(1) Introduction: Packers TE Tom Crabtree is an old school tight end. You’re more likely to see him blocking along the line than running routes, but the past two seasons Crabtree has focused on improving his pass-catching abilities. A legend on Twitter, Crabtree looked to have his strongest season in 2012 before heading into restricted free agency.
(2) Profile:
Thomas Lewis Crabtree
- Age: 27
- Born: 11/04/1985, in Carroll, OH
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 245
- College: Miami (OH)
- Rookie Year: 2009
- NFL Experience: 4 years
3) Expectations coming into the season: With Andrew Quarless likely to be out for the majority of the 2012 seasons thanks to a knee injury, Crabtree became the team’s primary backup tight end. He was expected to contribute as an extra blocker and on special teams and occasionally in the passing game. Crabtree was expected to do the dirty work tight ends sometimes have to do and comfortably made the 2012 roster.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: If the Packers were playing on national television, Crabtree somehow found a way to make a big play. Perhaps the most stunning was a 27 yard touchdown by Crabtree on a fake field goal in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. Crabtree found the end zone in front of a national audience again against the Houston Texans with a 48-yard touchdown. His longest of the year came on a 72-yard touchdown against the Cardinals when Rodgers found him over the middle. As for lowlights, he did miss two games with injuries and was at times part of a line that gave up 51 sacks of Aaron Rodgers.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: The Packers special teams struggled at times and Crabtree was part of that unit. His sudden knack however for the big play on offense helped spark the Packers to a win over the Bears and sealed a victory over the Cardinals in a game the Packers should not have had has much trouble with. He had eight catches (a career high) on 12 targets.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Not much from Crabtree as far as receiving during the playoffs as he had only one catch (against the Minnesota Vikings) for 10 yards. He was targeted only one other time in the playoffs.
Season Report Card:
(B+) Level of expectations met during the season
(B+)Contributions to team’s overall success.
(C) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade:B
——————Kris Burke is a sports writer covering the Green Bay Packers for AllGreenBayPackers.com and WTMJ in Milwaukee. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) and his work has been linked to by sites such as National Football Post and CBSSports.com. Follow @KrisLBurke
——————
285 lbs?
i wish.
good catch on the typo. I fixed it.
Give him a C. He’s a good ST player for sure. But on offense, if he’s on the field he’s there to block and PFF rated him worse than Finley as a run blocker. Catching what amounts to a 2 yd pitch and running untouched for a TD is great, but nearly anyone on the roster could have run for a TD on the play. Even the play against the Cards was a bad coverage mistake that left him wide open. He made a nice catch but there was no D on the play. If he doesn’t get back to being a good blocker he might not have a roster spot next year.
Good for a surprise play and getting wide open on a very rare occasion (don’t think anyone knows he’s on the field). OK blocker, not great. So, just how many ST players can they keep?
Contributions to the team’s overall success=B+?
Give me a break.
Crabtree is a guy that will probably be on the team a couple more years. When I watch him play in games it looks like he is giving full effort when he blocks, maybe he’s just not strong enough to physically move guys and hold up. I will say that having crabtree on the team makes me feel better about only carrying 1 fullback on the roster. Average player who gives better than average effort. Agree with the grades except they might be a tad high. you guys do a great job tho!
Nobody expected anything from him, and yet he still was a factor when he played. He didn’t play on offense that much, but when he did he seemed to contribute. Good grade.
A solid C. He’ll either be let go or get the lowest tender. Taylor takes a step up the depth chart.