Michael Crabtree discusses what new coordinator Mike Johnson can't do

Posted by NBC Sports on October 4, 2010, 5:04 PM EDT

We weren’t too impressed by the 49ers offense during new coordinator Mike Johnson’s debut.  49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree doesn’t think Johnson deserves the blame, though.

“Mike Johnson did his thing. He did what he was supposed to do. He got
everybody the ball. Only thing is, Mike Johnson can’t throw the ball. He
can just call plays,” Crabtree said Monday, according to Lowell Cohn of the Santa Press Democrat.

We’re not sure how to take that quote.  We are sure that quote will be dissected in San Francisco over the next few days.  Crabtree will probably wind up saying he didn’t mean anything disparaging towards Alex Smith.

Cohn was unclear if Crabtree was throwing Smith under the bus, or simply pointing out that coaches coach and players play.  Like so much drama around the 49ers these days, this one is to be continued.

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63 responses to “Michael Crabtree discusses what new coordinator Mike Johnson can't do”

  2. Crabtree appears to just be stupid. Not a diva, just stupid like a piece of brick or wood. That can also explain divas. They are too stupid to realize the way they are acting is…well…stupid.

  3. “Mike Johnson did his thing. He did what he was supposed to do. He got everybody the ball. Only thing is, Mike Johnson can’t throw the ball. He can just call plays,” Crabtree said Monday, according to Lowell Cohn of the Santa Press Democrat.
    We’re not sure how to take that quote. We are sure that quote will be dissected in San Francisco over the next few days. Crabtree will probably wind up saying he didn’t mean anything disparaging towards Alex Smith.
    ___________________________________
    Seems pretty clear-cut. Diva hates his qb. Next he’ll probably call him gay a la Terrell Owens (btw i’m a big t.o. fan). must be a san francisco thing.

  5. What’s so hard about deducing what Crabtree stated?
    How about this. Alex Smith is UNSATISFACTORY.
    That much is clear to anybody with an eye for football. Then again, the 49’ers cannot get out of their own way. On BOTH sides of the ball.

  7. So where’s the follow-up question? Would you rather have David Carr throwing the rock to you? or Troy Smith? or Nate Davis? What’s your goal Crabtree?
    Because… seriously… unless Crabtree thinks there’s someone better further down the depth chart than Alex Smith, I can’t really figure out how undermining the guy currently throwing it helps Crabtree’s stats or their team’s ability to win a game.

  9. Diva or not he’s right, Alex Smith sucks. What other crappy QB has had 6 years to prove it, revolving door of OCs or not!

  10. pointing out the obvious… Alex Smith is horrible. Not a big news flash there. Hell, Garcia needs a job and that would be a significant improvement right there.

  12. joetoronto says:
    October 4, 2010 5:08 PM
    The diva strikes again, throwing his QB under the bus
    The thing about quotes is that reporters rarely ask, “What do you mean by that comment.” If they did a lot of dumb controversies would be avoided, but that wouldn’t cause buzz so why do it.
    If I ask Crabtree the Q that was asked and he responds as he did. Why would I ask him to clarify what he means? I just struck Gold with his quote..clearly he was throwing Smith under the bus right? Maybe Crabtree meant whats written above that coaches coach and players play. Had he been asked to clarify and that was his reasponce you got a dead story non issue. But the way it is, you got Crabtree being a diva…
    Not cool IMO. This is why certain players have stopped talking to the media, because they say things, they get interpreted a way to slander them and then they have to put out a forced apology…

  14. Well, Alex Smith is one of the worst starting QBs in the NFL. Pretty pathetic when all he can do is check down to his RB the whole game. #FAIL

  15. Someone had to say it. No one in the 49ers organization wants to admit it.
    2 Head Coaches, 7 Coordinators (still in the same system, so we can throw that excuse out), Better supporting cast.
    49ers still suck and there’s only been one constant, its Alex Smith. I;m glad Crabtree called him out.

