Jimmy Raye got his new toy this week. It came in a box marked: assembly required.
Michael Crabtree arrived as nothing more than a collection of parts — speed,

strength, hands, hype. The 49ers will try to put him together into an NFL receiver as fast as they can, but it’s going to take at least two weeks.
“We have to do in 10-14 days something that has taken the rest of us, as a group, since last March to accomplish,” Raye, the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, said before practice Thursday. “We’re trying to do this with a young man who hadn’t played the speed of the pro game and hadn’t been here for any (of training camp). So, it’s a challenge, but one that we’re up to.”
Crabtree ended his holdout Wednesday, putting his name to a six-year deal that includes $17 million in guaranteed money.
Before making catches, he has to play catch-up. Crabtree spent his first two 49ers practices running with the scout team, mimicking the plays of the Atlanta offense in preparation for the game this week. (Crabtree played the role of Falcons receiver Michael Jenkins.)
Crabtree will not face the Falcons on Sunday at Candlestick Park. Raye said that his best-case scenario has the No. 10 pick in the draft ready to debut after the bye week, which means Oct. 25 at Houston.
Even then, Crabtree’s role will be limited. Raye said he plans to work in Crabtree playing the slot role in three-receiver sets for third-down plays.
Such a minor role gives the former Texas Tech standout a chance to focus on just a handful of plays. But even that’s more demanding than it sounds.
Raye said that in reviewing Crabtree’s college highlight reel, he saw the receiver running only a pair of routes.
“In their system, he ran a hitch, and if he was pressed, he ran a go,” Raye said. “So, it’s a little bit more learning that he has to do than time will allow us to teach him, but we’ve got to make do as we can.”
Crabtree also ran them well. In two seasons at Texas Tech, he racked up 3,127 receiving yards and 41 touchdowns. He averaged 120.3 yards per game and twice won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top collegiate receiver.
Crabtree once went 13 consecutive games with at least one touchdown and five catches.
But in the NFL, he has nada.
“He has no idea about what it is we’re doing or how we’re going about doing it,” Raye said. “So, he has to get a comfort level himself.
“I think he emotionally would say, ’I want to go play and show the fans that I can play.’ But there’s a lack of preparation and knowledge that at this point would make it difficult to do.”
Despite a 3-1 start, the 49ers rank 28th in the NFL in total offense yardage. (The 49ers rank ninth in total points, thanks to contributions from the defense and special teams.)
Only one wide receiver — Josh Morgan — has a touchdown catch. All this is part of why they drafted Crabtree in the first place.
His ability to get up to speed will go a long way toward erasing memories of his contract struggle and earning him some points in the locker room. As quarterback Shaun Hill said:
“He just has to do the same thing that all of us do, and that’s work hard. We put it in out there every week. If he comes in and does the same thing, he will have everyone’s respect. From what I’ve heard of the guy, he’s a hard worker anyways, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
For two more weeks at the minimum, Crabtree will be a highly paid observer. But at least he gets a better view this time. Crabtree will be allowed to be on the sideline during Sunday’s game.
That beats the television broadcast he watched every week during his 71-day contract standoff.
“I watched every game,” Crabtree said. “It’s the team that drafted me, so I watched them very closely and saw the intensity they put in every Sunday. I’m looking forward to playing a big role in that offense.”