When Michael Crabtree went down with an Achilles tear, it was originally a thought as a blow to the 49ers' potential Super Bowl season. But, do not go crying for San Francisco just yet. Losing Crabtree for a significant amount of time certainly hurts considering the 49ers face several tough teams on the schedule early, but they might have several in-house options that could be just as productive as the wide receiver.
With training camp officially under way, the 49ers newest offensive weapon, Anquan Boldin is proving to be a perfect substitution for Crabtree. Boldin came to the 49ers via a trade from the Baltimore Ravens. He was originally set to be a No. 2 option for quarterback Colin Kaepernick behind Crabtree, but has comfortably moved in to being the top guy.
Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reports that Boldin has been impressing early in time with San Francisco. He and Kaepernick has been putting in extra time in practice developing chemistry with one another and working on timing, allowing Boldin to turn into the go-to guy. In training camp on Tuesday, observers report Kaepernick hit Boldin on several deep routes at least 35 yards or more.
"I had that rapport with Kurt [Warner in Arizona]," Boldin said. "Then I had it with Joe [Flacco]. Now I see it growing with Colin. The great part about it is that there's been a lot of communication between us. Every play we're talking. It's like: 'What are you seeing? What do you like? What don't you like?' I think when you have that much communication it shows on the field."
Boldin certainly has the resume to be the top guy in the Bay Area. Last season he put up 921 yards and four touchdowns in the Super Bowl-winning season for the Ravens. He has had five seasons of 1,000 yards or more in his 10-year career. While he has become slightly injury prone, he can still be a solid option for San Francisco.
Behind Boldin, there are several players fighting for time. A.J. Jenkins is off to a quick start during offseason programs, but has been hampered by a hamstring injury throughout the start of training camp. Mario Manningham is expected to play a prominent role in the offense this season, along with Kyle Williams and Chad Hall.
Tight end Vernon Davis will likely also be a receiving option for Kaepernick this season. Davis has spent most of training camp with the wide receivers, leading many to believe he will spend more time in that role than lining up at tight end. Crabtree can still come back at some point during the season, making the 49ers even more scary.