SANTA CLARA – Jim Harbaugh spoke in the 49ers’ media tent on Thursday. He announced Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. are his starting wide receivers for Friday’s preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Here’s the transcript courtesy of the 49ers.
How much do you expect to play the regulars on Friday?
“Well, it’ll vary from regular to regular.”
How about the starters?
“The starters? We’ve got a number in mind.”
What’s that number?
“I’d rather not pin myself down to a number right now.”
Will WR Randy Moss be starting?
“The starting receivers will be [WR] Ted Ginn [Jr.] and [WR] Michael Crabtree.”
Will Randy be playing?
“Yeah, Randy’s playing.”
What do you hope to see out of that starting unit?
“Well, individually, collectively, all those things, you want to see the units play well as a group. Then there’s a lot of exciting individual play that we’ll be keying on, and excited to watch those guys compete.”
Do you put more emphasis, more evaluation, on these games? Or is it just an equal part of the puzzle as a normal three-hour padded practice out there?
“It’s a game. The score board’s lit up. We put a lot of value on everything we do. But, definitely the games are heightened, fun, competitive, and it’s highest output for a football player… But you didn’t need me to say that. Did you? Did you really need me to tell you that?
Yeah, because you’ve always talked about how it’s one piece of a puzzle. That you try to create that kind of competitive atmosphere out there, a game-like atmosphere on the practice field.
“Well, you definitely try to simulate it out there. Get it as close, as we’ve said before, as close to real football, game-like football as possible. But, the games are the closest thing to the games. They are the games.”
Have you been pleased with Ted Ginn in training camp?
“Ted’s had a great camp. Really pleased with Ted.”
Anything specifically stood out to you about his performance?
“He’s catching the ball. He’s blocking. He’s playing all the positions. Playing the X, the Z, the slot. He’s doing it all. He’s running good, getting out of his cuts. Just performing at a high level.
QB Colin Kaepernick had said this week, out of the preseason he wants to prove that he can be a starter in this league. What more do you need to see from him to convince you that he could start?
“Well, we have him prepare like a starter. We’d be very confident if Colin went into the game, or started a game.”
Are there some traits you’ve seen him grow or improve more, or some areas in specific where you’d like him to improve more?
“Well, all areas for quarterbacks, that’s just the way they go about it. If you ask him, ‘what area are you working on as a quarterback?’ I’ve asked a lot of those guys that same question. And pretty much unanimously they’ll tell you they’re working on everything. Trying to get better at every detail – heir strengths, things that they’d like to be better at. They’re just pretty unanimous that way, the way they approach it.”
Are QB Josh Johnson and QB Scott Tolzien also going to see action tomorrow night?
“Yes.”
And this is going to be Scott’s first time playing for you guys since you’ve had him. What are you going to be looking for out of Scott?
“Well, continued good play. We expect really with the quarterbacks that what they’ve been doing in practice will translate over to the game. Good in practice, good in games. Accurate in practice as a quarterback, accurate in games. Running the offense. We’ll just look forward to them getting the experience of live bullets and game action.”
The last time we talked to you, RB Anthony Dixon had just started playing some fullback. How has he looked in that role these last few practices?
“Good. He takes a lot of pride in his personal performance and now his two roles, three roles, multiple roles when you consider what he’s doing on special teams as well. He’s doing a fine job. There’s a lot of carryover from halfback to fullback. It’ll be great to see him in that role Friday night. That’s one of those individuals that you look forward to watching him play as a coach. Excited for him to compete.”
Will he also see action at tailback, halfback?
“Most probably, yes.”
One of the criticisms – I don’t know if you’ve had this criticism- but in the past, the past regime has said that he needs to play like a big back. That he dances around too much at the line of scrimmage. Do you see less of that this year? Does he seem more direct in the way that he runs the ball?
“Yeah, I think we saw that last year too. He had some big runs for us, some big first down pickups. He’s got a lot talent. Excited for him to get some more opportunities. This is more opportunities for him. I think he’ll acquit himself well.”
What were your initial impressions of Vikings RB Toby Gerhart at Stanford and are you excited to see him in person?
“My initial impressions of Toby when we first got there, was that he was and outstanding back. The first game we were there he rushed for about 136 yards and then got hurt in the third quarter, and he was out of the rest of the year. Then we didn’t have him in spring ball, he was in baseball. Then came back the next two years and had very productive years for us, over 1,500, 1,200 yards in both of those seasons. I’ve just got a ton of respect and admiration for Toby as a player and a person.”
What happened on the practice field last night with WR Kyle Williams toward the end?
“A scuffle. A scuffle happened.”
Did you order him off the field?
“I took him out of the drill, yeah.”
But not off the- you didn’t order him back?
“You were there Matt [Maiocco]. You were there, you reported it.”
It looked like he stayed around…
“We’ve addressed it, and I think we’ll be good and be better for it.”
What do you expect-how do you expect the fans to react to him tomorrow night. The first home game after the way the season ended?
“To Kyle? He’s a 49er. He’s one of us.”
Will he return punts?
“Most definitely.”
Is that part of just, got to get him back out there and do it as quickly as possible?
“It’s part of the depth chart. He returns punts for us.”
This will be WR Michael Crabtree’s first preseason game in the NFL. Is that important for him to develop a rapport with the quarterback in games?
“Michael’s got a great rapport with [QB] Alex Smith. Our leading receiver last year. They’ve had a heck of an offseason together. Practice is going well. Of course all of those things are important. Yeah.”
He has had some slow starts to previous seasons, which people have attributed to not taking part in the preseason. Was that an issue at all last year?
