[BostonCard]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/20...ry-watson/

Good article, and not just because I like their answer.  Some key quotes:

He wasn’t just a runner earning free yards as a return man for Stanford, and though his return yards make up 1,042 of his 3,496 all-purpose yards, he ended his season the second-highest-graded returner in the nation. McCaffrey finished with one kick return touchdown to his name and multiple games in which he influenced field position all game by forcing teams to avoid kicking to him. That’s the kind of thing that doesn’t show up in any obvious stat, but wins the field position battle before he even touches the ball each drive.

For example, the field position advantage over WSU was critical in a game we had trouble moving the ball.  As I recall, WSU never kicked the ball to McCaffrey, instead squibbing the ball, which consistently gave us the ball at the 35 yard line.  (We started at the 36, WSU48, 40, 20, 35, 41, 34, 41, 45, 41, 25, plus the position after two INT's).  McCaffrey didn't return any of those, but because he was back there, we had outstanding field position.

There are better athletes in the college football landscape than McCaffrey. There may be faster players, guys more powerful, and generally more impressive physical specimens — which is not to say he is bad in any of those areas. What makes him so great though is his instincts and feel for how to play the game. Take this screen pass that goes to the house as an example:

This is bad defense to be sure, but watch the little things McCaffrey does without even thinking. Whenever contact is near, the ball is in both hands tightly tucked away. He follows and sets up blocks better than any runner in the country, and once he breaks into the open field he understands the leverage of the players around him and how to get to the space available. McCaffrey did this all season long whether carrying the ball, running after the catch or even returning kicks. He was simply put the best and most reliable weapon in college football this year.

I agree.  His vision and ability to set up his blockers are second to none.

BC

[BostonCard]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/20...ry-watson/

Good article, and not just because I like their answer.  Some key quotes:

He wasn’t just a runner earning free yards as a return man for Stanford, and though his return yards make up 1,042 of his 3,496 all-purpose yards, he ended his season the second-highest-graded returner in the nation. McCaffrey finished with one kick return touchdown to his name and multiple games in which he influenced field position all game by forcing teams to avoid kicking to him. That’s the kind of thing that doesn’t show up in any obvious stat, but wins the field position battle before he even touches the ball each drive.

For example, the field position advantage over WSU was critical in a game we had trouble moving the ball.  As I recall, WSU never kicked the ball to McCaffrey, instead squibbing the ball, which consistently gave us the ball at the 35 yard line.  (We started at the 36, WSU48, 40, 20, 35, 41, 34, 41, 45, 41, 25, plus the position after two INT's).  McCaffrey didn't return any of those, but because he was back there, we had outstanding field position.

There are better athletes in the college football landscape than McCaffrey. There may be faster players, guys more powerful, and generally more impressive physical specimens — which is not to say he is bad in any of those areas. What makes him so great though is his instincts and feel for how to play the game. Take this screen pass that goes to the house as an example:

This is bad defense to be sure, but watch the little things McCaffrey does without even thinking. Whenever contact is near, the ball is in both hands tightly tucked away. He follows and sets up blocks better than any runner in the country, and once he breaks into the open field he understands the leverage of the players around him and how to get to the space available. McCaffrey did this all season long whether carrying the ball, running after the catch or even returning kicks. He was simply put the best and most reliable weapon in college football this year.

I agree.  His vision and ability to set up his blockers are second to none.

BC