Crabtree, Morgan, and the West Coast Offense

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
morgan will be riding the pine, book it. Harbaugh can spot talent and that, Morgan does not have.

I watched the press conference yesterday. When asked about improving the team, the thing that Harbaugh stressed the most was coaching up the players on the team.

It seems that he feels this is a fundamental task for the coaching staff.

Morgan is on the team, let us see what happens.

What are people's thoughts on those recently imprisoned? As long as he doesn't shoot himself again, someone like Plaxico would be an option we haven't really had.

But those that said the WCO doesn't suit Vernon should check replays of Stanford's bowl game. He's ideal for some of the stuff done there - as TEs were used for some BIG plays downfield, after drawing the defense up for the shorter plays.

I'm confident he'll find ways to get more out of what we have - but 900+ yards for Vernon this past year, and 700+ for Crabtree is not shabby for what most consider bad seasons for both. Crabtree does need to improve route running, but 3rd year or later is when WRs are meant to break out - or year 10 if your names Brandon Lloyd.

Don't be too harsh on Crabtree yet. But he does need to work at his game. And EVERY player should.

I just have this feeling that our last few HCs have failed to identify what needs to be improved and act on it - and that refers to during games, at half-time, and as the season goes on.

Hopefully we now have the guy in charge that will actually address these matters - because those matters are the crux of being successful.

Originally posted by modninerfan:
Well... after Alex, Rossum, Jennings, Roman, Battle, I guess Morgan is gonna be the next 49er to crucify.

in his defense let me throw out some numbers. This year Morgan caught nearly 700 yards as our #2 WR and #3 Receiver

As a #2 wide receiver that ranks him 12th in the league in total yards
As a #3 receiver (includes TE) he ranks 2nd in the league

Statistically speaking (in total yards) this year he outperformed all of Raiders, Panthers and Rams receivers as our #3.

He outperformed the #2 recievers on the following teams: Bills Falcons Bears Browns Packers Texans Vikings Chiefs Seahawks.

I think you guys are looking at the problem the wrong way. Morgan is doing fine as our #3 receiver, Davis is doing fantastic as our #1 WR considering he's a TE. Where we are failing Crabtree. he should be putting numbers up in the 1000-1100 range yet he's around 750.

Excellent post. Totally agree. Morgan is fine, I'd like Ginn or another speedy wr to have more of an impact but I've no massive problems with Morgan. I think half the probelms with our wr's is that they don't see enough of the ball, we could go 3 drives and Crabtree or Morgan wouldn't sniff the ball. Work them in consistently and you'll see improved application.

Originally posted by jimrat201:
Morgan should not even be a #2 reciever, at best a #3 reciever.

I like Morgan, but I have to agree with you.

Originally posted by Kelv:

Originally posted by modninerfan:
Well... after Alex, Rossum, Jennings, Roman, Battle, I guess Morgan is gonna be the next 49er to crucify.

in his defense let me throw out some numbers. This year Morgan caught nearly 700 yards as our #2 WR and #3 Receiver

As a #2 wide receiver that ranks him 12th in the league in total yards
As a #3 receiver (includes TE) he ranks 2nd in the league

Statistically speaking (in total yards) this year he outperformed all of Raiders, Panthers and Rams receivers as our #3.

He outperformed the #2 recievers on the following teams: Bills Falcons Bears Browns Packers Texans Vikings Chiefs Seahawks.

I think you guys are looking at the problem the wrong way. Morgan is doing fine as our #3 receiver, Davis is doing fantastic as our #1 WR considering he's a TE. Where we are failing Crabtree. he should be putting numbers up in the 1000-1100 range yet he's around 750.

Excellent post. Totally agree. Morgan is fine, I'd like Ginn or another speedy wr to have more of an impact but I've no massive problems with Morgan. I think half the probelms with our wr's is that they don't see enough of the ball, we could go 3 drives and Crabtree or Morgan wouldn't sniff the ball. Work them in consistently and you'll see improved application.

Agree with both. Given better scheme and coaching, our wide outs should be adequate until we have room on the draft board to go for excellence at that position.

for everything our quarterbacks went through last year so did our wide receivers.

just as qbs like to have consistent reps wide receivers like to have consistent reps with the same guy. to get a good evaluation of any of our receivers id like to see them with a whole season with one guy at qb

that being there is still no excuse to not catch the ball regardless if a qb switches in every play

Originally posted by NickV:

Originally posted by OnTheClock:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

Originally posted by Slash49:

Originally posted by NickV:

Originally posted by 49erRider:

Originally posted by Slash49:

Originally posted by SanDiego49er:

Originally posted by 49ersNoKaOi:
Morgan haters..... He took a giant leap up as a WR this year and he is a great run blocker. Harbaugh is a run first guy; he just is more strategic about it unlike Sing so Morgan will fit in nicely and I hope continues to become better while blossoming in the WCO.

