A.J. Jenkins

[deep9er]

I think he'll get into games and I think he'll contribute this year. Moss is just as likely to flame out as to contribute, same with Ginn. I think Owusu beats out Williams, that leaves Manningham and Crabtree unless I'm forgetting someone. If Owusu stays healthy he'll play

ok, Owusu will play THIS season.

and you still sticking with Owusu outperforming Jenkins THIS season?

 

[TobyTyler]

ok, Owusu will play THIS season.

and you still sticking with Owusu outperforming Jenkins THIS season?

I am because I don't think Jenkins will contribute at all this season. Aside from his shortcomings as a receiver, he's in the wrong offense with the wrong quarterback. He's a run straight down the field guy and Smith hasn't got the arm to get it to him. It will be fun finding out though. Its a no-lose situation for me. If I'm right, I get the satisfaction of saying "I told you so". If I'm wrong, the 49ers have a good receiver that will help them win games.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

I think he'll get into games and I think he'll contribute this year. Moss is just as likely to flame out as to contribute, same with Ginn. I think Owusu beats out Williams, that leaves Manningham and Crabtree unless I'm forgetting someone. If Owusu stays healthy he'll play

Ginn isn't at all likely to flame out. In fact, I'm hard-pressed to think of a WR less likely to flame out. We know exactly what we have with Ginn: a good return man. Until and unless someone beats him out in that area, he'll be active every week.

Owusu is facing a pretty major uphill battle IMO. So far as I know, he brings nothing on STs. I doubt you could trust him as a returner given the injury history, and he's not a particularly good fit for coverage units. In that case, he'll only be active if he's effectively a starter. Not likely, IMO, but I guess we'll see.

 

[TobyTyler]

Ginn isn't at all likely to flame out. In fact, I'm hard-pressed to think of a WR less likely to flame out. We know exactly what we have with Ginn: a good return man. Until and unless someone beats him out in that area, he'll be active every week.

Owusu is facing a pretty major uphill battle IMO. So far as I know, he brings nothing on STs. I doubt you could trust him as a returner given the injury history, and he's not a particularly good fit for coverage units. In that case, he'll only be active if he's effectively a starter. Not likely, IMO, but I guess we'll see.

The concussions might leave him out of that area but he did return 80 kicks in college; 3 for touchdowns.

 

[deep9er]

I am because I don't think Jenkins will contribute at all this season. Aside from his shortcomings as a receiver, he's in the wrong offense with the wrong quarterback. He's a run straight down the field guy and Smith hasn't got the arm to get it to him. It will be fun finding out though. Its a no-lose situation for me. If I'm right, I get the satisfaction of saying "I told you so". If I'm wrong, the 49ers have a good receiver that will help them win games.

yeah, its easy to make huge claims cause in the end, doesn't matter.

if someone says enough things good and bad, eventually something will be right. like draft prospects, say 100 players will be good, and you'll have some right.

 

[Flyingiguana]

The concussions might leave him out of that area but he did return 80 kicks in college; 3 for touchdowns.

if he passes the 'what to do when the ball hits the ground on a return' test, he's good to go

 

[TobyTyler]

yeah, its easy to make huge claims cause in the end, doesn't matter.
if someone says enough things good and bad, eventually something will be right. like draft prospects, say 100 players will be good, and you'll have some right.

True enough. But what fun is it to make a claim that is obvious. Its no fun to say "Tom Brady is going to have a great season".

 

[TobyTyler]

if he passes the 'what to do when the ball hits the ground on a return' test, he's good to go

Ha ha! You mean the one that Kyle Williams failed?

 

[Crimsoncrew]

The concussions might leave him out of that area but he did return 80 kicks in college; 3 for touchdowns.

I figured he had some background returning kicks. But you can't put him back there now. Way too much risk of another concussion.

 

[jayviabay]

Rice is just talking in my opinion. He'll never take Jenkins to that hill because he's an old man now and if Jenkins couldn't beat him up the hill I'd be shocked.

how old are you, 15? the objective is to master the hill not beat jerry rice up the hill. with the confidence he gains from completing the workout, he can face the adversity of fatigue, the pressure of making a play for his team in the 4th quarter, etc.. thats what jerry hopes he gains from the experience.

