49ers key matchup No. 2: Crabtree vs. Finnegan

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This is the second part in a series that spotlights three 49ers-Rams matchups to watch Sunday, 10 a.m. (FOX), at the Edward Jones Dome.49ers WR Michael Crabtree vs. Rams CB Cortland Finnegan
Tale of the tape
Crabtree (15): 6-foot-1, 214 pounds, fourth season, Texas Tech
Finnegan (31): 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, seventh season, SamfordMichael Crabtree has known for a little more than four years that Colin Kaepernick was a "gamer."He saw it when Texas Tech played Nevada in an early season game in 2008. Nevada featured a quarterback who threw for 264 yards and rushed for 92 yards in a game Texas Tech won handily.
"We played against Nevada, and the guy was putting up points and running and doing the same thing he's doing now," Crabtree said.What Kaepernick is doing now is trying to use his arm more than his legs as the 49ers' freshly anointed starting quarterback. And one of Kaepernick's main goals is to get the ball into Crabtree's trusted hands.Crabtree has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past five games against the Rams. In those games he has 27 receptions for 435 yards and six touchdowns. Crabtree might be sneaking up on the rest of the NFL, but the Rams are not taking him lightly."Crabtree is a special guy," said Cortland Finnegan, the Rams' top cornerback. "He can run all the kind of routes. To me, he's underrated. He makes all the plays that all the big-time guys make."Finnegan, one of the more physical defensive backs in the game, figures to be matched against Crabtree throughout the game. Finnegan has three interceptions and eight passes broken up on the year.
Crabtree is the 49ers' top receiver. He leads the 49ers with 50 receptions for 567 yards and five touchdowns. He has been particularly impressive with his yards after the catch. Finnegan is a sure-tackler, ranking third on the Rams with 83 tackles.
"I'm trying to do it all," Crabtree said. "I wouldn't just pick that out. If I can go deep, I'll go deep. If I can get YAC yards, I'll get YAC yards."Crabtree clearly has no problem with coach Jim Harbaugh's decision to insert the big-armed Kaepernick into the starting lineup. The 49ers lead the NFC West with a 8-2-1 record, and appear headed for the playoffs."I think we're capable of doing anything with the defense we have, whoever's at quarterback," Crabtree said. "I'm just loving the fact we're trying to get in the end zone, and he (Kaepernick) is just trying to make plays. He's really showing he can be a starter in this league."

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