For Those Concerned About Cam's Durability/Involvement In The Run Game

[Proudiddy]

JMO, but it's not a concern.  Cam is a physical specimen and is among the best in knowing how to protect himself on those designed runs and scrambles.  

What has led to the injuries and durability issues are the free running shots he takes as a passer.  As long as he is protected as a passer, his health and durability aren't an issue.

[Castavar]

Exactly. Cam takes most of his big hits in the pocket. The only way this offense works is if Cam is Cam, and that means using him as a dual threat. Don't worry about longevity, ANY QB (even pure pocket passers) can have a bad injury at any time, so use your Ferrari while you have it. That QB draw is just so effective because it gives us like 2 extra blockers.

[Steve_Smith_Sr.]

Nobody said he shouldn't run... he just shouldn't try to be JStew.

[Khyber53]

5 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

JMO, but it's not a concern.  Cam is a physical specimen and is among the best in knowing how to protect himself on those designed runs and scrambles.  

What has led to the injuries and durability issues are the free running shots he takes as a passer.  As long as he is protected as a passer, his health and durability aren't an issue.

Yeah, that's a fair assessment. When he runs on purpose, he chooses the contact he will put up with and that makes a huge difference. 

And the threat of him running might very well keep someone back as a spy rather than as a rusher.

[Proudiddy]

2 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Yeah, that's a fair assessment. When he runs on purpose, he chooses the contact he will put up with and that makes a huge difference. 

And the threat of him running might very well keep someone back as a spy rather than as a rusher.

Absolutely.

[mav1234]

There was only one run that was at all a concern today, and I trust him enough to let him call his number once in a while to put us up when we need it.  The majority of the time he was sliding. He's a leader and a tough dude and while I don't want him taking big hits, he is developing a feel for when his legs give us the best chance.  Plus, you can't make Cam not be Cam... he and this offense will always be at their best when he is a threat on the ground.

[Proudiddy]

8 minutes ago, mav1234 said:

There was only one run that was at all a concern today, and I trust him enough to let him call his number once in a while to put us up when we need it.  The majority of the time he was sliding. He's a leader and a tough dude and while I don't want him taking big hits, he is developing a feel for when his legs give us the best chance.  Plus, you can't make Cam not be Cam... he and this offense will always be at their best when he is a threat on the ground.

I've also noticed several times that he has refined a better sense of when to really push it and when there is nothing to be gained as well.  Several times he rolled out over the first 4 weeks, he scanned the field as long as he could, and when nothing was there, he finally left the pocket and sort of jogged to the sideline or threw it away.  It was clear he wasn't sprinting, so he knows when to give himself up, and as we saw today, he knows when to turn it on and slide or anticipate contact and initiate it.  Again, it's just a matter of protecting him as a passer.  And as you mentioned, his running and ability as a runner gives our offense such a dynamic dimension that when the playcalls are balanced and well-timed, it makes us impossible to defend.