“I can’t say if it was or wasn’t. A lot of obvious questions, a lot of master of the obvious questions today. These could be really answering themselves up here.”
Could I just ask you, what your memories are of Vikings Special Assistant to the Head Coach/Linebackers Coach Mike Singletary as a teammate?
“Good. Hard worker, great football player. Good man. Leader.”
Since you’re playing career, have you kept in touch in any way?
“Not often have we had the occasion to have in-depth conversations since playing together.”
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“You were there Matt [Maiocco]. You were there, you reported it.”
God thats funny. I just love how Harbaugh doesn’t take well to some lines of questioning.
Dangle, this was a classic too:
“I can’t say if it was or wasn’t. A lot of obvious questions, a lot of master of the obvious questions today. These could be really answering themselves up here.”
Well, If Jim Harbaugh can call Michael Crabtree “our leading receiver” then it should be good enough for real 49er fans (lol)!
+1
+2
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http://www.myspace.com/video/chris/sesame-street-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-pinball/4166006
LOL. I’m with Chris.
Rocket,
Lol. That is a trip down memory lane, isn’t it?
Is it ever BigP. That was great. All the crazy 70′s acid like animation to boot. Love it.
This will be WR Michael Crabtree’s first preseason game in the NFL. Is that important for him to develop a rapport with the quarterback in games?
“Michael’s got a great rapport with [QB] Alex Smith. Our leading receiver last year. They’ve had a heck of an offseason together. Practice is going well. Of course all of those things are important. Yeah.”
Harbaugh doesnt think MC has an attitude, and he addresses MC being our leading reciever. How can any REAL 49er fan not like this guy? He stays out of trouble and has been pretty quite about the poor QB play he has been going through since he’s been here. MC sounds like a class act to me, just needs to clean up on those foot injuries and we’ll be alright. Harbaugh likes him, then so do I. Wheeew
Oh and Alex likes him too. Hmmm. I wooonder what the reason could be for not liking this kid? Hmmmm Makes you wonder.
Ha ha, nice one MD
Interesting that JH was saying good things about AS all last season, yet you guys still complained left and right about him. Now that other fans are pointing the finger at MC as someone who needs to step it up you’re finally using JH’s comments to support your position…which is it? Are you in with JH or not?
Calistoga,
I think JH’s comments to the media need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Last season I remember very positive comments made by JH about AS, MC, Chilo Rachal, KW and TG. While IMO Crabs has the most upside out of all of the players JH hyped last year, so far this group is average.
So when JH says MC has the best hands he’s ever seen, or that AS is “clutch” and deserves to be on the pro bowl team, or that he has faith in Chilo when Chilo comes in, or when he down plays the fact that he showed deep interest in Manning, he is being less than honest. It’s a poker game to JH and he knows what cards he has and exactly how he intends to play them. He just doesn’t feel the need to share that info with us.
Bay, for once I agree with you completely. Everything JH says in the media is meant to convey a message to us, the media, and his team. He’s not one who’s going to go off on one of his players in the media: that needs to stay in the locker room. So when he praises a player, there’s an element of truth to what he’s saying, but we’ll never know to what degree.
All we can know for certain is that if he keeps sending that player out onto the field when other subs are available, clearly he sees that player as the best on the team for that role.
koolest Coach in NFL
Yup… glad others get it.
Coach speak 101
md & AES,
Do you guys here another broken record? Skip…Skip…Skip…
Aint much to talk about Jack my boy. lol Id rather look directly into the sun than read bs’s long boring and dumb comments. The sad thing is It posts like 50 times a day. Easily. lol
Latino Prime has a point – this is the same coach who referred to Alex as an “elite” quarterback and only “evaluated” Peyton Manning.
I’m not listening to anything Harbaugh says; I’ll wait and see what he actually does.
KW returning punts. Ginn starting WR. Talk about facing your fears head on.
And congratulations to MC on his very first NFL pre-season game.
Unless Ginn has finally figured it out, I doubt it, I don’t like the idea that hes starting ahead of Manningham and Moss even if its early.
This is an interesting starters call by Jimmy. Is he rushing Cabtree back early to show he is a starter? Think about it, Crabtree practiced once and half for the last 8 practices, Iggy?
The other thing is he could play maybe the first offensive drive and then come out with the ones.
This game will be about what are two’s can do? After that it will be run left run right run middle all night long!
prime vato, this game is meaning less……or is harbaugh asking the guys who have more to prove like crabdiva and fumbilitis williams returning kicks…….zoooookkkkkkkkkssssssssssssssssss
either way its show up time holmes……MD-odaaaalayyyyyyyyyyyy
No Einstine, he’s Starting Crabtree because like AS, he’s the undisputed Starter!
Try listening to Harbaugh’ pressers Prime. He’s been pretty clear and upfront regarding his sentiments on MC.
If you chose to spin Harbaugh’ comments or play them off as simply coach 101 talk, well that’s on you bud.
I’m not sure what else Harbaugh can say to convince the Anti-MC crowd to get on board, but as far as I’m concerned he’s said enough to convince me.
“ALL IN!”
Well see tommorow night, let’s hope #15 is ready and healthy to play.
