The last time Michael Crabtree was in Indianapolis, he was walking dejectedly off the Lucas Oil Stadium turf after doctors detected a stress fracture in his foot that prevented him from working out for teams before the draft. "I wouldn't say it was frustrating," Crabtree said. "It was just something I wanted to do so bad. I wanted to go out there and show what I had, just like everybody else and, you know, I'm just glad that part of it is over with. I wish I could have did something to show guys what I could do in the 40 ..."
At which position would he have been drafted had he run the 40?
"Oh, I don't know," Crabtree said. "I have no idea. I know where I'm drafted now. That's the good part about it.
Crabtree, of course, will finally get to run in Indy on Sunday. He said today that his second week of game preparation has been a lot like the first week. After Game 2 is under his belt, Crabtree said, then he'll feel ready. One of things that has helped his learning curve, he said, has been working with Alex Smith. The two worked out individually at the close of OTAs and then again during the bye week. This will be the first time Crabtree works out a full week with Smith running the first-team offense.
"It just feels that you gain that chemistry with that quarterback. I'm not saying that it's no different than Shaun, but I worked more with Alex. I can't wait to go out there and see how that goes ..."
*******************
Those fans expecting a more wide open attack against Indianapolis, might be disappointed. When Jimmy Raye stepped to the microphone today, I asked him if his offense would change with Smith under center. "None," was Raye's response. Tim Kawakami followed with, "Are you serious? Do you mean that quarterbacks of differing talents don't change the offense at all?" Raye: "No."
*******************
It looks like Takeo Spikes (shoulder) might be available for Sunday's game. Spikes missed yesterday's practice but the plan was for him to take part in today's. How much the "Ted" linebacker plays against the Colts, however, depends on how often Indianapolis goes with three wide receivers. Spikes usually is the first linebacker to come off the field on passing downs and when teams go three-wide, the 49ers bring in an extra defensive back. ***update*** Spikes did not practice for the second straight game. Scott McKillop or Matt Wilhelm could take over for him if he doesn't play in Indy, but again, don't expect to see a lot of any inside lb other than Patrick Willis.
-- Matt Barrows
