How will the Browns contain RB Christian McCaffrey?
The Browns’ defense not only will have account for RB Christian McCaffrey in the run game, but also in the pass game. He leads the 49ers in both rushing and receiving yards this season, with 796 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 217 carries, and 785 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 81 receptions. His versatility allows San Francisco to line up McCaffrey in the backfield or the slot to use him as a receiver.
“He’s a unique player in this game,” Stefanski said. “Just the way he impacts the game in both the run and the pass. When he’s running routes, he’s a wide receiver. I mean, I really don’t think there’s any route he can’t run. They could line him up anywhere, he could run any route. There’s no run scheme that he can’t run. So, he’s a huge challenge. Having gone against him over the years, you try to limit him, you try to slow him down, but you also have to recognize this is a great player. “
The Browns will need all three levels of the defense to contain McCaffrey and adjust to the different ways offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak and head coach Kyle Shanahan utilize McCaffrey in the offense.
“He’s one of the best with the ball in his hands, just in general, whether it’s receiving or rushing,” DE Myles Garrett said. “So, he’s a dual threat when it comes to that. And they give it to him as much as possible so he can line up out wide, so he can screen, he can get a toss, hand it off to him. Like, however they can get the ball to him, they will. So, he can hurt you in a variety of ways.”