Michael Crabtree should be ready to take off in his third season in the NFL.

That is what new San Francisco 49ers wide receivers coach Johnnie John Morton predicts.

Morton enters in his first season on the job as a member of Jim Harbaugh’s staff. Morton believes the West Coast offense fits Crabtree better than what the team was doing the past two years.

“There are certain routes that (take advantage of a receiver’s quickness)," Morton told Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee 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 Terrell Owens left.”

Crabtree had 55 receptions for 741 yards and six touchdowns last season. A breakthrough season would certainly be something north of 1,000 yards. We’ll see if Crabtree can develop some chemistry with Alex Smith, the quarterback he hasn’t been so sure is the team’s quarterback.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune