Crabtree will spend Thursday, Friday and Saturday working with coordinator Jimmy Raye, receivers coach Jerry Sullivan, as well as Wendell Davis, a former teammate of Singletary with the Bears whom the 49ers had as a training camp intern coach.
Also, Alex Smith will be the only 49ers quarterback to remain in town, and he'll throw some passes to Crabtree. Running back Frank Gore, who will get treatment on his ankle, will also be around to lend assistance.
"Every day he gets out here and every rep that he takes, makes him just that much better," Singletary said. "He's been studying his tail off, and it shows out here. He doesn't have a whole lot of questions on the field. He's running the right routes and doing the right things. It's just a matter of taking every step with every second, every minute, to get him up to speed."
* * *
Crabtree answered some questions at his locker today for the first time since his press conference last week to announce his signing:
What do you hope to accomplish while you stay around here this weekend?
Crabtree: "I'll be working and trying to get better every day."
What will it mean for you to play at
Crabtree: "(It's my) first game at home, so I'm very excited about the opportunity to play at home."
Will you have a lot of family and friends there?
Crabtree: "I don't know, probably just my mom and my dad -- not too many."
Do you feel like learning the offense is coming along pretty quickly?
Crabtree: "It's a process and I feel like I got good teammates helping me do what I need to do to get my job done."
Is it nice to have guys like Frank and Alex sticking around to help you over the weekend?
Crabtree: "Oh, yeah. They have the same goals I have, to just get better any chance I get."
Watching Sunday's game from the sideline, did it give you any feel for what's in store?
Crabtree: "Oh, yeah, I wanted to be out there. It's hard to watch a game from the sideline when you're part of an organization. I was happy to be there and see how things go before I got on the field."
Did it give you any sense for the speed of the game?
Crabtree: "Oh, yeah, a little bit. Really, just speed of the game is hard for somebody who doesn't know what they're doing. Like I said, coaches are doing a good job of catching me up on the speed of the game, and knowing what plays I need to know, and I feel like everything is going good."
What were you and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye going over at the end of practice?
Crabtree: "He was just talking to me about football, different plays and different routes - just trying to keep it in my head."
How's the learning process going and are you confident you can execute whatever you're called upon to do?
Crabtree: "Oh, yeah. I just need to come in day by day and learn play by play. If I have any questions, my teammates will let me know. Everything's going good."
Can you describe your training regimen in August and September?
Crabtree: "Oh, man, I had two-a-days for a month straight in the Tampa heat, just going straight ahead trying to accomplish what my goals were to get better, get faster, get stronger. And everything's worked out."
Is there any adjustment period, as far as creating a rapport with Shaun Hill, as far learning about your quarterback?
Crabtree: "Oh, yes, I think that will come in time. My job is to run my routes and his job is to throw the ball. If we both do our jobs, we can execute these plays."
* * *
Crabs is coming off all humble, which is fine. But I like the undertone of confidence. Let the Crabtree era begin! Josh Morgan is a disappointment so far, compared to the expectations many had for him. Bruce is fading. Jason Hill is ?????
Matt;
Being out here in Hawaii, I am often unable to see the 9ers play. What I have seen is a very generic offense. Do you foresee with addiction of M. Crabtree an opening up, a spreading out of the offense? Thanks.
P.
I know the players have lives outside of football Matt and they need to take care of the family, but why would Shaun Hill not want to stick around for a few days and get some throws in to Crabtree? Wouldn't you think that if Payton Manning was in the same situation he would stick around and get in as many throws with a new receiver as he could? I kept reading stories on how Manning would work all hours with his new receivers because he wanted to have a good idea how it was going to work in game situations.
I need to see something from Crabs before I jump on the bandwagon...
Let's see if he has any impact on the game before we declare him the #1
... also where the hell is Jones and Hill????
Wow! I'm very impressed with his responses. Can't wait to have another playmaker on the field! If opposing Defenses put 8 or 9 men in the box, Crabtree or Vernon are bound to get open. Also, the two of them can open up the running game by drawing double teams from the opposing DEF. Can't wait for Houston! I'm expecting a lopsided victory for us in a great bounce back game :)
Houston is going to be interesting...
