Pretty Good Article about CMC and the Offense

[Pantha-kun]

He's lead the team in total yards from scrimmage for quite a while and has gotten an incredible number of first downs. He's been rushing for 5 yards per carry in the 2nd half of the season and has still been catching well . And he's had some bigger plays in the 2nd half as well.

The only thing thats missing is huge scoring plays. He's had a few different instances where he almost had a long TD (ex. Long run vs Jets, long catch vs Jets, run to end the 2nd quarter vs Packers) . I don't like how he seems to lose his balance and not elude defenders in the wide open field or finish big plays with TDs. If he can't shake dudes in the open he's better off just committing to his strait line speed and getting more yards that way instead of waiting time hesitating and setting up unsuccessful juke moves. 

[thefuzz]

I wanted CMC here for exactly what he is doing for us right now...so I'm biased.

But, have you seen the production of the offensive skill positions that were drafted in the 1st?

Fournette has been pretty good, he's going to break 1k yards as a rookie.

Davis...not so good.  Ross can't get on the field, Williams not pretty either.

Howard has shown some flashes, Engram is a one man band up there, Mixon and Njoku...pretty good, nothing major...etc.

Now you can toss out Kamara and Hunt, but nobody thought they would be what they are.  All said, I think that CMC has underperformed as a runner, and over performed as a rookie.  He has been very important to us this season.

[Woodie]

28 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

I wanted CMC here for exactly what he is doing for us right now...so I'm biased.

But, have you seen the production of the offensive skill positions that were drafted in the 1st?

Fournette has been pretty good, he's going to break 1k yards as a rookie.

Davis...not so good.  Ross can't get on the field, Williams not pretty either.

Howard has shown some flashes, Engram is a one man band up there, Mixon and Njoku...pretty good, nothing major...etc.

Now you can toss out Kamara and Hunt, but nobody thought they would be what they are.  All said, I think that CMC has underperformed as a runner, and over performed as a rookie.  He has been very important to us this season.

I don't think he has underperformed as a runner, I think he has been underused as a runner.

Every running back will tell you that they need carries to get into a rhythm, but CMC has only been used to spell Stewart on occasion, and doesn't get enough runs to get into any kind of rhythm.  On the few times that he does string a few carries together, he usually make some plays...then he's pulled back to once again spell JStew.  It really doesn't make sense sometimes.  

[Pantha-kun]

19 minutes ago, Woodie said:

I don't think he has underperformed as a runner, I think he has been underused as a runner.

Every running back will tell you that they need carries to get into a rhythm, but CMC has only been used to spell Stewart on occasion, and doesn't get enough runs to get into any kind of rhythm.  On the few times that he does string a few carries together, he usually make some plays...then he's pulled back to once again spell JStew.  It really doesn't make sense sometimes.  

McCaffrey's been averaging 5 yards per carry in the 2nd half of the season

[Woodie]

4 minutes ago, stbugs said:

Agreed and since our OL has stopped being awful at run blocking, he’s been an effective runner. I still can’t believe people complain about him. He’s been an excellent rookie and I’m excited about having him for many years. Worrying about other good picks doesn’t matter. There’s always a few gems and there were obviously flaws or they would have been 1st rounders as well. 

I think most of the people that complain about him are simply basing it on their expectations for him as a runner, and comparing him to other backs as a runner.  However, his value was never just as a running back.  You have to look at his overall value to fairly gauge his impact on the team, and there is a reason that every week the talking heads speak highly of him, and the announcers discuss how he is effecting the game, and most telling, how other teams are still focusing on him reacting to whatever he is doing.  This year we have limited his involvement, particularly as a runner, but he is still having a huge impact on the offense and is integral to any success we have.  

The only thing about CMC that has disappointed me is that he hasn't had some of the big, explosive plays I expected.  But I do think with more touches as a runner, they will eventually come.  But anyone complaining about him either is not looking at his role in the big picture, had unrealistic expectations, or simply didn't want him leading up to the draft and are using his limited running as an excuse to crow about it. 

[Woodie]

2 minutes ago, Pantha-kun said:

McCaffrey's been averaging 5 yards per carry in the 2nd half of the season

And just imagine what his numbers would look like if he was used more consistently as a runner.  I expect he'd still be around 5 ypc, but pushing about 80 yards or more a game.

[Mikey815]

1 minute ago, Woodie said:

And just imagine what his numbers would look like if he was used more consistently as a runner.  I expect he'd still be around 5 ypc, but pushing about 80 yards or more a game.

Let him gain a few pounds and make him the lead back next year and use him like Steelers use Bell. You are looking at 1300 yards rushing 90 catches and over 2000 scrimmage yards Make stew strictly short yard guy

[Johnny Rockets]

3 hours ago, IGSaint said:

He is still woefully underutilized with Shula.

So you disagree with the article? 

I think people saying that is just the trendy/lazy thing to because hating Shula is what has been drilled into people's heads. I was just listening to Moose talk about the utilization of CMC yesterday and how great it's been progressing. Shula has really done well figuring out CMC's niche in this offense and the results are showing just that. He is not the only one I have heard singing Shula's praises, most analysts have.

It won't be popular but put me in the small group of fans who thinks Shula has done really good things with him and it's all coming together at the right time. 

[thefuzz]

16 minutes ago, Mikey815 said:

Let him gain a few pounds and make him the lead back next year and use him like Steelers use Bell. You are looking at 1300 yards rushing 90 catches and over 2000 scrimmage yards Make stew strictly short yard guy

Honestly, I'm more interested in CAP, or someone like him being the 1st/2nd down back, but CMC never leaving the field.

Either in the backfield, in the slot, or out wide.  His versatility makes him so valuable to Cam, and so confusing for defenses.

[Woodie]

3 minutes ago, Johnny Rockets said:

So you disagree with the article? 

I think people saying that is just the trendy/lazy thing to because hating Shula is what has been drilled into people's heads. I was just listening to Moose talk about the utilization of CMC yesterday and how great it's been progressing. Shula has really done well figuring out CMC's niche in this offense and the results are showing just that. He is not the only one I have heard singing Shula's praises, most analysts have.

It won't be popular but put me in the small group of fans who thinks Shula has done really good things with him and it's all coming together at the right time. 

Shula's done a good job utilizing him in everything but as a runner.  He still doesn't give him enough consistent runs and he still runs him too much up the gut, which is not his strength.  But to be fair on that point, that is what our offense has been throughout Shula's tenure. 

I do think that will change next year, though.  This year was learning how to take advantage of his versatility, but next year will be about maximizing that versatility.  I expect he'll be the primary next year with JStew subbing in to give him a rest, and a little Samuel thrown in to really screw with defenses. 

[Pantha-kun]

41 minutes ago, Woodie said:

Shula's done a good job utilizing him in everything but as a runner.  He still doesn't give him enough consistent runs and he still runs him too much up the gut, which is not his strength.  But to be fair on that point, that is what our offense has been throughout Shula's tenure. 

I do think that will change next year, though.  This year was learning how to take advantage of his versatility, but next year will be about maximizing that versatility.  I expect he'll be the primary next year with JStew subbing in to give him a rest, and a little Samuel thrown in to really screw with defenses. 

I'm wondering if he might get up to about 215 lbs before the start of next season . He'll have at least 4 months and some change of no serious football activities in the offseason , he could pack on about 10lbs of muscle if he really wanted to.

I think that would help him alot. Kamara , Ladanian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk all around CMCs height but all weighed about 215 , primarmily elusive backs but can still break arm tackles and bounce off sloppy tackles otherwise.

Hell even Kareem Hunt is only 216 and he breaks tackles like no tomorrow