SANTA CLARA — In Week 1 of the 2017 season, Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey made his NFL debut at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers defense held him to 47 yards on 13 carries and five receptions for 38 yards, but the Panthers won 23-3.
Flash forward to 2019, and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and the 49ers defense is preparing to face one of the most productive offensive players in the NFL. Through six games, McCaffrey is tied for the league lead in touchdowns (nine) and is second in all-purpose yards (923).
“I remember him vividly,” Saleh said. “In our first year, felt like he was a scat back, change of pace. We had a plan for him. We felt like he would get his touches but didn’t think he’d hurt us.”
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But Saleh is well aware of how possible it is now that McCaffrey will hurt a team. The third-year running back averages 103 yards rushing per game, which ranks him second -- just behind Minnesota Vikings tailback Dalvin Cook (103.6 rushing yards per game).
“He is a more complete back,” Saleh said. “A very powerful runner where he can break tackles. He’s the full package. He’s obviously had a heck of a meal plan and a heck of a weightlifting program because he’s a very, very complete back. There’s no weakness in his football game.”
McCaffrey will obviously be facing a very stingy 49ers defensive line, which Saleh explains must stay sound in their gaps. If there is one inch of room, Saleh knows McCaffrey will exploit it.
The 49ers also will lean heavily on the speed of both linebackers Kwon Alexander and Fred Warner to contain McCaffrey at the second level, where he is used in the passing game.
San Francisco 49ers
“We’ve always said that the running back has outpaced the evolution of the linebacker,” Saleh said. “And to us ever since 2011, we felt like we’ve gotten ahead of the chains in terms of finding linebackers that can keep up with the backs that are being used as receivers.”
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Kyle Shanahan believes Carolina’s offensive scheme takes advantage of McCaffrey’s well-rounded talent. So much so that it reminds the 49ers head coach of a certain Hall of Fame running back.
“He reminds me of Marshall Faulk,” Shanahan said Wednesday. “He can beat you in the pass game, he can beat you in the run game. They’re doing a great job on how to use him because they are using him as much as possible.
“Christian is ... not many players you can do that with, but he has the ability to do it. You can tell he’s a very smart player, extremely talented and that’s why he’s being mentioned with some of the best in the league this year.”