Crabtree Absent from Team Workouts

[.infamous]

Alex Smith may be unsigned and Jim Harbaugh may not be be allowed to talk about Smith any more, but everyone knows Smith will be back in San Francisco in 2011.

Despite his awkward situation, Smith has shown increased leadership this offseason by bringing together the rest of the offense and trying to help teach Harbaugh’s new offense. Most receivers have shown up, except for Michael Crabtree. Smith was asked why Crabtree hasn’t come to the sessions.

“Great question,” Smith replied via the San Jose Mercury News. “Asking the wrong guy, honestly.”

Hmm. There have been reported chemistry issues in the past between Smith and Crabtree, who have spoken this offseason. Crabtree returned to the Bay Area a few weeks back and it was reported he would be attending the sessions, but he hasn’t shown yet.

Smith is planning more of a formal OTA-like teaching session coming up for the full squad. We don’t think player attendance at these player-only workouts are a huge deal, but the 49ers would benefit from getting their presumptive starting quarterback and top receiver on the same page.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/02/alex-smith-on-crabtrees-absence-youre-asking-the-wrong-guy/

 

[playmaker7]

Don't freak out over this. Crabs will be back

 

[DJT]

Crab is one of the guys that absolutely should be there...

 

[playmaker7]

Yeah seriously but I'm not fretting it right now

 

[DJT]

Yeah, there still might not even be a season, that leaves plenty of time for workouts and training.

 

[Lake Louise]

If the lockout wasn't going on right now, it'd be a bigger issue. Since it's still going on, it's more of an "Eh, oh well" reaction.

 

[.infamous]

CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco is the latest beat writer to suggest Michael Crabtree and Alex Smith were on "different pages" last season.
It's more than mere speculation. Smith threw Crabtree under the bus on a Week 1 pick-six last year: "I'm thinking one thing, and he obviously wasn't thinking the same thing ... It changed the game." Crabtree responded in kind three weeks later, suggesting Jimmy Raye was the fall guy because the coordinator "can't throw the ball. He can just call plays." Crabtree's targets went down from there, and it's fair to wonder if Smith was freezing him out of the offense at times.

 

[DJT]

"I'm thinking one thing, and he obviously wasn't thinking the same thing ... It changed the game."

-That hardly seems like "throwing him under the bus"

lol