McCaffrey just received a scholarship offer from Michigan.
Of course, Michigan sees him as:
"...an explosive player who they would like to use for end-around plays while lining up in the slot."
This is a legit 4-star "All Purpose" back with 4.4 speed. From their statement, it doesn't look like he'd even be utilized as traditional slot receiver, but just playing that position to run "end-around plays".
I hope he makes a wise decision on whom he ends up playing for.
I am pretty sure they meant end arounds while ALSO playing in the slot. They would have not put the "while" in there, you can run end arounds from the outside receiver spot as well. You can't just line a guy up in the slot and not have him run actual routes and catch the ball. I guess they see him as a hybrid player like Percy Harvin (who was used mostly in the slot and still is) or Livas from LA Tech, both teams found creative ways to get them to run the ball and they had a balance between running and receiving.
watch the end arounds on this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31pT_20LYc
I really wish they would use that with Welker, and espescially Woodhead when he is in the slot. If that guy had more agility and didn't have to gear down so much to make people miss (non factor against bigger teams unless it was a wide open crease straight ahead) then he would probably be in the NFL and not the CFL. I think Welker has already carved out his role so Woodhead would be better, and he has great top end speed and agility. Haven't looked at McCaffrey so I don't know.
I mean I think its the best way to get more of our guys involved with runnin the ball, if you look at the Livas tape, there are very creative ways to get your wide receiver carries that are pretty much like a traditional halfback but originally lined up as a wr, they have a blocker in front of him, sometimes a blocker that pulls that way. I think I can see coaches be more accepting of using their White slot receivers (who are usually built more like runningbacks) as runners as well as receivers. With Vereen having a good few games Woodhead will probably have to battle both he and Ridley, so lining up half and half wouldn't be bad if half of the time in the slot they design runs for him. There were runs with the wr as the runner but the guy lined up as the tailback winding up as the blocking back. That could be Ridley.
edit: just watched McCaffrey's highlights, looks like the complete package, he runs a lot of routes that a slot receiver would run, even lining up in the slot a bit, and a few times on the outside. I would mix his role up a bit. I would be looking to get 800 yards rushing and 800 yards receiving out of him, which might wind up being like 800 yards receiving, 400 yards rushing.