Crabs needs the time with Alex to get on the same page (He is our most productive wide receiver from last year afterall), Ginn wants to be a receiver, as he said in the F.A. period, let him run with the big boys. These 2 should know the playbook better then any WR on the roster not named Kyle as they have a year in the system? Most probably though Harbaugh is in some way pulling the wool over the leagues eyes with this move, as the whole league knows what Ginn and Crabtree look like in a 9ers uniform against top competition, and Moss and manningham are unknowns in this offense. Since this is my first post on this blog i’ll go ahead and say it, i think Crabtree will lead all wr’s in receptions and yards for the 49ers this season.
cant wait to the them on the feild, then the countdown to the real games starts.
also excited to see LMJ play with the bigboys some.
Why does Latino Heat always sound like he just finished watching American Me?
There’s no doubt in my mind that Ginn will NOT start ahead of R.Moss in the season opener.
R.Moss will be starting opposite M.Crabtree.
Moss is a proven and seasoned vet who is likely being preserved for real game play. Smart move by Harbaugh. Big things are expected of RM this season why take a chance with injuries?
Crabtree on the other hand, could use some playing time because he’s been on the shelf for a whole week. This is a glorified practice for MC.
Two things wrong with that, first:
“R.Moss will be starting opposite M.Crabtree”. Why is no one talking about Mario Manningham starting opposite Moss, 2 TE set with D love and VD? Thats more formidable than having Crabtree inside cause now Vernon can go underneath or deep and Delanie can get those inside slants or stay in block.
There problem solved.
2nd problem: “I’m not sure what else Harbaugh can say to convince the Anti-MC crowd to get on board”
Harbaugh can’t save anyone, the player has to perform. Healthy or not, coaches public support or coach speak, #15 has to produce. Let’s see what he has to say not JH.
Skip…Skip…Skip…
If TG starts in GB are you still All In?
See, things are a lot better when you say on JH I trust instead of your agenda looking for fights.
DS are you really believing everything JH says about Crabtree?
Why wouldn’t we be DS?
Crabtree and Ginn were a big reason this team won 13 games last year.
Prime
I’m believing everything JH says about all of the WR’s. To me you have to believe it all, or nothing. What AES has done is select only to mention the MC compliments, while ignoring everybody else.
At the end of the day he balances everything out in public. But there is a reason why he didn’t announce starting WR’s yet for the real season. Because he doesn’t know. He won’t surprise NFL D’s by announcing MC since he has 40 starts. I maintain JH doesn’t know and anybody who thinks they know better should have their head examined. We can all guess. But this discussion got out of hand just like the AS debate. Let the HC decide and support it. Until then, it is open to discuss. End of story.
Moss and Crabs will be your starting WR’s in Green Bay.
I personally think this is nothing more than giving the returning player (Ginn) a vote of confidence because he’s worked hard to improve his receiving skills. I also don’t care who starts opening day as long as they perform. If Ginn can actually contribute as a WR, it’ll only make the offense that much more formidable.
DS Harbaugh has announced the starting WR’s on the depth chart and Crabtree is the unquestioned starter at his position. Why can’t you accept the fact your view of Crabtree is not shared by the Coaching staff and move on?
rocket.
He announced the same thing about TG. And he hasn’t said starter for the season. Just for this game. We don’t know if JH will have 2 different starters next week.
If you think MC is the for sure starter, what has JH said to suggest that TG isn’t? What special thing has JH said that he didn’t say about TG?
So, pick your quotes.
Prime Time says:
August 9, 2012 at 8:14 pm
“Well see tommorow night, let’s hope #15 is ready and healthy to play.”
@Prime
Agreed Prime. But as you said, he may not be in too long for any real action. We’ll see.
He may not be in long, but I think he’ll have at least one touchdown catch tomorrow.
Costco frozen cornmeal pizza. check
Campus Oaks 2008 Zin. Check
Air con working. Check
Teevee set to go. Check
Gonna be a good Friday night.
And… after watching the Packers tonight I am not too afraid of what we will face in Green Bay…
You saw Green Bay play vanilla ball. Don’t put too much weight on one pre-season game. Having said that, I expect the Niners to go to GB and come away with a W
Nick
Agree. But I want for us to also break GB’s will as we did so many other teams last year who did fine, played us, then fell apart losing a lot after losing to us. That would show the NFL just how good are D is.
Ribi and Rocket,
I considered it…but it’s pre-season. Is there not a way for us out-of-towners to watch for free?
Ponied up $20 to NFL.com to see pre-season games out-of-town. Check. :/
Rib,
Me too. I have a sickness.
DS94everXev says:
August 9, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Prime
“I’m believing everything JH says about all of the WR’s. To me you have to believe it all, or nothing. What AES has done is select only to mention the MC compliments, while ignoring everybody else.”
@DS
Actaully DS, I don’t give a hoot what others especially you have said about MC. Let’s just say I’m more interested in what Harbaugh says.
Unlike youself, who has an axe to grind, and an agenda of hate against Crabtree.
What I’ve SELECTED to do is believe that “our leading receiver” (Harbaugh’ words) is going to be the Starter. You can clamor and rant until you’re blue in the face, but I rather deal and believe in facts (2011 leading WR), then someone who is emotional basket-case when it comes to MC (lol).
Not one of your MC hate rants has had any significant substance. Building a case around hate usually never garners much support unless you’re speaking to the choir. Choir members: Prime and LH (Assay), Yeah, they have your undivided attention (lol)!
Wow lots of doubters.
The reason Ted Ginn is starting and Kyle WIlliams is returning punts is because Harbaugh needs to decide which one he’s keeping on the team.
Right now it’s obvious Ginn had more value as a returner & Williams a receiver. Why not reverse the situation & find out who responds to their elevated role – might help you decide who to keep on the team…
Good thought!
Agree. I think Ginn starting is about evaluation. KW has been fielding punts all offseason.”
