When the Panthers brought in CJ Anderson to pair with foundational running back and 2017 top-ten pick Christian McCaffrey, there was a plan in place to utilize both of them to the best of their abilities.
But as the season bore on and McCaffrey was on the field more and more, that plan evolved – culminating in the release of Anderson on Monday, three days removed from the back who rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2017 only seeing five snaps during a 31-point blowout in Pittsburgh.
“The more Norv [Turner] got to know who Christian is, the more we saw we could keep him on the field,” said Ron Rivera on Tuesday. “A lot of things we do are structured around his skillset and what Christian can do as a football player.”
“I think understanding Christian a little bit more may have prompted Coach [Turner] to call the plays that he calls and designs the plays the way he designs them.”
To say the usage of McCaffrey – who has been on the field for 96.3% of the snaps through nine games – is unprecedented for a running back’s workload might actually be an understatement. Since 2012, the highest percentage of playtime a running back has seen has been Matt Forte in 2014, who saw 92.1% of the snaps; last season, Le’Veon Bell led running backs by being on the field for 85.3% of the snaps.
McCaffrey has missed 21 offensive snaps thus far in 2018. Anderson was on the field for 54 total.
“I could feel the frustration. Marty and I talked about it and just felt that it was a good opportunity right now for both parties and moving forward…I know that he envisioned a different type role – I think we had an idea as well – this is an opportunity to give a veteran guy a chance,” said Rivera. “Also more importantly for us, it gives us an opportunity to really take an honest look at CAP.”
Cameron Artis-Payne, whom the Panthers drafted in the fifth round in 2015, has 99 rushes for 422 yards and four scores in limited action throughout his career; Rivera says they want to get a longer look at Artis-Payne – whether that’s during practice or in a game remains to be seen.
“I most certainly believe that he can be, that he can be that guy – he’s a tough, hard-nosed young man who’s waited for his opportunity and earned this opportunity and hopefully, when he gets his chance on the football field, he’ll take advantage of it. From what we’ve seen through the preseasons the regular season play that he’s had, we felt comfortable enough to go ahead and make the move,” Rivera said about Artis-Payne, who has been running the scout team in practice and hasn’t had an offensive snap in 2018.
“We’ll go forward and see how it goes.”
The 28-year old Artis-Payne has started three games in his NFL career – all subbing for Jonathan Stewart in 2016; CAP gained 144 yards on 36 carries in the three Panthers losses.
“I think he’s going to step up, it’s a great opportunity for him,” said Torrey Smith, who is working back slowly from a knee injury. “It’s always important to have a thunder and a lightning type combination, but C-Mac has done such a great job that it’s kind of hard to take him off the field as a receiver and as a runner in between the tackles, so it made it tough.”
If Anderson clears waivers, he is free to sign with any team.
