It’s not easy to win a contested catch situation with 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. New cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, a veteran free agent addition by San Francisco this offseason, found that out the hard way at Thursday’s practice.
Samuel ran a slant with Brandon Allen under center and Ya-Sin read it perfectly. He broke on the ball and got to the receiver as soon as Allen’s pass did. Ya-Sin even got hands on the football. The problem for him was that Samuel also got hands on the football, and when that becomes a battle, it’s not one a cornerback is often going to win.
Here’s video from the 49ers:
Day 2 🎥 pic.twitter.com/qu8ecK7e4L
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) July 25, 2024
Samuel’s nickname comes from the bully in the movie ‘Friday,’ and plays like this help emphasize why the nickname fits. His after-the-catch prowess is what grabs all the headlines for Samuel, but there aren’t many players better at winning in situations like this one. And Rock Ya-Sin learned as much Thursday.
