Deebo Samuel delivering key first down didn’t surprise George Kittle
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GREEN BAY, Wisc. – The minute the 49ers broke the huddle, George Kittle knew they had the Green Bay Packers right where they wanted them.
With their NFC Divisional Round Game tied at 10 at Lambeau Field with 1:03 remaining, the 49ers faced a third-and-7 from the Packers’ 38-yard-line. They knew exactly how far they needed to get to give Robbie Gould a chance to deliver an upset win that seemed impossible for most of the night as the offense spun its wheels on the frozen turf in northern Wisconsin.
They needed 4 yards for Gould to have a chance. That was the end of his range in the freezing Green Bay conditions. They wanted 7 to get Gould closer and also make sure they wouldn’t give the ball back to Aaron Rodgers. So, coach Kyle Shanahan did what he has done numerous times over the last two months. He put Deebo Samuel in the backfield and called his best player’s number.
As the 49ers lined up for the biggest play of their season, Kittle saw what was about to materialize.
“Oh, I knew we were getting it,” Kittle said after the 49ers’ 13-10 win. “They came out in nickel. I saw the backer I had to block was a safety. This is money. As long as we take care of the interior, Deebo just has to run in a straight line for a first down, and that’s exactly what he did.”
Samuel didn’t see it quite like that, but the outcome was exactly as Kittle foresaw. Samuel took the handoff, burst through the hole, and slipped a tackle before finally being dragged down after a 9-yard gain and a first down.
“I just knew I was going to hit the hole full speed, and whatever happens at that point is going to happen,” Samuel said.
Stuck in no man’s land on the field and facing a third-and-7 with Rodgers waiting on the sideline, Shanahan went into his bag and pulled out one of his late-season hits. A simple trap for Samuel and the NFL’s most dangerous offensive weapon did the rest, getting Gould all the yardage he needed to pierce the icy Green Bay air with a 45-yard game-winning kick that sent the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.
“It was as simple as that a lot of times today,” Shanahan said after the game when asked if the plan was just to give his best player the ball. “Just the type of game it was. You guys saw Deebo when he went back to return kicks. He had a chance every time. The fact that he has that skill set makes it a lot easier to get him the ball.
Last Sunday, Samuel called his shot in the 49ers’ wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys, scoring what would be the decisive touchdown at Jerry World. Samuel didn’t find the end zone Saturday, and there was no prophetic message about the play he was about to make.
But there was no doubt Samuel would do what was required for Gould to finish off an unlikely playoff upset.
Once the 49ers broke the huddle to face their season-defining moment, they had already won.
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49ers-Packers Injury Updates: Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams fighting through injuries
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49ers-Packers Injury Updates: Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams fighting through injuries
By David Bonilla 20 hrs •
Below are the 49ers-Packers in-game injury updates.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
Wilson was carted to the locker room very early in the game, per
T Trent Williams
Williams got his right ankle wrapped after looking to be in pain in the third quarter. He stayed in the game but later limped off the field.
No bueno. pic.twitter.com/HzyovxIiFi — Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) January 23, 2022
WR Deebo Samuel
Samuel exited the game after a 12-yard catch in the third quarter. He was tackled by linebacker Krys Barnes, started to make his way to the sideline, and then paused and went down. Samuel was eventually able to make it to the sideline under his own power. He remained to the game.
Update: Samuel left the game again late in the fourth quarter. He could not put weight on his right leg and needed help to reach the bench.
CB Dontae Johnson
Johnson and DT
Related News
The San Francisco 49ers entered the Divisional Playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers without starting rookie cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee). The team’s other cornerback, Deommodore Lenoir , also won’t play. Both were among the 49ers’ seven inactive players.Below are the 49ers-Packers in-game injury updates.Wilson was carted to the locker room very early in the game, per Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman . The 49ers later announced him out for the remainder of the game.Williams got his right ankle wrapped after looking to be in pain in the third quarter. He stayed in the game but later limped off the field.Samuel exited the game after a 12-yard catch in the third quarter. He was tackled by linebacker Krys Barnes, started to make his way to the sideline, and then paused and went down. Samuel was eventually able to make it to the sideline under his own power. He remained to the game.Update: Samuel left the game again late in the fourth quarter. He could not put weight on his right leg and needed help to reach the bench.Johnson and DT D.J. Jones stayed down on the field in the fourth quarter after a collision, with the Packers leading 10-3. Teammates called the training staff over. Jones was able to walk on the sideline soon after the play. Johnson eventually was able to walk off the field under his own power and headed to the blue medical tent.Update: Johnson returned to the game.
