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Chicago Bears Select Matt Forte

Mattforte_medium

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With the Bears already having addressed the offensive line with their first round selection of Vanderbilt's Chris Williams the Bears used the opportunity to bolster the position that Williams will be blocking for.  The Bears selected Tulane running back Matt Forte.

Year GP Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds TD
2004 11 140 624 4.5 4 20 180 2
2005 11 169 655 3.9 4 23 163 1
2006 9 163 859 5.3 8 28 360 2
2007 12 361 2,127 5.9 23 32 282 0
Totals 43 833 4,625 5.1 39 103 985 5



Forte is not as easy of a pick to justify.  The Bears had many other options to consider.  Texas wide receiver Limas Swee was mocked by most in the first round, to pick him up in the 2nd would have given whoever the Bears decide to start at QB a big target to go after.  Also two QBs, Louisville's Brian Brohm and Michigan's Chad Henne were both on the board.  Both almost fell to the Bears in the third, but a late mini run at the end of the 2nd took them both off the board. 

The pick brings into question Cedric Benson's role with the Bears.  Forte really isn't a complement player, he is more of a take over the job guy.  Are the Bears prepared to set Benson adrift?  Does this mean the Bears will carry 4 running backings going into the 08 season?

Whether your opinion is that the Bears made the right pick or that they took a third round talent in the second round or that they should have taken Rutger's Ray Rice instead the Bears addressed their two biggest needs and consider the day a win.

“Offensive line and running back were two of the positions that we had our eye on going into the draft,” said coach Lovie Smith. “So it’s a good day for us to be able to fill both of those needs.”

The Bears were impressed with Forte’s production and the fact that he remained in school to play all four years. As a senior, the 6-1, 217-pounder rushed for 2,217 yards and 23 touchdowns and caught 32 passes for 282 yards.

“He has excellent speed, he has good size and he can make you miss,” Smith said. “All the things you look for in a good running back he has.”



The pick gets an A for position, but the question of whether the minor reach to get him is justified does bring it down a bit.

GRADE: B

0 recs  |  Comment 9 comments

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Thats all we need

Another small school back who will not make it in the NFL….only rushed for 1 1000+ yrd
season and 5 TD’s in 4 years….....what the hell are these retartds thinking. Makes me wish i was a Dolphins fan….we just may be the new expansion Buccaneers and go like 0-and 20 something.

by SuperBowlXX on Apr 27, 2008 3:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i'm with you dude

F this f’ing team.

I’m eyeing a Vikings jersey. (OK not that bad)

But i am thinking about a Mendenhall jersey t-shirt.

by tempchad on Apr 27, 2008 3:47 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

that’s 5 RECEIVING TDs in 4 years, moron. He had 39 TDs in 4 years, including 23 his senior year. We’re going to love this kid, I guarantee

by bedrish on Apr 27, 2008 6:48 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't buy the small school stuff

Walter Payton came from jacksonville state

Looking at some of last years top running backs in the NFL

LaDainian Tomlinson Texas Christian
Brandon Jacobs Southern Illinois
Brian Westbrook Villanova
Willie Parker North Carolina

None of these players are football powerhouses and seem to be doing pretty good in the NFL.

by beardown on Apr 27, 2008 7:41 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

YEAH!

We should draft a back from a big school like Texas. A guy who rushed for 1,000 in each of his seasons! That’s what we need!!

by Doctor Chicago on Apr 27, 2008 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

is forte better than

felix jones… hes the guy i was hoping the bears would take

by 234L on Apr 27, 2008 11:07 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Its just dissapointing

You always want them to pick a guy you know. I just wish we would stop trying to find a running back in the draft and aquire one that is already in the league. It worked great with thomas jones. Cheap and productive.

"It was shock. You almost feel you have three or four innings to play, but you go home." -- Alex "Mr. March" Rodriguez after losing to Mexico in the WBC

by haze on Apr 27, 2008 12:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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