Panthers' Christian McCaffrey: Has own package of plays

In addition to familiarizing himself with the Panthers' standard offensive playbook during the preseason, McCaffrey has had to learn a separate package of plays tailored specifically for him, Dianna Russini of ESPN reports.

If McCaffrey's extensive usage with the Panthers' first-team offense during the preseason didn't provide enough of an indication that the team envisions him filling a major role as a rookie, Russini's report offers further support to that notion. It's unclear how often the supplementary playbook will come into play during the regular season, but regardless of what schemes Carolina implements, it sounds as though the team will make a concerted effort to get the ball in McCaffrey's hands in the open field. That could translate to some hefty yardage totals as either a runner or receiver in certain contests, but McCaffrey may ultimately yield much of the goal-line work to Jonathan Stewart or Cam Newton, whose bulkier frames are better suited for short-yardage conversions.