C4C (Case For Crabtree): The Next Fitzgerald?
You know who Michael Crabtree reminds me of? That’s right — Larry Fitzgerald.
Both players are 6′3″. Fitzgerald, who’s four years older, is only 10 pounds heavier. Crabtree can put on ten pounds easy. Easy. Both came out of the pros as redshirt sophomores. Both have good speed, and actually play faster than their 40 times. Both run impeccable routes and have fantastic hands. Fantastic hands is a gross understatement. Their hands are to footballs what Amy Winehouse is to crack — inseparable. Both guys have outstanding verticals and the uncanny ability to go up and snatch the ball out of the air in traffic. Both players could end up being the third overall pick should our Chiefs select Crabtree.
Then there are the stats.
In two years, Fitz caught 161 passes for 2,677 yards and 34 touchdowns.
In two years, Crabtree caught 231 passes for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Like Fitzgerald, Crabtree has no real weaknesses. He also has a positive attitude and a good work ethic, apparently. I don’t forsee Crabtree ever being a diva. I hear the Detroit comparisons a lot, but if you are going to compare him to a Lions receiver, then compare him to Calvin Johnson — not Roy Williams.
Fitzgerald has carried his Cardinals to being one win away from the Super Bowl.The Arizona freakin’ Cardinals! Anquan Boldin may be the flashier player, but if you ask me Fitz is better. Boldin, like Dwayne Bowe, has lapses in concentration sometimes and drops balls. He also doesn’t quite have Fitzgerald’s route-running ability. This guy gets open about as well as any receiver I’ve ever seen. Crabtree seems to have that exact same knack. Very Jerry. Rice not Porter.
With Boldin out yesterday, the Panthers — and the Panthers have good corners and a good pass rush — focused on Fitz. Nonetheless, he racked up over 150 yards in the first half. Fitzgerald also came down with an opponent’s onside kick attempt late in the game. Unlike Bowe, he always walks the walk and never really talks the talk. He allows his game to do the talking. I see Crabtree being that kind of player.
Three other things:
1. Don’t feed me any of this Texas Tech byproduct of the system crap. Two words: Wes Welker.
2. The Cardinals had Anquan Boldin when they drafted Larry Fitzgerald. A special talent like a Fitz or a Crabtree is hard to pass on.
3. The Cardinals — like the Patriots last year and the Eagles this year — have shown that a pass-first team can make a legitimate Super Bowl run. The days of the dominate running back are pretty much over. Running back committees and pass-happy, spread-type offenses are the future. Even the Steelers threw a ton today. In today’s NFL, the pass opens up the run more than the other way around.
I’m promising everybody right now that Michael Crabtree will not disappoint in the pros. At this time, I am not ready to give that same guarantee about any other player. Remember, the only sure thing about the number three pick is that you have to draft a sure thing. When you are 2-14 bad, you draft the best available player.
This is only the start of the C4C feature, so get used to it. I want to thank Mr. Fitzgerald at this time for giving this campaign a shot in the arm.
As long as we cover the defensive side with free agency I will drive the Crabtree Bus for you Adam. This guy is so skilled it’s sick…..him and Bowe would be unbelievable – but the defense has to be addressed in FA.
January 11th, 2009 at 9:23 pmThe defense is better suited to be addressed in free agency. This is a better defensive class free agency wise, and the draft is better at the top offensively. Smart teams let the market dictate to them and not vice versa.
January 11th, 2009 at 9:28 pmuse him to trade…and that’s it…there have been too many top wideouts perform just as well or better and crap out in the pro’s to take the gamble…one of the most hit or miss positions…too much other need…No Go
January 11th, 2009 at 9:45 pmI’ll make a bet with you. If Crabtree craps out next year, I will eBay a Denver Broncos jersey and wear it on a blog. That’s how much faith I have.
January 11th, 2009 at 9:54 pmi agree getting a linebacker and a DE in free agency would be the best thing to do, and if we fill our voids in free agency then im totally for crabtree, the only player id like us to get other than him would be micheal oher, the micheal crabtree of lineman. lol.
and if tyler thigpen doesnt succeed with tony g, dwayne bowe, and micheal crabtree….its obvious he wont work in the NFL. even though im pulling for him
January 11th, 2009 at 10:09 pmO-Line
Here is my compromise Batman…if we get Dansby, Suggs AND Gross in FA then I would support you…
January 11th, 2009 at 11:42 pmThat’s not much of compromise, considering that that has as much of a chance at happening as me playing Batman in the next movie.
