Christian McCaffrey could break the single-season RB reception record

Through two games Christian McCaffrey’s 20 receptions rank second in the NFL behind the Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas. CMC’s impressive total is due to his 14 receptions against the Falcons in Week 2. The Ringer pointed out that mark matched the most receptions by a running back in a game since 1999. While it’s not realistic to expect McCaffrey to continue averaging 10 receptions per game over the course of a 16-game season http://www.authenticscarolinapanthers.com/cheap-mario-addison-jersey , he could still very well challenge the single season receptions record for a running back of 102 set by Matt Forte in 2014. In order to break Forte’s record, McCaffrey will need to haul in 83 receptions over the next 14 games, or just above 5.9 receptions per contest. As a rookie last year he averaged 5.0 receptions per game (80 catches in 16 games) and bumping last year’s average up by one reception per outing for the remainder of the season could definitely happen. Here’s why:He’s playing more snapsLast year McCaffrey was on the field for 70.2% of the Panthers offensive plays. Through two games this season he’s played in 89.6% of the team’s offensive snaps. In 2017 the Panthers offense ran just over 1,000 plays from scrimmage, and if McCaffrey is on the field for about 20% more of those plays this year, he will see around 200 more snaps. Both Ron Rivera and new offensive coordinator Norv Turner have said they want to increase his workload in 2018 and thus far they have been true to their word.The Norv Turner effectSpeaking of Turner, he’s a game planner who knows who to use versatile running backs. As offensive coordinator in Dallas he coaxed 59 receptions out of Emmett Smith in 1992. As Washington’s head coach in 2000, running back Larry Centers led the team with 81 receptions. As head coach of the Chargers from 2007-2012 he coached LaDanian Tomlinson to 60 receptions (2007), Darren Sproles to 86 (2011), and even Mike Tolbert to 54 (also in 2011). Turner likes to feature running backs in the passing game. What other options does Cam have? This point is a bit more depressing to Panthers fans, but there have been multiple pass plays when McCaffrey is Cam Newton’s only option because no other receiver is open. As CSR’s Erik Sommers has expertly pointed out, all of Carolina’s receivers, minus Jarius Wright, are “dropping passes, running sloppy or wrong routes, and generally just looking confused out there.” McCaffrey will likely be the first Color Rush Torrey Smith Jersey , best, and sometimes only receiving option until Greg Olsen hopefully returns in 4-5 weeks.Between his increased workload, Turner’s game plans, and the Panthers questionable wide receiver corps, I wouldn’t be surprised if McCaffrey breaks the record of 102 receptions by a running back this season. The next 14 games will tell if “Deuce Deuce” becomes the new “No. 1”. Oh... man. I knew this day would come, but I always hoped it would come off the heels of a Super Bowl victory, or something that truly capped off and encapsulated what Thomas Davis fought so hard to make an incredible career. Instead, it comes on the back of a disappointing 7-9 season where the Panthers started off hot but quickly fizzled out. But Thomas Davis’ career has never been about storybook endings, national media attention, or Hall of Fame accolades. Davis’ career has always about being overlooked, undervalued, or on his last leg. Thomas Davis didn’t just Keep Pounding, he kicked the damn door down.I wrote this about Thomas Davis back in 2013, following a return season where he beat so many odds and managed to return following 3 ACL tears. Hopefully, you read it at the time, but if you didn’t Color Rush Greg Van Roten Jersey , here are the cliff notes.I didn’t write that because I wanted any kind of attention, or wanted to capitalize on what turned out to be an amazing comeback for Davis, I wrote it because I truly believed Davis deserved the comeback player of the year award. And you know what? This dude deserves comeback player of the century in the NFL.Ever since that season, Thomas Davis has played at an elite level for an outside linebacker in his late 20s-to-early-30s, a time where most linebackers start to fall off. But for Davis, he didn’t just play over his age, he played over his body. He played at a higher level from 2014-2017 than any of us could ever imagine. He became one part of arguably the best linebacker tandem in modern football with Luke Kuechly, and in doing so finally realized some of the accolades he always deserved. Super Bowls, Pro Bowls, All Pro honors, national media attention for the first time in his career. Davis didn’t just return, he ARRIVED.If you handed me a textbook and asked me to look up what “linebacker play” would look like, I’d expect to see a picture (or a gif in the internet age) of Thomas Davis. He tackled the right way, he played coverage better than most in the league. Davis was a force every time he took the field, whether it was a close game, a blowout win http://www.authenticscarolinapanthers.com/cheap-daryl-williams-jersey , or a blowout loss. I can’t think of many times where I saw Thomas Davis and thought to myself “man, he really didn’t give his all on that play.”Thomas Davis is a player I personally invested in, because as a fan I went through that injury riddled journey, and was rewarded with high level football, just like he was. Seeing him pick off passes to seal important games or blast a running back in the hole to force a fumble at a crucial moment became all the more special because THOMAS FREAKING DAVIS did it. And it is really a shame he didn’t get a chance to go out on top, because he deserved to just like many of the high level players who came before him. I once said that Thomas Davis symbolized “Keep Pounding”, and that he earned his stripe. Now, I believe Thomas Davis earned himself a damn statue.Davis taught me, personally, not just to Keep Pounding, throughout life and it’s struggles. He taught me that once you’ve gotten yourself out from underneath those struggles, to push yourself even further than simply being past them. We all have our struggles, whether it be work, life, love, family Color Rush Christian McCaffrey Jersey , they all cause us pain and they all can push us down to rock bottom. While the Keep Pounding moniker certainly applies to constantly honing your craft, yourself, and your life, Thomas Davis did it better. He didn’t just Keep Pounding, he kept excelling. Davis is a shining example of what a person can accomplish when they apply themselves the same way, with the same intensity, when things are bad, AND when they are good. Davis taught me not to simply accept getting over the hump, but be a better person on the other side once you get there.Don’t thank us fans for everything, Thomas. Thank YOU, for the memories, and the lessons we can learn.