Matt... How would you gauge his speed in practice so far?
I completely forgot about Brandon Jones. He looked so good last summer, it's a shame he was hurt! And he has the biggest contract among the WRs, after Crabs. Will he step up and become a factor?
They are on the sideline watching us dive right, dive left with a 2 TE lineup. While it would be great to see more 3 WR sets, don't hold your breath. If we spread out that much we'll be resigning QB's. Our OL protection is horrid and will get Hill, Smith and Davis killed
Question: I know the players have lives outside of football Matt and they need to take care of the family, but why would Shaun Hill not want to stick around for a few days and get some throws in to Crabtree?
My response: This is a time for players to get away. It's all football from late-July until the end of the season. When Singletary gave the players the bye-week schedule a couple weeks ago, most players made plans to visit family and get away for the only time in a five-month period. Nobody would change those plans just to serve a player who should've been in training camp on the first day. Crabtree has nobody but himself to blame for missing 71 days. It's his responsibility to learn this stuff. --Matt M.
My thoughts exactly Matt =)
I just don't get why Jason Hill is not on the field. He has proven he can make plays when given a chance. Also, I still don't get why we let Kory Sheets go when he could outperform M. Robinson any day.Furthermore, I hope the niners use more screens and shorts passes on first and second down instead of running when they clearly cannot run if Frank Gore is not in the game. I will wait myself and see what Crabtree does in his first as a pro to determine if he deserves to be the number one receiver. Why would Singletary not ask Issac Bruce to mentor Crabtree and shape him into being a productive future wide receiver.Why not even hire Jerry Rice as receivers coach and Steve Young as a quaterbacks coach?
....sometimes the answer is right there in front us...
the future is set....Alex Smith-Crabtree-Frank Gore.
Now its time to build chemistry.....
"Oh, yes, I think that will come in time. My job is to run my routes and his job is to throw the ball. "
...Why do i feel if he runs his routes and the ball is not thrown.....someone is going to go diva......
I still think the quote of the year is - "his long pass was like a punt" -JM
I think with the addition to Crabs out there will only push Morgan to do better and not give up on plays like he did last Sunday. & if Morgan doesn't wake up, he'll lose his spot to someone else like BJ or JH.
Still rootin for my boy Hill... it is nice to see Smith sticking around to work with Crabs though.
How is Houston's Defense ranked?
How can a guy, taken in the sixth round, in his second year, be considered a disapointment? It is possible that many of us had expectations that were WAY to high? Morgan is young and has been put in a position he isn't yet ready for. He'll do better with more experiance and more three wide sets were he doesn't have as many DB's hanging on him.
Morgan was a draft steal, for sure. I guess the expectations got a little out of hand. Many or most 49er fans thought he would turn out to be our #1WR this year.
He still could be... it'll be interesting to see how Crabs does in 2 weeks as well. If morgan steps it up, Crabs plays like we all hope and V.D continue to progress we should be in pretty good shape.
its so funny to see people all over the cyber world coming down on crabtree one day, then he signs and its almost all gone the other way. my honest opinion is kind of the same. i was all joy when we drafted him, then after a month or so of the holdout it finally started not agreeing with him. all the while i had been youtubing his highlights never noticing that in all the highlights floating around, i never once saw him showboating, dogging it, excessively celebrating a score or even a first down like most "so called divas". from day one, we never heard a word from him and since signing, all we've heard was sincerity and humbleness. personally, ive seen not one reason other than the holdout itself for anyone to label him a diva or self absorbed. thay may change, maybe not, all i know is that for now, im in his corner. for all we know, it may have been that he was just young and misguided, because keep in mind, this is a business. until i see otherwise, i a crabtree fan
I'm trying very hard not to expect too much from Crabtree. It's totally unrealistic to think he could come in so late and impact the offense positively in the next few weeks, right? Right?? Please help, little Crabtree vignettes are sneaking into my subconscious despite my best efforts.
