A.J. Jenkins

[Crimsoncrew]

I think Owusu will have a leg up this season because of his familiarity with Harbaugh and with playing in Harbaugh's offense. He is a polished receiver who is faster, stronger and bigger than Jenkins. I think he has better hands as well. If Owusu can stay away from the concussions,admittedly a big if, I think he has a real shot to be a starting receiver in the NFL. I'm shocked that he wasn't drafted but then neither was Victor Cruz who Owusu reminds me of.

The problem for Owusu is that he isn't competing with Jenkins for a roster spot. Jenkins is assured a spot. As are Crabtree, Manningham, and Moss (unless he crashes and burns in his return). Ginn is too, given his signing bonus and role as a return specialist.

Just to make the roster, Owusu will have to beat out Williams and then show that he deserves to be kept as a sixth WR over added depth at another position. Given his health history, that's a tall order. He will have to be lights out in camp and the preseason to even make the roster. Otherwise, we'll just stash him on the PS for a season. I'm not counting him out, and if he does make the active roster, all bets are off. But you'd better believe the FO will do everything in their power to allow Jenkins to succeed.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Not to mention Owusu picked 81....

 

[TobyTyler]

The problem for Owusu is that he isn't competing with Jenkins for a roster spot. Jenkins is assured a spot. As are Crabtree, Manningham, and Moss (unless he crashes and burns in his return). Ginn is too, given his signing bonus and role as a return specialist.

Just to make the roster, Owusu will have to beat out Williams and then show that he deserves to be kept as a sixth WR over added depth at another position. Given his health history, that's a tall order. He will have to be lights out in camp and the preseason to even make the roster. Otherwise, we'll just stash him on the PS for a season. I'm not counting him out, and if he does make the active roster, all bets are off. But you'd better believe the FO will do everything in their power to allow Jenkins to succeed.

As they should I suppose. They are going to have quite a monetary investment in him. I could see Owusu beating out Williams if he stays healthy.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

As they should I suppose. They are going to have quite a monetary investment in him. I could see Owusu beating out Williams if he stays healthy.

I could see Owusu beating Williams, but even in that case he's not guaranteed a spot.

 

[deep9er]

I think Owusu will have a leg up this season because of his familiarity with Harbaugh and with playing in Harbaugh's offense. He is a polished receiver who is faster, stronger and bigger than Jenkins. I think he has better hands as well. If Owusu can stay away from the concussions,admittedly a big if, I think he has a real shot to be a starting receiver in the NFL. I'm shocked that he wasn't drafted but then neither was Victor Cruz who Owusu reminds me of.

ok, would think Owusu has familiarity with what Harbaugh runs. don't know about who's more polished now?

if you had said Owusu has a chance beyond this season, wouldn't have replied. what caught my attention is when you wrote THIS season.

 

[Bemular]

From what I have seen of Ginn throughout his career, I think he has poor hands. I don't have numbers on that, and I'm not sure that any exist. If you disagree, that's fine.

Correct, no numbers exist for "poor hands" because poor hands are not measured statistically; although many fans will argue that dropped passes are a statistical measurement of poor hands, they are not. Dropped passes are just a measurement of, well, dropped passes, which, are caused by any of number of reasons.

Which WR between Ginn and Crabtree has the worst hands, the worst concentration, the worst awareness, etc, who knows? They both drop passes at about the same rate so, it suffices to say, regardless of their respective mental or physical problems, the outcome for both WR's is about the same.

As for YAC, I agree it's a problem. I can't quite figure out why Crabtree hasn't been more successful in this area. It was a strength in college. I think he has very good vision for a WR, and great quickness for a guy his size. Some of the problem might be explained by his relatively poor rapport with Smith and the fact that he rarely receives the ball smoothly in stride. And his lack of pure, straight-line speed may also be an issue on slants, where he's not really making a move to the side. But he should still be more effective here. He'll have to be to take the next step.

Reviewing Crabs draft reel, the bulk of his YAC came on bubbles and drags in space and with blockers. One thing that jumps out at me is the speed. Crabtree outran his fair share of defenders in college - that's not going to happen as often in the NFL.

Crabtree has shown he can make defenders miss as well, but again, that is not going to happen as much in the NFL either. As for the "in stride' issue, I would say he receives passes like everyone else. He's just not as good at YAC - yet. As an example, Crabtree's YAC on crossing routes is not very good either; meanwhile, VD's is very good - same QB.

Honestly, one of the best ways Crabtree can improve his production and help this team is to just catch the passes that are thrown to him. Becoming a reliable, move-the-chains, possession receiver seems like the perfect role for Crabtree.

 

[Jikkle]

SI write up on Jenkins

Didn't see it posted and thought it was a good read even though it goes over things we already know about him.

