SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Now we know why Deebo Samuel felt comfortable sending his head coach so many photos of him with his shirt off.
The 49ers’ wideout, whose weight has fluctuated heavily since he was drafted in 2019, said he’s in his best shape since his rookie season. He certainly passed the eyeball test on Wednesday as he looked decidedly sleeker and lighter on his feet than he did a year ago and even since the spring.
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Samuel credits training in Arizona during the pre-training camp break.
“I think the heat kind of played a part because Arizona is hot,” he said. “We were doing a lot of running, a lot of cardio, a lot of stuff to kind of trim the fat a little bit. A lot of track working out. Then I got into a routine of flexibility, mobility, and then I got into boxing a little bit.”
A trimmed-down version of Deebo Samuel took the field on Wednesday. No. 19 hasn’t looked this sleek since ‘19. pic.twitter.com/gCHRJnlzzd
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) July 26, 2023
Samuel was the best player on the field when the 49ers coached him at the Senior Bowl back in January 2019. But when he arrived after the draft three months later he was, in the words of former receivers coach Wes Welker, “a little blown up.”
All the pre-draft travel he had to do prevented Samuel from working out regularly and his eating habits were poor. So Welker took the rookie on two-mile, 6 a.m. runs every day before offseason practices. When practices ended, Welker made Samuel run sprints for another hour.
Now he’s back to that 2019 form, which sets up an interesting dynamic between him and fellow starting wideout Brandon Aiyuk. As was the case in many of the spring practices this year, Aiyuk looked like the team’s most dangerous offensive weapon on the opening day of training camp Wednesday.
He soared over cornerback Deommodore Lenoir for a short, sideline pass from Trey Lance, then got in the cornerback’s face after making the reception. A few minutes later, Sam Darnold delivered a deep crossing pattern pass to Aiyuk, who was in full stride.
“I’m with him every day — he’s like my guy,” Samuel said of Aiyuk. “From Year 1 ‘til now, his confidence level (has gone) through the roof. He walks in and walks out every day like, ‘Nobody can guard me.’ When you walk around with that type of attitude and you take that out there to the field it’s gonna translate. He’s taken his game to another level. It’s very exciting to see.”
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• Wednesday’s was an ease-back-in type of session. The 49ers practiced in shorts and most skill position players took only six to eight snaps in team situations. The team will have similar sessions on Thursday and Friday before getting a day off Saturday. Then they’re back at it Sunday with the first padded practice — the real start of training camp — on Monday.
Obviously, that’s a far cry from the grueling, two-a-day training camps of the past. And Arik Armstead, the longest-tenured 49er, said the current structure is more laid back than his initial camp in 2015. He even said his famously spirited position coach, Kris Kocurek, seems more toned down this year.
“Having a daughter has mellowed him out,” Armstead said.
Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers have not won a Super Bowl together yet. But he knows they are close.
"If we keep doing things the way we do it… it is a matter of time."
Coach Shanahan spoke to @timkawakami about his title aspirations and much more: https://t.co/G2BBXjxKeh
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 26, 2023
• The only 49ers who didn’t participate were quarterback Brock Purdy (planned day off), defensive end Nick Bosa (holding out for a new contract), cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. (knee) and punter Mitch Wishnowsky (back). Kicker Jake Moody filled in for Wishnowsky during punt drills (he handled the snap but didn’t punt) while fullback Kyle Juszczyk substituted as the holder.
Moody didn’t attempt any field goals Wednesday. Instead, he’ll alternate with fellow kicker Zane Gonzalez, who was 3-for-4 during the session with a miss from 48 yards away.
• Who got the first-team repetitions during Purdy’s day off? Lance — at least to begin the practice. Darnold also got some work with the top unit late in the session while Brandon Allen worked exclusively with the third-string group. Kyle Shanahan said he and his coaches would try to make sure those repetitions are even at the end of training camp, so we can expect Darnold to get the bulk of the first-team work the next time Purdy doesn’t practice.
