RISING ROOKIE
McCaffrey scoring touchdowns
When the Carolina Panthers selected Christian McCaffrey with the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft, coach Ron Rivera envisioned all the ways the former Valor Christian High School star could help one of the league’s most versatile quarterbacks.
“He’s going to take a lot of pressure off of (Cam Newton),” Rivera said. “I think doing some of the things that we want to do in terms of the matchups we can create with him — moving him around and watching how the defenses will react to him — it’s going to be a big thing that will really help our quarterback and help the rest of our offense.”
Rivera is steadily seeing those visions come to life. In scoring two touchdowns in a 45-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, McCaffrey furthered emerged as the offensive weapon, particularly near the goal line, which has helped Newton inch closer toward his 2015 MVP form following a forgettable performance last season.
After failing to reach the end zone in his first four NFL games, McCaffrey has five combined touchdowns in his last six games. All five of McCaffrey’s touchdowns — two rushing, three receiving — have come on gains of 6 yards or fewer. While his huge returns and long runs at Stanford produced highlights worthy of a Heisman Trophy finalist, an ability to find cracks in a crowd deep in the red zone has defined an impressive rookie debut.
Take McCaffrey’s touchdown run in the second quarter Monday night that gave the Panthers a 10-0 lead.
With the ball spotted at Miami’s 4-yard line, McCaffrey was lined up to Newton’s left in the shotgun formation. As Newton took a high snap, he sprinted for a couple of steps to the right with McCaffrey on a read-option play. Once Newton let go of the ball, leaving it in McCaffrey’s arms, the rookie running back cut back sharply, leaving Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso helpless as McCaffrey chopped his legs into the end zone.
McCaffrey added a 2-yard reception on the fourth quarter on a sprintout to the right by Newton. McCaffrey drew a favorable matchup on linebacker Lawrence Timmons and ran all the way to the edge of the end zone. Newton delivered the ball on target as McCaffrey tapped his knees in play and secured the catch while falling out of bounds.
Both plays demonstrated a growing chemistry between Newton and Carolina’s prized rookie, one of the greatest high school football players in Colorado history. “I think me and Cam are on the same page right now,” McCaffrey told reporters after the game. “The O-line is doing a heck of a job of getting us started. When you’ve got guys taking turns making plays, it really helps the flow of the offense.”
McCaffrey is certainly taking advantage of his turns when the goal line is in sight.