The NFC South has gone through a major renovation this offseason. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin a new era after Tom Brady has called it a career. The Atlanta Falcons made major investments into the defense & added star running back Bijan Robinson with the 7th overall pick. New Orleans reunited Dennis Allen with his former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers have undergone a major overhaul after bringing in Frank Reich as their new head coach. However, despite all the changes in the division, 2022’s backup running back Raheem Blackshear could be the hidden gem for the Carolina Panthers.
Raheem Blackshear Could Be the Hidden Gem For the 2023 Carolina Panthers
Owner David Tepper brought stability into his coaching staff when he hired Frank Reich. The former Indianapolis Colts head coach had a winning record in three of his five seasons, including two playoff appearances. Armed with one of the top young defenses in the league and a vastly improved offensive line, Frank Reich and his staff have first-overall pick and Heisman Award winner Bryce Young leading the offense under center.
Signing veterans like running back Miles Sanders and standout wide receivers Adam Thielen & DJ Chark will help with Young’s development. But Sanders isn’t the only running back looking to make an impact.
Raheem Blackshear And His Untapped Potential
Second-year running back Raheem Blackshear is the third running back on the depth chart behind Sanders and Chuba Hubbard. Blackshear is the smallest of the three running backs, but his athleticism & upside as a receiving back make his potential exciting. In his first two seasons at Rutgers, he amassed 1,324 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns.
The emergence of Isiah Pacheco resulted in Blackshear transferring to Virginia Tech. His two seasons at Virginia Tech resulted in 1,403 total scrimmage yards and 9 touchdowns while averaging 9.4 yards per catch. Unfortunately, he went undrafted and signed with the Buffalo Bills early in the preseason before being cut and signing with Carolina.
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Why A Breakout Could Happen
Sanders was a big free agent signing for Scott Fitterer coming off of a career year in Philadelphia with 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Eagles, however, had a historic offensive line and the change might lead to some early struggles for Miles Sanders out the gate.
Raheem Blackshear represents the perfect backfield partner next to Sanders due to his pass-catching abilities. Bryce Young involved the running backs heavily at Alabama in the offense so the catches will be there for Blackshear to make an impact. 12th overall pick Jahymyr Gibbs had 44 receptions & 444 receiving yards at Alabama last year.
Raheem Blackshear makes it a two-possession game! #KeepPounding
📺: #CARvsSEA on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/VwP8oh9FMk pic.twitter.com/ZDbrpa2aQc— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2022
Running Back Friendly Coaching Staff
Another reason for optimism is the assistant coaches on Reich’s staff. Reich spent the last three years in Indianapolis watching Jonathan Taylor develop into one of the best all-around backs in the league. Assistant head coach Duce Staley is widely regarded as one of the top running back coaches in the league. He’s worked with LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray, Miles Sanders, and this past year helped Jamaal Williams break Barry Sander’s touchdown record in Detroit.
Staley’s innovation bodes well for Raheem Blackshear’s opportunities. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown also has a background with running backs. Brown worked previously as the Rams running backs coach, and coached Browns running back Nick Chubb at Georgia, along with Melvin Gordon in Wisconsin. A quality receiving back can be a good safety valve for a young quarterback, so the team recognizes how Blackshear can offer to Bryce Young’s development.
Main Photo: Jim Dedmon – USA Today Sports