January 11th, 2009 at 11:44 pmlololololololol if we get twoof the three i think that wed almost have to get crabtree
January 12th, 2009 at 12:43 amWell…those are all positions we need much worse than WR…
Im not sayin…Im just sayin…
January 12th, 2009 at 12:57 amDitto to all the comments re addressing defense through FA a la Dansby, J. Peps, Suggs, etc. We also need to address our need for a veteran QB through FA I might add.
So, we do a couple things right in FA and I’m 1000% down with taking Crabtree with that first pick. Doing so will allow us to put D-Bowe in the slot (where he belongs) which in turn would provide us what could potentially be the most potent passing game in the league – at least until Gonz retires. Of course if anyone had listened to me last year, we wouldn’t need to be thinking about using a top 5 pick on WR – we could have (and should have dammit!!) stolen D Jax when we had the chance!
The only thing that might cause me to rethink going through with this scenario is the possibility of trading down and getting extra first/second round picks out of the deal. There is a bunch of talent, both offensive & defensive, available the first 2 rounds and we have to careful not to reach for any of it – trading down would help us to avoid that problem.
Also, I’m now convinced that using a 1st or 2nd round pick on any QB would be a waste. Take a QB in the 3rd round (or later) and if that doesn’t work out we should have much better options on that front in ‘10. In the meantime, continue to develop Thiggy or bring in a veteran (Losman?). Given the management and coaching overhaul, I’d say it’s highly unlikely we’ll be making a Superbowl appearance next season. As such, this offseason should present the perfect opportunity go out and get the best talent available so that we can really have something for the future.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:29 amI want Crabtree if we aren’t planning on winning this season. Or if we somehow fill all our needs on defense with actually good players (Sorry Boiman). Crabtree is freaking awesome, and we would be set at WR for years to come.
January 12th, 2009 at 10:34 amDetroit. Lions. That’s all that should have to be said, but I’ll go on. Calvin Johnson was a better pro prospect, AND he’s turned to be worth the pick, yet the Lions still suck. Why? QB issues – hmm that sounds familiar? O-line stinks – ooo what’s that smell, i smelled it all season long? No solid ground game – we are booting LJ right, and the line still sucks. No d-line – remind me again, what was it, 4? 5? a grand total of SIX sacks? I digress, we need help everywhere, and WR isn’t a place to start.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:14 pmscrew it, no digressing. Linebackers – seriously Pat Thomas is in the NFL? Rocky Boiman? WTF!? Corners we seem to be okay at, shockingly. Safeties are questionable. We don’t even have a decent kicker. Who the hell is gonna throw him the ball anyway? Thigpen? Possibly. what if he gets hurt – Brokie gonna do it? This is a joke.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:16 pmDidn’t I already refute the Lions argument, or did you not make it that far? Crabtree had a better career in two seasons than C.J. did in three. I’m just saying.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:31 pmId be happy with him at 3
January 12th, 2009 at 3:08 pmNo way, no how, no McCrabtree
January 12th, 2009 at 3:34 pmJust to make it interesting (i.e. throw a wrench into the works) suppose we play in the TJ, Antonio Bryant/Michael Clayton, Dev Henderson FA sweepstakes? Crabtree loses a little bit of his luster at #3 for us doesn’t he? Maybe also puts us in better position for trading down. Somebody will be willing to leapfrog for Crabtree if he’s sitting there at #3 – guarantee it. Outside of Curry or Jenkins, who else should we take without reaching? Taking a top 5 OT doesn’t make a whole lot sense to me since we seem to have to that position already addressed and well paid for in Albert.
January 12th, 2009 at 3:34 pmDitto on 12.
14, where did you refute the Lions argument raised by 12? Specifically, a blue-chipper at the WR position is not going to turn this ship around?
17, you can never have enough good linemen. Someone like Andre Smith, who is a naturally gifted athlete and not just a physical specimen, could anchor the Chiefs O-line for years. Both he and Albert are physical and savvy enough to play either tackle position. A good O-line boosts a team’s play on the offensive side of the ball like nothing else.
