How Emmanuel Sanders changed 49ers offense during run to the top playoff seed

Emmanuel Sanders wasn’t thrilled with the way the 49ers’ defense dominated practice against him and his Broncos teammates.

“I remember calling the team up and telling them, ‘That was embarrassing.’ I didn’t know they were going to be the defense that they are now,” Sanders recalled Tuesday.

Sanders had no idea he would end up getting traded to San Francisco more than two months later, nor that the road team practicing at the Broncos’ facility in Englewood, Colorado, before an August preseason game would become one of the best in the NFL and a key reason the 49ers would earn the top playoff seed in the NFC.

That joint practice session against the Broncos might have been the first clue San Francisco would be good enough to contend — which also might have been the first indicator a midseason trade like acquiring Sanders to bolster the offense would be necessary.

And it’s paid off in a big way.

“Obviously, his performance on the field speaks for itself,” quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said. “He brings a little bit of everything.”

Garoppolo was good but not spectacular as he was guiding the undefeated 49ers during the first six games of the season. His 90.8 quarterback rating ranked 20th among starters. His seven touchdown passes was tied for ninth-most with seven others. He was being eased back into the mix coming off his ACL injury while San Francisco’s defense and running game were both at dominant levels.

Yet it was clear the 49ers could use an upgrade at wideout while Dante Pettis and Maquise Goodwin struggled to produce consistently and rookie Deebo Samuel continued to cut his teeth in the league. So in came Sanders for third- and fourth-round draft picks in the trade from Denver.

Sanders, ‘A big-play guy,’ changes the 49ers offense

Garoppolo’s numbers jumped. His 20 touchdown passes over the final 10 games were tied for third in the NFL, as was his 108.1 passer rating. His 8.62 yards per attempt were second over the span behind only Ryan Tannehill of the Titans (9.49).

“He came in and he just did what was asked of him,” said left tackle Joe Staley, Sanders’ new locker room neighbor. “He was exactly who he was. He was a big-play guy, plays with a lot of energy. He fit really seamlessly into this locker room.”

Sanders, a free agent in the spring, has given Garoppolo a deep target and outside threat while defenses continue to focus on the team’s top option, tight end George Kittle, who often works in the middle of the field.

Sanders had 502 yards in 10 games since the trade with many coming on big catches. His seven-catch, 157-yard, two-touchdown performance in New Orleans was his signature game since coming to San Francisco.

His 46-yard catch on the game-winning drive to convert a third-and-16 against the Rams in Week 16 might have been his most memorable moment with his new team. He had touchdown catches in his first two games against the Panthers and Cardinals, immediately providing a boost.

And his presence has allowed Samuel to emerge late in his rookie season. The second-round pick averaged 87 yards from scrimmage over his final eight games and finished the year ranked second among rookies in team history with 57 catches and 802 yards.

Sanders earned a bye-week break

He did it despite playing in 17 regular season games. He was traded before the Broncos’ bye week, and well after San Francisco’s, which came in late September. Which meant Sanders enjoyed the first-round bye as much as anyone on the team. He said both his ankles and his big toe were sore.

“I’ve seen a lot of things on Twitter saying if the NFL wants to change the season to 17 games, they should ask me, and I’d say no. My body was hurting and I needed that break,” Sanders said.

Now, fully ingrained as a key component to Kyle Shanahan’s passing game, the 49ers will rely on Sanders in Saturday’s playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings to provide veteran leadership for a roster that’s largely devoid of postseason experience.

Sanders has played in eight postseason games and played two Super Bowls with the Steelers after the 2011 season and the Broncos following 2015, a victory at Levi’s Stadium over Carolina.

One thing the 32-year-old appreciates about his new team is the weekly focus that should lend itself well to playoff intensity.

After all, the 49ers have already played in a number of high-leverage games during the regular season, including the three-straight games against the Packers, Ravens and Saints, in which San Francisco went 2-1, before winning in Seattle Week 17 for to clinch home field advantage and a first-round bye.

“When I talk about playoff experience, I say, ‘Don’t do too much,’” Sanders said. “I feel like when a lot of people get in the playoffs, they think they’ve got to do more, they’ve got to do more. At the end of the day, you’re in the playoffs, you’ve already been winning games. Just remain who you are.”

This story was originally published January 8, 2020 at 10:04 AM.