I liked what someone said, might have been Jimmy Raye, about Crabtree. He isn't going to be an all star this year, but he can help. The biggest thing is that he help on third down. If he can allow us to run effective three wide reciever sets on third down then our drives will hold longer and we will get better. As long as the defense is scared of him than he is contributing. I agree that Morgan was a steal in the sixth, but they are asking him to be the premier wide out for us in his second year and without much help. Hill doesn't get much time to throw and with only two wide reciever sets he gets lots of doubles by safteys and CBs. Opening up the offense and giving hill more time will help him a lot.
If I am a football player (Boy hood dream) I wouldn't care one bit about the "Bye" Week. What the hell. They get two days off during the week. FED MEDICAL REHAB! And all FOR FREE! Hank should be working with his new team mate.
What a joke. What a joke! They get their asses handed to them and the scurry like rats on a sinking ship. Today's Athletes are soft. More of the WOOOS-A-Fication of our great country. I just don't understand. I still have my fingers crossed the A. Smith will be in the line up very soon.
So Hank has a brand new weapon to throw to. He is going to be in the ozarks some where fishing for catfish or whatever..I mean comon Hank I love ya! But how bad do you want it!?!? You dream your whole life of being a starter and when you do become the starter you take a week off?!?!? For what! Ya wanna catch fish? It's the Fall Run for Salmon on the Sac! I know a guide in Redding who would love to take you out! Take a day off but a whole week, when you are not that good! And you have this brand new top of the line missile added to your arsenal and you don't even what to learn how to use it?!?!?
NOW GET BACK TO WORK HANK! You're not that good! You can use all the help you can get! Ya duck throwing, sack takin, 40 yard limit on my arm, overachiever!!
,,,,,,,Man I feel better......
J.Hill, B. Jones & Crabtree....
None of them will make a difference if the O-line doesn't start earning their pay. As a matter of fact they should be giving a percentage back to Jed for NOT doing their job. I get BENT! everytime I think of the O-line. I hope the changes for the Texan make a difference.
A playmaker is not going to mean a thing if we don't find some offensive linemen with the desire and the guts to dig down deep and knock someone on their you know what.
We can't give our QB 2 seconds to throw and think he is going to be effective. It is not going to happen. Our offensive line is the key to us winning football games. If we can't block, we absolutely will not win football games. It does not matter how well our defense plays, we need our offensive line to keep the defense off the field and run down the clock.
I would like to see both Baas and Richal replaced. Put Snyder at one guard and Wraggie at the other. Pashos at tackle and tell Cody if he wants to play guard then show me that he can start. If he does then put him out there. We have to find someone who can throw a block instead of watching our backs and QB get killed!!!!!
How come Crabtree is not returning punts? Is our coaching staff made up of idiots? Jt starting as a great return made and then moved into the second Wide Receiver slot why not the same for Crabby?
The teams passing attack is a weird thing. We have a quarterback who can't make all the throws. Our OL is playing very poorly right now. We have receivers playing out of position. Morgan should be playing the Z position and not the X. Plus now we are throwing another receiver into the mix with Crabtree. But coming back to the issue of Crabtree. If the Niners are playing from behind like they were against Atlanta then we should see a lot of Crabtree, because we will have to use a lot of three receiver sets. Meaning Crabtree will get a lot of playing time. If he comes out like gang busters and starts making big plays ... then how do you keep him out of the lineup? I couldn't hold him out...
Regarding Crabtree and interviews. The guys is just socially awkward and very uncomfortable in front of the camera. The guy rarely answers a question accurately and honestly. He resorts to using Football PC jargin .... atleast that is how I interpret things.
Jordan and Others who commented on our OL woes:
Our OL play is the teams biggest issue right now ... not the Coordinator, quarterback, and receivers. We are still near tops in the league when it comes to sacks yielded. This is evident by us rotating players by series at RT. Baas and Staley are dinged, and Rachal is playing like a 2yr player. Rachal plays great for five plays, but then makes a mental error or technique error. It's not helping the development of Rachal by having such issues with our RT. Snyder is not starter material and Pashos isn't the answer either. Oye ve ... the draft couldn't come soon enough. The good teams in the league have only yielded 2 to 6 sacks ... we have yielded 16.
