APThe San Francisco 49ers have missed one of their five No. 1 wideouts for a week, thanks to an ankle injury.
Coach Jim Harbaugh downplayed the situation on Friday.
“We feel like we’ll get him back soon, and we can pick right back up,” Harbaugh said, according to Cam Inman of BayAreaNewsGroup.com. “I don’t think this is going to be a major bump in the road. It’s going to be a minor one.
“He’s chomping at the bit to get back out there. I anticipate that happening soon.”
So far, the minor bump in the road has once again made it difficult for Crabtree to prepare for the start of the season.
“At this point, I’m not worried,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “He had such a good spring and summer. I feel good with what we got done this offseason.”
Still, if Crabtree misses much more time, that could open the door for one of the other No. 1 wideouts (Mario Manningham, Ted Ginn, Kyle Williams) or first-rounder A.J. Jenkins to start across from Randy Moss on September 9, when Moss returns to the place where he once pretended to drop his drawers and rub his bare bum against the padding on the goal post.
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I’m not saying this is Crabtree’s annual get out of training camp move. I’m sure he’s really injured. But Al Davis’ decision to draft DHB over Crabtree is looking better every day.
I hated the pick at the time. Thought it made no sense. But after watching Crabtree, who is basically a posession receiver in the NFL, and his diva attitude juxtaposed against DHB and his continuous effort to improve his game, I have no doubt in my mind that the Raiders are so, so much better with DHB on their team.
Of course, Hakeem Nicks is well ahead of both at this point in their careers, but I would not be shocked if DHB catches up with him over the long haul. Kid is a phenomenal worker and is poised for a breakout year following a very good 2011 season in which he was top 20 in the NFL in receiving yards (ahead of, among others, Reggie Wayne, Greg Jennings, Julio Jones, Desean Jackson, Percy Harvin and Dez Bryant).
Not that anybody knows the nature of Crabtree’s injury with the lack of disclosure in the 49er organization, but from what most of the beat writers have described it seems like he has a calf strain, not an ankle injury.
DHB can’t catch a ball with hands. He’s terrible. Look at crabtrees production the last 11 games of last season, it was up there with the elite. During playoffs he had a rookie lined up on the other side due to a decimated receiving corps (josh Morgan, Ted ginn out). D’s did not have to key on much more besides Crabs and Vernon (who is uncoverable).
I wish I never had to see “Crabtree” and “ankle” in the same sentence again.
“I hated the pick at the time. Thought it made no sense. But after watching Crabtree, who is basically a posession receiver in the NFL, and his diva attitude juxtaposed against DHB and his continuous effort to improve his game, I have no doubt in my mind that the Raiders are so, so much better with DHB on their team.”
Every single time there is a Crabtree article, you Raiders fans come out of the wood works with this crap. Where has DHB gotten you? Since 2006 your team has gone 2-14, 4-12, 5-11, 5-11, 8-8, 8-8. The Raiders suck with DHB or without him. We can win with Crabtree or without him! End of story.
Really dhragonn…. looks like he caught 64 of them last year… for more yardage than Crabtree… for a higher percentage of first downs than Crabtree…. each had 4 touchdowns….. And all the while, DHB works his rear off in camp and during the season, while every year the 9er’s wait for Crabtree to decide he wants to play. I’m not saying that Crabtree doesn’t have more god given talent, but he has no heart and no desire to prove that Al made the mistake by not drafting him… DHB on the other hand, has shown the desire to prove to EVERYONE that Al drafting him wasn’t a mistake… I’ll take the latter over the former any day.
Heyward bey?? Are you kidding me?? Better then Crabtree?? Your on a good one buddy all dhb can run is go routes dude barely learned to catch last year… Barely. MC15 has had hands since at Texas tech and it’s reported he slimmed down and creating more separation this year.. So watch out for crabs coming through! Just ask Patrick Peterson.. Crabtree is ELITE!!
Playoff hitters no matter injuries.. We got back ups
‘Still, if Crabtree misses much more time, that could open the door for one of the other No. 1 wideouts (Mario Manningham, Ted Ginn, Kyle Williams) or first-rounder A.J. Jenkins’
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Just because you line up in the No.1 WR spot doesn’t mean you ARE a No. 1 WR.
Let’s see.. .49′ers have one miracle season last year… and now they think they never suffered going through similar records themselves over the past decade? until last year… 49′ers since 2004 are 2-14, 4-12, 7-9, 5-11, 7-9, 8-8, 6-10 before finally getting over the hump with 13-3 season last year. Not the impressive stats that show you can win with or without Crabtree.
The 49ers already have enough mediocre receivers, they don’t need Crabtree.
Crabtree has been way more effective that Heyward-Bey. Check the stats. It’s simple.
All these anti-Niner posts in a 49ers article makes you all look like jealous little girls. My favorite team is better than yours…and that threatens you. But I’m ok with that.
This guy goes Into his super hero mode every training camp called injury man…
This guy is fragile. Needs white glove treatment.
baymac408
Crabtree Elite??? He’s not even a top 30 WR in the NFL.
