Rookie RB getting “peppered” with short passes
Rookie report of camp: Nothing great from first-round pick Christian McCaffrey, but it is obvious from the number of short passes and screens being thrown in the running back’s direction there are big plans for him. The crowd loves him, too. He can make a simple move and there are oohs and ahs from fans on the hill overlooking the practice field at Wofford College. Defenders can’t love McCaffrey, though. He’s so fast on his cuts that it leaves them grasping for air. (ESPN)
Nerdy Football Analysis: It’s becoming obvious with all the talk about McCaffrey being a fixture in the short passing game that the first play of the season will be a short dump-off/screen he takes 60 yards for a score. All kidding aside, the Panthers are pounding the short-passing narrative pretty hard. While he will likely play second fiddle to Jonathan Stewart as a rusher this season, the rookie has about a 50-60 catch floor in Carolina’s new Cam Newton-friendly offense.