  16. I’m sure craptree would be much happier with Purple Drank throwing him the ball 75 yards from his knees.

  17. “Like so much drama around the 49ers these days, this one is to be continued.”
    To be continued by sites like PFT, who love drama more than the game itself.

  18. what is wrong with what crabtree said. hes right johnson cant throw the ball he can only call the plays. no matter who was calling the play alex smith can not and will not be a good qb. i rather have a player on my team that wants to win and wants the ball then a qb that has no nfl talent and doesnt belong in the nfl.

  19. Crabtree speaks the truth. Alex Smith is the problem, has always been a problem and will always BE the problem.
    Don’t confuse this for “diva” or “TO v. 2.0” either. This comment is a “team” message, not a “me” message.

  20. ummm…im confused. What did Crabtree that was so wrong? He is basically saying that the QB is not doing a good job. Yall are attacking Crabtree for being honest. Alex Smith is an awful qb. I don’t get you guys at all. Quite funny.

  21. As a longtime 49er fan I agree! Smith threw 2 STUPID interceptions, also overthrew Morgan on a sure td in the game. Until this franchise gets a real franchise QB they wont succeed and we will never really know if Crabtree is any good.

  22. “Mike did his thing He can’t throw but just call plays. He also can’t catch it for me when it’s there either since I keep dropping them” That is how the sentence should’ve finished. This asshole should have a gag order. Every time he talks He looks stupider. Since he was good to go without camp or preseason and all that other nonsense. Trade the prick while you can. This is T.O. V2 with a much weaker work ethic.

  23. Not the right thing to say for team camraderie…but there is so much truth in the quote.
    In other news, Heyward Bey – 1 Catch, 2 yards

  24. I think he just means that the OC is doing his job and the players need to do theirs. Good play calls are useless if they cannot be executed. However, I don’t think he was throwing Smith under the bus, I think he was just trying to point out the offense as a whole.

  25. Like so much drama around the 49ers these days, this one is to be continued.
    like so much drama around the 49ers, it’s constructed out of almost nothing by the media
    and even if he was pointing a finger at smith, who cares?? you’re 0-4, there are no winners on the 49ers right now…..if it hurts your feelings that you’re getting called out for your poor play, they perhaps you need to try winning a game
    if i was singletary, i’d look to minimize my interaction with the media and let them just continue with the speculation….last time i checked the job of football coach didn’t require anyone to explain themselves to those who know dick about football

  26. I admire you for not jumping to conclusions Gregg. He could very well have been making a point that the coach can’t play for the players. Of course, he could also be saying what everybody else is thinking right now about Alex Smith.

  27. 49ers it wont matter. Outside of 1 game vs the Chiefs last year, any game that Mr Kolb appears in is a W for the opponent.

  28. He thinks his qB sucks, so he shares the same opinion of the 49ers, Cards, and Viking fan bases of their respective QB’s.

  29. Although I don’t think Crabtree is that good of a player either, someone needs to say the obvious. Alex Smith can’t play. Why this experiment has gone on this long over multiple coaching regimes is beyond me.
    It would be somewhat understandable if he had some unnatural physical ability, but that’s the puzzling thing is that he was probably the least physically gifted number one overall pick at QB in the modern era. I mean, Browns fans are laughing at SF for holding onto this guy for so long because Tim Couch is the only other physically limited QB even in the conversation with Smith, and he was 50 times more physically gifted and at least showed some promise during his career. SF fans point to Smith’s 16 TD, 16 int season under Norv Turner as evidence that he can be a good QB….seriously.
    Even as sad as that is, that was 5 years ago. It’s like the Jason Campbell saga about how he’s had a different coordinator every year in his career, which is true but from what I can gather, there is primarily 2 different offensive philosophies in football….the Sid Gilman, Don Coryell or Bill Walsh approach. Otherwise, everybody teaches one of these two philosophies with their own terminology and wrinkles attached to the scheme. Either you can play or you can’t at this point. I find it hard to believe that 8 different guys, including one guy who’s been very successful everywhere else (martz) and was even moderately successful with other castoffs on the 49er roster, are all the problem.
    The 49ers just need to stop being in denial and admit that they made a huge blunder in 2005 when they passed on Aaron Rodgers for this clown. I never thought I’d say the Raiders would admit their mistake before the 49ers, and they drafted their loser QB two years after the 49ers. That just makes you scratch your head.