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49ers-Packers: Kyle Shanahan provides post-game updates on Deebo Samuel, Trent Williams
By David Bonilla 18 hrs
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters after his team’s stunning playoff win over the Green Bay Packers—the second in as many weeks. He provided updates on a couple of key players who fought through injuries in the game. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel exited the game after a 12-yard catch in the third quarter. He was tackled by linebacker Krys Barnes, started to make his way to the sideline, and then paused and went down. Samuel eventually made it to the sideline under his own power and even remained in the game. However, he exited again late in the fourth quarter, hopping on one foot to the sideline. Samuel was not able to put weight on his right leg and needed help to reach the bench. Shanahan didn’t sound too
‘I was hurting all game’: Deebo Samuel fought through thrilling 49ers win vs. Packers
By David Bonilla 16 hrs
Deebo Samuel is about as tough as they come. The wide receiver/running back got banged up during Saturday night’s playoff win against the Green Bay Packers but fought through and stuck with his teammates until the end. Now, the San Francisco 49ers are headed to the NFC Championship Game for the second time in three years. Things looked bad as Samuel tried to make his way to the sideline in the closing moments, hopping on one foot and then needing assistance to get to the bench because he could not put weight on his right leg. By the time Samuel and his teammates watched Robbie Gould’s kick sail through the uprights to seal the win, the receiver seemed fine. “He was out celebrating with them [after the win],” head coach Kyle Shanahan
49ers’ Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel named to 2021 NFL All-Pro Team
By David Bonilla Jan 14
Two San Francisco 49ers players were named to their first NFL All-Pro team. One is third-year wide receiver Deebo Samuel, one of the most dynamic players in the game. The second is the team’s nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle, Trent Williams. Both were first-team selections. Until now, Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2010, has gone his entire career without being named to an All-Pro team, which may be difficult to believe. On Thursday, a reporter asked the veteran tackle what it would mean to finally be named an All-Pro. “I think it would feel good, finally,” Williams responded. “It sucks because I can’t let it define my career because I’ve never made it. If I felt like that’s what I needed to define my career, then anything I’ve done up to
All-Pro Trent Williams discusses his role on the 49ers and the success of Deebo Samuel
By Adithya Peruvemba Jan 21
Fresh off a regular season in which Trent Williams—the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL—put up the highest single-season PFF grade ever, and made the NFL’s All-Pro team, it’s obvious the San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle is playing the best football of his career, which is impressive because the 11-year veteran has always been an elite offensive lineman throughout his career, making nine Pro Bowl teams. However, from the time he joined the 49ers, Williams has taken on a larger role than just being a star left tackle. During his time with the Washington Football Team, Williams was tagged as an independent player who didn’t demonstrate many leadership qualities, which may have led to his eventual unstable departure after the 2019 NFL season. Now, Williams
Packers Film Room: Deebo Samuel’s impact for the 49ers
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The Green Bay Packers are busy preparing for their divisional round opponent in the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night. There are a lot of talented players the Packers coaching staff will be preparing for, but wide receiver Deebo Samuel is one they’ll be paying extra attention to.
A second-round pick in 2019, Samuel has quickly developed into one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL. Samuel finished the season leading all NFL wide receivers with 18.2 yards per reception, hauling in 77 receptions for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns.
With the 49ers desperately thin at running back earlier this season, Samuel started to be utilized out of the backfield as well. He only carried the ball 59 times, but ran for 365 yards and eight touchdowns, setting an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan has made it an emphasis to get Samuel the ball by any means while still keeping opposing defenses on their toes. With no Packers film to break down last week, let’s take a look ahead at Saturday’s divisional round matchup and the impact Deebo has on the 49ers offense.
Let’s start by taking a look at one of Shanahan’s favorite run concepts with Deebo in the backfield. The 49ers consistently called toss concepts for Samuel on Sunday, with cutback lanes created by tight end George Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
On the opening drive against the Cowboys, the 49ers ran a toss to the weak side of the formation with Deebo in the backfield. The fullback starts the play going towards the weak side before breaking off and heading back to the opposite direction of the pitch. Kittle leaves the defender on him to be blocked by Juszczyk, while he attacks a second-level defender to help create a natural cutback lane.
You’re going to see a fair share of Deebo Samuel in the backfield.
49ers like to run these toss concepts with Deebo, but watch Juszczyk and Kittle create a an easy cutback lane with their blocks. pic.twitter.com/mByBan1gEO — Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 18, 2022
On this next toss concept, the 49ers just used Kittle coming across the formation to create a similar wrinkle and generate a cutback lane.
