’Skins defense braces for do-it-all McCaffrey

David Johnson was the first test and the Washington Redskins defense aced it by keeping the Arizona Cardinals’ all-pro running back in check with 67 total yards. The Saints’ Alvin Kamara came next and the results were even better. The 2017 offensive rookie of the year was held to 39 total yards.

Now the Carolina Panthers will bring the versatile Christian McCaffrey to FedEx Field. The Redskins hope that their defense’s previous experiences will help in slowing down another explosive, multifaceted running back.

“Can do everything, catch the ball out of the backfield,” linebacker Mason Foster said. “But that’s been the story the last couple weeks. That’s the way backs are nowadays. Backs that catch the ball out of the backfield, run screens, run ghosts, fly sweeps. It’s another challenge, but the last couple weeks have prepared us to play backs like this.

“You’ve just got to play to your leverage. Play smart, know where your help’s at. Don’t give them too much space and swarm to the ball. They’re going to make people miss and break tackles. The biggest thing for us is just swarming to the ball, keep running, keep hustling. If the first guy misses, you’ve got somebody else right behind you to make the play. It’s always a challenge, but it’s something that we’re prepared for.”

McCaffrey was the No. 8 overall pick in 2017 out of Stanford after being the Heisman Trophy runner-up and named the Associated Press player of the year in 2015. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder was mostly used in the passing game as a rookie, finishing with 80 receptions for 651 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 435 yards, but Jonathan Stewart and quarterback Cam Newton were the primary ballcarriers. Stewart has since moved on to the New York Giants and the run game was turned over to McCaffrey.

There were questions coming out of Stanford whether McCaffrey could be an every-down back in the NFL due to his smaller stature, but Panthers Coach Ron Rivera didn’t have those reservations.

“We’ve always felt he could handle that large role,” Rivera said, “mostly, because if you go back to his sophomore and junior year at Stanford, nobody carried the ball between the tackles more than he did. And he was the most productive overall back in the NCAA coming out. He had a huge workload at Stanford. They ran power and they ran it up and down the field and he was right in the middle of it all.” So far, so good. McCaffrey began the week leading all non-quarterbacks in total yards per game with 130.2 before relinquishing that mark to the Giants’ Saquon Barkley (135.2) after Thursday Night Football. McCaffrey’s 82.2 rushing yards per game ranks fourth in the league and his 27 receptions are a team high.

The Panthers have given him the full workload on the ground and in the air as the primary playmaker at Newton’s disposal.

“He doesn’t come off the field very often,” Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. “A very good football player; has great vision, sightlines in the hole. He can speed it, he can beat the post safety. It’s a real good offense for him as a running back. It’s a read-option team, but overall a very physical football team and we’ve got to get after them.”

The combination of McCaffrey and Newton has produced the NFL’s top rushing attack with 154.0 yards per game, while the Redskins run defense has seen plenty of improvement after ranking dead last in 2017. First-round rookie Daron Payne and 2017 first-rounder Jonathan Allen have paid immediate dividends up front, helping Washington to a No. 14 ranking, giving up 113.0 yards per game. Payne, Allen and defensive end Matt Ioannidis will be tasked with occupying offensive linemen.