Should the Panthers take Alvin Kamara approach with Christian McCaffrey?

Should the Carolina Panthers adopt the Alvin Kamara approach to keep running back Christian McCaffrey fit and firing on all cylinders moving forward?

It’s clear that something has to give regarding Christian McCaffrey. The running back endured yet another season of unreliability on the health front and this played a substantial role in the Carolina Panthers failing to meet some heightened early-season objectives in 2021.

McCaffrey is still a sensational weapon. A legitimate dual threat that can alter the course of any contest thanks to an exceptional skill set.

However, that counts for absolutely nothing if the Panthers don’t have the services of their best offensive weapon for a consistent spell. And they certainly didn’t boast the necessary backup plan to cope without the All-Pro last time around.

As harsh as it is to say, now is the time for Carolina to devise a plan that doesn’t include McCaffrey. Not by means of a trade or potential release in the coming years, but finding a way to produce in the event he misses more time next season.

Hopefully, that won’t be the case. But the Panthers have to change the way McCaffrey is deployed and should look to a divisional rival for the blueprint on player management at the position.

Carolina Panthers should use Christian McCaffrey like Alvin Kamara

The New Orleans Saints boast a game-changing back of their own in Alvin Kamara. But the former third-round pick has been handled with extreme care by the organization in order to maximize productivity while keeping him relatively free of injury concerns.

Kamara’s 287 combined touches in 2021 were the highest of his pro career by a considerable margin. However, this could be down to the fact Drew Brees retired, Michael Thomas missed the whole season, and quarterback Jameis Winston also went down early to compound their misery.

Before then, Kamara has been utilized in multi-back sets and is arguably more involved in the passing game than pounding the rock. Keeping him out of harm’s way more often than not is something the Panthers should examine heavily regarding McCaffrey and implement within their new offensive scheme under Ben McAdoo.

Acquiring a power running back via free agency or the draft is crucial. Leaning a little more on Chuba Hubbard is another way the Panthers can go, with the prospect of putting McCaffrey in the slot as a receiver coming with potentially great benefits.

McCaffrey will get some input. And the player himself admitted that he needs to do a little less when it comes to working out and altering preparations slightly.

Much will also depend on how McAdoo sees McCaffrey in terms of fit. His appointment came with a mixed reaction, to put it mildly, but over-relying on the Stanford product is no longer an option.

The stakes are pretty high all around for Carolina in 2022. Matt Rhule and his staff are under increasing pressure and McCaffrey also has to return to the health he displayed over his first three years in the league to cement his future with the franchise long-term.

Taking a leaf out of the Saints’ book wouldn’t hurt McCaffrey or the Panthers right now. And who knows, it might even transform their fortunes along the way.