Prime:
“2nd problem: “I’m not sure what else Harbaugh can say to convince the Anti-MC crowd to get on board”
Harbaugh can’t save anyone, the player has to perform. Healthy or not, coaches public support or coach speak, #15 has to produce. Let’s see what he has to say not JH.”
@Prime
Every player has to perform, not just MC as has been your contention.
Somehow you, DS and your rookie team member LH have developed a mental block in not recognizing MC as our leading WR. That’s your (and their) problem.
Harbaugh has recognized MC as our leading receiver (his very words), and that settles it for me!
You guys can wallow in your MC hate all you want.
I’m “ALL IN!”
AES, every player has to perform but just like Alex last year, he needs to prove to the NFL world that he is a bonafide leading WR! You act like he has arrived and has been spectacular since joining the league and or because Harbaugh says so, c’mon man!
I’ll ask you again, just because he led the team in catches, has MC been a difference maker at WR?
You call it hate but it’s not, it’s the anknowledgement that this athlete has yet to live up to his expected potential. To date he has not and I’m saying he has this year to prove it, will he? Let’s see, it’s starts tonight.
Prime,
I think Crabtree has done as much as he can with what he’s been given. He’s not going to have top ten WR numbers in this offense, unless Harbaugh and Roman stray from their run first mentalitiy which isn’t likely.
He can get better, everybody can get better, but I don’t think you or DS give him credit for what he has done. He was the leading WR last year. You may not think that is impressive but that’s what happened. He also has become a very good downfield blocker which is important in this offense.
This kid doesn’t get into any trouble off the field and is well liked by his teammates. The fact some fans still hold a misguided mistake by his agent against him 4 years after the fact baffles me. He’s a shy personality who doesn’t like doing interviews and routinely gets things he said misconstrued, so who can blame him? As you said, he needs to improve just like eveybody else so let’s just let the season play out and see what happens.
I think thats all the MC doubters have ever said, lets see what happens this year. I think Crabtree has been misjudged somewhat and some of the criticism is unfair because of the offensive style and playcalling.
Now if anyone is going to to keep using that he led the team in receptions, then you also have to look at what he did with those recepetions. He really only had 4 TD’s all of last year. The numbers say one thing but they also say another in that the catches do not equate to suffcient results like TD’s.Is that not what we want from our leading WR?
FDM,
His QB only had 17 TD passes all year as well, and the team had a total of 18 (thank you David Akers).
MC’s stats are proportionate to the top 5-10 WR’s in the NFL when you factor in the opportunities they have in a given game/season.
The “he only had 4 TD receptions” is exactly the same type of BS that the Smith detractors throw out about him. You anti-Crabtree guys are almost mirror images of the.
Of those team leading receptions and proportionate to
top WR in the league, how many of those receptions did Crabtree turn nothing into something?
What game last year did Crabtree dominate, what game did he amass a tremendous amount of YAC or even better, what game could you say he was a difference, not “the” difference, just a contributor to a big win?
One frickin catch in SEA, that’s it? The rest was all mediocre and don’t put it on Smith. Other guys produced in pressure moments within the same offense!
Prime, maybe thats what Crabtree is, a borderline average reciever that cannot be a difference maker. The 49ers could use him more as a possession reciever and in the slot.
Is that you Jordo? If not it sure sounds like we have some imposters on this board.
>>Harbaugh has recognized MC as our leading receiver (his very words), and that settles it for me!
This the same Harbaugh ridiculed here for calling AS a Pro Bowler? Just checking.
Perhaps ribico.
But if you defended Harbaugh on the AS assessment, why are you rebuffing the one on MC?
I love Jim Harbaugh as a coach but i do’nt believe a single word he says to the media. When speaking to the media he said chilo rachal was outstanding. everyone knew he was completely blowing smoke. So when he pumps up crabtree or Smith pubicly it is meaningless and using his comments to prove an arguement is just silly. Come game 1 of the regular season, is that player in the starting lineup? Is that player in at the end of a close game? Now you know what the coach really thinks of him.
@old coach
JH is doing what HC’s should do. It sucks for us fans/reporters because it leaves us in the dark. But if a player is about to be cut or punished, it is best that he hears about it first from the HC and not the reporter.
Now he has said AS is the starter after mini-camp. He has not yet announced a starting WR because that competition is ongoing. Likely till the end of camp.
I kinda like his strategy. He compliments each of our players like they were the best ever. So, we have 6 outstanding starting caliber WR’s. 4-5 starting caliber RB’s. 4 starter material QB’s (though he did announce AS the starter). And a slew of OL who are just the best thing since the Dallas OL of the 90′s. If we had all these people on the field at once, we just might do something in the redzone/3rd downs now wouldn’t we?
:- )
He has not yet announced a starting WR because that competition is ongoing. Likely till the end of camp.
It’s still as wrong as the first time you said it DS. Crabtree is the starter. The only competition at the WR position is between Moss, Manningham and Ginn on the other side.
Old Coach,
Love JH are a head coach, he is outstanding, but when he calls AS elite, or MC having the greatest hands he has ever seen, guess he had amnesia. He never saw Chris Carter play, or the entire Peyton Manning drama, where we were just evaluating him, he is just full of crap. At least he is entertaining and not some guy who thinks he will be the greatest coach of all time, but also was so predictable and said every week I have to look at the film. What a snooze.
Thats exactly why i ignore pretty much all he says to the media. I understand why he says what he says, he is the kind of coach who refuses to throw his players under the bus and in the long run it will be a huge advantage. dusty baker used to do the same thing and because of that there were a lot of free agents who would come to or stay with the giants for less money.
