Christian McCaffrey should have won the Heisman during the 2015-16 season. How one could break an all-purpose yardage record that stood for 37 years and was set by Barry freaking Sanders and not win is beyond me. This is just my opinion of course, but it was almost everyone's opinion that McCaffrey entered this season as a Heisman contender. Unfortunately, poor offensive line play and injuries held him down for much of the season. Towards the end of the year, though, McCaffery got healthy and tore up the PAC-12, looking like his old self. I was so excited to see him in a bowl game, but then he announced his plans to skip the game. As a fan, it made me sad, but let's face it, nobody wants to be Jaylon Smith or Marshon Lattimore or any other unfortunate player who stayed in college football just a little too long. McCaffrey made a smart move because he has nothing left to prove.Measurables:
Height- 6'
Weight- 200 lbs
Year:
Junior (20 years old)
2016 stat line:
253 carries, 1603 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 37 receptions, 310 yards, 3 TDs
Pros: Christian McCaffrey is a human highlight reel. He has a rare combination of quickness, vision, and patience that allows him to see things before they even happen (see: that juke against Kansas State, I am pretty sure McCaffrey did not even see him with his eyes). He has a knack for making people miss tackles, and his strong frame makes him tough to bring down. McCaffrey is also an impeccable receiver able to run routes and screens better than almost every prospect in the draft.
Con: Before I touch on an actual con, let me say this: McCaffrey's size is not an issue. Whenever someone says he will have to be a slot receiver because he is a "mere" 200 pounds, it boils my blood. Weight becomes an issue if a player is under 190 pounds like Donnel Pumphrey, not when one is 200 pounds and has experience at the goal line (keep in mind that Dalvin Cook was the same size as McCaffrey last year, added on weight, and looked much slower for the first few games). Thankfully that is off of my chest and I can move on to the real con of McCaffrey: blocking. He is ok at it, but not as good as Fournette or Cook. That can be coached, though, and on my scale of important skills of a running back, blocking ranks lower than receiving and other skills.
Pro Comparison: Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook entered the NFL with a prolific track record as a runner, receiver, and returner. Andy Reid liked what he saw in the small running back (5'10" 203 lbs) and it paid off. Westbrook's breakaway speed, vision, agility, and versatility led him to have a splendid 9-year career with the Eagles. McCaffrey shows the same quickness and vision as the All-Pro, and he might be a better athlete, giving him a higher ceiling in the pros.
3 Teams that fit him: Speaking of the Philadelphia Eagles, they could use a weapon like McCaffrey. Ryan Matthews is inconsistent and injury prone, Darren Sproles is getting old, and the other running backs are good but not elite talents. McCaffrey could take pressure off of Carson Wentz with his running and give him a reliable receiving option out of the backfield. The Green Bay Packers could also use McCaffrey, as it appears time to move on from Eddie Lacy and the Packers could use a good run game to balance their offense. The other team that may consider McCaffrey is the Denver Broncos. Their running game has been inconsistent since the CJ Anderson era began due to his injuries and tendency to disappear during big games. They did give him an extension, but I cannot believe he is the answer at the position for the Broncos.
Conclusion: Christian McCaffrey is a true three-down back in the NFL because of his phenomenal running and receiving. His blocking needs work, but that should not prevent a team from picking him in the bottom half of the first round.
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