  30. Remember Antonio Bryant said that Alex Smith sucked 4 years ago. Everybody knows it,except Jed York and Singletary. Times running out in S.F. and the emperor has no clothes.

  32. i think he’s calling mike johnson out for being a former quarterbacks coach that sucks at throwing.

  33. I agree A. Smith is a terrible QB, but no player should throw a teammate under the bus in public………..

  36. “Mike Johnson did his thing. He did what he was supposed to do. He got everybody the ball. Only thing is, Mike Johnson can’t throw the ball. [insert] He can’t catch the ball.[/insert]. He can just call plays,” Crabtree said Monday, according to Lowell Cohn of the Santa Press Democrat.
    5 syllables. 5 little additional syllables and his statement means something else entirely.
    Wonder how well this guy will like catching balls after they bounce of the back of his helmet?

  37. F – the Niners they deserve to lose how they treat some of their employees. They should just have the worst record in NFL (likely gonna happen) draft Adam Luck from Stanford #1 and pay another QB a ridiculously high amount of money

  38. We are still suffering for the McNolan years of neglecting to build an O-Line & provide continuity
    BTW Alex was improving with Norv Turner. Thanks Denise for hiring that “Smartly Dressed” man who brought us the McNolan era and made Singletary an asst head coach with no experience.
    Aaron Rodgers understudied under Favve and his only OC & head coach has been Mike McCarthy. Singletary is not an offensive coach and it shows.
    8 new OCs in 8 years. Please don’t tell it doesn’t make a difference. There is no other choice at QB. Carr, Troy, or Nate. Nobody else wanted them.
    Point the Finger at the Yorks. They have been a complete disaster in their decisions. So was Eddie D until he hired Bill Walsh. We need to dump the Yorks, but we can’t.
    We are screwed.

  39. City Naive is anotehr stupid ignorant psuedo sports fan from the bay area.
    WTF does DHB have to do with anything your overrated diva does, and why do you have to look to his stats to justify you guys picking Crabtree?
    DHB is just going about his business.
    It’s like how you whiner fans always hate on anything @ Cowboys like they are a division rival or something. Just because 30 years ago you were good and played them in the playoffs a couple times. The Cowboys are not your rival. The SEA, STL and AZ are, and you will have a tough time beating them, or anyone else this year.
    The Cowboys have fogotten about you, why don’t you return the favor, and while you are at it, drop the DHB crap. He’s a good kid and is working hard, showing improvement. Only time will tell if any draft pick is good, certainly not you.

  40. I’m glad Crabtree said this. someone needs to have the guts to stand up & say “HEY. ALEX SMITH SUCKS”…Why cant players seem to state the obvious?…

  41. @joetoronto
    I’m guessing your post is an attempt to justify the ridiculous pick by the Cryptkeeper last year, right?

  42. Now being reported by Kawakami to be taken out of context and said Smith and Crabtree “joking around” 10 minutes later.

  43. Alex Smith does suck. are people trying to close their eyes to it intentionally?…its his fault the offense is not scoring on offense. & its the defenses fault their not holding people from getting 30 or more points a game. Smith does not know how the hit the open man. he does not read the field well. Smith is a very slow Scrambler. his legs are stuck in quick sand. sure it has something to do with the offensive line not giving him enough time & their on him like bee’s to honey. but even when Alex Smith has plenty of time to dish the ball off, he sucks at the distribution of it. Smith is a horrible QB over all! & by Singletary keeping him in as the starter is basically throwing away the 2010 season. i know Singletary is not blind. so what is it that keeps him going with Smith?…Smith has only PROVEN that time & time again that hes NOT!!!!!!! the Guy for the starting QB Job. As a 49er fan, I’m so freaking tired of losing. its Embarrassing to be a 49er fan right now. Ill stick with the team but i might have to start wearing a paper bag over my head like they did in Detroit with their Lions.

