4 options the Carolina Panthers have with Christian McCaffrey in 2022
By Dean Jones
Taking the heat off Christian McCaffrey
Another option the Carolina Panthers have regarding Christian McCaffrey is taking some of the exceptional pressure off his shoulders. It’s nice to have the comfort blanket of such a premier dual-threat weapon, but the “best availability is availability” and what’s the point in possessing such a player if they cannot depend on him when it counts.
Adopting a multi-back approach is something that’s becoming increasingly evident across the league. There are only a few teams that operate with one primary back in the modern-day game, which keeps players at the position fresh and limits their potential for injuries in the short and long term.
It would be worth the Panthers following suit. They drafted Chuba Hubbard in the fourth round – who’s shown promise overall – with the prospect of Ameer Abdullah also earning a longer stay with the franchise beyond this season also a possible option to consider.
This is not about removing McCaffrey from the equation entirely.
It’s more about maximizing his impact and keeping him fresh.
Of course, it will be McCaffrey that takes the lion’s share of touches. But in this scenario, anywhere near 30 touches a game is unacceptable.
If Matt Rhule had any sense, this is something he’ll strongly consider as part of his plan to implement a run-first scheme following his decision to fire Joe Brady as offensive coordinator.