4 key observations from Christian McCaffrey’s performance vs. Browns

Ben McAdoo must learn from mistakes where Christian McCaffrey is concerned

Players like Christian McCaffrey don’t grow on trees. But for the most part, it didn’t look as if offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo had a clue how to best utilize him.

This was dubbed the Baker Mayfield revenge game and the Carolina Panthers did everything in their power to ensure he got bragging rights. Something that secured a slender lead with over a minute remaining when all hope was seemingly lost.

In the end, it just wasn’t to be.

Had the Panthers been more efficient right out of the gate, these complications could have been avoided.

McAdoo didn’t exactly cover himself in glory regarding how McCaffrey was deployed. Mistakes the former New York Giants must learn from as soon as possible.

The complications that emerge from overusing McCaffrey are well documented. Just how much this factored into the team’s game plan in Week 1 is another matter.

McAdoo has to do better. McCaffrey still has all the tools to be considered among the league’s best dual-threat players, even if the Panthers were reluctant to put too much pressure on his shoulders.

When McCaffrey had the football, good things happened. It’s finding the right balance that became McAdoo’s biggest problem that wasn’t figured out until it was too late.