Chrissy Mauck, 49ers.com
“I understand what I can do and this year I wrote down 70 catches and 1,000 yards,” said Battle.
Wide receiver Arnaz Battle was just one off-season conditioning workout away from reaching his goal this year of 100% attendance when a mix up with his flight times to attend his father’s wedding caused him to miss the final Friday of the program.
Up until that point, Battle had carefully planned out his schedule to allow for trips home to Dallas to see his three-year old son while still participating in each of the four workouts for the previous ten weeks. Three out of four workouts in that final week and a 97.72% attendance is probably close enough to perfection for the 49ers strength coaches, but not so for the veteran receiver. Even after a few weeks removed from that last day he missed out on and Battle was still stewing somewhat.
“I know I just have to chalk it up, but I was mad about it. I just feel like if I can do 100%, then I need to do that and more,” said Battle. “It is still bothering me because I didn’t make my goal. I don’t want to cheat myself in any way or wonder if I had done this or that. I want to give myself every opportunity to be successful.”
Even without the workout, Battle feels stronger and more powerful than he has the last few seasons when a nagging knee injury led to the 49ers training staff reducing his work load.
“I was able to do a lot more of the leg workouts this year,” said Battle. “I don’t know if I feel better because I finally have a healthy knee or if it was having the healthy knee that let me do more work in the program to get stronger. It’s probably a combination of both.”
Just like his knee, Battle has continued to progress and become a complete NFL receiver. In 2006, he enjoyed his first full season in the lineup and led the receivers with 59 receptions. Again, he was one shy of his goal of 60 catches but this one was a shortcoming easier to swallow.
“I wanted to hit 60, but I think with just being able to play through the whole season and know that I really contributed to my team made me walk away feeling like I had still obtained my goal,” said Battle.
As a competitor Battle would be lying to say that he hasn’t thought about that one more catch but the fifth-year receiver is moving on, knowing that dwelling too long on the past won’t change things.
“What has happened has happened and you just have to keep moving forward and correct it and try to do better. I think the big thing that helped me understand that and I hate talking about it too much was the death of my brother which happened when we were kids. I can’t bring him back, nobody can. I just have to deal with it and keep living and do the best for my family. I just carry that in every day life, and especially in football. Whether I drop a ball or fumble a ball, I know I have to brush it off and just do better the next time.”
With that in mind, Battle raised the bar for himself when it came time to fill out his goal sheet for the upcoming season.
“I understand what I can do and this year I wrote down 70 catches and 1,000 yards,” said Battle who also had the math worked out and memorized how many more yards that means for 2007. “That’s 11 more catches and 314 yards and I think that’s something that I can get. Obviously that depends on staying healthy and how we all do as an offense.”
As a unit, Battle sees no reason that the 49ers offense shouldn’t soar in the upcoming campaign.
For starters, the organization injected fresh talent this off-season in veterans Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie and then added a top flight rookie in Jason Hill, making it the most stocked and talented receiving corps Battle has seen since joining the team as a sixth-round draft pick in 2003. Testing this group of receivers every day is a secondary that boasts three Pro Bowlers in Nate Clements, Walt Harris and Michael Lewis.
“Going against guys like that every day definitely helps and that’s something we realized at mini camp,” said Battle. “I can remember a play where Alex threw a ball and he didn’t really have a clear look. The timing was just a little off and Nate was able to close and make a play on it. Having that kind of speed on defense really makes us speed up our game and our progressions on offense. I think going against top competition like that on the other side is only going to make us better this season.”
The 49ers may have a fresh face at coordinator in Jim Hostler, but it’s still the same offense, one that should allow this young group of playmakers a chance to grow and flourish.
“There have been some things that have been added here and there, but nothing drastic has really changed,” said Battle. “I think they just squeezed a little lime in it, tweaked it slightly to make it run a little smoother and have more power.”
At the insistence of the 49ers training staff, Battle sat out a few practices during the first week of OTAs after experiencing some tightness in his hamstring. He finished the last two weeks strong, which combined with the fact that he’s been the only mainstay at receiver since quarterback Alex Smith’s arrival in 2005, Battle has a leg up when it comes to the critical timing needed between a quarterback and a receiver.
“It’s helped to work with him the last three years because you definitely understand each other better,” said Battle. “Alex has really grown and matured and he understands the offense and knows how to use the weapons around him. I really think he’s developing and that this should be a big year for him, and for this entire offense. I think guys have really stepped up and raised their level of play.”
Under the direction of his position coach Jerry Sullivan, Battle has matured in his own right, becoming a polished route runner. But once he makes the catch, the converted college quarterback reverts back to the mentality it took to play his old position, often bowling over defenders for extra yards.
“As an option quarterback, I was always running, so that’s just my mindset,” said Battle who had 263 yards after the catch for a 4.5 yard average in 2006. “When I make the catch, I just think about making a play and getting as many yards as possible. I try to score every time, regardless of where I am on the field. At the same time, I know you have to be smart. Guys are coming from every direction and you don’t want to take any unnecessary shots, but when I get the ball, I feel like with my running skills and my power that I can definitely break or avoid the first tackle every time.”
Equipped with that type of mindset, a healthy knee and an even stronger lower body, Battle shouldn’t have to worry much about falling short of any more of his goals.
