In 2009, The San Francisco 49ers invested the tenth overall pick of The
National Football League Draft in Texas Tech University wide receiver
Michael Crabtree. In his two seasons with The Red Raiders, Crabtree
totaled over 3,000 yards receiving as he was a two-time All-American.
Unfairly, Crabtree’s name was linked to 49er great Jerry Rice when he
was drafted. We may never see another receiver in the caliber of Rice
and to put Crabtree’s name in the same breath as his was totally unfair
to both men. Crabtree quickly built a reputation as a diva due to him
failing sign a contract with The Niners until October 2009. For his
rookie season, Crabtree only hauled in 48 catches.
In 2011, new 49ers general manager Trent Baalke brought in Jim Harbaugh
as the team’s new head coach. One of Harbaugh’s main jobs was to get
more out of the offense, especially Crabtree. In 2011, Crabtree saw his
receptions increase by 17 from the previous season. This season Crabtree
appears to be ready to take his game to another level. Crabtree’s 73
receptions and 7 touchdowns are both career highs. Crabtree is also 132
receiving yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard mark in receiving for the
first time in his career.
as the team’s new head coach. One of Harbaugh’s main jobs was to get
more out of the offense, especially Crabtree. In 2011, Crabtree saw his
receptions increase by 17 from the previous season. This season Crabtree
appears to be ready to take his game to another level. Crabtree’s 73
receptions and 7 touchdowns are both career highs. Crabtree is also 132
receiving yards shy of reaching the 1,000-yard mark in receiving for the
first time in his career.
In 2008, Crabtree made a name for himself when Texas
Tech was able to upset The Texas Longhorns who were the top-ranked team
in the nation. Crabtree was able to beat double coverage and score the
game-winning touchdown in the waning moments of the game to give The Red
Raiders their biggest victory in school history. Crabtree had never
enjoyed a signature moment like this in The NFL until last Sunday.
Tech was able to upset The Texas Longhorns who were the top-ranked team
in the nation. Crabtree was able to beat double coverage and score the
game-winning touchdown in the waning moments of the game to give The Red
Raiders their biggest victory in school history. Crabtree had never
enjoyed a signature moment like this in The NFL until last Sunday.
The 49ers squandered a 28-point lead on the road
against The New England Patriots. With the score tied at 31-31 late in
the contest, Crabtree took a short pass from quarterback Colin
Kaepernick which he turned into a 38-yard touchdown pass to make the
score 38-31 in favor of San Francisco. From that point on the game was
never tied again and The 49ers became the first team since The New York
Jets in 2002 to defeat The Patriots at home in the month of December.
Crabtree finished the game with 7 receptions for 102 yards a pair of
touchdowns. It marked the third time this season that Crabtree had gone
over the century mark for receiving in a game which is a career-high.
The 49ers are thinking about The Super Bowl and Crabtree is a big reason
for it.
against The New England Patriots. With the score tied at 31-31 late in
the contest, Crabtree took a short pass from quarterback Colin
Kaepernick which he turned into a 38-yard touchdown pass to make the
score 38-31 in favor of San Francisco. From that point on the game was
never tied again and The 49ers became the first team since The New York
Jets in 2002 to defeat The Patriots at home in the month of December.
Crabtree finished the game with 7 receptions for 102 yards a pair of
touchdowns. It marked the third time this season that Crabtree had gone
over the century mark for receiving in a game which is a career-high.
The 49ers are thinking about The Super Bowl and Crabtree is a big reason
for it.
Like his 49er teammate, tight end Vernon Davis,
Crabtree came to Northern California as a high draft pick, but nobody
knew what to make of him. Davis’ transformation moment came in 2008 when
former 49ers head coach Mike Singletary sent him to the locker room
during a game with The Seattle Seahawks. Singletary later singled Davis
out in his postgame press conference when he said, “it is more about him
(Davis) than it is about the team”. From that moment on Davis has been a
model citizen for The Niners which resulted in him being named a
captain in 2009. Crabtree can attribute his coming out party to
Harbaugh. Harbaugh has built a passing game in San Francisco that was
once non-existent. Crabtree has become a more disciplined route runner
which is key to being a good wide receiver in The NFL. It is also
important for Crabtree to be a more disciplined receiver as he is now
able to build a relationship with Kaepernick.
Crabtree came to Northern California as a high draft pick, but nobody
knew what to make of him. Davis’ transformation moment came in 2008 when
former 49ers head coach Mike Singletary sent him to the locker room
during a game with The Seattle Seahawks. Singletary later singled Davis
out in his postgame press conference when he said, “it is more about him
(Davis) than it is about the team”. From that moment on Davis has been a
model citizen for The Niners which resulted in him being named a
captain in 2009. Crabtree can attribute his coming out party to
Harbaugh. Harbaugh has built a passing game in San Francisco that was
once non-existent. Crabtree has become a more disciplined route runner
which is key to being a good wide receiver in The NFL. It is also
important for Crabtree to be a more disciplined receiver as he is now
able to build a relationship with Kaepernick.
Since Kaepernick was named the starting quarterback
by Harbaugh in Week 10, of his 128 pass attempts, 43 have been in the
direction of Crabtree. It is a testament to how much that Crabtree has
improved as a receiver when Davis and wide receivers Mario Manningham
and Randy Moss are on the field to catch passes as well and Crabtree is
the one that leads that team in receptions. Crabtree is not an elite
receiver on the level with Calvin Johnson of The Detroit Lions or Larry
Fitzgerald of The Arizona Cardinals as both of those players have world
class talent, but what Crabtree is becoming is a dependable receiver for
Harbaugh and Kaepernick as he is starting to prove his worth as a high
first-round draft pick.
by Harbaugh in Week 10, of his 128 pass attempts, 43 have been in the
direction of Crabtree. It is a testament to how much that Crabtree has
improved as a receiver when Davis and wide receivers Mario Manningham
and Randy Moss are on the field to catch passes as well and Crabtree is
the one that leads that team in receptions. Crabtree is not an elite
receiver on the level with Calvin Johnson of The Detroit Lions or Larry
Fitzgerald of The Arizona Cardinals as both of those players have world
class talent, but what Crabtree is becoming is a dependable receiver for
Harbaugh and Kaepernick as he is starting to prove his worth as a high
first-round draft pick.
The 2009 NFL Draft saw six wide receivers taken in
the first round. Of the six receivers taken in the first round, only New
York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has enjoyed at least one season
with 1,000 plus yards receiving. Nicks is also the only receiver of the
group that has a Super Bowl ring as he won with The Giants last season.
Barring injury Crabtree is on the verge of reaching the mark in
receiving and he hopes to soon be sitting at the table with Nicks while
they are comparing Super Bowl rings. This is a testament to a man who
two years earlier was on the verge of being labeled a draft bust. Now he
is a force on offense that The 49ers are hoping will carry them deep
into the playoffs in January.
the first round. Of the six receivers taken in the first round, only New
York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has enjoyed at least one season
with 1,000 plus yards receiving. Nicks is also the only receiver of the
group that has a Super Bowl ring as he won with The Giants last season.
Barring injury Crabtree is on the verge of reaching the mark in
receiving and he hopes to soon be sitting at the table with Nicks while
they are comparing Super Bowl rings. This is a testament to a man who
two years earlier was on the verge of being labeled a draft bust. Now he
is a force on offense that The 49ers are hoping will carry them deep
into the playoffs in January.
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