  44. People can hate on Crabtree all they want… Doesn’t change the fact that Alex Smith can’t handle being a starting QB. Alex Smith is mentally and emotionally weak. It’s not going to change.

  45. Alex Smith is a hack, Crabtree is sour-faced diva in training,and Singeltary is like the creepy uncle who wants to show his underpants.

  46. Since Crabtree is already one of the all-time greats — truly one of the best to ever play the game — we should all huddle around his locker every day waiting with bated breath to hear whatever sage observations he has about the game of football.
    His place in the Hall of Fame is secured. Now it’s just a matter of the rest of us drawing all the football wisdom out of him from week-to-week, so we can just begin to try to understand the game.
    As all the SF fans said before the season began: The 49ers have a ton of weapons on offense.
    Crabtree: 12 catches, zero TD’s. Just a tremendous weapon.

  47. I dono. Alex Smith sucks and I think Crabtree has a right to be mad.
    I’m sure he realizes there probably isn’t a better option; that’s probably his point. You can’t get far in the league in this day and age without a good QB on the roster and the 49ers do not. Singletary is living in 1985 and that style just doesn’t cut it anymore. If I was on an 0-4 team many people expected to win 11+ games and maybe go to the Super Bowl, I’d start looking around for the problem as well. The offense has weapons and the defense is above average — so what’s wrong here?

  48. Hakeem Nicks – 8 for 110 just another Sunday for Nicks
    Nicks is better than Crabtree and Heyward combine, actually he might be the best WR out of that draft….
    9ers are horrible, have been and will be for years to come

  49. Anytime the Niners passed on first down, Crabtree torched one of ‘the top’ CBs in the NFL, Duntá Robinson, repeatedly. Unfortunately, we don’t pass on first down. We run up the gut for 2 feet (not 2 yards).
    I hate to see the public throwing under the bus like this, but imagine Crabtree in Indy, New Orleans, Green Bay, etc. This kid can be a star with an adequate QB and competent (unpredictable) play calling.

  50. Alex Smith does suck. are people trying to close their eyes to it intentionally?…its his fault the offense is not scoring on offense. & its the defenses fault their not holding people from getting 30 or more points a game. Smith does not know how the hit the open man. he does not read the field well. Smith is a very slow Scrambler. his legs are stuck in quick sand. sure it has something to do with the offensive line not giving him enough time & their on him like bee’s to honey. but even when Alex Smith has plenty of time to dish the ball off, he sucks at the distribution of it. Smith is a horrible QB over all! & by Singletary keeping him in as the starter is basically throwing away the 2010 season. i know Singletary is not blind. so what is it that keeps him going with Smith?…Smith has only PROVEN that time & time again that hes NOT!!!!!!! the Guy for the starting QB Job. As a 49er fan, I’m so freaking tired of losing. its Embarrassing to be a 49er fan right now. Ill stick with the team but i might have to start wearing a paper bag over my head like they did in Detroit with their Lions.
    *******************************
    I agree whole heartedly. I also believe Singletary is NOT GETTING IT DONE for some reason.
    Maybe the players are not responding to him…but he IS in charge and this is NOT working for a team that is only 2 back and have talent.
    Then again, maybe not, if they cannot get their quarterback situation in order.
    Whose out there- that can lead this team?

  51. Crabtree just needs to shut the hell up.
    He hasn’t done shit and NFL insiders say he really is a gurly man who can’t sack up as a leader and runs his punk mouth.

  52. He only expressed what everyone in that offense and every niner fan is thinking! now he needs to get that through the coaching staff. A Smith is mediocre at best..
    Consistency my @SS! you either know how to throw the ball or not. this guy throws the dumbest short routes i’ve ever seen.. is always too high or behind the receiver, and the long routes… well, lets just say that pass interference penalties don’t count because the balls are not catch-able.

