As Terry McLaurin's hold-in continues, Kliff Kingsbury's Commanders offense is coming at Deebo Samuel fast
Samuel had played against head coach Dan Quinn's defenses during his time with the San Francisco 49ers. And Samuel had played two division games a year against now-Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's teams when Kingsbury coached the Arizona Cardinals.
But playing against a team doesn't fully replicate the experience of playing for it.
And six years in Kyle Shanahan's potent offense didn't familiarize Samuel with what's expected in Washington.
'Not at all,' Samuel told Yahoo Sports. 'It's a no-huddle [offense here]. It's just signals. You got to pay attention to the small things and you got to pay attention to [quarterback] Jayden [Daniels] because he's giving the signals really quick.
With the 49ers, Samuel says, 'we always had huddle.'
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
The Commanders and 49ers were on opposite ends of the no-huddle spectrum last season. While Washington went no-huddle on a whopping 61.5% of its plays, San Francisco ditched the huddle on just 3.2% plays, according to TruMedia data.
The Commanders ran 1,101 offensive plays compared to the 49ers' 1,026.
Put it together: The Commanders lined up without a huddle more than 670 times last season, while the 49ers did so just 33 times.
Samuel's observation doesn't reflect just the 49ers' 27th-ranked no-huddle usage. It also reflects the Commanders' more than doubling the second-place Chicago Bears' 25.2% no-huddle usage, and more than quintupling (that's five times!) the league average 12.0% no-huddle clip.
Since the 2003 start of TruMedia data on no-huddle usage, only two units had ever used no-huddle at a higher rate than the 2024 Commanders: the Chip Kelly Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 (66.7%) and 2015 (72.%).
The Commanders' offense may be coming at Samuel fast — but teammates and coaches believe he'll thrive.
'Another playmaker,' Daniels told Yahoo Sports. 'I mean, he's proven in this league and obviously a fresh start for him so he's getting it down, being able to get the ball in his hand and let him do what he does.
'I'm excited to be able 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 while rushing for an addition 1,143 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Samuel led the league with 18.2 yards per reception during the 2021 season, a full 10 of those yards coming after the catch.
[Get more Commanders news: Washington team feed]
Last season, he caught 51 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns while battling in-season pneumonia.
The Commanders dealt a 2025 fifth-round draft pick for Samuel, who is owed $17.6 million in cash this season — the final year of his deal.
Samuel sees potential this year, both because he believes he's 'got a lot in the tank' and because Daniels has impressed his new receiver with his accuracy, decision-making and wheels 'faster than what people think.'
Daniels and Samuel hope soon to tap into a one-two punch of Samuel and seventh-year Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin.
McLaurin, who Washington drafted a round after San Francisco selected Samuel, is coming off a career-best 13 touchdowns during Daniels' Offensive Rookie of the Year season. With one year left on his contract and five straight 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé, McLaurin held out through minicamp and the first week of training camp.
He reported to Washington last weekend but has not practiced, instead landing on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with an ankle injury designation.
Quinn noted to Yahoo Sports on Sunday that unlike injured reserve, the PUP list 'you can come off any time.'
Samuel sees a high ceiling for how he and McLaurin play off each other if or when the Commanders' 2024 13-touchdown receiver returns to the fold.
'Terry is a guy that his ball skills are crazy,' Samuel said. 'The way he tracks the ball, his vertical presence, and I'm kind of a guy weaving in and out. I think it just complements each other and we just feed off each other's energy.
'We can do whatever. The sky's the limit once he come back out.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
La Liga Transfer Round-Up: Girona and Real Sociedad make first moves
A round-up of the latest goings on in the transfer window, as La Liga sides look to strengthen ahead of the new season. Atletico Madrid Despite bringing in Marc Pubill, Marca say that Nahuel Molina is set to remain at the club, with the former potentially operating as a third centre-back in a back three. Thomas Lemar has departed on loan for Girona, while Santiago Mourino has completed a move to Villarreal. Celta Vigo The long-awaited arrival of Bryan Zaragoza from Bayern Munich has been consummated. Zaragoza arrives on loan with a €13m option to buy, which will be made permanent if he plays 75% of their games, and Celta finish 11-13th or higher, with the last detail not clarified further. Image via Celta Vigo Espanyol Midfielder Jose Gragera has moved on loan to Deportivo La Coruna on a loan move with an option to buy, as reported by Marca. The option will become obligatory if Deportivo were to be promoted. Girona Girona have made their first moves of the summer, and not a moment too soon for Michel Sanchez. Miguel Gutierrez is close to leaving the club, but Thomas Lemar has arrived on a loan deal from Atletico Madrid. After a strong season at Mirandes last year, Girona have also loaned in Athletic Club right-back Hugo Rincon. Real Oviedo Released left-back Carlos Pomares has joined Real Zaragoza, and Alberto del Moral has moved on loan to Cordoba. Forward Daniel Paraschiv has also headed out on loan, in his case to newly-promoted Segunda side Cultural Leonesa. Real Sociedad Real Sociedad have announced their first signing of the summer with Olympique Lyon defender Duje Caleta-Car arriving