What Does The 2012 Offseason Mean For Michael Crabtree?

I don’t think this offseason makes a difference in the Alex, and Crabtree connection. They’ve played a full season together in the new offense and developed chemistry. If anything this season just confirmed that Crabtree can not just be the only reliable receiver they have on the team. They need another one opposite of him, and no I’m not talking about Morgan when he comes back. They need a burner, with a big body.

The question is are his problems from a lack of skill, lack of motivation, or lack of a good quarterback? He isn’t the type of receiver like a Fitzgerald or Calvin who are built to produce no matter who’s throwing it, and we knew this coming out of college.

I have a feeling he shows up to most if not all voluntary workouts. Hopefully his postseason performance fuels him. I want to see a 80-100 reception year, 1,200 yards, and at least 10 TDs. That would make me very happy.

but it’s media day for the Super Bowl and I can’t help but think to myself how it should be the 49ers being showcased…ugh…

Will help alot I think. Crab seemed to really pick up on the general idea that began with the former head coaches: everything that goes wrong is Alex’s fault. We’ve finally been able to identify a lingering problem.. Our receivers have sucked for years. Now, finally, crab showed a bit more promise and Morgan has lived up to a bit better than his 7th round pick. What will make these guys better, I think at least, is the balls that Alex can finally show and call these guys out (and the noobs coming in too), having the backing of the coach to get in their face and tell them to catch the damn ball, instead of getting a pass for drops because, you know, Alice didn’t hit em right in the hands with the perfect pass. If a Patriot wr drops a pass, it’s ‘catch the f#%€£n ball, a#%£€*e or I’ll cut your a*¥!!!’ certainly not ’Brady’s got small hands coach!’.

It’s about showing leadership both on and off the field. It’s about setting an example for all other receivers as to how they should conduct themselves on a daily basis. It’s about being a consummate professional.

I’m willing to give Crabtree a pass on the holdout his rookie season. Contract disputes are fairly normal in the NFL and you can’t fault a guy for wanting to get the best contract available to him. Likewise, nagging injuries are common place in the NFL. I’m sure we can all agree that we would rather have Crabtree healthy during the regular season than during the pre-season.

But this year NEEDS to be the year that he steps up both mentally and physically to prove that he can be a #1 guy. My personal opinion is that he will never be more than a #2 receiver on the depth chart. And if that’s his ceiling, that’s fine. He can still contribute a great amount to this team. I just hope Baalke and Harbaugh realize this at some point in the near future and start paying him like a #2 and start looking for someone to fill the void at #1.

You cannot expect a WR to have big season(s) with Alex at QB the way he is playing NOW. If Alex becomes more accurate and puts Crabtree in a position to have an impact, why wouldn’t he have one? I hardly ever see the kid in space or catching a pass in stride. QB’s can kill WR’s stats. So please don’t bring up his stats. He was taken to high, but that is not his fault, just as it wasn’t Smith’s fault he was taken #1.

I still think the 49ers are limited with Alex Smith at the helm. He was wide open and Smith missed him.

….to see what Kaepernick learned this year.

He has to be the hardest working guy on the team. He has to put it together and be the guy we thought we drafted next year. He has the potential, he just has to get focused.

No more coming into the season making rookie mistakes like stepping out of bounds half a yard before the 1st down marker, no more diving for the pylon when he only has one foot down in bounds, and no more catching the ball and then trying to run a loop instead of making a cut and getting up-field.

it was clear that he struggles to separate this season. he’s not a bad player but his skill sets still arent where a #1 should be, no matter who his QB is crabtree needs to develop some more skills this isnt the big 12 anymore with weak DB’s. at best i see him as a #2, also i doubt he really wants to be in sf.

Agree with the line of thinking that although he hasn’t lived up to his high draft status, he’s still solid. He’s shown flashes over the last few years. His hands were terrible this year compared to his rookie year, and hopefully he gets that back.

For those who think he hasn’t bought into the team, I disagree. He’s repeatedly mixed it up in downfield blocking. Harbaugh singled him out several times as consummate team guy. I think he would have just said nothing if Crabs was being a prima donna wideout.

That said, I thought he had a pretty bad playoff run, and didn’t earn the right to have Smith throw into coverage so Crabs could just make a play. He seemed to be open a couple times and Smith missed him, but he needs to be more open more of the time. And if he wants the chance to make plays, he also has to make plays when given the chance cough New Orleans drops cough. But I’m optimistic he builds off some of the good things this year and has a better year next year.