Aiyuk Marvels at Shanahan’s Offensive Genius in 49ers Win
SANTA CLARA – Even after four seasons with the 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk continues to be baffled by Kyle Shanahan’s offensive schemes. In the team and Week 15 victory against the Arizona Cardinals, Deebo Samuel had more than 12 yards on the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter.
Sophomore Brock Purdy threw a short pass to the left where the defense seemed to have forgotten about “width.” “Last week at Deebo’s game, we were like, ‘They’re not going to drop him like that,” Aiyuk told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We just didn’t think it was going to happen, and sure enough, it did.
Shanahan explained to the offense that he saw the tendency of the Cardinals and#039; a defense that Samuel was able to exploit with a bit of acting. Aiyuk added that while they may sometimes doubt what happens on the plays Shanahan predicts, the head coach is almost always right.
“I think sometimes it’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ or, ‘Okay, I see,'” Aiyuk said. “There’s always that point during the week where, whether you agree or not, how a certain look can look or how it can turn out, there’s only one answer on Sunday and that’s there for all to see.
“There’s been a few times this year where we’ve had doubts, and then you get into a game and it shows. Sometimes it’s crazy.” Shanahan is known for his detailed film study sessions, which can be long, but Aiyuk said everyone pays close attention. The head coach gives his “view” for each week, and then, when they are divided into their position groups, they revisit with that task in mind.
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The wide receiver believes the film sessions help the entire team get on the same page in each weekly contest. Aiyuk benefited from his head coach’s game planning, with 59 receptions for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns through 13 games.
2023 marks Aiyuki’s second consecutive 1,000-yard season, and the Arizona State product currently has a league-high 18.5 yards per reception. The widespread success is partly due to weekly meetings with his head coach. “It’s definitely fun,” Aiyuk said. “Film sessions are fun, it’s football. We all see football the same way, so it’s fun to talk and go through it together.