Another pitch concept with Deebo, this time with Kittle coming across the formation to block and create the cutback lane. pic.twitter.com/z5bKtgyIrn — Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 18, 2022
Shanahan drew up another similar concept with Kittle, but added in pre-snap motion to try and mess with the second-level defenders and put their eyes in the wrong place. The play was called back for holding on the boundary by Brandon Aiyuk, but the play is still worth mentioning.
Toss. Cutback block. Play speed.
(Aiyuk called for holding) pic.twitter.com/2dxQQ24aSQ — Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 18, 2022
Samuel rushed 10 times for 72 yards and a touchdown in the playoff win. His patience, vision, explosiveness, and play speed make him a legitimate running threat out of the backfield. That skill set was on display on the run below, waiting for his pulling blockers to engage before finding a rushing lane and taking off for a touchdown.
Deebo shows great patience, vision, and explosiveness here.
There’s a reason he’s getting carries in this offense. pic.twitter.com/D4yxsSiCxE — Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 18, 2022
Just by being in the backfield, Samuel put stress on the Cowboys linebackers, particularly Leighton Vander Esch. Watch the hesitation from the linebackers on this run to Elijah Mitchell with a fake handoff to Deebo.
Even when Deebo isn’t getting the ball, he’s having an impact on the defense.
Watch the LBs hesitate with their feet as Jimmy G fakes the handoff to him. pic.twitter.com/t7ztOjNXE2 — Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 18, 2022
The third-year wide receiver didn’t need to be in the backfield to generate big runs, either. On the team’s final drive facing a third and long, the 49ers called a reverse to Samuel that nearly resulted in a game-winning first down.
The 49ers offense took advantage of the Cowboys defense being over-aggressive and failing to keep gap integrity. In the play below, keep an eye on DeMarcus Lawrence, who aggressively cuts inside and abandons backside containment, giving Samuel a ton of space to run upfield.
49ers took advantage of Dallas being over-aggressive the whole game.
Third and long, watch Lawrence (#90) take himself out of the play by cutting inside. pic.twitter.com/uMD8V7XPvo — Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) January 18, 2022
All of these clips talk about Samuel as a runner, but he’s still a top-tier wide receiver as well. The Packers will need to find the correct matchups to contain the hybrid playmaker, and defensive coordinator Joe Barry has a chance to impress fans everywhere by shutting Deebo down.
Thompson: Deebo Samuel, defense and the 49ers’ talent of toughness has them one win from the Super Bowl
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The clock was down to its precious final minute. The snow was falling. The field looked as if hell had frozen over. And the seven yards of real estate the 49ers needed on this third down felt miles away.“We needed about five, five more yards to go for the field goal in those conditions,” Kyle Shanahan said in his postgame interview. “So it was a big dilemma whether to run or pass. But we wanted to make sure the clock ran regardless, so we went with the run.”Getting stuffed would make the game-winning attempt a 56-yard hail mary. Not picking up the first down would also give Aaron Rodgers time to answer, a traumatizing thought after he burned the 49ers in Week 3. They needed these seven yards. They needed the clock to keep going.And now the 49ers are headed to the NFC Championship Game because they had an answer for this moment. As they did when they were 3-5 and the Bay Area seemed to be crumbling beneath their feet. As they did when they were down 17-0 at halftime in the regular-season finale.It’s the same answer because it’s woven into the fabric of the team. Toughness. A resolve worthy of legends mixed with physicality so palpable as to leave even the viewers sore. Skill is definitely part of the equation. But what makes the 49ers special is their talent of toughness. They simply won’t go down. They’re going to have to be put down.And nobody exemplifies such character better than Deebo Samuel . He is a 6-foot, 215-pound monument of machismo. In a sport featuring the grownest of men, his toughness stands out.That’s why the 49ers entrusted the moment, the seven yards, even the season, to Samuel.
NFL Divisional Round showdowns: Deebo Samuel or Davante Adams? Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes?
In a vacuum (in which injuries do not exist), this is an easy choice: King Henry. But the 2019/2020 rushing champ is still working his way back from a broken foot that cost him the final nine games of the regular season, throwing a massive question mark into the equation. (UPDATE: The Titans officially activated Henry on Friday, putting the running back in line to return to action against the Bengals in Saturday’s Divisional Round bout.) Before he exited, Henry was well on his way to another season spent atop the rushing leaderboard. In fact, he still leads the league in rushing yards per game (117.1) and ranked ninth with 937 total rushing yards despite only playing in eight games. Henry’s workload was always astounding – almost superhuman – but the question now is whether he can return near the same form. Two and a half months is a long time to spend off the field, and it’s a lot to ask a player to suddenly come back and contribute significantly, even a superstar the caliber of Henry.