singletary did really well with some guys

He really gave Vernon a new perspective. I think Singletary might have been too much of a hard ass. If you are hardheaded yourself, it is difficult to communicate with certain people.

All communication is going to be worthless if your plan falls apart and you are too stubborn yourself to admit it, or do anything to change it. It is the same for the coach as it is for the player.

"Hey look over there. Isn't that John Candy?"

by Pat Willie on Dec 9, 2011 3:21 PM PST up reply actions

That and really inexperienced

He may learn someday to be a good coach, but it remains to be seen.

by Da Bum on Dec 9, 2011 3:39 PM PST up reply actions

He might never be a good head coach

It might be reality that he is most useful as a linebacker coach, or maybe a defensive coordinator. There is ability and experience to account for.

"Hey look over there. Isn't that John Candy?"

by Pat Willie on Dec 9, 2011 3:42 PM PST up reply actions

17 catches 270 yards & a TD in the 3 games

He’s been coming on strong & you get a real sense that Alex & the coaches are really trusting him right now. With teams trying to clamp down on the run he is seeing one-on-one coverage & he has been exploiting it.

Plus his blocking has been outstanding all season

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by Lok on Dec 9, 2011 1:55 PM PST reply actions

he gets close to 1000 yards

not bad at all

And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
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Magic number For bye week (4 for Saints 2 for Cowboys) For NFC West division title 0 (NFC WEST CHAMPIONS)

by manraj7 on Dec 9, 2011 2:39 PM PST up reply actions

how many years does he have left on his rookie contract after this year?

by KGboomer on Dec 9, 2011 2:23 PM PST reply actions

3 years

by Ni9er on Dec 9, 2011 2:43 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks

good to know. Thought it was only 1 or 2.

by KGboomer on Dec 9, 2011 3:14 PM PST up reply actions

His rookie contract was for 6 years since he missed half of his 1st year.

ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE

"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh

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by mikeinsp on Dec 9, 2011 3:30 PM PST up reply actions

There was an option on his 6th year

I’m not sure what the option was.

Alex Smith 86%+ QB rating with 22+ TDs this season, hopefully! :)

by teekay on Dec 9, 2011 4:40 PM PST up reply actions

His sixth year can be voided if:

he goes to a Pro Bowl during his first four years

AND

he plays 80 percent of the offensive snaps during a separate season in which the 49ers reach the playoffs

he goes to a Pro Bowl in the first four years along with going to a second Pro Bowl in five years

ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE

"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh

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by mikeinsp on Dec 9, 2011 11:41 PM PST up reply actions

I see, thank you

Well he won’t be getting any pro bowls, that’s for sure. Good news.

Alex Smith 86%+ QB rating with 22+ TDs this season, hopefully! :)

by teekay on Dec 10, 2011 3:47 AM PST up reply actions

If Alex and him play all of next season like he's been playing the last few games...

I wouldn’t be too sure of that.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 6:43 AM PST up reply actions

I think we're finally seeing Crabs buy into a team concept

and putting in extra effort to click with Alex. It may just blossom.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Dec 10, 2011 6:44 AM PST up reply actions

My stance on Crabtree

has pretty much always been that he’s talented, but injury and attitude have previously interfered with his productivity.

I think he’s settled in, he and Smith have developed some chemistry, and I think since taking some lumps early on in terms of media perception, the kid has probably grown up a bit.

It’s been great to see him start to thrive; now, we just need Vernon to hold onto the damn ball a little more often, and we have a real pro-style offense!

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 9, 2011 2:45 PM PST reply actions

Attitude , haven't seen any attitude , seen a bunch of Crap spewed form the media ...

… labels and misinformed persona , the kids a shy cat and sounds like he just wants to play ball …!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ..( .AleX ) was asked , what do you think about all the game manager talk ... AleX i guess i just managed myself a VIctory ... Extend the Man ...!!

by Edggy on Dec 9, 2011 7:05 PM PST up reply actions

Edggy ...Thanx for "tellin' it like it is"

Come to find out that “attitude” and “Diva” were notions somebody decided to hang around his neck – and sadly, an entire boat load of people jumped on and chimed in over and over – ad nauseam. A local Sac Beat Writer blew that whole “label” crap right out the window. This kid is shy and with drawn. And now he and Alex have gotten in snyc.

by ninernutt on Dec 9, 2011 8:08 PM PST up reply actions

Hopefully

IF that’s what it was, great! Happy he and Alex have gotten in sync; not overly concerned with what it was (shyness, attitude, devastating hemorrhoids, etc). Just pleased they have gotten it together..

Not trying to pass judgment, just interested in production.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 9, 2011 9:00 PM PST up reply actions

yep

ClaYton Kershaw, Giant Killa | KeMVP #BEASTMODE

"If the 49ers success offends you, so be it." - Jim Harbaugh

Follow @michaelsp310

by mikeinsp on Dec 9, 2011 11:52 PM PST up reply actions

Good to see Alex & Michael talking, laughing on the sidelines during games

I have seen that now for the past two games. I think they both now have a better understanding & respect for each other first as people and second as football team mates.

I recall prior to this season Alex & Michael each threw slight verball jabs towards each other, You can read whatever you want into that, but I don’t think that was a postive thing for either guy at that time.

I also recall last season Vernon & Michael each got after each other with Singletary claiming that Vernon simply called out the white elephant in the room, remember?

I do agree with what another poster said….Michael appears to have matured and accepted there is no “I” in the word Team.

Lastly, YES, it clearly appears Michael is finally healthy and he his playing like a MAN on a mission to prove he is a vicious blocker and one hell of a great WR !

by BigMar on Dec 9, 2011 3:38 PM PST reply actions

Kyle Williams clearly is proving to be explosive too!

by BigMar on Dec 9, 2011 3:58 PM PST reply actions

A little off topic...

A lot of people have commented something that reads like this: “Imagine what Harbaugh can do with a full offseason!”
Well…how much better do people want? The team is 10-2 and looks like the worst we will do is 13-3. I don’t know how much better they can get. Score more points maybe? Not only stop teams from running it into the endzone but keep teams out of the endzone alltogether and just allow field goals?
Not trying to be a pessimist or take shots at anyone but I am very happy with where we are. Can we improve? Sure. Can the wins/losses improve? Not likely. Anyways….
I love what Crabs is doing lately he is really looking like the 10th overall pick.

Call me cautiously optimistic....because I know what the Niners do to people who have real optimism (see the last 8 years).

by crumpedup15 on Dec 9, 2011 8:43 PM PST reply actions

Unless we go 19-0

and pull our starters at the end of the half every game because we are dominating so hard then there is always room for improvement.

by manraj7 on Dec 9, 2011 11:19 PM PST up reply actions

We can improve

I agree with you that we have it good, and the problems we have are of the sort that you appreciate more when things have NOT always been so solid…we are complaining about things we would have relished a year ago.

That said:

One more OLB for pressure schemes would rock. A RG who isn’t Chilo, and who would allow Snyder to move to a single spot would be ideal. A RB who plunges straight ahead, and loves contact is on the list. Another quality DB, just for depth. And maybe another WR, just to round out the group.

And, A. Smith becoming a little more comfortable in the pocket- he has made huge strides this year, but letting him grow just a bit more would take us from “nice 2011 story” to perennial contender.

And yes, agreed that Crabs looks like the real deal lately.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 9, 2011 11:29 PM PST up reply actions