 

[Flyingiguana]

i wouldn't be surprised if jenkins couldn't keep up with rice, even if rice is an old fart

 

[Rvnight18]

Rice said his fastest time was a little under 16 minutes for the 2.5 mile up hill run. The guys is still in great shape, and would make it up.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

This seems like as good a place as any to post this. Maiocco on Crabtree:

Rating Crabtree through three seasons - ************.com

Pretty reasonable analysis. There is a chicken-or-egg aspect that arises in this article. Did we throw to the WRs so little because that's how the offense runs - specifically, because we let the coverages dictate where the ball would go - or because the WRs were under-performing? I tend to lean toward the latter, though certainly Harbaugh has a strong history of using TEs more than most. Regardless, Crabtree accounted for 27% of our receiving yards and 50% of receiving yards by WRs. He also accounted for 22% of receiving TDs. Those numbers in a vacuum are impressive. It will be interesting to see what we do with more talent at the position this year, and what Crabtree's role will be.

 

[deep9er]

This seems like as good a place as any to post this. Maiocco on Crabtree:

Rating Crabtree through three seasons - ************.com

Pretty reasonable analysis. There is a chicken-or-egg aspect that arises in this article. Did we throw to the WRs so little because that's how the offense runs - specifically, because we let the coverages dictate where the ball would go - or because the WRs were under-performing? I tend to lean toward the latter, though certainly Harbaugh has a strong history of using TEs more than most. Regardless, Crabtree accounted for 27% of our receiving yards and 50% of receiving yards by WRs. He also accounted for 22% of receiving TDs. Those numbers in a vacuum are impressive. It will be interesting to see what we do with more talent at the position this year, and what Crabtree's role will be.

yep, we all know not to judge only by stats.

don't know how to explain it, but i like to call it "flashes". a player who's going to be good will show flashes, even if his team doesn't throw much. similar to most positions on a team like say RB, even if we don't run a lot, a good RB will show flashes of ability.

Crabtree has not shown nearly enough flashes.

 

[clyde_carbon]

This seems like as good a place as any to post this. Maiocco on Crabtree:

Rating Crabtree through three seasons - ************.com

Pretty reasonable analysis. There is a chicken-or-egg aspect that arises in this article. Did we throw to the WRs so little because that's how the offense runs - specifically, because we let the coverages dictate where the ball would go - or because the WRs were under-performing? I tend to lean toward the latter, though certainly Harbaugh has a strong history of using TEs more than most. Regardless, Crabtree accounted for 27% of our receiving yards and 50% of receiving yards by WRs. He also accounted for 22% of receiving TDs. Those numbers in a vacuum are impressive. It will be interesting to see what we do with more talent at the position this year, and what Crabtree's role will be.

No he doesn't. At least not in the passing game.

 

[CalamityX11]

No he doesn't. At least not in the passing game.

Come on Clyde, don't you know Harbs would put 10 TEs on the field if he could....

 

[Flyingiguana]

This seems like as good a place as any to post this. Maiocco on Crabtree:

Rating Crabtree through three seasons - ************.com

Pretty reasonable analysis. There is a chicken-or-egg aspect that arises in this article. Did we throw to the WRs so little because that's how the offense runs - specifically, because we let the coverages dictate where the ball would go - or because the WRs were under-performing? I tend to lean toward the latter, though certainly Harbaugh has a strong history of using TEs more than most. Regardless, Crabtree accounted for 27% of our receiving yards and 50% of receiving yards by WRs. He also accounted for 22% of receiving TDs. Those numbers in a vacuum are impressive. It will be interesting to see what we do with more talent at the position this year, and what Crabtree's role will be.

while smith was conservative with the ball, i cant count how many times the tv talking heads would comment about how nobody was even open to throw the ball to. hopefully crabtree participates this year through the full offseason with some added motivation.

 

[clyde_carbon]

while smith was conservative with the ball, i cant count how many times the tv talking heads would comment about how nobody was even open to throw the ball to. hopefully crabtree participates this year through the full offseason with some added motivation.

I can't count how many times the TV talking heads would comment about how Alex never saw an open WR down the field.

#thisgameiseasy

 

[Crimsoncrew]

No he doesn't. At least not in the passing game.

I disagree. While at Stanford, other than 2010, he had a pattern of two WRs leading the team in receptions and yards, followed by a collection of TEs. Obviously we leaned heavily on TEs this year. Admittedly he did not do so at USD.

I'm not saying it's his preference, but he has certainly shown some trend to make greater use of the TE than most coaches.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

As Maiocco notes:

The leading receivers in the league still see a large number of passes even when coverage is rolled their way.

Crabtree hasn't shown that he deserves to see the ball regularly when he's doubled, but as we discussed ad nauseum after the playoffs, "open" to Alex Smith is not the same as "open" to Eli Manning and other elite QBs. If Crabtree played with a QB with better accuracy and more willing to take chances, he would put up better numbers.

Conversely, if Smith played with an elite WR who can win the ball, he would also put up better numbers. This is another part of that chicken-or-egg conversation. But Smith needs to do a better job of making plays when his guys aren't wide open. The fact that he's working on his mechanics suggests that he agrees.