Originally posted by HessianDud:
Originally posted by dj43:
Originally posted by HessianDud:
Originally posted by djfullshred:
Originally posted by HessianDud:
Originally posted by djfullshred:
Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Originally posted by djfullshred:
I don't think the 49ers have any intentions on signing the guy at this point. I believe they want to save their money for next year (unless Crabtree totally caves), and try again with a different WR pick. Crabtree would be a total nonfactor this year if signed now. And since the 49ers are a run first, pass later type of offense, they probably feel like they can wait another year to find a WR to develop for the long term.
I don't think that the Niners just realized that they were a run first, pass later kind of team. If we didn't want to spend big money on a receiver, we wouldn't have drafted him in the first place.
They gave him an offer that aligns to where he was slotted in the draft. Being that he was chosen #10, that is pretty big money. And yes, the 49ers knew they were a run team all along, which is why they don't want to overspend for a rookie WR.
I disagree that the offensive philosophy is the reason they don't want to overspend for a WR. They paid good money to Brandon Jones, after all. To run the ball well you need to keep defenses honest. A deep threat pulls the safeties off the line. a guy like Crabtree would only help the running game, because defenses would have to respect him.
I don't want to be unclear on what I think here...I don't believe the position has anything to do with the 49ers not wanting to overspend. I don't believe they want to overspend for any rookie contract at this juncture.
And add to that the type of offense they run, and still have Isaac Bruce who defenses do have to respect down the field, ther is not as much incentive for the 49ers to cave to a huge contract demand as in years past, where they might have. They will let him walk rather than caving in I betcha.
oh, we're in total agreement. I was just saying that I thought that Crabtree was a good pick even for a team planning to run mostly because of how it helps the run game. Yes, we do have some players that can help stretch the D a little, we just have to use them to do so, so there's not desperate need to overspend or do something foolish. We're not the Raiders, after all.
How the team adjusts the offensive scheme to yesterday's game will tell us a lot.
From the start of the game, it was clear AZ had prepared well for the 49er running game, and they should have. Afterall, Singletary had been telling everyone that they were going to run. Yesterday's results will have been viewed well by Seattle and we can expect them to approach it pretty much the same way the Cardinals did.
Now to take this back to Crabtree; if he was watching yesterday's game, I'm sure he saw very little that would make him run right over to 49er HQ and sign a contract. That offense yesterday was precisely what a young receiver like Crabtree does NOT want to play in. I have posited on this board a couple of times that Crabtree's reluctance to "cave" may be linked to the style of offense the team has advertised they will run.
So if I were the 49ers, and I wanted to make a push to get Crabtree signed, I would set up the game plan to include a more varied approach against the Seahawks, with plenty of passing. Then I would go back to MC and say, "See, we can throw the ball around. You want some of that? Sign here."
I've come around to agree with your assessment of Crabtree not having a big desire to play in our offense. I still think if we gave him the money he wants he would sign no matter how awful our offense is.
That said, we need to do what works in order to win. Obviously forcing ourselves to run 60% of the time with no variation is not going to work. If we open up a passing game and it wins us game, regardless of if its exciting enough for Crabtree, then thats what we have to do. If winning games makes MC want to sign, so be it. If not, so be it. But I would hate to see us force the pass as much as we're forcing the run just to get the kid to sign.
The
bold is the important part. Whatever it takes.
However, the NFL is a passing league now, not a running league. Every year for the last ten years, there have been rule changes made to encourage success in the passing game. We saw the latest addition yesterday with the 15 yard penalty to Adrian Wilson for hitting Vernon Davis above the neck.
These rule changes are not JUST to protect players, or to add diversity to offenses, they are in place in recognition of the fact that
the passing game fills stadiums with many casual fans who are quickly bored with running plays "up the gut" where ball and ball carrier are quickly lost in a sea of huge bodies. OTOH, long passes and neat crossing patterns are exciting. Fans can see the ball clearly and watch the receiver catch it and run, or catch it and get clocked. In either case, it is compelling football and fans shell out big money to come and watch. In other words, it is all about the money. Pass the back=cash.
Run the ball=boring IN THE EYES OF THE NFL RULE MAKERS.
Now to bring that reality back to the Michael Crabtree situation; here is a young man who was at the center of that excitement throughout his college career. He is also very concerned about his personal appearance, as has been well documented. He loves the excitement and the esthetics of the most entertaining part of the game. I'm sure winning is important to him but, as was documented yesterday, even 49er players, though winners, were not excited about the style they played until the very end.
Now I don't know any more about Crabtree specifically than anyone else here but I do know that the style of offense the NFL PREFERS to see, and what Michael Crabtree wants to be a part of, are one and the same. Hence, I would bet the farm that if New Orleans had drafted him at #10, with their quarterback and their passing-minded offense, Michael Crabtree would have been signed and on the field yesterday and likely would have grabbed at least one of Brees' six touchdown throws yesterday.
Therefore, to answer dodo's comment; no, I don't expect Singletary to change his core philosophy, which is to win, but if he continues to dictate that it be done in a power-running dominant offense, I would be shocked if Crabtree ever signs for any amount of money.