Last year the Carolina Panthers backfield struggled managing an injured Christian McCaffrey and Mike Davis, who ended up only averaging 42 yards per game. Davis had some questionable reads behind the line of scrimmage and that’s the main thing fourth-round rookie running back Chuba Hubbard can come in and correct.
On the first play, the run was designed to go to the right but with a blitz in the gap and the middle linebacker stepping up, Davis could have actually taken this to the outside. On the second play against the Chiefs, the Panthers fullback picked up the blitz in the backfield which prevented Davis from seeing an alley to the outside.
Hubbard was an All-American at Oklahoma State who totaled 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns on 328 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per rush. What he showed on tape was fluid hips and the ability to find the right gap behind the line of scrimmage, he was patient but not too patient and once he found the crease he hit it with his get away north-south speed.
What Hubbard does best is making the right decision at the right time. He waits for the right moment to move forward, even if it isn’t following his lead blocker. In these clips above, he can make 2 reads within seconds and make adjustments on the move with his fluidity.
The okay is going to the right side but he sees the outside backer with his outside arm free. When he cuts inside he doesn’t see a hole but he remains patient, even stops for a movement and then dips his head and run behinds his pads for positive yardage.
Hubbard’s straight-line speed can make a very effective 1-2 punch between him and McCaffrey. Hubbard can be the trenches back finding his way inside zone reads.
McCaffrey will be the main running back who will get a lot of the outside zone carries, tosses, screens and flat routes. Hubbard isn’t a guy who is going to be elusive and make a ton of guys miss, but if he protects the ball, he can be the one to pound the rock in the trenches and once the defense creeps up, he will find the opening and break one loose.
On top of these two very effective backs, we can’t forget about Curtis Samuel who went from 19 rushing attempts in 2019 to 41 in 2020. There could possibly be a two-back set with McCaffrey and Hubbard then with Samuel motioning pre-snap for reverses, or end-arounds adding another dimension to the offense.
We saw the Panthers run something similar last year but Samuel is not a true back who is going to make those fast reads and force a one cut to break through the second line of defense. Samuel is better in space, such as receiving a pitch or making a quick move and getting around the edge. That spacing from McCaffrey and Samuel will be key for Hubbard as he adds another dynamic to this offense, forcing enemy defenses to play on their heels.