AES,
They can’t live in reality, instead choosing to cling to this fantasy that somehow MC isn’t the best receiver on this team.
One of their favorite angles to point out is that Harbaugh has not yet named MC a starter, because he hasn’t come out and said so like he did with Smith. Well guess what, he hasn’t come out and said that Willis, Bowman, Goldson, Staley, V Davis are starters yet either. Why? Because it is common sense and common knowledge that they are starters, just like Crabtree. The competition that everyone, including myself, brings up is really for the bottom spots on the roster. Baalke said as much during his interview with the Sirius NFL guys on Wednesday.
The non-believers in Crabtree try to say he hasn’t lived up to expectations, that is BS. If you compare his numbers to any of the top 10-15 receivers in the NFL, he measures favorably. Their myopic view is similar to those that rail on Smith. They look at the raw stats and compare them without breaking them down or taking the offense that they are a part of into account. That being said he still ranked in a tie for 16th in the NFL in receptions and 28th in receiving yards despite his team throwing the fewest passes in the league and the 3rd fewest amount of yards.
Harbaugh views the guy as the complete package: hands, blocking, teammate, the consumate professional. These commentors that say “in Harbaugh we trust” are actually doubting him at every turn on this Crabtree thing without even realizing it.
Can Crabtree improve? Of course he can improve, every single player on the team can improve. That is why Harbaugh’s mantra is “get better today than you were yesterday.” The only time one can’t improve on something is when they cease to exist.
The best part is that we are now only 7 hours and 33 minutes from watching the Red and Gold on the field again. Can’t wait to see those uniforms tonight. GO NINERS!
Forget all the non essential stats, Jack, is Crabtree a difference maker for the 49ers at the WR position? Is he the guy you can rely on to make the big catch, get open or score when you need a game changing play?
Yes. I would count on him as much as any other player on the team.
That was Crabtree’s reputation at Texas Tech, and he did it in Seattle last year.
I say no! He is not the type of player like Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, L. Fitzgerald who can turn the game around on one catch and one run. Crabtree needs a great supporting cast around him to be good. He is not a go to guy.
Is Alex Smith a game changer or simply a game manager? Broken record dude. It doesn’t matter is the WR is wide open if the QB can’t the ball to him.
** it doesn’t matter if **
typing too fast
Yeah Grant he has made a difference once in 3 years. One game changing play in 3 years! You guys act like he is a clutch performer, Jack when besides SEA?
Come on, you talk like he is a #1 and show me stats that say he is a number one but tell me what games in 3 years as a Niner has he been a difference maker?
He fell asleep in the playoffs, a time to shine and show the world who he is and he crumbled against a piss poor secondary of the Giants. Yeah I know, Alex didn’t throw go the ball, whatever!
Nick I believe the thread is about Crabtree, not Alex, try and stay on topic please.
To be fair, MC has not been as explosive as he was in college. Now is this attributed to his foot injury? Who knows…could also be the NFL DBs are at a different level and you either have quickness/speed or run clean precise routes to counteract their defensive skills. It’s also been noted from time to time that the 9er WRs have been known to run incorrect routes but they keep it in house so it’s not belabored as much as a missed throw.
Yesterday during the afternoon TT KNBR show they discussed some of this. They mentioned MC not being able to get separation but that the slant may be his best route. Regarding separation, I like the line by MMayock, “if they can’t get open, will every throw be contested”?
Key thing now (this season) is there are receivers on the team that can do some things that some of the other receivers don’t do as well. There is a place, depending on game by game scheme focusing on attacking an opponents weakness, for each WR to play a major role and have a big game. Looking forward to it!!
I think if given the chance, Crabtree can deliver the difference making play in a game. As Grant mentioned, he did it regularly in College and had one of the best games of his career against a far superior Texas squad when they upset them.
The Niners were rarely in a position where they needed Crabtree to make the big play to win a game as quite often they were nursing a lead, but when they did need him he often had a good game. In the comeback in Philly he had some big catches in the second half. In Detroit he caught 9 passes and would have had more if Smith hadn’t been wild in the second half of that game.
In the second half of the season, Crabtree had 4 games over 80 yards – one where he went over 100 – and all were wins.
You can’t just pick and choose what you want to include in an opinion of how a player performed. We know Crabtree was playing with a bad foot at the start of the season, and we also saw a jump in performance when he was healthy. If given the chance to make plays, I think he will.
“Forget all the non essential stats, Jack, is Crabtree a difference maker for the 49ers at the WR position?”
What are the non-essential stats? Leading the team in receptions and yards? Lol. Is Smith a difference maker for the 49ers at the QB position? Why was Harbaugh in a hoodie at midnight in Durham working Peyton Manning out? Actions speak louder then words.
Big P, just another hater trying to put it all on Alex, like I told Nickrow, try and stay focused, were talking abotu MC, not AS. Lets move past the rhetoric for the last 2 years and talk about someone else for the love of humanity!
FDM,
Nobody cares what you say, go tell someone else what to do. You guys rip Crabtree because in your world it somehow validates your cultish belief in Smith. Crabtree was the leading receiver on a very mediocre offense. He has gotten better every year. Coach seems to really like and believe in him, do his words only mean something if he is talking about Smith?
Big P, I think Alex proved a lot of people wrong last year in having a bounce back year. This is why Coach H has defended him to the umpteenth time. Its probably also how Alex conducts himself in the public, practice and how his teammates have came forward and backed him up. Did Alex put up resounding numbers last year, no, but he proved he can win in the NFL.
