Carolina Panthers: 4 questions facing the offense in 2020
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers question No. 3: Managing Christian McCaffrey’s workload
Christian McCaffrey is the face of the Carolina Panthers after signing a lucrative four-year, $64 million this offseason. He will replace Cam Newton as the man tasked with leading them back to prominence. And this is a responsibility he has already taken on with aplomb.
Although the former first-round pick has been incredibly healthy during his time in the NFL so far. Running back is one of the more susceptible positions in terms of knocks thanks to the violent hits players receive from opposing defenders. It is essential that the Panthers keep McCaffrey fresh for the duration of his deal to ensure they get maximum value from their All-Pro.
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There is nothing McCaffrey cannot do on the field from an offensive standpoint. He is a stout runner who defies his size. And he is a dangerous presence in the passing game. These exceptional components saw the player become only the third back in NFL history to go over the 1,000-yard mark rushing and receiving in 2019.
McCaffrey notched more than 400 combined touches last season to secure this outstanding distinction. He has accumulated 623 carries and 303 receptions during his three-year career to date. And this is something that simply cannot continue.
Thankfully for the Panthers, they have plenty of other players who are capable of taking off some of the load. D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, and Robby Anderson are a potent wide receiver trio. And backup running back Reggie Bonnafon showed plenty of promise during his limited time on the field in 2019.
How offensive coordinator Joe Brady manages McCaffrey’s workload next season and beyond is going to be a key component to his success. And even though it might see the back’s touches diminish, he will still be the focal point on offense.