The 49ers' new wide receivers coach expects big things from his pupils this season, starting with Michael Crabtree. John Morton, who steps in for long-time receivers coach Jerry Sullivan this season, said that Crabtree is "going to be a phenomenal football player in this offense. And so is Josh Morgan. I think the sky's the limit for those guys."
Morton suggested that Jim Harbaugh's West Coast offense is a better fit for Crabtree's skill set than the power-based vertical passing attack that the 49ers have used in recent seasons. Crabtree does not have blazing speed and he is not particularly big. But he is sudden in and out of breaks and has quick hands.
Morton said one of the tenets of the West Coast offense was getting the ball in the receiver's hands as quickly as possible. "And there are certain routes that do that," he said. "It's quick routes or it's slants or shallow crosses and things where you get the ball in their hand real fast and let them use their God-given ability. I don't think they've had a chance to really do that yet from what I've seen on tape. I don't think I've seen a slant here run ever since ... since TO left."
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