LAS VEGAS — The entire San Franciso 49ers‘ offense is terrifying, but wideout Deebo Samuel will present a unique challenge for the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Samuel was the 49ers’ most productive offensive player when they faced the Chiefs in the Super Bowl four years ago, hauling in five passes for 39 yards and taking three carries for another 53.
Can Deebo Samuel Be the 49ers’ X-Factor in Super Bowl XLVIII?
Even a quick look at 2023 receiving statistics should tell you that Samuel remains one of the most electrifying weapons in the game.
Few receivers are as versatile as Samuel, who can line up out wide, in the slot, in motion, or in the backfield. Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme puts Samuel in the right position, but Deebo creates more yardage for himself than wideout in the NFL.
Samuel led wide receivers with 8.8 yards after the catch per reception in 2023. He ranked eighth in YAC/R league-wide, and every player who finished ahead of him played running back.
None of those RBs ahead of Deebo had an average depth of target (aDOT) above three yards; most had negative aDOTs.
Samuel’s aDOT was 6.6 yards. Most of his targets didn’t come near the line of scrimmage, but he still managed to create more yards after the catch than any WR in the NFL. Deebo also ranked first in yards after the catch over expectation (235), suggesting few players could have generated as much extra yardage given the same opportunities.
“We can place him in every place,” 49ers running backs coach Robert Turner Jr. said this week. “But when he does get the ball in his hand, he’s going to attack the defense. He’s not one that wants to get knocked back. He wants to deliver the blows.”
San Francisco won’t be afraid to deploy Samuel from the backfield, something Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is prepared for.
“He’s like a running back playing wide, right?” Spagnuolo said this week. “And the minute he gets his hands on the ball, he turns into a running back.”
“We’ve talked a lot about that, you know, and you can’t practice that. It’s not like we’re tackling now in the week of the Super Bowl, but I think the tackling is gonna be huge. Yards after to catch because they’re really good at, if we can limit that, that always makes it a little bit better for us.”
Kansas City’s defense ranked 15th in PFF’s tackling grade and only missed 76 tackles in 2023, the sixth-fewest in the league. But Samuel forced more missed tackles (31) than any other wide receiver.
Only seven players generated more than 50% of their receiving yards via yards after the catch, per TruMedia. Unsurprisingly, Samuel was among them, ranking fourth with 59.1% of his yardage accrued after the catch.
“Deebo is very coachable,” Turner said. “So I don’t have to spend as much time coaching him. He’s a football player. Yeah, everybody plays football. But what I mean is, I don’t have to write him a book.”
“I coach him on the run, bring him in, and show him a couple of clips … He’s picking up stuff. He’s constantly listening to me when I’m coaching the other running backs.”
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The entire 49ers’ offense is a walking explosive play. San Francisco was the only NFL team with three players (Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle) who posted at least 15 plays of 20+ yards. Only two other clubs — the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings — had even two.
The Chiefs will have their work cut out to slow San Francisco’s offense down. But Deebo is such a distinctive threat that he might have Spagnuolo and the rest of Kansas City’s defensive staff tossing and turning until Sunday morning.
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