D'Onta Foreman Is the Ideal Back for Duce Staley
The Panthers have quite a few players that are free agents this offseason, some of which were a key part in the team's late season turnaround.
Running back D'Onta Foreman is one of those guys.
After taking over as RB1 following the Christian McCaffrey trade, the Panthers' run game improved, believe it or not. Foreman set then tone with his physical running style, averaging a career high 4.5 yards per attempt. He played in all 17 games, but did most of his damage in the nine games he started. In his first opportunity of being "the guy" in the NFL, Foreman rushed for 914 yards and five scores on 203 carries.
If it was up to new Panthers running backs coach Duce Staley, Foreman would be back in 2023.
"Super high," Staley said when asked how high Foreman is on the priority list of free agents. "Super high for me. But you know, my last name ain't Fitterer."
If anyone knows how dominant Foreman can be, it's Staley. He saw it firsthand when he and Chuba Hubbard helped set new franchise rushing records against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Eve.
"Those dudes are real," Staley said in regards to Foreman/Hubbard. "We came down here last year and got our a** whipped. Exactly what happened. Those guys were running up and down the field. And of course, as a former running back, you love seeing running backs have success. Not against us of course. But you like seeing it. But man, those two guys...and studying them in college also, I was able to watch film and watch the success they had. I loved them in college and I love them now."
Staley isn't the only new Panthers staffer that loves 33's game. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown studied him closely throughout the season, especially when he would come across him on the crossover tape.
"After we played you guys, I watched almost every single week just evaluating and the direction the team was going in. I just love the mentality. I'm about being a tone-setter."
As for Foreman, he would love nothing more than to remain a Panther. When I spoke to him last month about his future, he made it very clear this is where he wants to be. Just like anyone else, he wants paid but money isn't going to be a big issue with him.
"I've been blessed to be in this situation. It feels like home now," Foreman stated. "This has probably been the only time I've been in this situation where I was the starter and just the feeling of being 'the guy'. So of course I don't want to let that go. Of course, I want to be here. Of course, I want to continue to build on what we already started."
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