078 Eight Directions View

Ron Rivera urgently needed a running back.

At the beginning of this year, during the 50th Super Bowl, the Black Panthers' offensive group was brutally dominated by the Broncos' defensive group, getting thrashed to the point of helplessness.

The general criticism outside was that the Black Panthers' offensive line provided poor pocket protection, and quarterback Newton's tactical choices at critical moments were also questionable.

But as the head coach, Rivera's thinking was very clear; he knew that they couldn't always rely on Newton's legs—not only because Griffin's predicament was a warning from the past but also because the team's offensive strategy relied too heavily on Newton's read option. Once it was figured out, they would be doomed.

They needed an excellent running back to share the pressure, shift the focus, and enrich the tactics.

Li Wei was just right.