How much will Josh Morgan play?
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco -- one of the best beat writers in the business, if not the -- ran through the entire 49ers' 81-man roster on Tuesday. He provided short nuggets on each player, all the way down to the longshot undrafted free agents.
Next to Josh Morgan, who by all accounts is having another awesome spring, Maiocco writes:
Even with Crabtree playing his spot, he should work into a position to get ample playing time.
Why is playing time an issue? Morgan plays the same "X" receiver spot as No. 10 overall pick Michael Crabtree.
When blurbing on Rotoworld about Maiocco's comment, I added admittedly speculative analysis:
The 49ers could get creative in three-receiver sets, using Morgan at split end with Crabtree in the slot -- where he often played at Texas Tech -- and Brandon Jones or Isaac Bruce at flanker.
Unless Morgan beats out Crabtee for the starting job, this is the only way I can imagine Morgan getting the playing time necessary to flirt with fantasy value. The catch is that Mike Singletary favorite Jason Hill is a slot receiver. I'm not sure new coordinator Jimmy Raye would move Hill out of that role, because Samurai Mike loves him there.
Crabtree is due back from foot surgery at the start of training camp. Say he picks up the offense quickly and his performance/high draft status is too much for the Niners to begin the season with on the bench. In that scenario it's Crabtree split left, Hill in the slot, and Bruce/Jones on the flank. Could Josh Morgan still be a rosterable WR4/5 in a presumably run-first offense? How would you project him?
Comments
The "presumed" run-first offense is the key. It will most likely be pass-balanced though throughout the season. More of a McDaniels spread than Martz's disaster last year.
Both QB's are better suited to a spread type (Hill with his quick release and Smith was most successful in college in the spread)
Gore is a better runner for a spread type offense, catching passes and using his excellent speed and shiftiness and above average power.
The WR are talented and deep. Based on talent/potential alone, Bruce/Jones would be #4 and #5. WR1 Crabtree, WR2 Morgan and WR3 Hill in the slot would be ideal. Sadly a WRBC is brewing here unless someone gets cut/traded.
Either way Morgan is the better value since everyone knows Crabtree. Morgan should be running 1 on 1 all year long against all those "talented" CB2's in the NFC West.
How many times will SF be playing catchup this year?
Posted by: Paul | May 14, 2009 08:19 AM
Morgan and Crabtree are on everyone's minds, however I would not forget about Hill. The slot WR is not your normal fantasy big bang, but Hill's talent alone make him an intriguing play. He is a WR 4/5 with WR 2 potential. I would not hesitate to fill your last roster spot with Hill if your looking for a sleeper. I would peg Hills bottom line production this year at 45 receptions 700 yards and 4 TD's, with upside. Could be a great by week filler.
Posted by: mdog1967 | May 15, 2009 03:24 PM
Someone tell me why can't Crabtree play the X, or the flanker position? It's the same position as Anquan Boldin, and he has done quite well in that spot for years now.
This may seem like a crowded WR core now, but talent sorts itself out. The Niners will eventually start Crabtree and Morgan at Split End and Flanker, Morgan is the better deep threat so he'll be tough to take that job from.
The 1st poster hit it on the head, Crabtree has been hurt, coming from a gimmicky spread offense, and Morgan has a year under his belt, if the Niners don't let draft stock influence them then he'll keep that job because he'll probably be the better WR in year one.
Either way, I'm not dropping him out of my rankings for a rookie that has yet to play, even if Crabtree wins that job Morgan is 10x better then Brandon Jones or Bruce at his age, eventually they will get both guys on the field at the same time.
Morgan is a talented guy, Crabs is gonna have to get his stuff together really fast to pass him up.
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