Im a Niner and was ecstatic when they drafted him but by this point I wouldnt mind if they found a trade for him…He was so dominate at Texas wonder what the hell happened to him.
baymac408 says:Aug 4, 2012 11:53 AM
Heyward bey?? Are you kidding me?? Better then Crabtree?? Your on a good one buddy all dhb can run is go routes dude barely learned to catch last year… Barely. MC15 has had hands since at Texas tech and it’s reported he slimmed down and creating more separation this year.. So watch out for crabs coming through! Just ask Patrick Peterson.. Crabtree is ELITE!!
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Obviously you’ve never seen DHB play and simply base your opinions from what you hear from the talking heads on ESPN and elsewhere. So it pretty seriously devalues your take, because I don’t think most of those guys have watched the kid closely either. They just base their opinions off of what one another says/assumes.
This is proven by your statement that “all dhb can run is go routes …”. I know you’re saying this because DHB is known for his speed, so you assume he’s a deep threat. I see many talking heads do the same. The reality is that DHB’s biggest weakness is his ability to track the flight of the ball. He actually catches very few passes deep down the field. His strength is in his ability to catch short-to-intermediate passes and turn those into big plays through his speed and strength (he’s roughly T.O.’s size).
Crabtree has shown glimpses of talent, but he is soft, always prone to injuries, and has yet to live up to his attitude! His hold-out was embarrassing. As a Viking fan, I am glad he is not on our team, but the 9′ers were the reason I began watching football back in the joe Montana era! I will always be a Niner fan as well! Love , that man, Randy Moss is doing well in camp! He could be the best thing that ever happened to Crabtree. He may actually show him how to
Prepare as an elite professional. Say what you want about Moss, he is a professional, and will be a 1st ballot HOF WR.
I’m envious, that he is not back on my Vikimgs Squad. Will be a fun season!
stampede101 says:Aug 4, 2012 1:27 PM
All these anti-Niner posts in a 49ers article makes you all look like jealous little girls. My favorite team is better than yours…and that threatens you. But I’m ok with that.
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I’m a Raven fan, and we embarassed your little team pretty bad on Thanksgiving for all the world to see. So your team is not better. My team has proven itself to be superior. Your team has had like one good season in the last 15, so don’t act like you are in the big boys club. You are still a west coast team, and don’t forget it.
Im a Niner and was ecstatic when they drafted him but by this point I wouldnt mind if they found a trade for him…He was so dominate at Texas wonde CrABr what the hell happened to him.
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He played for Texas Tech, not Texas…huge difference. Crabs made a last-secong game winning catch/TD run against Texas that kept Texas out of the Natl Championship game his last play/game at TT…
I’m a Raven fan, and we embarassed your little team pretty bad on Thanksgiving for all the world to see. So your team is not better. My team has proven itself to be superior. Your team has had like one good season in the last 15, so don’t act like you are in the big boys club. You are still a west coast team, and don’t forget it.
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And your team/organization has accomplished what, exactly, over the years…? Your team has had like 5-8 good years….EVER? (as the Ravens)
To Detroit my post said ask Peterson if he’s elite… So I don’t care bout your top 30.. Check his peers that play against him they will tell u he belongs with the elite.. Bet if our offense becomes more pass aggressive he would solidify himself!! The whole league is scared to play us.. Don’t try to front even you raven fans round 2 would be a totally different game! Your d line played great though… As for Detroit and elite?? You don’t come in same sentence buddy because you lost and your coach got slapped on his back and cried just like the whole leage cries because we are a great team! And only getting better
And you have to catch the ball on a slant or hitch to break away for big gain and dhb simply can’t catch horrible drafting year after year .. So autumn it’s a wrap he’s no way better then Crabtree no matter if he wants to skip camp or not!
DHB > Crabtree
I hated the DHB pick at the time and blasted it through his rookie year. But throughout his career every reporter close to the team and teammate said that he’s an incredibly hard worker, and we started to see those results last season, his third in the league when he went for 975 yards (with probably another 100+ receiving yards wiped out on penalties by other players throughout the season).
DHB is a stronger, faster, quicker, tougher, more hard-working athlete than Crabtree. He is still learning nuances of the game and polishing his catching and ball skills, important areas where he has always lagged Crabtree. But one could easily argue that DHB surpassed Crabtree in 2011 and has a significantly higher ceiling that he is determined to reach.
Nicks is clearly the class of the ’09 first-round WR draft class, but I could honestly see DHB surpassing Harvin and Maclin this season, in addition to Crabtree.
All this niners hate can mean only 1 thing. We’re baaaaaack.
We know you want to see us fail because of our success last year. You make remarks about moss and Alex and crabs and its all good. It’s just gonna be funny looking at the excuses they and you all make when the niners have another good year. Let’s start with week 1. Packers. When the niners wipe them on their own homefield…I can’t wait to hear your excuses and petty complaints.
Crabs and DHB both suck so forget which is better. They are both first round disappointments so to argue which is worse is futile. I say give Mario a chance and see if the demotion makes Crabs hungry.
Are all of his ankle injuries what is keeping him from beating single coverage? Peyton or Tom couldn’t throw this guy open. I made my mind up when he held out as a ROOKIE. Don’t need/want a guy like that on our team. Bad attitude begets bad performance.