49ers WR Deebo Samuel must avoid sophomore slump
By Peter Panacy
Why Deebo Samuel regresses with 49ers in 2020
As sky-high as Deebo Samuel’s potential for this upcoming season is, there are more than a handful of reasons why one should be concerned.
The injury alone is problematic. No getting around that. But what makes things even more complicated is the lack of field time Samuel will see between now and when he’s ready. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the second-year receiver take some time to acclimate back to life at the NFL level. And perhaps it won’t help improve his drop totals from last year (10), which led the league.
From a strength and conditioning perspective, it’s safe to say Samuel could lose a step between now and his return, meaning those first few weeks back on the field could result in relatively lackluster numbers.
On top of that, the 49ers don’t exactly boast a deep array of talented wide receivers. On one hand, this benefits Samuel as he’ll be the No. 1 option here. Yet on the other, opposing defenses are going to line up their top defensive backs opposite Samuel until someone else, perhaps rookie wideout Brandon Aiyuk, solidifies himself as a complementary threat.
Aiyuk’s maturation will be hastened by Samuel’s injury, which is both a blessing and a curse. Even Samuel took a while to reach his stride in year one, and it’s premature to think Aiyuk will follow the same course.
Especially in Samuel’s absence.
So, while the possibility for a 1,000-yard season is there, it’s just as reasonable to conclude Samuel hovers around the 500-yard mark by the time Week 17 concludes.