Great article on Matt Forte

by californiabearfan on Dec 4, 2008 3:37 PM CST Comment 13 comments

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-4-67/Forte-s-chances-for-rookie-of-year.html

Jerry Angelo gets a lot of grief on this website but I haven't heard a whole lot of credit being given to him for finding an absolute gem in the second round. There were many people who thought Rashard Mendenhall was the answer but it is quickly becoming apparent that Matt Forte is the top guy in this class of running backs (you can also make a case for Chris Johnson but its a very close). This guy is the absolute MVP to this football team and deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround on offense and the growth of Kyle Orton. Matt Forte has also just started to scratch the surface of his ability and just based on what we already know about his work ethic and desire to be the best, I don't see how he doesn't continue to improve.

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Nice Post...

Matt Forte is doing a tremendous job for us, and is welcoming the opportunity to be our work-horse. JA did an awesome job with this pick, and hopefully, Forte will stay healthy and be a productive Bears for a long time to come.
Matt Ryan should probably win ROY, considering the freaking mess of a hand he was dealt with in ATL. I mean, he’s got the Dirty Birds in the playoff hunt?! They might get Coach of the Year too (what’s his name? Smith or something?) The Falcons have come a long way in an insanely short period of time…

Residence: Portland, Oregon Pro Team: Da Bears NCAA Football: LSU Baby!! Make sense?

by Dane Noble on Dec 4, 2008 4:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I always think quarterbacks get too much credit...

…but I think the way Matt Ryan has come in is pretty amazing. His top receiver is Roddy White, a relative unknown before this season as well.

The one thing I have to say about the mess Matt Ryan inherited is that Matt Forte inherited a pretty bad mess as well. Forte came in with an unknown commodity at quarterback, a bunch of 2s and 3s at receiver, and a pretty shaky offensive line. Since then, Kyle Orton has improved the quarterback situation greatly, but the other two are not resolved as of now. If Forte is able to get a little stronger of an offensive line and a playmaking receiver on the edge… the sky is the limit.

by californiabearfan on Dec 4, 2008 4:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh...

Forte inherited the vast majority of our Super Bowl roster… and a lot of super-stars (who aren’t contributing like they should be, but super-stars nonetheless) that are his supporting cast. The OLine hasn’t been nearly as terrible as they should have been, and the offense has been surprisingly efficient (minus a couple of dud performances). To compare mess inheritances is a moot comparison… the Falcs win that hands-down.

But the sky is the limit for Forte (he should have a cool nickname by now)…

Residence: Portland, Oregon Pro Team: Da Bears NCAA Football: LSU Baby!! Make sense?

by Dane Noble on Dec 4, 2008 6:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The biggest argument Forte would have over Ryan

is that Forte is option 1 and option 2 in our offense. We would be completely lost without him.
However, Ryan has Turner to lean on.

The argument you make against Johnson is that he barely gets half his team’s rushing attempts and is nominally involved in their passing game.

--Torch

by torch on Dec 4, 2008 7:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

what superstars...

… did Forte inherit? Especially on offense?

Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.

visit the mindful mission

by big_lowitzki on Dec 4, 2008 9:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I will not get into a

debate focusing on only one side of the ball. For some reason, some people are only wanting to focus on a single aspect of the team instaed of the team as a whole. My comment was about the article… the article was about Ryan winning ROY, while throwing a bone to Forte… I pointed out how Ryan has done a whole lot with not very much… I also pointed out how much Forte has done… BUT WITH A LOT MORE TO WORK WITH…

I typically enjoy what you have to say on this blog, but if you seriously think Forte did not come to this team with super-star caliber talent around him as a supporting cast, then… then, well, I’m gonna be nice.

And Torch, I agree with you on the being lost without Forte comment… he has definately been our spark plug!

Residence: Portland, Oregon Pro Team: Da Bears NCAA Football: LSU Baby!! Make sense?

by Dane Noble on Dec 4, 2008 10:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would argue that Ryan has had a lot more to work with....

Turner and Norwood make a great 1-2 punch… and Roddy White has become a pro-bowl caliber WR over the last 2 seasons.

All the Bears have is Forte and a pair of underutilized TEs.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 5, 2008 6:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so...

… somehow the “superstars” on defense were supposed to help Forte? really?

As SackMan has already pointed out, there is a very strong argument that Ryan has a lot more talent around him, on the offensive side of the ball, than Forte does.

Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.

visit the mindful mission

by big_lowitzki on Dec 5, 2008 6:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, screw it... I give up:

Atlanta had more talent than Chicago, and Matt Ryan inherited a better team than Forte did.

Riiiiiight… lol.

Residence: Portland, Oregon Pro Team: Da Bears NCAA Football: LSU Baby!! Make sense?

by Dane Noble on Dec 5, 2008 8:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What are you... blind?

Let’s look at the WRs….

Roddy White (over 1,200 yards in ’07& already over 1,000 yards in ’08) and Michael Jenkins (who at 34 catches for 520 yards would lead all Bears WRs in that department) vs. every single WR the Bears have = no contest: advantage Falcons.

Let’s look at the RBs…
Michale Turner & Jerious Norwood vs Matt Forte and everyone else the Bears have = advantage Falcons.

Let’s look at the O-Line…
Atlanta has a 2nd year 330lb LG (Justin Blalock from Texas), and a 330lb RT (Tyson Clabo). The Bears don’t have a single starting lineman over 315lbs (John St. Clair… and he’s bad).

Wake up. All we have is Forte and a pair of TEs.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 6, 2008 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh... and BTW, if you want to look at defense

John Abraham has more sacks (12.5), than every Bears DE combined (Ogun 5, Brown 4.5, Indonije 2, and Anderson 0).

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 6, 2008 12:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Forte

He’s the real deal. That guy runs tough between the tough tackles, he can block, has great hands. He’s just an all-around complete back.

"....It is more about them than it is about the team. Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can’t do it. I want winners!" - Mike Singletary

by DennardC on Dec 4, 2008 5:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs