Deebo Samuel has frustrated plenty of opposing coaches over the years with his versatility.

But luckily for new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, he doesn’t have to worry about drawing up game plans anymore to neutralize Samuel on Sundays. Instead, after Samuel reunited with San Francisco on a one-year contract, Morris gets to be on the same team as the do-it-all weapon.

Which, according to Morris, is much preferred.

“I’ve hated him so long,” Morris told reporters with a laugh after Saturday’s practice, “and it’s so nice to have him back in a friendly atmosphere. He’s been one of those guys that’s been a highly competitive guy in the National Football League that you’ve got to deal with. No matter what the circumstance of the game is, what the situation is of the game, you’ve got to be aware.

“He’s the ultimate piece that can move around, and you have to game plan around him because of his ability to run the football, his ability to line up at receiver, his ability to take screens, his ability to do a bunch of different things on special teams, whether it be return man or whatever the case may be. He’s so versatile, and we’ve used him so well in the Bay for so long. We were kind of catching up — caught up yesterday, but it’s always good to see him, a face that’s familiar around this building, and getting him back is really cool.”

Of course, Morris and the 49ers’ defense still have a lot on their hands in trying to limit Samuel during practice, as they found out quickly on Saturday.

That’s an improvement from before, though, as Morris shared one memory of Samuel that had become a recurring nightmare while he was Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator from 2021-23.

“Let’s just sum it up like this,” Morris recounted. “I think it was [2022], and he caught this pass on us that we should have picked off, and I think he took it for about 60. I think he was a free agent, and it played every day that summer. I couldn’t watch ESPN for the entire summer because I kept watching Deebo score a 60-yard touchdown on us.

“Those are the biggest memories I have of him. Him making big-time plays on us, and them finding ways to get him the ball in unique situations and getting him involved in the space, and we know what he can do in space.”

This presumably is the play Morris is referring to, for anyone interested:

It’s hard to blame Morris for not wanting to watch that play over and over again.

On the other hand, the respect is mutual from Samuel’s side as well.

“You know, he [has] a really good scheme,” Samuel said of Morris. “He was joking yesterday. He was like, ‘Man, I’m so glad I ain’t got to go against you, this, that and the third.’ And I was like, ‘You know, I’m kind of glad you one of my coaches as well.’

“So, it’s kind of like that — that kind of relationship is going to build. We [had] always been opponents, but now we on the same side, so we’ll continue to build from there.”

It’s a win for everyone.

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