Asante Samuel Jr.

CB · Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals · 45 graded snaps

Replacement

Asante Samuel Jr. delivered an even, replacement-level outing, balancing two standout coverage disruptions with a costly fourth-down conversion conceded to Ja'Marr Chase.

Asante Samuel Jr. film grade: 61: share card

Coverage6143Run defense601Special teams601

The full breakdown

Samuel finished with a 60.9 coverage-driven grade across 45 snaps, largely operating cleanly with 41 routine reps. He flashed high-end ability in the second quarter, blanketing Ja'Marr Chase down the sideline at Q2 5:38 and driving on a slant to break up a pass to Dohnte Meyers at Q2 0:47. However, his grade was dragged down at Q3 10:11 on 4th & 2, where he played soft off-man cushion, flipped his hips late, and surrendered a 21-yard conversion to Chase. These high-leverage positive and negative moments balanced out, leaving him right at the neutral replacement baseline.

Strengths

Press-man boundary leverage
Drive and break on quick slants
Catch-point disruption

Weaknesses

Off-man cushion management
Transition speed at route breaks

Plays that moved the grade

-1.5Q3 10:11, 4th & 2Gave too much cushion in off-man coverage and opened his hips late, allowing a 21-yard conversion to Ja'Marr Chase.
+1.5Q2 05:38, 1st & 10Maintained hip-to-hip leverage in press man against Ja'Marr Chase down the boundary and played through the hands for an incompletion.
+1Q2 00:47, 2nd & 1Triggered instantly from slot alignment on an inside slant to dislodge the pass to Dohnte Meyers.

Every graded snap · 4 wins or losses, 41 routine

-0.5Q2 11:36 · 3 & 4 · CoverageAllows separation to Higgins on the out route, though makes the tackle promptly after the catch.
+1.5Q2 05:38 · 1 & 10 · CoverageMaintains hip-to-hip leverage down the boundary against Chase and plays through the receiver's hands to force the incompletion.
+1Q2 00:47 · 2 & 1 · CoverageRecognizes the slant immediately, drives forward to contest at the catch point, and dislodges the ball to force the incompletion.
-1.5Q3 10:11 · 4 & 2 · CoveragePlays soft cushion on 4th & 2, opens his hips late, and allows easy separation at the break point, surrendering a 21-yard conversion before pushing Chase out of bounds.

Asante Samuel Jr.'s season grades →