Panthers’ Ron Rivera not worried about splitting touches
By Mike Dyce
The Carolina Panthers have a good problem on their hands, too many running backs. Mike Tolbert has been playing well, DeAngelo Williams will play through his quad injury and Jonathan Stewart is set to make his season debut this weekend. Despite having a crowded backfield with plenty of players clamoring for carries, head coach Ron Rivera isn’t worried about splitting carries.
“One thing we can’t worry about is making sure everybody gets enough touches. What has to happen is when these guys get their opportunities they have to be quality touches,” Rivera said, via the Charlotte Observer.
“We can’t force things. What we’ve got to do is (offensive coordinator) Mike (Shula) has to continue to call his game the way he wants to call it, and at the end of the day when you get your opportunity, make the best of it.”
The Panthers will likely get Stewart back and Rivera said he has looked good.
“He just looked fast. Fresh legs,” Rivera said. “Seriously, he looked good. He made some really nice cuts. So it’s exciting. It really is.”
“It felt good going out there, hitting the field full-speed with some contact. And just running plays with contact,” Stewart said. “It’s different going from running sprints, pulling sleds, even just walkthrough practices – half-speed here, half-speed there – to full pads.
“Today was a good step. It was fun. Just good to be back out there in the huddle. Everything feels good right now.”