Greg Roman: 'Michael Crabtree is a playmaker'

San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman believes that wide receiver Michael Crabtree is a playmaker who forces defenses to account for him.

The 49ers' offense struggled in the early part of the campaign as Crabtree was out with an Achilles injury sustained in the off-season, but since his return, Colin Kaepernick and his teammates began to click and put points on the board.

"I think people have to account for him and bottom line is, he's going to make plays," Roman told the club's official website. "A great, wise coach once told me, 'You either make plays or you don't,' and he makes plays.

"I think you're talking about balancing out the field and forcing the defense to play a balanced defense."

Crabtree and his teammates play their third NFC championship game in a row when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.