Gettleman thinks McCaffrey is a three down player, not a three down back

[Kevin Greene]

On 3rd down and short Shula will call a read option anyway and pound Cam into the line.

[CRA]

Just now, X-Clown on 1 said:

A 3 down back generally implies that you can run between the tackles downs 1 and 2 and catch passes or pass protect out of the back field on third down.  Example, Adrian Peterson is not a 3 down back because his pass catching is sub par, which is why he subs out typically on passing downs.

so then people are asking if Gettlemen sees him as just a 3rd down RB in reality?

[XClown1986]

1 minute ago, CRA said:

doesn't a 3 down back generally imply being able to play on 3rd and long not 3rd and short?

I always took it as regardless of situation/down/distance, the back doesn't have to come off of the field because he can't do something.

So short distance running, catching, blocking, etc. If the guy has question marks on any demands of the position, it would reduce him being able to play on fewer downs in general. 

[CRA]

1 minute ago, Saca312 said:

No duh. If McCaffrey is ever on a 3rd and short, then go ahead and just punt it.

3rd and 1 IMO is more OL play than RB play.  The OL push is the most important aspect IMO.

[CRA]

2 minutes ago, XClown1986 said:

I always took it as regardless of situation/down/distance, the back doesn't have to come off of the field because he can't do something.

So short distance running, catching, blocking, etc. If the guy has question marks on any demands of the position, it would reduce him being able to play on fewer downs in general. 

any decent NFL RB can run behind a good OL.

not all of them can pass catch and pass block.

outside of pass protection at this level I am not sure what type question marks McCaffrey has.

 

I actually love him as a player, just think he would be wasted in Carolina vs other spots to a large degree.

[XClown1986]

1 minute ago, CRA said:

3rd and 1 IMO is more OL play than RB play.  The OL push is the most important aspect IMO.

Ehh, I think it's 50/50. The line can't whiff on their guy but the momentum of the runner has to push through. How many times have we seen a back crash into the line and then get a push from behind from a teammate to get a first down? If the back had more power, he wouldn't need the extra push.

[La Pantera]

5 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

No duh. If McCaffrey is ever on a 3rd and short, then go ahead and just punt it.

Sweep, pitch, screen or as a Wr.

[XClown1986]

1 minute ago, CRA said:

any decent NFL RB can run behind a good OL.

not all of them can pass catch and pass block.

outside of pass protection at this level I am not sure what type question marks McCaffrey has.

 

I actually love him as a player, just think he would be wasted in Carolina vs other spots to a large degree.

I agree that he would be wasted here. He would be a better option than Fozzy on 3rd down and be an ok returner, but as a full-time back, I don't see it.

Now what we could do is make him the starting slot receiver on 1st and 2nd, then put him in the backfield on 3rd down. But at that point we would have to admit to drafting him to be a receiver, not a runningback. 

Fundamentally he really is similar to Percy Harvin, Reggie Bush, etc.

[Mvp2014]

44 minutes ago, shaqattaq said:

A pitch or screen to Mcaffery on 3rd and short could be a possibility; as long as someone explains that to Shula.

With our TE's and no fullback?  I'd rather LF have it any day of the week.  Its not like McCaff is a Reggie Bush type athlete and theres a reason we dont run screens often.  Not sure if its Cam's issue or our lack of blocking prowess.  Only the organization knows that one

Now if we feel like we can motion him all over the formation he could be a nightmare I just don't see Cam as that type of qb that recognizes this stuff consistently.  The top precision passers are guys that constantly play mind games and force bad matchups by moving pieces around and creating them.  One can only hope our offense is evolving beyond Shula's one play call

[Hogmolliesmaht]

Shula designed this offense around Cam, so I disagree with the notion that he is not flexible. He had never run the read option before Cam came along either.

[beastson]

This confirms we're not drafting him

[Soul Rebel]

1st Down: Off tackle run for 4-5 yards

2nd Down: Counter run for 3-4 yards

3rd Down: Play action slip out into the flat or a dig route and wins against a LB

3 down player works for me. 

[OriginalPantherDan]

Sam Rogers from VT could help solve some of those third-and-short woes. If we grab McCaffrey and Rogers, we will be all set for years at the position. 

[XClown1986]

I actually want to amend my earlier posts about McCaffrey and about Gettleman.

I went back and watched the presser again (yes, I know, nerd. But I'm at school on a teacher workday and figured what the hell)

First about Gettleman's thoughts on McCaffrey as a 3 down back. I DO believe that what Gettleman was saying to Joe was "no poo he's a 3 down back." Though he didn't use the word "back," his focus was moreso on being a smart ass to Joe Person (rightfully so, the guy is a tool). I think what he said was taken out of context with who he was saying it to and how. But I fully believe that one of the "half dozen 3 down backs" includes McCaffrey. 100%

Second, about McCaffrey. I posted a couple weeks back some vehemently positive responses to McCaffrey as a player and a fit for this team. Then I will admit, I started to doubt myself after watching him play Washington (badass defense btw) and after hearing the evaluators criticize his lack of power and size. I am one of the few that will admit that I was swayed by the noise. 

However, upon going back and watching about 4 games worth of snaps on draftbreakdown.com, how the hell did I veer off of my original opinion? This kid has it all. He has ELITE attributes that show how and why he will be a successful back. He is WAYYY more Marshall Faulk than Reggie Bush. The comparisons to him as a scatback with no true position are off. This kid can make plays from anywhere. In 1 game I saw him score on a wildcat play, a catch, a long run, a goal line run, AND he returned 2 kicks for longer than 30 yards. That's not blind luck or college level play folks, that's a football player.