  53. Seems pretty clear cut to me what he’s inferring, if not saying. Let me help you out. What he left unsaid is in brackets in my opinion.
    ***
    “Mike Johnson did his thing. He did what he was supposed to do. He got everybody the ball. Only thing is, Mike Johnson can’t throw the ball [and we need someone who can do that]. He can just call plays [and until we get someone who can also throw, we’re gonna suck],” Crabtree said Monday, according to Lowell Cohn of the Santa Press Democrat.

  54. Hey, Crabtree, he can’t run a route, get open, catch the ball or break tackles either. This guy is young, unproven, stupid and a diva. He held out for a long while last year. So far, it would seem that the 49ers would have been better off letting his dumb ass go back in the draft.

  55. Big Tex says: October 4, 2010 6:29 PM
    @joetoronto
    I’m guessing your post is an attempt to justify the ridiculous pick by the Cryptkeeper last year, right?
    Through 4 games, Hayward-Bey and Crabtree both have 11 receptions. Another Cryptkeeper pick, Zack Miller, had 11 yesterday. Say something, or shut up.

  56. well if he cant lead them to a win next week, might as well put carr in because having oakland come in isnt a road game for the raiders.
    then lets see the sked… all games are winnable for sf till 12/5 at gb. and 12/19 at sd.
    9ers season isnt over.

  57. I think this was a pretty clear-cut quote until it was painted in the negative light by you, Mr. Rosenthal. How can you not be sure about how to take it? It’s pretty obvious that he’s saying that Johnson’s not the one who wasn’t executing, and he’s right. Ascribing some passive-aggressive intent to it is a little silly here.

  58. @comment_submission_error
    Through their matching 15 game careers, Crabtree leads DHB (DamnHugeBust) with about 3 times the yardage and about 3 times the receptions. If Crabtree was throwing Smith under the bus, it’s probably not the smartest move. That doesn’t change the facts that Alex Smith has been a colassal disappointment for his career and that spending the #7 overall pick on DHB was ridiculous. Drafting a bunch of guys (some of whom got cut before TC) seemingly based on their 40 times, when you have major questions on both lines is a good way to end up with double digit losses for a record number of years.
    If you give me a choice of a so-called “diva” who can play or a track guy who can’t catch, block, or run routes, well, give me the “diva”.

  59. Neither player is earning his paycheck, Big Tex. Doesn’t matter how you compare them.

  60. Niners did score on the opening drive of the game under Johnson, that was never done under Jimmy Raye.
    Doesn’t mean much, but an interesting tidbit.

  61. Seeing as how Florio is a paid employee of the Peacock, I wonder if he’s obligated to write more 49ers stories this week since they’re the NBC game.
    Might as well generate some interest in the off-field soap opera story lines. Afterall, the on field product will suck this week between the Vick-less Eagles and the 0-4 $9ers.

  62. Big Tex says: October 4, 2010 6:29 PM
    @joetoronto
    I’m guessing your post is an attempt to justify the ridiculous pick by the Cryptkeeper last year, right?
    *******************************************************
    Actually, it’s not.
    Personally, I don’t like seeing comments like what Crabtree said from ANY player.
    So many people here are missing the point, it doesn’t matter if Smith sucks or not, you don’t slam your QB, or any other “teammate”.
    I’m sure you didn’t understand a word I just typed though.

  63. @comment_submission_error
    “Neither player is earning his paycheck” Crabtree ended last season tied for 4th in receptions by a rookie and lead all rookies in yards receiving per game. DHB finished tied for 27th in receptions and only had one game with multiple receptions (2) despite starting 11 games.
    @joetoronto
    Sometimes you got to call people out and hold them accountable. It’s better if it’s handled internally, but Smith’s play during his tenure in SF has often been the “elephant in the living room”. sooner or later, you got to talk about that stuff.

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