I knew you were a dreamer! But man! I didn't know you used LSD!
I would never want to see Crabtree back returning punts. If he's never done it before, you don't want that kind of money back there doing it now. I wouldn't want to take a chance on him getting hurt. I'm willing to bet he is going to be a major threat in the passing game if he can get someone to throw him a decent ball. Once he starts making catches, you all will see why he will never be a punt returner in his career.
I'm of the belief that he will even make a difference this year. He is a playmaker and he will make some plays for us. Despite all the trouble we had signing him, we will be happy he is on the team. He WILL make an impact!
Crab Man will be JUST fine. He was an awesome college player and I think his talent will transfer to the NFL.. I have said texas Techs offense was gimicky BUT this kid is BIG FAST and I feel a true talent. PLUS he is from Texas and his first game is in Houston?? to paraphrase Keyshawn THROW HIM THE DAMNED BALL...
He will make 4 catches 52 yards and his 1st TD..
MM,
where exactly does Crabtree blame Hill or in anyway complain about his situation that you need to make a smartass comment that he has no one to blame except himself?
You really are a jerk at times. Are you jealous that Crabtree's going to earn $28m over the next 5 years and you'll be lucky to earn 1% of that? Or that Crabtree will get game checks for all the games he missed? or what?
You really need to get over it.
For once I agree with oneniner....the fact that Alex Smith is staying to work with Crabtree and not Hill? I know it's a bye week, but if you want to get better and develop chemistry why wouldn't you stay around and work with the guy. Hill does not have the arm to throw it down the field to him anyway...it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I know Hill's issues have to do with our inept O-line, but he just doesn't look like an nfl qb to me....look what Henne did against the jets....
You continue to amaze me. You showed your "unreal fan" colors when you said you turned off the Niner game at half time and watched the Bronco game instead with your mancrush Nolan. First off all you're still football clueless and we now know you're not a true Niner fan so why not find a Bronco blog where you can really express your adoration for Nolan.
P.S. I guess Matt should have never expressed his own opinion on his own blog, how dare he!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Especially when you don't agree. Ha!Ha! Ha!
I think what the niners have been missing these last two weeks is an amazing player named GORE. He requires the opposing defenses to stack the box, which alleviates some pressure on the WR's. Coffee will develop over time and be a good player. Crabtree needs to learn the plays and contribute any way he can. He is not returning punts because the niners have too much invested in him and want to concentrate on getting him up to speed with the offensive plays. The last couple games I have seen Isaac Bruce make less and less of an impact. He has dropped quite a few passes (even though they weren't perfect). Hopefully this changes. Alex Smith is making the most of his chances and needs to be ready to step in when called upon. I think it's great that he is staying and playing with Crabtree, but from what I am hearing he didn't have plans to go anywhere. I want Alex Smith to continue to develop and be ready to step in when called upon. The last couple of times I have seen him play he was not very accurate and seemed scared. The shoulder injury he sustained definately set him back, but he still has a chance to contribute.
I couldn't agree more. Let's not forget that the Texans have given up a lot of big plays this year, and they only have a 2-3 great players on their defense. If Crabtree is thrown to 5-6 times, he'll catch at least 3-4. One of his best assets is he can break tackles and make plays. 50 yards and a TD... sounds right to me.
Also, Crabtree's coming out party (whenever it ends up being) will be closely followed by Josh Morgan's coming out party. Josh Morgan isn't a #1 receiver (as much as I love him), but he can be a great 2nd option. When he gets 1 on 1 matchups on someone besides the D's #1 corner, Morgan is a mismatch, especially downfield. He obviously needs to keep building his chemistry with Hill (or maybe just cure his case of the dropsies), but he's almost there. If they keep working and do the right things, Crabtree and Morgan have the chance to be our top 2 WRs for the next decade.
RealFan49 -
Why don't you shut your frigin PIE HOLE! You ignorant Racist PUKE! GO AWAY IDIOT!
WOW John from HB kind of rough here.. I don't see racial comments by realfan49. Maybe your just playin around but kind of harsh bud...