Reborn Crabtree glad to be working with Carr
Three touchdown catches in victory over Baltimore ties a Raiders record
BALTIMORE — Michael Crabtree has never had it so good, and Derek Carr and the Raiders are reaping the rewards of his rebirth.
Crabtree willed Oakland to a 28-27 victory Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens with his career-high three touchdowns. The Ravens had no answer for him on the final drive, which he launched with receptions of 15 and 11 yards, then punctuated with a 23-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone.
“The guy is a game-changer,” Carr said of Crabtree, who had seven catches for 88 yards. “He’s one of the best receivers in this league. He proves it day in and day out.”
“He’s been sensational since Day One,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “The guy is a real pro. He’s a tough guy. He loves football. He’s really competitive. I played with a guy, Cris Carter, who had exceptional hands. I think Crab has those kind of hands.”
Two years ago, the 49ers couldn’t wait to get rid of their former firstround pick.
The Raiders grabbed Crabtree on a make-good deal worth only $3.2 million, plus some incentives tacked on. He made good and earned a four-year extension. At 29, he is now playing perhaps the best football of his NFL career.
Much of that credit, Crabtree says, goes to his situation. He’s never loved playing with a quarterback more than he does now.
Crabtree was asked if he’s ever had this good of a rapport with his quarterback.
“What do you think?” he replied.
After seven years in San Francisco with Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and a little Shaun Hill, Crabtree is thriving with Carr, the Raiders’ thirdyear leader.
“It’s no secret,” Crabtree said. “I’m grateful to be in this situation. Thankful, blessed. Keep working, the sky’s the limit for this team.”
How has his game changed so much from his final year with the 49ers, when he had just 68 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns — that touchdown total being equal to what he has through four games this year?
“It’s a different situation,” he said. “Different coordinators, different quarterbacks. It’s no comparison, as you can see. I’m just thankful to be in this position.”
His final touchdown, the game-winner with 2:12 to play, saw him blow past Shareece Wright, a former 49ers teammate, with ease. Safety Kendrick Lewis couldn’t get over the top to help, and Crabtree dragged his toe in the back of the end zone — a move he credited to Raiders wide receivers coach Rob Moore.
“I used to toe-tap,” Crabtree said, “and he was like, ‘Nah, Mike, you need to drag.’ I did that for him there. It was a big play.”
Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack marveled at the play and laughed as he recalled how angry Crabtree got last week in practice when he dropped a few passes — a rare sight for him.
“That dude is special, man,” Mack said. “He’s got great ball control. When he catches that ball, it’s crazy to see, and he does it all the time. That’s why he’s one of the best.”
Crabtree also caught a 5yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 13-yard touchdown reception. His three touchdown catches tied the Raiders single-game record.
Carr said when the Raiders hosted Crabtree as a free agent last offseason that he was going to do everything he could to not let him leave the building without signing, and he’s thrilled now that he did.
“I promised him that if we continue to work hard — I didn’t promise him catches, I didn’t promise him touchdowns — but I promised him that if we worked our tails off together that we could do something special,” Carr said.