He's the slowest WR we have. We need more speed.

We do/did....their names are Jason Hill and Ted Ginn

Jason Hill never played with speed. His fast 40 time never translated to game speed.

...until he went to Jacksonville

We never did know how to use him. We had an idiot HC developing him. That's how you use a guy with speed. But whatever. Now we have a real HC for the first time in a long time.

True. I don't know if Hill would've ever been anything or not.. we have no idea.

In those six games with Jax, he only averaged 40 yards per game. Nothing special.

On top of that their playbook was still new to him and STILL made a impact. 248 yards on ELEVEN receptions?!

It still baffles me that we had him inactive on the bench. SMH

The focus here was never on speed or precision. It was about blocking and very simplistic routes and play design.

Originally posted by simplyfloyd:
I think we will definately draft a wide reciever in the first few rounds. I say easily by round 3.

I doubt Green would be there in the 1st, but if Blackmon were available, I wouldn't be surprised if he would be the choice.

Let's be honest. Crabtree has been a huge disappointment, both in work ethic and production. It was clear a part of that was his disrespect for the coaches, and to a certain degree, the rest of the team. Eric Mangini was right. He is a diva to a large degree. Hopefully Harbaugh will coach that out of him but if he doesn't, or until he does, this team needs a true #1 with speed.

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by simplyfloyd:
I think we will definately draft a wide reciever in the first few rounds. I say easily by round 3.

I doubt Green would be there in the 1st, but if Blackmon were available, I wouldn't be surprised if he would be the choice.

Let's be honest. Crabtree has been a huge disappointment, both in work ethic and production. It was clear a part of that was his disrespect for the coaches, and to a certain degree, the rest of the team. Eric Mangini was right. He is a diva to a large degree. Hopefully Harbaugh will coach that out of him but if he doesn't, or until he does, this team needs a true #1 with speed.

Couldn't agree more, dj43. There's no way of getting around it: the guy is a flake.

Even if Harbaugh is able to adjust his attitude, he appears to be a Wes Welker-type receiver and, consequently, the search for a true #1 continues. He should thrive in the WCO and he may become a critical part of the team, but he simply isn't a real deal #1.

Ginn is useless though, except for special teams.

Originally posted by 9erfanAUS:

Originally posted by WestCoast:

Originally posted by Allx9er:
not to be a downer or anything but, does anybody have faith that morgan can make a deep over the shoulder catch anymore

he's proven to have alligator arms and NEVER dives for balls, its really irrititating

I don't think I've seen any of our WRs lay out for a ball - especially Morgan.

Maybe it's a Sullivan thing.

-9fA

Speaking of Sullivan, I really hope Jim doesn't keep him cuz of his past rep. I'm not willing to believe that u can have so many wideouts come & go without any of them not even learning to run routes under the same coach. He better not be brought back. Change is neededfor years @ wr coaching position.

I read somewhere Sullivan is retiring.

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by simplyfloyd:
I think we will definately draft a wide reciever in the first few rounds. I say easily by round 3.

I doubt Green would be there in the 1st, but if Blackmon were available, I wouldn't be surprised if he would be the choice.

Let's be honest. Crabtree has been a huge disappointment, both in work ethic and production. It was clear a part of that was his disrespect for the coaches, and to a certain degree, the rest of the team. Eric Mangini was right. He is a diva to a large degree. Hopefully Harbaugh will coach that out of him but if he doesn't, or until he does, this team needs a true #1 with speed.

I actually agree with you dj..All this hate for Morgan who has exceeded his value to the team as 6th round draft pick. It's not like we're paying the guy millions per year. All the talk about he can't make a over the shoulder catch????? Didn't any of you blind haters see the final game vs ARI?? He made a real nice over the shoulder catch that actually had some nice touch from Alex for once..

On the other hand everyone's favorite is a first round diva who IMO is not living up to his billing. If you blame the QB situation for Crabs you can say the same thing for Morgan. Crabtree does not look motivated to play to me.

Originally posted by bigwads:

Originally posted by Allx9er:
not to be a downer or anything but, does anybody have faith that morgan can make a deep over the shoulder catch anymore

Morgan is extremely overrated. Horrible body control and even worse hands...he can't catch anything with his hands. I really hope we have a different 2nd WR next year.

Singletary wanted Morgan starting because of his blocking ability. Pass catching was secondary. Singletary? Remember him?

Does anyone else see similarities between Josh Morgan and John Taylor? Cause I definitely do!