Forget Quarterback: Wide Receiver Is Camp's Toughest Battle

The most eye-popping stat put up by the 49ers best receiver last season is his age: 36. Isaac Bruce led the team with 61 catches for 835 yards and 7 touchdowns--decent numbers but not, for a team's No. 1 receiver, very intimidating.

And, considering the team's No 2 receiver, Bryant Johnson, is no longer on the team, and the team's No. 3 receiver, Frank Gore, is a running back, there would seem to be little reason to optimistic about this seasons pass-catchers.

But it may just be the best receiving corps the team has had in long time.

When the team selected Michael Crabtree with the No. 10 overall pick in this year's draft, they got one of the best players available, a big-play receiver who consistently dominated his college opponents, putting up 3,127 yards and catching 41 touchdowns in two years at Texas Tech.

The 49ers haven't had a player with his game-changing potential since Terrell Owens forced his way off the team in 2003. Crabtree is penciled to start opposite Isaac Bruce, and while it is always a positive to add a starter to your football team, the ripple-effect of Crabtree's addition may be his biggest contribution.

The 49ers actually have depth at wide receiver now.

Last season's training camp surprise was Josh Morgan, a 6th round pick who showed great ability to get open and the strength and speed to pick up yards after the catch during the preseason. He appeared to be a steal-in-the-making until a staph infection halted his progress and kept him out of much of the regular season.

Late in the year, however, Morgan made the most of his opportunities, catching 20 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Most memorable was his game-winning 48 yard touchdown catch with 1:31 remaining against the Rams in Week 15. Before the selection of Crabtree, the general consensus was that Morgan had earned the starting spot opposite Bruce, but now he will be competing with the rookie for the job.

Whoever loses that competition will be the team's 3rd receiver, a position filled last year mostly by Jason Hill. Last season, his second with the team, the former Washington State star and third round draft selection didn't see action until a Week 8 loss to Seattle.

He had three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown in that game, and followed that performance with six catches for 82 yards two weeks later against Arizona.

He finished the season with 30 catches for 317 yards and 2 touchdowns, but most important was his production in tight situations: when the team was trailing, Hill had 14 catches for 142 and converted 10 first downs; in the 4th quarter, his numbers were 13-150-10. He also caught both of his touchdowns in the 4th quarter.

In a word, in his limited opportunities he has been "clutch."

Now Jason Hill will most likely be the fourth receiver on the team, but he will certainly have a role to play. In fact, no matter who ends up starting games and who ends up sitting on the bench, all of the receivers will certainly see playing time. They have each shown that they have something to add to the team.

Regardless of where these four wide receiver end up on the depth chart, one thing is clear: from Hall of Famer Bruce down to situational player Jason Hill, there is a lot of potential in the 49ers wide receivers, and whoever ends up at Quarterback will have options—something we haven't seen in San Francisco in awhile.