The engine for the Carolina Panthers’ offense is running back Christian McCaffrey. Everyone knows that.
Not everyone can stop him, and that is a reality Houston Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith has had to confront on a short week as his team gets ready to play the Panthers Thursday night for Week 3 at NRG Stadium.
“He’s tough duty,” said Smith. “As a receiver when he’s catching the football, whether out of the back field, splitting him out as a wide receiver, they do a great job of putting him in different spots getting the ball to him. But he’s a running back and of course he can make you miss in the open field, run in between the tackles.”
Through two games, McCaffrey has 45 carries for 170 yards and a touchdown while also catching 14 catches for 154 yards. It has been a nice bounce back after missing 13 games last season with a shoulder injury. The Panthers’ offense is back to being potent, no matter the quarterback, thanks to McCaffrey’s return.
Smith does have some ideas on how to contain McCaffrey, but it can’t just be one man, such as linebacker Zach Cunningham. It will take a collective effort from the entire front seven and also the seconday.
Said Smith: “It’s still going to go back to first off being sound and disciplined. You can’t make a mistake, you have to have somebody in every gap, gang tackle, pursue to the football, all of those things gives you the best chance to slow him down a little bit. Not many people are going to stop him completely.”
McCaffrey is averaging 5.5 yards per touch through two games. The Texans are giving up 6.0 yards per play, tied for the 11th-most in the NFL this season.