Oakland Raiders Signing Michael Crabtree Could Work
Nov 23, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) carries the ball against the Washington Redskins during the third quarter at Levi
Former San Francisco 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree was signed by the Oakland Raiders today. It’s a one-year deal that’s worth $3.2 million that can climb to $5 million if he reaches incentives. When I first heard the Raiders are even considering this, I didn’t like the idea of a damaged-goods receiver crying when he doesn’t get the ball.
At the postgame press conference on CSN Bay Area after a 49ers’ 27-24 overtime victory over the Saints in 2014 where he had a crucial 51-yard reception, Crabtree was clearly unhappy, saying, “I’m a third-down receiver. I mean, I’m like the third option. So I come in and do my job.”
When someone told him the play was on 4th-and-10, Crabtree shrugged and said, “Fourth down, I guess when they need me, I guess that’s when I play. When you count stats, look that up.” I was put off by that, not liking the fact that he was complaining after making a play to help win the game.
But as I watched a few of the 49ers games, he had a point about not getting opportunities until it mattered. Then watching to see just how washed up might have been, I saw that he did lose some deep speed as a result of his torn Achilles. But as I kept watching tape on him, I started seeing what he can still do plus his quickness could come back in the second year back.
I saw that he didn’t have the suddeness he previously had but with some savvy, he was still able to get off press coverage. And in the short to intermediate game, Crabtree could still get separation at the top of his routes. He can also still run after the catch as he can still make you miss even though he’s not as sudden.
Crabtree regaining his old form would be best for the Raiders but as he was in 2014, he can help. The Raiders can really use him to improve their 33.8 percent third-down conversion rate. They still need to throw the ball down the field more but his running after the catch on short routes will up the Raiders’ yards per pass attempt.
This is another one of those signings where the Raiders get a talented player that didn’t do well because of injury or other reasons in 2014. The Raiders will be a tough out if all the free agent signings play up to their talent level. And for those that wonder if Crabtree will affect the Raiders picking Amari Cooper or Kevin White at No. 4 overall, that might have never been the plan.
They Raiders cut defensive tackle Antonio Smith, who wears No. 94 and plays the same position as a cerntain No. 94. It looks more and more like Marcus Mariota will go No. 2 with someone trading up. The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t need Leonard Williams with Sen’Derrick Marks, Tyson Alualu and Jared Odrick.
So if worse comes to worse, it won’t take much for the Raiders to trade up as the Jaguars need an edge-rusher anyway.