Now back to Crabtree. All I am saying and I agree with Prime, Crabtree needs to step up and prove he is legit. A lot of athelets go through this at points in their career where everyone doubts them because they have not shown they can be a top player, and in Crabtree case, a # 1 WR. Why cant we first talk about someone other than AS, and why cant we dissect MC productuon to date without someone throwing it back to Alex and what he has done?
When you realize that not everything about the 49ers is Alex and revolves around Alex, you will appreciate the game more. Stay focused!
“To be fair, MC has not been as explosive as he was in college.”
He averaged 13.5 ypc in 2 years at Tech. He has averaged 12.8 ypc in 3 years in SF and if you look at only his first 2 seasons it was actually 13.3, so to say he has been less explosive in not accurate.
He put up huge totals at Tech playing in a spread offense that threw the ball 50 times per game. Now he is in a balanced offense that averaged 27 passes per game in 2011. His numbers are proportional to the reduced number of opportunities he has.
He did struggle in the post season, but go back and watch Smith’s TD run on QB9, and you will see him downfield taking out the final defender between Smith and the goal line. He is the exact type of complete player that Harbaugh loves.
Jack, explosive to me means being able to score anytime the ball is in the players hands. MC has not been impressive with YAC and he hasn’t run away from many DB’s in the NFL. But I will say with complimentary receivers around him this year, it will be his best year.
“Big P, I think Alex proved a lot of people wrong last year in having a bounce back year. This is why Coach H has defended him to the umpteenth time. Its probably also how Alex conducts himself in the public, practice and how his teammates have came forward and backed him up. Did Alex put up resounding numbers last year, no, but he proved he can win in the NFL.”
I agree with that. I think Smith has the tools to be a good QB and I have said that a million times. I’ll be happy if he becomes the long term solution. The reality is, this is not an explosive offense right now. Crabtree does what is asked of him. Vernon Davis should be a perennial 1,000 yard receiver with 10+ TD’s but he isn’t. He isn’t even the leading receiver on the team.
Hofer,
Crabtree was in the top 10 of WR’s in the NFC in YAC.
Well said Jack. There are a lot fewer opportunities for a WR to make plays in this offense. Crabtree contributes in the run and the pass which is what Harbaugh demands of his WR’s.
Hofe,
I tend to agree with the non explosive reference, but I still see Crabs as somebody who can be very successful due to his strength and body control. He can outmuscle defenders for the ball and can get extra yards after contact. He is not explosive in the run by CB’s for huge plays kind of context, but he is very strong, has become a better route runner and showed in the second half of last season that he can be a go to guy when healthy.
Jack, my comment and example was used in a collective sense not just one year. He is getting better and this will be a stellar year for him.
“Crabtree was in the top 10 of WR’s in the NFC in YAC.”
This stat seems to be for YAC only. A better indicator is average YAC. Divide the number of receptions by the number of YAC yds.
Hofer,
When breaking it into average yac MC moves from 10th to 9th at 5.04 ypc. It is interesting to note that this is only .41 yards less then Megatron, whom everyone I think considers a #1 elite WR.
Jack, CJ is an anomaly in this scenario. You (I believe) used 2011 stats and CJ scored 6 tds within the opponents 10 yd line for 6 receptions and 18 total receiving yds. Within the opponents 20 yd line, CJ had 13 receptions 101 receiving yds 7.8 yd avg with 9 tds. Difficult to get YAC in those situations and the receptions only penalize by increasing his average YAC.
A better measurement is to use MC’s contemporaries as examples (such as JNelson, WWelker, VCruz, LFitz, SSmith, etc).
Crabtree’s average yac was within 1-2 yards of all those WR’s you list. Regardless of who you compare him to his averages will consistently put him in the top 10-15 WR’s in the league.
You need to look at his numbers through the same lense as Alex Smith. Their raw stats will be average, but when you break them down they are much better.
Jack, 1 – 2 yds per avg YAC is quite a bit actually. Based on your comment above, I’m merely trying to point out that his YAC to date has been below average. Agree or not difficult to dispute the numbers. Yes there is room for improvement, and I’m sure he will be better this year than last. I’m looking forward to it!
Right on Hofer. Those numbers don’t mean anything now anyway.
@rocket, big time players perform against the best, is that fair?
Well looking at MC stats game by game against the better teams, Crabtree was average.
CIN:3 catches 24 yds
Philly: 5 catches 68 yds
DET: 9 catches 77 yds: pretty good
NYG: 1 catch 21 yds
BAL:6 catches 54 yds
Pit: 4 catches 34 yds
These stats indicate an average performance for our leading WR. No touchdowns in any of these games. Average production and not enough to say he shows up in big moments or a difference maker against the better teams.
Prime,
You have to look at how those games developed and ended up. Did Crabtree get many targets? Did he have chances to score a TD? Did the Niners go into conservative mode with the lead which nullified his chance to play a bigger role? Out of all the games you listed, only one was a loss. Don’t mistake the system for poor performances by a WR. Sometimes it’s just how it plays out that decides how involved Crabtree or any other WR on the team for that matter, becomes.
What you can’t do Prime is compare the offense the Niners run to some of the others that give WR’s big numbers. It’s not a fair comparison.
Rocket,
Well said.
rocket
You need to look at that list more closely. We were losing to Phil/Det/Balt/Cin/NY. All but the Pitt game, we needed to comeback. That implies throwing the ball. And MC didn’t contribute that much in those instances now did he? I’d thik a #1 WR to have betternumbers than that. Also, MC tends to start games fine and end them slow. So in crunch time(4th quarter) he isn’t the guy to make the play. See DW/VD.
