|
Oct
21
|
Posted by sf49ers
October 21, 2007 |
|
This week I decided to spotlight a player that is the silent hero of the 49ers- who performs his best each and every year he has been in the NFL, Arnaz Battle. He may not be a primetime receiver but he is very reliable for the Niners and he’ll continue to be that rock for San Francisco for many years.
CAREER: Extremely versatile athlete…Displays good quickness, size and power for a wide receiver…Former college quarterback is a tenacious down-field blocker…Has break-away acceleration upfield and possesses the elusiveness to make initial tacklers miss…Very intelligent, with an astute grasp of the playbook…Surpassed 2005 personal best performances by setting new CAREER-HIGHS in nearly every major offensive category in 2006…Also tied for seventh in the NFC with 23 catches on third down…Excelled and developed into the team’s primary punt returner in 2004, including a CAREER-HIGH 71-yard touchdown return vs. Arizona (10-10-04)…Played in only eight games in 2003 before being placed on injured reserve with toe injury.
TRANSACTIONS: Originally a sixth round (197th pick overall) draft choice by San Francisco in 2003.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
2006:
• Played in all 16 games and made 15 starts with the exception of the season finale at Denver, where the 49ers offense started in a two tight-end set.
• Saw most extensive time at wide receiver in 2006 and set CAREER-HIGHS in games started (15), receptions (59) and receiving yards (686). Tied 2005 mark of touchdown receptions (3).
• Finished second in receiving yards (686) and second in receptions (59). Also rushed five times for 25 yards and fielded six punts for 90 yards (15.0 avg.).
• Started at wide receiver at Arizona (9-10) and caught two passes for 17 yards and returned three punts for 71 yards. Marked first time he returned punts since the 2004 season at Arizona (12-12), when he had four returns for 34 yards.
• Started at wide receiver and hauled in three passes for 78 yards vs. St. Louis (9-17) while returning one punt for seven yards. One of his receptions was a 56-yard strike from QB Alex Smith on the 49ers’ first possession, which set up a K Joe Nedney field goal.
• Started at wide receiver vs. Oakland (10-8) and caught four passes for 37 yards and two tough, short-yardage touchdowns. It was his FIRST CAREER MULTI-TOUCHDOWN receiving game.
• Paced the team in receiving with six catches for 55 yards while starting at wide receiver at Detroit (11-12). Also made a key block downfield that helped RB Frank Gore break for a 61-yard touchdown run on the 49ers’ first drive of the game. Five of six catches went for first downs, and four of those five came on a third down pass. Also broke a bone in his hand during the game. Awarded a game ball by Head Coach Mike Nolan.
• Led 49ers receivers with five receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown vs. Seattle (11-19) despite playing with a broken hand. Also had one carry on an end-around for 12 yards to open 49ers final drive of the first half. Marked second consecutive game he led the team in receptions, as well as his second in a row with five catches.
• Registered three receptions for 36 yards and returned two punts for 12 yards at St. Louis (11-26) after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his left hand.
• Started at wide receiver at Seattle (12-14) and hauled in five receptions for a CAREER HIGH 97 yards, and had one carry for CAREER-LONG 18 yards. His 54-yard reception at the end of the third quarter from the 49ers’ 13-yard line helped spark the team’s comeback as that drive eventually resulted in QB Alex Smith’s touchdown pass to Vernon Davis.
• Started at wide receiver vs. Arizona (12-24) and TIED CAREER-HIGH with seven receptions for 55 yards.
• Played but did not start in a two tight end set at Denver (12-31) and led the team with four receptions for 56 yards. Also had one rush for four yards.
2005:
• Played in 10 games, starting eight. Inactive for six contests due to knee injury.
• Set then career-highs in receptions (32), yards (363) and touchdowns (3).
• Started and led team in receiving with five receptions for 59 yards and FIRST CAREER RECEIVING touchdown vs. St. Louis (9-11), a six-yard pass from QB Tim Rattay. Completed FIRST CAREER PASS, 24-yard connection in second quarter to WR Brandon Lloyd. Completed second career pass later in quarter with three-yard shovel pass to RB Frank Gore.
• Led team with 44 yards receiving from four receptions at Philadelphia (9-18).
• Tallied team-high six receptions for 68 yards, including 15-yard touchdown reception vs. Dallas (9-25).
• Led team in receiving with 75 yards on CAREER-HIGH seven receptions, along with 17-yard touchdown to bring 49ers within 11 points in final two minutes of game at Tennessee (11-27). Added two rushes for four yards, one a direct snap that he took nine yards to Tennessee one-yard line in second quarter.
• Returned to starting lineup at St. Louis (12-24) after missing three games with knee injury to lead team with four receptions for 37 yards, adding one rush for eight yards. His blocking on edge was key in 49ers 217-yard rushing day, team’s highest total since gaining 206 yards rushing at Philadelphia (12-31-03).
• Started and registered three catches for 52 yards vs. Houston (1-1-06) and served as team captain.
2004:
• Saw action in 14 games. Inactive for final two games of season with thigh injury.
• Returned CAREER-HIGH 31 punts for CAREER-HIGH 266 yards, including a CAREER-HIGH 71-yard touchdown return vs. Arizona (10-10).
• Registered CAREER-HIGH 13 kickoff returns for CAREER-HIGH 257 yards.
