3 examples that indicate worrying career path for Christian McCaffrey
By Noah Bryce
Ezekiel Elliott and Christian McCaffrey are linked
Ezekiel Elliott was a revelation coming out of college in Year 1, much like the rest of the backs in this article. And things just kept getting better on the field for the Ohio State product.
Being selected to the Pro Bowl and making an All-Pro as a rookie is a massive accomplishment. One that Ezekiel Elliott seemed to do with ease as defenders looked to be running in slow motion when attempting to chase him down.
That early momentum, however, hasn’t stuck around and the last two seasons are evidence of that. Rushing for around or just above 1,000 yards is no easy feat, but we need to look beyond those main stats at the nitty-gritty.
Elliott’s yards per game average has dropped every season since he came into the league. At some point in every game this season the sportscasters mentioned the running back looking slow and less explosive than teammate Tony Pollard.
As someone who watched many of those games, one can also attest to the fact that for much of the season Elliott looked like a shell of himself. Even during a 143-yard explosion against the Carolina Panthers this season it was more a consequence of poor defense than anything the Dallas Cowboys back conjured up.
Once again, this sharp decline started with small injuries that piled up and began to limit the explosive ability of the player. Starting with a simple calf strain that led to multiple issues in the knee and ended in a torn PCL.
Another worrying sign as far as Christian McCaffrey and the Panthers are concerned.