@Hammer
As far as I’m concerned. DS lost any credibility to have a balanced discussion on Crabtree when he said last season that “Crabtree really wants to a Dallas Cowboy.” I never would have guessed that DS was a part of Crabtree’ inner-circle (lol).
AES
You said you don’t care about cred. So why do you care if somebody else has it?
It’s ok. You’re just changing your mind. You do that constantly.
Crabtree is starting the first preseason game if he is still starting the first reg. season game and he is in the game at the end if its close he’s one of our top 2 receivers end of discussion. same goes for smith. the only question i have about crabtree is will he stay healthy?
…So many questions to be answered tonite… every position on the offense; every position on the defense. Who’s ‘twos’; who’s not. I love this time of pre-season because some of these players we watch may never see a football field up close again. Give it your best shot, guys!
Oregon
This is a bit off topic but ive been meaning to ask u for a while but havnt seen u on the blog.
I read an ESPN magazine article about pot in major college football and they had an article specificly about Oregon where a guy on the team said that “smoking pot was like an unsanctioned team building activity for the football team”
My question for you is: As someone closer to the situation is it really as widespread and non chalant as the mag made it seem?
And have u heard anything about LaMike James partaking in the “teambuilding activities”?
This has nothing to do with the Niners or the NFL, but as a big time College football fan I had to mention this.
Tyrann Mathieu has been kicked off the LSU football team. This is a guy many were touting to be one of the most dangerous weapons in College football this year as a KR and guy who makes plays from his CB spot. This is huge. I’m not sure what he did, but for Les Miles to kick him off the team, it had to be pretty bad.
My guess would be that he failed another drug test. The kid is supremely talented but he has been acting like a knucklehead for some time now.
@ rocket:
It’s Louisiana. They either caught him in bed with a dead girl or with a live boy.
That’s a likely scenario Big P. He was suspended for a game last season for drugs.
He has already transferred to McNeese State.
I’m guessing drug test too but Claudes scenario is a lot more interesting.
Janoris Jenkins part 2.
FDM:
“Why cant we first talk about someone other than AS, and why cant we dissect MC productuon to date without someone throwing it back to Alex and what he has done?”
@FDM
What’s left to dissect?
The anit-MC crowd has called him. Harbaugh has refuted that.
The anti-MC crowd has called his nimbers “meaningles.” Harbaugh calls him our leading WR.
The anti-MC crowd has called MC’ TC injuries phony. Team physicians have called them ligit.
The antiMC crowd still holds MC responsible for lack of playoff production, bad attitude, fighting with VD, and throwing AS under the bus.
Everyone of these reasons have been refuted or put to rest by all parties involved.
So I ask once agin, what’s left to dissect?
It almost seems that the AS support group is desparate to find any target to deflect attention away from Alex.
Or they just hate MC, period!
Why is the simplest answer always the hardest to find. The criticism both Smith and Crabtree have received is well warranted. In fact, both entered the league under eerily similar circumstances. Both were highly touted college players who played in very similar spread offenses that put up eye popping statistics. Both were 1st rd top 10 picks and many analysts thought Crabtree should have gone higher, thank you raiders. Even though both were highly productive in their college careers, questions still lingered because of the respective systems they played under. Both had injuries early on in their NFL careers along with questions of living up to their college stature. All the criticism Smith has received in his career, warranted or not, was fair. The QB of any team receives all the glory when the team wins, but also shoulders the brunt of the blame in a loss. Until proving last season that he can succeed, had not lived up to expectations. All the criticism Crabtree has received was also fair. If you are being completely objective, Crabtree has not lived up to his potential. Just like AS, Crabtree has shown flashes of why he was such a touted player coming out of college. Injuries have definitely held him back, but you can’t be hypocritical and bash either one while defending the other. The AS doubters always bring up not picking Rodgers. How about Jeremy Maclin, Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt all taken in the 1st round after Crabtree. Not to mention Mike Wallace in the 3rd round. It is a stupid game to play on either side of the argument. The point is we all called out Smith before last season and he responded. It is completely fair to call out Crabtree this season and I fully expect him to prove doubters wrong and have a great season just like Smith did last year.
Good points JDilla.
The points you pose have been stated and argued ad nauseam.
I only take umbrage when the anti-MC crowd blatantly suggest that MC’ 2011 stats were “meaningless.”
The name-calling is not the issue. They can call MC whatever they like, it’s their right. But treating his numbers as non-factual is sheer stupidity.
Hey, but that’s just my take (lol).
No doubt, can’t really see how they are “meaningless” either. Hope my rant didn’t come off as directed towards you specifically. Anyway, getting close to game time, let the beer drinking begin.
*called him lazy.
Arrrrgggh! cellphones $#%#$%@!
Since it is clear that neither side in this endlessly fascinating Crabtree debate is going to change the other side’s mind, is there any chance we can table the discussion at least until the team has played a few games in the regular season?
My eyes are glazing over from reading the endless, repetitive back and forth.*
Isn’t there a game tonight? Let’s talk about that. On whom/what position(s) are you planning to focus? What are you looking for?
*Written with full appreciation of the irony of such a statement coming from a veteran combatant in the remarkably-still-ongoing Alex Smith Civil War.
All of the offensive positions. There seem to be more battles for spots on that side of the ball.
Looking forward to seeing Jenkins, James, Moss, and all the newcomers.
How about you Claude?
Crabtree? You mean Tom Crabtree? That guy sucks.
