3. Diversity on offense
The problem: Christian McCaffrey is the best running back in the NFL today, hands down. He’s only human though and can’t be expected to carry the team the way he did last year. The Panthers totaled 5,469 yards of offense last season. McCaffrey accounted for 2,392 of them, or 43.7%. He also scored 19 of their 37 touchdowns and played 93% of the snaps. They need to find more balance to keep McCaffrey healthy.
What’s changed: General manager Marty Hurney brought in some new passing weapons this offseason, most notably former Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson. The team also brought in a new running back with the undrafted rookie Rodney Smith.
The x-factor: The key here is also likely to be a coaching one. Brady’s scheme is designed to get as many passing weapons on the field as possible, often fielding four and five receiver sets. That should help keep opponents on their toes and give Bridgewater options to spread the ball around.