Outside of the unusually disappointing play of the defense, one of the major headlines coming out of Sunday’s loss to the Falcons was how much running back Christian McCaffrey touched the ball. Of the 439 yards of last week’s total offense, McCaffrey accounted for more than a quarter of it, he is currently the team’s leading receiver and is on track to set a single season running back reception record.
In a league where specialty players, like receivers, often get the reputation for being divas, those on the Panthers say it doesn’t matter to them who or how much someone touches the ball, as long as they win.
“Whether that’s C-Mack having however many touches he gets or DJ or Fun or Armah. Whatever we need to do to win,” said veteran receiver Torrey Smith. “We know it’s going to be different each and every game, but one things that’s going to be constant is that C Mack is going to touch the ball and we need that for us to win.”
Cam echoed the same sentiments when asked about touches McCaffrey was getting.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives me. Simply and plain. And I really could care less who touches the ball. Christian has just been on the recipient end of a lot of catches and good for him, but I know, me knowing him he could care less either. At this particular point we’re just trying to find ways to win football games and if it’s C Mack, Fun, or whomever, our job is to go out there and execute to the best of our ability.”
The bottom line is, winning cures everything and answers any questions about lop-sided production. If the Panthers had won Sunday’s game, would we still be talking about this? I doubt it. Christian has and will continue to be a major component of this Panthers offense, and if the Panthers are winning, it won’t matter.