I’m interested in seeing all these young players but especially the candidates to be the 4th OLB. I’ll be watching Cam Johnson, Kourtnei Brown and Eric Bakhtiari very closely tonight. Also want to see Jerod-Eddie, NaPalm and Tymes live up to the positive reviews so far from TC.
Good call on Eddie rocket. I am looking forward to watching him as well.
claude
The only things that I’ve brought up are:
TC determines All
In JH I trust.
Everything else is dwarfed by these 2 things. You’d think that is a good compromise. But the “All in” crowd which wasn’t all in till a few weeks ago says they know that which JH doesn’t. That is the fight. I trust JH. I don’t trust bloggers who can’t grasp the notion that WR will be determined in TC.
DS:
“Everything else is dwarfed by these 2 things. You’d think that is a good compromise. But the “All in” crowd which wasn’t all in till a few weeks ago says they know that which JH doesn’t. That is the fight. I trust JH. I don’t trust bloggers who can’t grasp the notion that WR will be determined in TC.”
@DS
You DO NOT TRUST Harbaugh. Harbaugh has refuted every negative rant you have stated concerning MC, but you continue to spew your poisonous venom. Total contradiction here DS.
How did you conclude that I became ‘All In’ just a few weeks ago? Oh I get it, that was about the time when I a disagreed with you regarding MC (lol)!
So are we to ‘trust’ you as a credible blogger around here now? Afterall, you do seem to have to inside info that “Crabtree really wants to be a Dallas Cowboy at heart.” That comment last year was the beginning of your credibility nose-dive DS. And you have only lowered yourself into the abyss since.
As far as I’m concerned, you have disqualified yourself from any Crabtree conversation (lol)!
One competition that no one has talked about that needs to have and eye kept on is Brown vs. Culliver. Brown is currently the starter, but he has Culliver breathing down his neck.
@MWN
Good observation. It’s still early into the pre-season, but I think T.Brown may have distance himself ahead of CC last night.
This could still be a viable battle before it’s finally determined. But based on last year’s season, TB (IMO) is the incumbent.
“*Written with full appreciation of the irony of such a statement coming from a veteran combatant in the remarkably-still-ongoing Alex Smith Civil War.”
LOL
“On whom/what position(s) are you planning to focus? What are you looking for?”
OL is always a good place to start. Good times!
Less than 3hours until game time. Too bad I promised the kids that I’ll take them swimming. Oh well … I’ll catch the highlights later.
FDM says:
August 10, 2012 at 10:42 am
FDM”
“I say no! He is not the type of player like Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, L. Fitzgerald who can turn the game around on one catch and one run. Crabtree needs a great supporting cast around him to be good. He is not a go to guy.”
@FDM
Well JM needed a good supporting cast. SY needed a good supporting cast. OBTW, looks like AS needed a good supporting cast which is why we brought in RM,MM, and drafted a WR #1.
MC is not the only player exempt to your theory FDM.
You guys want to berate MC and use him as your tool to deflect any attention from AS.
But the truth is (although none of the AS crowd wishes to address it), that AS will be under the microscope again this season.
One good (not great) season is far from “arriving” in the NFL. AS (whether you agree or not), will continue to be scrutinized in 2012-13.
While all your focus has been on MC having improve and prove himself. Some of you have failed to take note that the same applies for AS, as well as all players.
thats always been your agenda, alex the whole time, you say your all in but always comes back to alex doesnt it? this is what the haters do, bring it back and point it directly at the qb everytime…. all in my a$$……….
Go to your room and play with your video games young man (lol). Stay out of ‘grown folk business!’
Does anyone know if Grant is doing a live blog during the game?
I am. Should I start it now?
Sure
yay!
Thanks Grant!!
good deal
Hofer:
“A better measurement is to use MC’s contemporaries as examples (such as JNelson, WWelker, VCruz, LFitz, SSmith, etc).”
Hey Hofe! Good to see you back on the blog.
Unfortunately I respectfully disagree with your assessment.
Crabtree can not be compared to any of the WR’ you mentioned because the offensive schemes are totally different.
The only way to draw a fair assessment would be to see how these WR’ would do on this team with our offensive scheme.
I find it completely ironic that MC is being isolated and put on a secluded island as if he is solely responsible for making more catches, yrds, and TD.’
Look at the WR’ you mentioned and take into account their QB’ and offensive schemes. Hofe, I can turn your theory around and say that Crabtree would likely be an all-pro in those schemes.
Vernon Davis is arguably the best all around WR/TE on the team. But his numbers were not better than MC.’
And we wanted to use VD numbers and start to do comparisions like you with MC, his (VD) numbers pale in comparision to the Pats Gronkowski.
That’s my point about comparing other WR’ or TE’ when measured with our style of offense.
Would you agree that VD would be a perennial all-pro in New England or Green Bay?
I would say a resounding yes!
AES, good to be back. Of course you can disagree (debate) you and I have on some things and others not so much. Why can’t any player on the 9ers be debated here? I don’t see what the difference is as long as it is discussed in a civil manner using stats, facts, etc. What have I said that hasn’t been validated and noted in the media? MC doesn’t get much separation and he has been known to run incorrect routes. Does that mean he can’t continue to improve? Absolutely not.
And yes, some have held a grudge with MC since his holdout. A couple of beat writers discussed this recently along with his never playing a preseason game. It’s open for discussion but again as long as it doesn’t get to the hyperbole stage, it’s not off limits. Keep it real and all is good. All in??!
Yes sir. “ALL IN!” bud.