Panthers Miles Sanders prepping for Week 1: 'He's been awesome'
Comes Sunday, Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders will make his debut. It comes with much anticipation because the Panthers signed him to a four-year, $25.4 million contract, plucking him away from the Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout the preseason, Sanders has garnered praise from teammates, and in recent days, the running back's effect on everyone in […]
Comes Sunday, Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders will make his debut.
It comes with much anticipation because the Panthers signed him to a four-year, $25.4 million contract, plucking him away from the Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout the preseason, Sanders has garnered praise from teammates, and in recent days, the running back's effect on everyone in the locker room has only grown.
"To me, just a dynamic ability," Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown said. "I think being able to have three-down capabilities, play in between the tackles, play out in space; but also, when it comes third down, protecting the quarterback, first and foremost, but also trying to find some matchups. So you get him on some man coverage looks, get him in some one-on-one opportunities. And he's a great leader for that room as well. He's been awesome."
In a career season with Philadelphia, Sanders rushed for a career-best 1,269 yards. He finally put together the blend of pass-catching and in-between-the-tackles running that turned him from a gadget running back to an every-down back seemingly overnight.
For the Panthers, using the depth of Sanders' skill will be critical. That doesn't mean giving meaningless carries to the running back. Instead, the Panthers want to mix and match touches with Sanders and Chuba Hubbard.
"I think about Miles when it comes to touches – also Chuba – over just necessarily carries," Brown said. "Like not always being able to have carries in between the tackles, but how can we get them in space, find those matchups again? (And) get the ball to them as well."
The Panthers like what they have in Sanders. They see him as a player that will make rookie quarterback Bryce Young's life a little easier. And if he does, Week 1 could go according to plan for a Panthers team set with a mixed bag of expectations and unknowns.
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Feature image via Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports.
