ASHBURN, Va. — When the Washington Commanders acquired Deebo Samuel in March, the receiver had an thought of what to anticipate.
Samuel had performed towards head coach Dan Quinn’s defenses throughout his time with the San Francisco 49ers. And Samuel had performed two division video games a 12 months towards now-Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s groups when Kingsbury coached the Arizona Cardinals.
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However taking part in towards a crew doesn’t absolutely replicate the expertise of taking part in for it.
And 6 years in Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense didn’t familiarize Samuel with what’s anticipated in Washington.
“By no means,” Samuel informed Yahoo Sports activities. “It’s a no-huddle [offense here]. It’s simply alerts. You bought to concentrate to the small issues and you bought to concentrate to [quarterback] Jayden [Daniels] as a result of he’s giving the alerts actually fast.
With the 49ers, Samuel says, “we all the time had huddle.”
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The Commanders and 49ers had been on reverse ends of the no-huddle spectrum final season. Whereas Washington went no-huddle on a whopping 61.5% of its performs, San Francisco ditched the huddle on simply 3.2% performs, in response to TruMedia knowledge.
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The Commanders ran 1,101 offensive performs in comparison with the 49ers’ 1,026.
Put it collectively: The Commanders lined up and not using a huddle greater than 670 occasions final season, whereas the 49ers did so simply 33 occasions.
Samuel’s commentary doesn’t mirror simply the 49ers’ Twenty seventh-ranked no-huddle utilization. It additionally displays the Commanders’ greater than doubling the second-place Chicago Bears’ 25.2% no-huddle utilization, and greater than quintupling (that’s 5 occasions!) the league common 12.0% no-huddle clip.
For the reason that 2003 begin of TruMedia knowledge on no-huddle utilization, solely two items had ever used no-huddle at the next charge than the 2024 Commanders: the Chip Kelly Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 (66.7%) and 2015 (72.%).
Commanders broad receiver Deebo Samuel will look to choose up the tempo this season in Washington. (Photograph by Hannah Foslien/For The Washington Put up by way of Getty Pictures)
(The Washington Put up by way of Getty Pictures)
The Commanders’ offense could also be coming at Samuel quick — however teammates and coaches consider he’ll thrive.
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“One other playmaker,” Daniels informed Yahoo Sports activities. “I imply, he is confirmed on this league and clearly a contemporary begin for him so he is getting it down, with the ability to get the ball in his hand and let him do what he does.
“I’m excited to have the ability to get the ball in his hand and see what he can do.”
In six years with the 49ers, Samuel caught 334 passes for 4,792 yards and 22 touchdowns whereas speeding for an addition 1,143 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Samuel led the league with 18.2 yards per reception through the 2021 season, a full 10 of these yards coming after the catch.
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Final season, he caught 51 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns whereas battling in-season pneumonia.
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The Commanders dealt a 2025 fifth-round draft decide for Samuel, who’s owed $17.6 million in money this season — the ultimate 12 months of his deal.
Samuel sees potential this 12 months, each as a result of he believes he’s “received lots within the tank” and since Daniels has impressed his new receiver along with his accuracy, decision-making and wheels “quicker than what individuals assume.”
Daniels and Samuel hope quickly to faucet right into a one-two punch of Samuel and seventh-year Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin, who Washington drafted a spherical after San Francisco chosen Samuel, is coming off a career-best 13 touchdowns throughout Daniels’ Offensive Rookie of the Yr season. With one 12 months left on his contract and 5 straight 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé, McLaurin held out by minicamp and the primary week of coaching camp.
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He reported to Washington final weekend however has not practiced, as a substitute touchdown on the bodily unable to carry out record with an ankle harm designation.
Quinn famous to Yahoo Sports activities on Sunday that not like injured reserve, the PUP record “you may come off any time.”
Samuel sees a excessive ceiling for the way he and McLaurin play off one another if or when the Commanders’ 2024 13-touchdown receiver returns to the fold.
“Terry is a man that his ball expertise are loopy,” Samuel stated. “The best way he tracks the ball, his vertical presence, and I am type of a man weaving out and in. I feel it simply enhances one another and we simply feed off one another’s power.
“We will do no matter. The sky is the restrict as soon as he come again out.”