My only additional thoughts on the article is I'm not sure why so many draft "gurus" focus on what the guy can offer in the upcoming season. I believe the 9ers are counting on contributions from Jenkins this year but I don't think they envisioned him being a completed product on the field this season either.

 

[Bemular]

SI write up on Jenkins

Didn't see it posted and thought it was a good read even though it goes over things we already know about him.

My only additional thoughts on the article is I'm not sure why so many draft "gurus" focus on what the guy can offer in the upcoming season. I believe the 9ers are counting on contributions from Jenkins this year but I don't think they envisioned him being a completed product on the field this season either.

I agree. Unforced measurable production from Jenkins this season would be a pleasant surprise. Harbaugh stated last year it takes two seasons to fully understand his offense.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

I caught this earlier today and wanted to post it. It seems relevant to this thread:

49ers Run Gauntlet at Football School

A few things struck me.

Re: Crabtree, he looks the best of any of our guys running the gauntlet IMO. He's smooth and fluid, catching the ball in stride, away from his body, while moving pretty quickly. This is the sort of thing he should be doing all day - catching a short pass in stride and producing after the catch - but for some reason he's never really flourished in that area.

Manningham seemed to lunge at the ball. He caught all the balls cleanly, but he really broke stride to do it.

Moss looked pretty good, but seemed to be moving at about half speed. That could be in part because he's such a smooth athlete.

Not shocked Rogers has had trouble with drops in the past. He didn't look too clean catching the ball.

Still not Davis' strongest drill. I remember watching him do it at the combine and he was fairly terrible (two drops, as I recall). He caught them all in the one in the video, but wasn't terribly smooth doing it.

Not much to read into here at all, but kind of fun to actually see the guys in action.

Davis managed to get a hop in on a couple. The dude loves his hop n catch.

 

[EaseUrStorm]

Davis managed to get a hop in on a couple. The dude loves his hop n catch.

Noticed that too and it still annoys me. He seems to do it about 90% of the time. The thing is he should technically be considered a defenseless receiver while he's in the air, so I guess it's not the worst habit to have.

 

[Bemular]

Noticed that too and it still annoys me. He seems to do it about 90% of the time. The thing is he should technically be considered a defenseless receiver while he's in the air, so I guess it's not the worst habit to have.

That is an interesting perspective

 

[Jikkle]

Jerry Rice will take AJ Jenkins to the hill

Not to say Jenkins will ever come close to being Rice but if he can show the commitment to working and being a great football player like Rice I don't think we have much to worry about from Jenkins.

 

[I_am_1z]

Jerry Rice will take AJ Jenkins to the hill

Not to say Jenkins will ever come close to being Rice but if he can show the commitment to working and being a great football player like Rice I don't think we have much to worry about from Jenkins.

Honestly this is worthy of its own thread.

But it kind of makes you wonder why he never took Crabtree to "the Hill"

 

[mem49er]

Honestly this is worthy of its own thread.

But it kind of makes you wonder why he never took Crabtree to "the Hill"

Very good question, especially with this quote.

Rice said of Jenkins. “Hopefully we can build a relationship where we can start working together.”

Answer may even be as simple as, "Crabtree never asked."

 

[Flyingiguana]

the only time u would see crabtree on the hill is running down it to get away from training camp

 

[Bemular]

the only time u would see crabtree on the hill is running down it to get away from training camp

And Jerry Rice

 

[clyde_carbon]

Honestly this is worthy of its own thread.

But it kind of makes you wonder why he never took Crabtree to "the Hill"

I asked myself the same thing when I read that. Very interesting, IMO.

 

[RedneckNiner]

Because Crabpatty can't run the hill on his crutches..

 

[Rvnight18]

Yea I don't see crab wanting to do that. Jenkins from what i have heard has always been a hard worker. And that is what it is going to take to be great. Not saying he will be, but work ethic runs off. Rice said he would go to ST meetings because he wanted even them to see you have to work. You have to put in the time. Rice was the GOAT for a reason. We all know of his work ethic. I hope Jenkins learns everything he can

 

[Bemular]

Yea I don't see crab wanting to do that. Jenkins from what i have heard has always been a hard worker. And that is what it is going to take to be great. Not saying he will be, but work ethic runs off. Rice said he would go to ST meetings because he wanted even them to see you have to work. You have to put in the time. Rice was the GOAT for a reason. We all know of his work ethic. I hope Jenkins learns everything he can

I agree. Crabtree hasn't exactly made his name synonymous with "work ethic". On the other hand, work ethic is a big reason why we drafted Jenkins. Baalke is making it clear that he (and Harbaugh as well) want strong character figures on the team.

Besides, why would Jerry Rice ask Michael Crabtree of he wants to go play in the hills? It seems as though Jerry does make himself available, so if Crabtree wanted Jerry's help then it seems it would up to Crabtree to ask for it.