Then and Now: Where do we go from here?

As one of the few San Francisco fans here in the Alamo City of San Antonio, Texas, I often have to endure a good deal of hazing due to the current state of affairs with the San Francisco 49ers. Thankfully, I can claim to be a University of Texas Longhorns fan, as it is awesome to have a team that is “local” that performs well consistently.

My fanatical following of the Texas Longhorns has led to some jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching experiences, including, most recently, their win against Nebraska in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship game. However, that game pales in comparison to their biggest upset of the 2007-2008 season, when Michael Crabtree, from Texas Tech caught the miracle pass of the game, shook off a defender and scampered in to the end zone for the winning score. At that point, with the stunned silence in the house nearly deafening in itself, I boldly announced that I believed that the 49ers would try to draft him.

Little did I know how correct I was going to be, and little did I know how difficult for the 49ers such a decision was going to be.

Michael Crabtree’s final season at Texas Tech demonstrated that he had the ability to be a prolific receiver, even though his performance and output was hampered due to injury. He scored 19 touchdowns and had an average reception yardage of 12 yards per. This stat alone should have made him one of the most coveted and feared receivers in the NFL.

His rookie season with my 49ers has been anything but remarkable, although his average yards per reception have actually surpassed his last year with Texas Tech. Were it not for a 5 game hold-out, he might have been one of the best in the league, and one of the most productive. With a current average of 4.55 receptions per game, Crabtree is on pace to catch 50 passes by the end of the season. With that same average in mind, he could have caught 73 for 890 yards by the end of the season, which is a respectable number for a rookie.

One of the most controversial elements of Michael Crabtree’s performance with the 49ers to date is the numerous comparisons between him and Jerry Rice. Yes, the same Jerry Rice whose numbers are so great that almost all of his records will hold up for posterity. Yes, the same Jerry Rice whose receiving yards were so numerous that if he had no other all-purpose yards, he would STILL have been second in total reception yards all time. Yes, the same Jerry Rice whose name is mentioned in the same breath as Joe Montana and Steve Young.

Jerry Rice was a remarkable player for Mississippi Valley State University when he played, setting numerous NCAA records with an overall performance of 16.13 yards per reception and a whopping total of 50 touchdowns. These numbers clearly show that Jerry Rice was a superior player, even at the same age that Michael Crabtree is now. Jerry Rice’s rookie season with the 49ers was productive, catching 49 passes for a whopping total of 927 yards, an average of 18.9 yards. (Can anyone guess what might have happened had Rice gone to the Cowboys, who also had an interest in drafting him?)

Clearly, putting Michael Crabtree in the same category of Jerry Rice at this stage of his game is premature.

How do we get there from here?

Where do the 49ers need to go from here to get us back to the glory days of not-so long ago?

Can Crabtree become the next Jerry Rice?

First, we need an Offensive Coordinator who will be on the payroll for more than 1 season. Norv Turner bailing on us to become the head coach of San Diego hurt us the most, given the good working relationship he had with Alex Smith.

Second, we need to find a quarterback who can play the game with Crabtree, and bring out their full potential. With the relative youth of Smith and Crabtree, the opportunity to become a cohesive team is terrific. They can grow together.

Third, we need to return to the run and gun west-coast offense that Bill Walsh made so popular and wildly successful. Yards after the catch. That is a phrase that Jerry Rice was able to demonstrate on a regular basis. That is a phrase that Crabtree is going to have to make a regular part of any commentary that comes forth about him.

Fourth, we need to find another receiver who can be a deep threat and whose addition to the line-up will confound even the best defense. (The combination of Isaac Bruce and Michael Crabtree is under utilized right now, and must be developed further, or else the money that was spent on the two of them will have been for naught.) I would love to see the 49ers pick up Texas wide-receiver Jordan Shipley, whose numbers this year were actually BETTER than Michael Crabtree’s were. (I know that I am dreaming there. Plus, I bet that Shipley ends up as an under-utilized tight end for someone else.)

Call me a die-hard fan. Call me what you will. There through the successes. There through the “rebuilding.” They are MY San Francisco 49ers, even from here in the Lone Star State. The Cowboys may be “America’s Team.” but let’s not forget that America has 49ers Gold backing the strong dollar. Stay tuned for more…