on loan. The deal is worth €500k, but will have an option to buy for €3m next summer. Yon Cuevza explains that left-back Javi Lopez could leave the club, with new manager Sergio Francisco happy to use Sergio Gomez at left-back rather than on the wing. Lopez was one of several players not used in a friendly against Osasuna, with Alvaro Odriozola, Sheraldo Becker, Hamari Traore and Carlos Fernandez all in the same boat say Diario AS. Paris FC are in talks over a move for Traore after an opening bid. Real Betis It seems Real Betis will get a deal over the line for Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa from Monterrey, according to multiple reports. That includes one from Diario AS, who say the 25-year-old will pen a five-year deal. Deossa, tipped to replace Johnny Cardoso, will arrive for €12m plus €2m in variables. Meanwhile Matteo Moretto reports that talks with PSV Eindhoven for centre-back Nobel Mendy have hit bureaucratic roadstops. Rayo Vallecano have now taken an interest in the 20-year-old. Valencia After taking an interest in RCD Mallorca's Cyle Larin, Valencia are seriously evaluating a loan move for Como forward Ivan Azon, explain Marca. Villarreal Image via Villarreal CF Villarreal have completed a deal for Atletico Madrid centre-back Santiago Mourino. Los Colchoneros activated his €4m buyback option from Alaves, and have sold him to the Yellow Submarine for €10m. Mourino has penned a five-year contract. Forward Jorge Pascual has been sold to Granada for €500k.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Eddie Howe admits Alexander Isak situation is ‘far from ideal'
Eddie Howe admits the Alexander Isak situation is 'far from ideal' but still hopes to see the unsettled star back in a Newcastle shirt after confirming the club rejected an offer from Liverpool. The 25-year-old Swede, one of the hottest properties in world football, has had his head turned by the Premier League champions' interest this summer. Isak did not travel to Asia for Newcastle's pre-season tour due to what the club called a 'minor thigh injury', only for his unhappiness to emerge along with the fact he is training at former club Real Sociedad. 'I think from my situation, I am very much removed from everything that is happening back home,' Magpies boss Howe said, as reported by The Athletic. 'I was made aware there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down before I heard about it. 'There are people back in England dealing with the situation. I really don't know what is going to happen next, but from our perspective, we still support Alex in every way, and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.' Newcastle head back from Asia after Sunday's friendly against Tottenham in Seoul, where Howe revealed he learned Isak was training in Spain with his former club through the media. 'I know where he is through the media, so I think from that perspective it's difficult for me to go into any detail,' the said. 'The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say.'
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Voss surprised by McRae's 'unusual' recruiting tactic
Carlton coach Michael Voss was left surprised by Craig McRae's public admission he had spoken to Jack Silvagni, saying he wouldn't have done the same thing. McRae raised eyebrows earlier this week when he revealed he had met up with out-of-contract Blues swingman Silvagni, and that he was keen to have a second date. Silvagni, the son of Stephen and grandson of Sergio, is a third generation Blues player, and a move to arch rivals Collingwood would stoke further tensions between the two clubs. McRae and Voss won three flags together at the Brisbane Lions during their playing days, adding further intrigue to the Silvagni tug-of-war. Voss says he hasn't touched base with McRae about the situation, but said even he was "surprised" when he heard his former teammate publicly talking up the prospect of recruiting unrestricted free agent Silvagni. He pointed out how much heat West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen copped earlier this season after his meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell became public. "It''s unusual for a coach to announce something like that," Voss said ahead of Sunday's clash with Fremantle in Perth. "Regardless of what Craig did, it's not something we would do. We will respect the privacy of the player. "It's not for me to announce something like that on behalf of someone, because they're the ones that have to walk back into the locker room. "We'd choose not to make that sort of announcement. "And while I didn't necessarily read all the headlines around Oscar, I believe he came under a fair bit of heat." Voss revealed Silvagni will likely miss the rest of the season with an ongoing groin injury. But he hopes the 27-year-old will stay at the Blues for years to come. "I want to be really clear - he's a very important player for us. We're certainly hoping he plays out the rest of his career with us," Voss said. "Jack's had a really important role shift this year. It's been a real win for us to see where he's gone from forward to back." Heading west 🛫 — Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 1, 2025 Voss defended the decision to send star forward Charlie Curnow in for season-ending knee surgery. "Well he needed it. He pulled up quite sore from last week's game," Voss said. "As the week went it wasn't settling, so we investigated it. He wasn't going to play another game, he needed effectively 4-6 weeks off. "So given the time frame of the season, the obvious thing to do was to send him in for an operation." Carlton (7-12) are well and truly out of finals contention, and the future of Voss remains up in the air despite his contract running until the end of 2026. Things at Fremantle are far rosier, with the Dockers (13-6) in the thick of the top-four hunt after winning nine of their past 10 games.
