Michael Crabtree Seemingly Takes a Shot at Alex Smith

The San Francisco 49ers had high expectations coming into the 2010 season, yet have started off the year 0-4.  They’ve lost two close games to quality opponents and gotten blown out in their other two losses.  They’ve somehow created a situation where the Rams could legitimately win the NFC West.  As we would all expect, there aren’t many happy campers to be found around the Niners organization these days.  One such unhappy cub scout is wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Desperately needing to make a change, the 49ers fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye after their 31-10 shellacking at the hands of the Chiefs week three.  Many, including ourselves, believe that Alex Smith deserves a lot of the blame for the struggles the 49ers have had on offense this year.  Does Crabtree agree with that claim?  When he was speaking to reporters about new offensive coordinator Mike Johnson, that’s kind of the impression he gave.

Mike Johnson did his thing. He did what he was supposed to do.  He got everybody the ball. Only thing is, Mike Johnson can’t throw the ball. He can just call plays,” Crabtree said Monday, according to Lowell Cohn if the Santa Press Democrat.

It’s possible that this was Crabtree’s way of using the whole “the coaches can call the plays but we have to execute them” typical response, but he should have done it without throwing someone under the bus.  Instead of saying he “can’t throw the ball,” he should have added that Johnson also can’t catch it, run it, or block.  Unless he was intentionally taking a shot at his quarterback, of course.  If that’s the case, he chose his words quite wisely.