Top priority for 49ers’ offense: Unleash the McCaffrey-Deebo tandem in all its glory

SANTA CLARA — When the 49ers hold their first practice of training camp Wednesday, all eyes will be on quarterbacks Trey Lance and Sam Darnold as Brock Purdy takes a regularly scheduled day off.

But the two players who will determine whether the 49ers can put an offense on the field that matches what looks to be a Super Bowl-caliber defense have nothing to do with their quarterbacks.

If coach Kyle Shanahan can get Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel to the starting blocks and off to a two-pronged explosive start, the 49ers will have something no opponent can match.

A year ago when the 49ers began training camp, Deebo Samuel was a “hold-in,” a non-practicing player who was confused about his place with the team. McCaffrey was preparing for his sixth season with the goal of proving he could rebound from injuries that derailed 2020 and 2021 for the Carolina Panthers.

The trade which brought McCaffrey aboard starting in Week 7 was huge in large part because Samuel wasn’t the player he’d been in 2021, a tour de force of receiving (1,405 yards, six touchdowns) and rushing (365 yards and eight touchdowns) that paved the way to a three-year, $73.5 million contract extension.

Considering the dip in Samuel’s production (632 yards receiving, 232 rushing), it’s hard to envision the 49ers going on a 10-game win streak, running away with the NFC West and making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game had McCaffrey not picked up the slack with 746 yards rushing, 464 receiving and 10 touchdowns in 11 games.

The two scored touchdowns in the same game just once in the regular season. The closest we got to seeing them at their best at the same time was a wild-card playoff win over Seattle when McCaffrey rushed for 119 yards and caught a touchdown pass and Samuel has six receptions for 133 yards (including a 74-yard scoring pass) and rushed for 32 more on three carries.

Samuel was affected by a hamstring strain and later an MCL strain and missed three games, but the highly-paid Deebo wasn’t the same guy as the one who was playing for that extension in 2021. Samuel admitted as much on June 6, when he told reporters at the 49ers’ mandatory minicamp that his tape was “awful” and “sluggish” after going over it with Shanahan.

The contract and uncertain offseason affected Samuel mentally and physically. Samuel said he needed to get back to his 2021 “routine.” It’s a big deal for a player to admit he wasn’t adequately prepared — especially after getting paid. It’s also something the 49ers will be willing to overlook if Samuel rebounds and McCaffrey becomes the first player in NFL history to have two seasons of at least 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving.

Tuesday was the first chance to ask Shanahan about Samuel’s harsh self-assessment. Shanahan has always considered Samuel one of his “favorite dudes” so he wasn’t going to lay into him in public. But Shanahan left no doubt Deebo had slipped in 2022 and thought having his star player tell reporters how poorly he played was a good sign.

“Deebo is one of the best players in this league and anytime he doesn’t play like one of the best, everyone is going to be disappointed, including himself,” Shanahan said. “I think he can get back to playing a little bit more like he did in ’21. He took one small step back, but that doesn’t mean he can’t take two steps forward.”

Whether Samuel gets back on track is a story that will play out during training camp. While McCaffrey attacked OTAs and the mandatory camp like the animated Tasmanian Devil, Samuel was mostly a spectator.

Samuel, however, snapped enough selfies to convince Shanahan he’s good to go.

“I’ve never had a grown man send me so many pictures with his shirt off,” Shanahan said. “He put the work in. I think the last time you talked to him, that’s the last time I heard him. But I see better than I hear and Deebo is in a really good spot. I’m excited for Deebo this year.”

The word “unique” is typically overused, but it’s spot-on when it comes to the full-strength duo of McCaffrey and Samuel because they truly are unlike anything else in the NFL.

As good a runner as McCaffrey is, his receiving skills set him apart from every other back. He’s the equal of any slot receiver in the NFL in terms of route-running and finding open areas. Samuel, powerful, fast and barrel-chested, fits no prototype but is one of the best catch-and-run threats in the league and capable of turning something simple and basic into a touchdown from anywhere on the field.

“The best players are their harshest critics,” McCaffrey said. “I think Deebo is one of the most special players and athletes I’ve been around. He does things with the ball in his hands that you can’t coach, you can’t teach.”

McCaffrey, like Shanahan, is convinced Samuel is ready to go and that “having him on the field is a massive advantage for us, for me, for everybody. I know he’s hungry and ready to go.”

If McCaffrey is healthy and Samuel is healthy, motivated and back in his ’21 groove, the 49ers are division and NFC title contenders whether their quarterback is Purdy, Lance or Darnold. Shanahan will dial up the plays, and any of the quarterbacks will have a huge advantage when the ball leaves their hands and winds up with either player. It will also open things up for George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and other threats.

And in the case of injury, inevitable in the NFL, the 49ers can lean on Samuel in instances where they don’t have McCaffrey — and vice versa.

Regardless, the 49ers’ dreams of a Super Bowl take a big hit without both players being at or near their top form.