• Recorded CAREER-HIGH 16 special teams tackles.
• Had four punt returns for CAREER-HIGH 88 yards, including 71-yard touchdown return vs. Arizona (10-10). Also caught one pass for two yards and had one solo special teams tackle.
• Had two receptions for then career-high 87 yards, including a 65-yard reception. Also returned one punt for six yards at New York Jets (10-17).
• Tied CAREER-HIGH with four punts for 33 yards, one kickoff for 12 yards and recovered one fumble on special teams vs. Seattle (11-7).
• Returned two punts for 14 yards and three kickoffs for 75 yards vs. Carolina (11-14).
• Tied CAREER-HIGH with four punt returns for 34 yards and one kickoff for 17 yards at Arizona (12-12). Also caught one pass for 10 yards.
2003:
• Saw action in eight games before ending season on injured reserve with left toe injury.
• Rushed twice for 14 yards on the season.
• Tallied eight tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams.
• Registered one special teams tackle and one fumble recovery on special teams at St. Louis (9-14).
• Had one fumble recovery on special teams vs. Cleveland (9-21).
• Rushed one time for nine yards and tallied two special teams tackles vs. Detroit (10-5).
• Returned a CAREER-HIGH four kickoffs for 72 yards, including long of 21 at Seattle (10-12). Added three special teams tackles and one carry for five yards.
COLLEGE:
• All-America honorable mention and All-Independent first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report following senior season at Notre Dame.
• One of four players to win team’s Captain’s Award.
• Added academic honors while maintaining a 3.2 grade point average.
• Tallied 53 receptions for 742 yards (14.0 avg.) and five touchdowns, adding 314 yards and one touchdown on 62 carries in career.
• Saw time at quarterback and completed 30-of-69 passes for 438 yards and two touchdowns.
• Started all year at flanker, leading team with 48 receptions for 702 yards (14.6 avg.) and five touchdowns as senior.
• Majored in sociology and computer applications.
PERSONAL:
• Born Arnaz Battle (2-22-80) in Dallas, TX.
• Prepped at C.E. Byrd (Shreveport, LA) High School.
• Parade All-America selection.
• Rated 39th-best player nationally by The Sporting News and 52nd-best player by Chicago Sun-Times.
• USA Today honorable mention All-America and third-team All-South quarterback by Fox Sports South.
• Finished high school career with 5,137 total yards and rushed for 49 career touchdowns while throwing for 28 more and scored one touchdown on kickoff return.
• Resides in Dallas, TX
BATTLE’S NFL STATISTICS:
RECEIVING
|
YEAR
|
TEAM
|
GP
|
GS
|
NO.
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
LG
|
TD
|
|
2003
|
SF
|
8
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2004
|
SF
|
14
|
0
|
8
|
143
|
17.9
|
65
|
0
|
|
2005
|
SF
|
10
|
8
|
32
|
363
|
11.3
|
39
|
3
|
|
2006
|
SF
|
16
|
15
|
59
|
686
|
11.6
|
56
|
3
|
|
NFL
|
TOTALS
|
48
|
23
|
99
|
1192
|
12.0
|
65
|
6
|
RUSHING
|
YEAR
|
TEAM
|
ATT
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
LG
|
TD
|
|
2003
|
SF
|
2
|
14
|
7.0
|
7
|
0
|
|
2004
|
SF
|
2
|
5
|
2.5
|
7
|
0
|
|
2005
|
SF
|
8
|
11
|
1.4
|
9
|
0
|
|
2006
|
SF
|
5
|
25
|
5.0
|
18
|
0
|
|
NFL
|
TOTALS
|
17
|
55
|
3.2
|
18
|
0
|
RETURNS
|
YEAR
|
TEAM
|
KO RET
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
LG
|
TD
|
PUNT RET
|
FC
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
LG
|
TD
|
|
2003
|
SF
|
5
|
88
|
17.6
|
21
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2004
|
SF
|
13
|
257
|
19.8
|
40
|
0
|
31
|
20
|
266
|
8.6
|
71t
|
1
|
|
2005
|
SF
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2006
|
SF
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
7
|
90
|
15.0
|
60
|
0
|
|
NFL
|
TOTALS
|
18
|
345
|
19.2
|
40
|
0
|
37
|
27
|
356
|
9.6
|
71t
|
1
|
Additional Statistics:
Special Teams Tackles (Regular Season)–24–2003 (8); 2004 (16)
Special Teams Fumble Recoveries–3–2003 (2); 2004 (1)
BATTLE’S CAREER HIGHS
Receptions - 7 (two times) Last vs. Arizona (12-24-06)
Receiving Yards – 97 at Seattle (12-14-06)
Long Reception - 65 at New York Jets (10-17-04)
Touchdown Receptions - 2 vs. Oakland (10-8-06)
Kickoff Returns - 4 at Seattle (10-12-03)
Kickoff Return Yards - 75 vs. Carolina (11-14-04)
Long Kickoff Return - 40 vs. Carolina (11-14-04)
Punt Returns - 4 (two times) Last at Arizona (12-12-04)
Punt Return Yards - 88 vs. Arizona (10-17-04)
Long Punt Return - 71 vs. Arizona (10-10-04)
Source: sf49ers.com
Comments
[…] Original post by San Francisco 49ers […]