49ers 2012 Offseason: Alex Smith And The Wide Receivers, Chicken Or Egg?

Crabtree isn’t a number 1 receiver. I seriously hope they’ll explore the free agent market and find a receiver with break away speed that fits into a team concept. There’s gotta be one we can get signed:

2012 NFL Free Agent Receivers

Reggie Wayne (IND) – The Colts are an organization that tends to take care of their own. Though they’re in a precarious position after signing Manning long term and with Robert Mathis looking for his own deal, the Colts will have to make room. On the bright side, the new CBA couldn’t have come at a better time for the Colts who would have been due to dole out a large sum for a potentially high draft pick.

Wes Welker (NE) – Through 5 games, Welker is on pace to break the season record for receptions and shatter the record for receiving yards. It’s safe to say heÕs Brady’s favorite target on 3rd downs to move the chains and virtually impossible to cover out of the slot due to his quickness, intelligence, and hands. You have to think Brady will make a push to keep him around if the front office shockingly has other plans.

Vincent Jackson (SD) – Partially due to his actions and injuries, the Chargers have been reluctant to sign Vincent Jackson to a long-term extension. If there’s any animosity between the two parties, this could be the time where there’s a split. Still, the best guess is that the team will pay Jackson like a number one receiver and keep him in San Diego.

DeSean Jackson (PHI) – Jackson is the perfect weapon for the Eagles offense that relies upon big plays. Though the organization was unwilling to cave to his offseason demands, they’ll have to think long and hard about doing everything in their power to retain Jackson. Though Maclin may be the better overall receiver, Jackson’s vertical ability has a great impact on the way defenses approach the Eagles’ offense. Though based on his comments and actions of several months ago, it appears that Jackson could be lured away from Philadelphia with a lucrative offer.

Dwayne Bowe (KC) – One subpar season aside, Dwayne Bowe has emerged into the number one receiver the offense needs. He’s a big body and a good route runner with a large catching radius. His most impressive attribute is his body of work around the goal line. He’s a complete mismatch with the fade, slant, and back shoulder passes and has shown the propensity to make the acrobatic catches on numerous occasions.

Marques Colston (NO) – When healthy, Colston is a match-up nightmare for any corner. He’s an incredibly physical receiver and a sure-handed, polished route runner. When he’s available, he brings another dimension to the Saints offense that none of their other talented weapons possess. Though Brees has proven capable of running the offense without him, they’re even more dangerous with him.

Steve Johnson (BUF) – Still working on his meager rookie salary, Johnson figures to be a big part of the Bills’ long term plans. On a team with few superstars, the Bills can afford to lock up Johnson long term and maintain an effective passing attack. After he and fellow free agent Ryan Fitzpatrick are locked up, Bills fans can breathe easier about the bright future of their offense.

Brandon Lloyd (STL) – Lloyd’s next contract will largely depend upon his production over the remainder of the season. Though he hasn’t been as explosive and consistent as a year ago when he broke out at age 29, he still appears to be a dangerous receiver with the league’s largest catching radius.

Robert Meachem (NO) – Meachem is one of the younger receivers that could be a nice pick-up for an offense with a larger workload to offer. He’s a good downfield threat and has nice instincts in the red zone. Unlike Colston, Meachem is more of a luxury for the offense.

Mario Manningham (NYG) – With Manningham and Cruz behind Hakeem Nicks, the Giants have found a nice threesome. They seemed disappointed in Steve Smith’s decision to bolt for Philadelphia without the option to match the contact, so there’s no question the front office will look to keep the remainder of their receiving corps intact.

Mike Wallace (PIT) – Restricted – No receiver in the league forces safeties back like Wallace. His deep speed is second to none on the perimeter and he capitalizes on it with the ability to run those vertical routes proficiently. He’s improving in other areas of his game and is an extremely valuable piece to the Steelers’ offense.

The whole year you had guys unselfishly giving stats up for the overall benefit of the team. Vernon has a stat-wise down year for him…and yet he always came to play, always said the right thing, never threw Smith under the bus. Josh Morgan, Frank Gore, Kyle Williams, Alex Smith, Dalanie Walker, Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Navarro Bowman, Donte Whitner…all of these guys are the right type of leaders…..Crabtree, for all of his talent, IMO, is the wrong type of leader…and I think in the long run it will hurt the “team”. 4 Million……that is how much Crabtree costs the Niners next year. 5 Million the year after. He needs to become part of the “team”, or the Niners should think about giving that 4 million to Vincent Jackson instead.

And Crabtree with his throwing Smith under the bus again.. "Just let me make plays"

but…that’s semantics

his name is vernon davis.

Avoids contact, lazy on routes where he’s clearing out, drops more balls than anyone on our team, and hasn’t even been much of a threat since his second concussion.

Crabs is signed til 2014 on Ninerssalarycaphell.

Every time he enters the game we give up a passing touchdown.

He does not understand that a vertical route with an inside release against off man coverage is his responsibility to come over the top and break up the play. The corner does not have position to make the play.

Everybody was screaming at Brock, but it was Reggie that blew his assignment.

And that should be DejaVu for all of us, because the same thing happened during the regular season, except that time it was against T. Brown. Off-man coverage, inside vertical release, Smith comes over too late and at a bad angle and leaves Brown out to dry.

Eli threw that throw Sunday because he saw #30 in deep half responsibility and knew one look to the opposite side of the field would freeze him in place and give him the easy 1 on 1 matchup he wanted. He makes that throw EVERY SINGLE TIME.

especially because we are what we are, that is, a smash-mouth football team

I like him a lot and hope he falls to the 49ers in the 4th (like Kendall). He looks like a steal.

But 29 years old is another significant milestone for running backs.

He’s looked very good this year and also like he had the potential to develop into a really good RB.

he does, but the son can’t even get playing time on the Bruins team

And in that game we had a 100% Walker, Ginn, and (Not-Swain) Braylon.

We have one elite recievee in Davis. We need at least one more.

praise will come later :(
For me it will with Ray Mac who had an outstanding game yesterday.

We will be a good team for years to come, but……

Some definite improvements need to be made before this becomes more than a “cinderella” year.

If he were in yesterday, we would be in the SuperBowl for sure.

No more than two years for Alex. Crabtree has zero trade value. I doubt we could get better than a fifth of sixth rounder for a guy with a very very limited skill set. He is slow, not explosive, doesn’t have quick feet. He has been exposed. I like Bowe, don’t like Colston(he doesn’t stretch the field either), like Jackson if he has his head on straight. Your right about another offensive lineman and I would like to see another CB in the draft. All the other things you mention I agree with.

Try to get Bowe or Vincent Jackson.

If we could pull that off, maybe let Morgan walk. Keep Ginn solely for return duty.

Let me drive the “No on Bowe” bandwagon. He is actually all those bad qualities you guys speculate Crabtree has. Talk about a guy who doesn’t give an eff at times and leaves his team, QB and teammates out to dry.

Sooooooo aggravating… Ever hear of CONTEXT?

‘Cause you’re taking ALL HIS COMMENTS OUT OF C-O-N-T-E-X-T.

Again……

Name one coach or teammate who’s EVER said #15 wasn’t a team guy or a hard worker or had attituede… One. Just ONE!!!

You can’t because there aren’t any. What fricking “attitude” are you talking about? The guy simply just isn’t media-friendly.