That being said, if Smith is gone by the time the Chiefs pick and the Chiefs can’t trade down to pick Oher (possibly better pass protector than Smith, but not as good overall), then Crabtree wouldn’t be a bad pick. I’d rather get a sure thing like Crabtree than draft for defense when there are so many high-caliber defense FAs available.
January 12th, 2009 at 4:01 pmpantherhare – I’m basically against spending round 1 money on a RT (meaning Albert, per your suggestion). That said, I could live with taking Oher or Smith, sticking either at LT, shifting Albert to LG, shifting Waters (who will eventually retire and need to be replaced) to C, shifting Niswanger to RG. Problem is that still leaves us without a RT which we would be best served by immediately addressing in the 2nd round. That brings us to the 3rd round and we have yet to address any holes on defense, and also without acquiring any playmakers.
I consider taking OT at #3 overall to be even more of a luxury pick than picking somebody like Crabtree. That’s because we seem to have our LT of the future. Seeing as how we have a #3 pick, the only real choice is to either go for an impact player (a la Crabtree) or else trade down and pick up a DE, LB, or the next best WR (Maclin).
January 12th, 2009 at 5:51 pmWhy are you against paying 1st round money for a RT, but not a G? Guards aren’t taken in the first round so you’d be over paying for that position as well. Just curious as to why you would pay for one and not the other.
I think Albert is fine and we should leave him alone. We have a good young LT. Let him stay in that position and grow into being one of the best in the league.
I don’t want Crabtree. I’d rather have Bradford, Stafford, or Curry if they aren’t there.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:34 pmId MUCH rather pay for a dominant O-Lineman than WR…any day…
January 12th, 2009 at 6:36 pmCrabtree rocks, yes. But is he our biggest need? We need some linebackers and a franchise type QB. The teams in the playoffs aren’t some mish-mash group. Warner, McNabb, R’berger are franchise QBs. And look at Flacco, he’s playing out of his mind!
But what are we going to have to give up to get a franchise type QB? NE put the franchised tag on Cassel, so that jacks his price through the roof. Are we going to pay $14 million for him and also give the Pats something for thier loss? Wow.
Somebody said Losman. Ouch, realy? Losman? Ok, so he has experience and Buffalo might let him go for a song. Does he remind anyone of Jim Kelly? Sometimes he reminds me of Reverend Jim (Taxi ref). Think back when we had Montana. Did we ever do better as a team? Joe was old then and cashing another check with us, but he still made the players around him better. He made a difference. We need a difference maker.
Having said that, trying to trade a No. 3 pick would be costly for any team and you probably won’t find many willing to give up what it would take to get that pick. So at this point do you go with the best available player on the board? That relies on our front office people to do good scouting and generate good info. Remember Mike Cloud?
We have so many needs and really a WR just isn’t one of them.
January 12th, 2009 at 7:17 pmJordan Gross, the right tackle for the Panthers, was drafted #8 overall in the 2003 draft. He’s a Pro-Bowler and will likely command some bucks this off-season.
People like to take the attitude that only the LT is important and the rest of the guys you can just find along the way. It’s never a bad choice to invest in your line.
January 12th, 2009 at 7:20 pmQBs are a product of their system and their tools. Kurt Warner is a perfect example. First he’s working in a grocery, then he’s leading the Rams to a Superbowl. Then he’s washed-up. But then he’s leading the Cardinals deep into the playoffs. Same thing with Matt Cassel. He hasn’t started a game since high school, and suddenly he’s the franchise QB of the Pats? For an older example, check out Randall Cunningham. The guy was laying tile one day and then suddenly he’s passing for 34 TDs.
How do these guys come from nowhere to make huge impacts? Here’s a hint, it’s not their Wheaties.
January 12th, 2009 at 7:28 pmwhy is everyone talking about Stafford?i am not impressed by him at all and going for a QB is just Blasphemous. Crabtree could make all the difference in the long run and if we choose not to draft him we will suffer for years to come at what couldve been. Talking about RTs i believe we could find greatness in a later round. I mean Andre Smith may be good but he is just another troublemaker. The free Agency will be ripe with Defensive Stars and O lineman and so will the later round draft picks, i mean there was a linebacker from Nevada going for the Dick Butkus Award. But at the moment we will just have to watch and wait
January 13th, 2009 at 12:38 amdbk – Albert was a special case – it’s true that he played G in college but the fact is he was projected by most to play LT in the NFL.
