Are you prepared for Deebo Samuel?
Opposing groups imagine they’ve been prepared for the 49ers’ 26-year-old receiver, however the outcomes this season have urged in any other case.
The Packers, who host the 49ers within the NFC divisional playoff spherical Saturday evening at Lambeau Area, certainly hope they’re prepared for Samuel, as a result of in the event that they’re not, he may obliterate their Tremendous Bowl aspirations.
Samuel is a unicorn, a uncommon mixture of a receiver, by title, who has was a operating again, by commerce. Watching him play makes for fascinating theater.
The best way Samuel has morphed into his hybrid function this season might go a good distance towards redefining the receiver place as we all know it.
Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and 6 TDs as a receiver and he rushed for 365 yards and one other eight TDs operating jet sweeps and end-arounds in the course of the common season. His eight speeding TDs are probably the most by a receiver within the Tremendous Bowl period, doubling the earlier mark of 4, set by Tavon Austin in 2015.
Samuel has a speeding landing in 5 consecutive video games, the longest streak by a receiver in Tremendous Bowl period. He led his crew in speeding TDs, which is the primary time a receiver has executed that because the 1970 merger.
His 18.2 yards per reception lead the NFL. He averages almost 13 yards each time he touches the ball.
Within the 49ers’ wild-card win over the Cowboys final weekend, Samuel set an NFL report for many speeding yards (72) by a major receiver in a playoff sport in the course of the Tremendous Bowl period, together with his ninth speeding TD of the yr.
Largely due to accidents to their operating backs earlier this season, the 49ers’ offense has morphed into head coach Kyle Shanahan making an attempt to determine an increasing number of artistic methods to get the ball within the 6-foot, 215-pound Samuel’s fingers.
“Deebo is as actual of a man as I’ve been round and he has a ardour for this sport that's making him the most effective gamers on this league,’’ Shanahan mentioned. “I need him to get him the ball on nearly each play.’’
The 49ers started that includes Samuel within the backfield throughout a Week 10 win over the Rams. Previous to that sport, Samuel had lined up within the backfield simply seven instances within the earlier 9 video games. However he lined up within the backfield six instances towards the Rams, carrying the ball 5 instances for 36 yards and scoring a landing.
The 49ers are 7-0 this season when Samuel carries the ball not less than 5 instances. He’s averaging a landing nearly as soon as each 7.5 carries.
“Deebo has been distinctive to all of our careers since you’re all the time making an attempt to outline what a soccer participant is and it’s nonetheless exhausting to outline, however the sport strikes sluggish for him and he’s fearless and he’s quick and he's large and he's exhausting to sort out,” 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel informed reporters this week. “The evolution of how we use him, that’s a product of two issues — him being a very good soccer participant and Kyle does an excellent job of actually pushing his employees to open their thoughts and see what’s there possibly that we haven’t executed or actually assume by the whys of all the pieces that we do.’’
The best way the 49ers have used Samuel and the way in which he has responded have unlocked their offense this season. It’s not a attain to say Samuel has saved San Francisco’s season.
“I believe Kyle is aware of that I’m actually, actually good with the ball in my fingers,” Samuel informed Fox Sports activities earlier than the 49ers’ wild-card win towards Dallas. “I believe he simply began throwing all the pieces doable to provide me the ball; this yr, shifting me to operating again lots. Getting that cross within the sport final week simply confirmed the belief that he has in me. It’s simply loopy.”
Samuel wasn’t all the time the dual-threat weapon he's now. Within the first 22 video games of his profession, he had simply 22 carries. He had 59 carries within the 16 regular-season video games he performed this season and 10 extra final week towards Dallas.
Samuel has produced 415 speeding yards and eight TDs in his previous 9 video games, together with the playoff win final week. Together with that sport, Samuel has performed in 17 video games, speeding from a real operating again place 64 instances for 421 yards and 9 TDs. On these 9 TD runs, Samuel has averaged 16.4 yards per carry.
“When he will get the ball in his fingers, it’s simply completely different,” 49ers tight finish George Kittle mentioned. “He has a distinct mindset. He’s making an attempt to run individuals over, he’s making an attempt to knock mouthpieces out, he’s making an attempt to physique guys. It’s a bodily sport, and he’s on the market embarrassing fools.”
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