Here’s a brain tickler for you. Who is a better wide receiver Michael Crabtree or Darrius Heyward-Bey? I can’t believe I’m writing this, but I say Heyward-Bey — bigger, faster, tougher, more talented, has made more progress in his career. Your thoughts?
Tony
Heyward Bay is turning into a better receiver, BUT… at the same time if Crabtree gets over 1000 yards this year and like 6 or more touchdowns, Crabtree becomes the better receiver…
August 25th, 2012 11:10 pm
Tony
Also, As of right now, I don’t see the case where Heyward Bey is better than Crabtree because Crabtree is more of a possession receiver looking to extend drives whereas Bay is a stretch the Defense type of receiver… I would take Crabtree right now with a To Be Continued…
August 25th, 2012 11:14 pm
mike
Until Crabtree shows that he can separate horizontally as well as vertically from a defensive back and release effectively at the LOS against bump and run coverage I have to go with DHB despite his penchant for too often dropping very catchable balls. Both have been plagued by injuries and other nagging setbacks, so, at this time, neither is playing at the value at which they were selected in the draft.
August 26th, 2012 7:31 am
RednGold1
Here’s the deal. (Don’t ya just love it when people start of with: Here’s the deal?)
Here’s the deal: You, Mr. Cohn are trying to be objective. While I, your reader, am trying to be subjective. So we start our “thoughts” from opposite ends of a spectrum.
My subjective thoughts: Crabtree catches a pass and it helps my 49ers in their quest to win. If DHB never drops another pass it does nothing to help my Niners.
And you are asking who wins 9ers vs. Raiders, right?
August 26th, 2012 7:54 am
Neal
Loweofll, if you want to have your blog to light up, ask who would you rather have. Carlson Palmer or Alex Smith.
August 26th, 2012 8:28 am
Dennis
This is a very interesting question. I doubt the 49ers would trade Crabtree for Heyward Bey and vise versa. I remember that Heyward Bey being drafted ahead of Crabtree was considered somewhat controversial. I seem to recall Crabtree holding out because he wanted “first receiver picked” money. So far neither one has done anything to suggest that the order they were picked was wrong. There really isn’t a lot of separation between them, but there does appear to be slightly more upside with Bey. Crabtree has better hands, but Bey is bigger and faster. I know you can’t teach size and speed – can you teach hands?
August 26th, 2012 8:29 am
Bob In Portland
Neither has lived up to his hype. Both are getting better. We shall see.
August 26th, 2012 9:24 am
chris
please, it’s no contest after last season…..Hayward Bey in a landslide over Crabtree…….everyone laughed at Coach Davis when he pick Darrius over Crabtree…….Al proved he was still a great GM in his later years. And the list proves it……McFadden, Bey, Ford, Moore, and now Pryor is showing porogress.
August 26th, 2012 10:34 am
MJ
176 receptions for 2246 yards and 12 tds vs 99 receptions for 1400 yards and 6 tds.
The numbers speak for themselves. And does Oakland have a Vernon Davis on their team that demands, not personally but ability, he be just as big a part of the passing game as any receiver? Nope.
Funny, you say Heyward Bey has made more progress in his career? Not really a big selling point when the guy was MIA his first 2 seasons with 9 and 26 receptions. Those are numbers for a #3 or 4 receiver, not a top 10 pick.
Also, more talented, tougher? Says who? Crabtree’s been going over the middle his 3 years here, how is he not tough?
And “bigger, stronger”, sounds like the words of Al Davis himself which could be applied to many of his selections…JaMarcus Russel perhaps?
August 26th, 2012 11:09 am
Hank
Crabtree has exceptional hands, but a bummer of a head. DHB seems to be solid mentally, but has skillets where his hands should be.
August 26th, 2012 11:31 am
B-Rad
There were 6 WRs taken in the first round of the 2009 draft
DRAFT POS…….NAME…………………..CAREER CATCHES………..YARDS…………..TDs
#7………………..DHB……………………..99……………………………..1465…………….6
#10………………Crabtree……………….175…………………………….2240……………12
#19………………J. Macklin……………..189…………………………….2596……………19
#22……………..P. Harvins………………218…………………………….2625……………17
#29……………..H. Nicks………………..202…………………………….3034……………24
#30……………..K. Britt…………………..101…………………………….1765……………15
I would agree that DHB has improved more over his NFL career, but Crabtree
played better than Lowell Cohn his first two years.
August 26th, 2012 1:00 pm
Capts
I would take Denarius Moore.
August 26th, 2012 2:35 pm
McCheese
please, it’s no contest after last season…..Crabtree in a landslide over Heyward-Bey …….everyone laughed at Coach Davis when he pick Darrius over Crabtree, and they were right…….Al proved he was no longer a great GM in his later years. And the list proves it……JaMarcus Russell, Heyward-Bey, Mitchell, McClain, and now Pryor is showing no progress.
August 26th, 2012 9:42 pm
Steve
Lowell is asking who is better right now, so the career statistics are besides the point. Yes, Crabtree came into the league as a better receiver than DHB, everybody knows that. Right now? DHB is a better player.
August 27th, 2012 12:46 pm