It is not at all unusual to find quality RTs, Gs, and Cs still available in round 2 and later. Unless somebody qualifies as a rare standout at any of those positions, there’s generally not a lot of value to be had in burning a 1st round pick on any those positions.
Taking a QB in round 1 this year would be a huge mistake in my opinion. Stafford does not impress me at all, Bradford needs to stay in school at least one more year. If we fail to address LB through FA, then Curry or Crabtree are my top picks.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:38 amsgt ducttape – before you start ruling out Losman, I’d caution you and anyone else that feels the same to remember that a lot of people were making a very similar assessment about Pennington when his name was in the mix. I see Losman as a more than adequate veteran backup with a lot of potential to take on the starting job. Regardless of how one feels about Losman, there is no denying that veteran backup QB remains high on our list of offseason needs.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:42 amDouble D:
I know Albert was drafted as LT. That wasn’t what I was saying. You said you are against drafting a LT and moving Albert to RT because you would have a RT in that case making first round money. However, you then go on to say that you would move him to G. It seems odd that you don’t want to pay a RT first round money, but you are okay with moving him to G and paying a G first round money.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:42 amWell, first off, I don’t know that Albert is suited to play RT. But I do know that he can play LG and that Waters can play C so that makes the most sense to me if we’re going to be moving Albert anywhere to make room for a new LT.
I think we also need to think about the fact that we’ll eventually need to replace Waters and Albert’s ability to play well at either LG or LT makes him a great candidate for Waters eventual replacement. Whether, for the sake of argument, Albert winds up at either RT or LG next season, it seems to me we would be sort of be in a position of overpaying Albert at this point in his career. I also strongly believe that Smith and Oher will be the first 2 players taken off the board. That leaves us with taking Eugene Monroe if that’s the way we’re going to go. I like Monroe plenty but I frankly can’t see him being the BPA at the #3 pick.
Give me a guy like Curry or Crabtree instead with that first pick and then in the 2nd round take either the best C available (Mack or Unger I would assume) or else the best RT (Eben Britton maybe?) available.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:51 pmI would much rather have Albert stay at a premier position (Tackle) as long as he is getting paid that much and find a guard to replace Waters somewhere else…it is much easier after all…
January 13th, 2009 at 1:04 pmI agree woody. I feel this year there will be some pretty decent OL talent still available after the first round – and quite likely at the top of the third as well. The way I see this draft shaping up is that most of top-notch talent (along with demand) will be with defensive players.
dbk – back to you, upon further review . . . it looks to me like there may be at least one RT (Eben Britton) and a couple of G’s (Robinson & Johnson) that might go mid-to-late first round.
I say we need to take off the board whoever we think the best player available is. As far as I’m concerned, that’s got to be either Michael Crabtree or Aaron Curry – either one looks to be a big get for our team.
I also believe that a team like Oakland would pay very handsomely for our #3 spot because of their 2 biggest impact needs (WR, SLB) and the strong likelihood that neither position will provide adequate talent for them at the #7 pick. Al Davis is crazy about going for impact players so I look for it to get pretty interesting for us this go round.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:02 pmI would vehemently disagree that it is “much easier” to just find a guard to replace Brian Waters. And Albert isn’t quite getting LT dough and he won’t when he re-signs if he isn’t playing LT.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:42 pmAdam,
How we choose to resign Albert is the real rub I’d say. If we select a top-flight LT with our first pick between now and then, that means we’ll be carrying 2 expensive OL until Albert resigns. What’s more he should be able to command LT money somewhere else if we’re not willing to pony up for the kind of money he might rightly ask for. Very likely scenario I’d say.
Ideal scenario: We pick up 2 top-name defenders in FA (DE & LB) and a veteran QB, we select Crabtree or Curry with our first pick, Unger (who can play any of 4 OL positions) with our 2nd round pick, and Josh Freeman (as a development project) with our 3rd round pick. Then in ‘10, we use our 1st round pick on a QB if we need to – there should be several good ones available. This year’s day one QB options are either not going to be ready to start in the NFL or just plain suck.
January 13th, 2009 at 2:54 pmAdam, I said Calvin Johnson was a better prospect, not that he had better college stats. Hmm let’s see here receiver in Chain Gailey’s offense (C.J. @ GT) receiver in Mike Leach’s offense… bad argument. Crabtree isn’t as big, probably not as fast, and not nearly as explosive.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:35 pm