10-09-2019, 11:46 AM
Vikings' Dalvin Cook, Panthers' Christian McCaffrey setting the pace for MVP seasonsWorkhorses backs are both on pace to easily exceed 2,000 yardsNeither Christian McCaffrey nor Dalvin Cook tip the scale much beyond 200 pounds. Both fall short of 6 feet in a violent game they share with agile giants trying to crush the will out of them 20-some times every week.
And yet these two versatile NFL stars have legitimate MVP dreams that stand taller than any other non-quarterback in a league in which only Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has interrupted the annual quarterback coronation the past 12 years.
Cook, the Vikings’ heartbeat offensively, is on pace for an all-world and franchise-record 2,374 yards from scrimmage. And yet even that doesn’t match the out-of-this-world effort we’ve seen from the 205-pound McCaffrey through five games.
When Cam Newton was playing, Carolina was 0-2 and trending toward getting Ron Rivera fired for about the 23rd time since he joined the head coaching ranks along with Leslie Frazier back in the Class of 2011. With Newton sidelined and neophyte QB Kyle Allen avoiding mistakes, the Panthers have won three in a row and once again given Rivera new life, not to mention a franchise-record 74th coaching victory.
Why?
Two words: Christian McCaffrey.
http://www.startribune.com/with-christia...562565402/
And yet these two versatile NFL stars have legitimate MVP dreams that stand taller than any other non-quarterback in a league in which only Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has interrupted the annual quarterback coronation the past 12 years.
Cook, the Vikings’ heartbeat offensively, is on pace for an all-world and franchise-record 2,374 yards from scrimmage. And yet even that doesn’t match the out-of-this-world effort we’ve seen from the 205-pound McCaffrey through five games.
When Cam Newton was playing, Carolina was 0-2 and trending toward getting Ron Rivera fired for about the 23rd time since he joined the head coaching ranks along with Leslie Frazier back in the Class of 2011. With Newton sidelined and neophyte QB Kyle Allen avoiding mistakes, the Panthers have won three in a row and once again given Rivera new life, not to mention a franchise-record 74th coaching victory.
Why?
Two words: Christian McCaffrey.
http://www.startribune.com/with-christia...562565402/