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Lance was 4-of-5 in 11-on-11 situations, with his longest completion coming when he found Tyrion Davis-Price uncovered coming out of the backfield. He also rounded the corner for a long run on a third-down snap on which there was no one open. Darnold was 2-of-4 in 11-on-11 situations (with a clear drop) while Allen was 1-of-3.
Purdy is expected to handle all of the first-team snaps on Thursday and Friday, meaning the second-team work will be divided between Darnold and Lance.
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• Defensive players had the two biggest plays.
The first was turned in by linebacker Fred Warner. Lance seemed to feather a nice pass on a deep crossing route to Samuel. But Warner did an excellent job dropping deep down the field and then using his long frame to break up the throw.
“Fred is the hardest guy to get a special (play) on,” Samuel noted when asked about the play.
Talanoa Hufanga had the standout play, this one on a deep sideline throw from Darnold to Danny Gray. The speedy Gray looked like he had beaten Ambry Thomas and that the offense would come up with a gouge play. But Hufanga flew in from the deep safety spot in plenty of time to knock the ball away.
“That was a hell of a play because I thought Danny beat the corner on it,” Shanahan said. “I’m curious to see the film (and find out) how he got over there so fast because I was told (Darnold) looked him off pretty good. But he got there fast and it was an impressive play.”
• An interesting comment from George Kittle: He said that Shanahan has gotten progressively better at installing the offense since their respective first seasons in 2017. That is, it’s easier for newcomers like fellow tight ends Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis to learn than it was six years ago.
Kittle said the foundation of the installation is the offense’s favorite plays from the previous season.
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“So we focus on them and build out our playbook through them,” he said. “So the way we install — no offense to Kyle — I think it’s more efficient than it was (six) years ago. … So the rookie tight ends, they’re definitely more farther along than I was on Day 1.”
• Several veterans were eased in more gently than their teammates. Christian McCaffrey, for example, didn’t take any 11-on-11 repetitions as the 49ers closely monitor his workload this summer. Instead, Elijah Mitchell typically got the first carry per practice period. Left tackle Trent Williams, who at 34 is the oldest 49er, essentially had a half day. Jaylon Moore filled in at left tackle late in practice.
• A number of 49ers who didn’t participate in the spring practices were back in action Tuesday. That included Warner, fellow linebacker Dre Greenlaw, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Charvarius Ward, who broke up a seven-on-seven pass from Darnold to Samuel.
• Because so many veterans sat out spring drills, the team’s rookie class took a lot of valuable repetitions during the May and June sessions. That group was mainly back with the third-stringers on Wednesday. One of the exceptions was top pick Ji’Ayir Brown, who worked at safety with the second-team unit, most often opposite Myles Hartsfield.
Top pick Ji’Ayir Brown concentrated on special teams — and crowd work — during the opening day of training camp. pic.twitter.com/0hFj9WyyqA
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) July 26, 2023
• Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Isaiah Oliver (nickel) appear set as the cornerback starters. One of the summer questions is, who’s next in the pecking order? On Wednesday, at least, the answer was Thomas followed by Samuel Womack III.
• Womack has a new number. The league is permitting players to wear 0 this season and Womack has grabbed it. Oliver, in turn, is now wearing the No. 26 Womack had last season. Other number changes since the spring:
– DE Robert Beal Jr. went from 33 to 55
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– FB Jack Colletto went from 49 to 33
– CB D’Shawn Jamison went from 49 to 22
– WR Isaiah Winstead went from 28 to 2
• The 49ers placed Bosa on the reserve/did not report list while they and Bosa’s agent work on the terms of a new contract extension. Bosa is not expected to even show up at practice until that deal is completed. While he’s out, Drake Jackson and Clelin Ferrell will work with the first-team defense at defensive end.
The team used the open roster to sign linebacker Kyahva Tezino, according to the NFL Network. Tezino had two interceptions and 94 tackles for the USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers this spring. He was a teammate of former 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster on the Maulers.
• Second-year running back Jordan Mason (who got a lot of praise in this space in the spring) looked a bit unsettled Wednesday. He had a fumble, which he recovered, and dropped a short pass from Darnold.
Sorry, Jordan. We may have jinxed you.
(Photo of Deebo Samuel: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
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