Forte is not playing below standards...

by Cosmis on Dec 17, 2009 12:01 AM CST Comment 31 comments

At least not at the level we're all assuming. Sure, he hasn't had a great year, but I would argue that he didn't have one last year either. He had a LOT of touches, and capitalized on those touches to the best of his ability.

Last year: 315 Car, 1231 Yards, 8 TD, 3.9 avg. 64 Rec, 486 Yards, 4 TD.

This year: 201 Car, 685 Yards, 4 TD, 3.4 avg. 51 Rec, 454 Yards, 0 TD.

Which puts him on pace for: 247 Car, 840 Yards, 6 TD, 3.4 avg. 63 Rec, 552 Yards, 0 TD.

Which would put his total output at-

08: 379 Touches, 1717 Total Yards, 12 TD. (4.5 yards per touch.) (1 touchdown per 31.58 touches.)

09: 310 Touches, 1392 Total Yards, 6 TD. (4.49 yards per touch.) (1 touchdown per 51.66 touches.)

# of 100+ yard games

08': 3 rushing (123 @ IND, 126 vs DET, 139 @ STL), 11 total.

09': 1 rushing (121 vs DET), 5 total (and one which was 3 yards off).

Aside from his touchdowns (which can be attributed to the both the increased passing threat and shoddy o-line), where exactly is he THAT much worse? I guess one could say that he has less DECENT games, which is true, but that can partially be explained by a general lack of touches, or at least at the massive amount he recieved last year.

It's not like he went from Chris Johnson to Chris Brown. He had a very productive year last year, but he rarely took over games. We have to accept what he is, which is a good recieving back with average speed and average power. He's not particularly bad at anything, but he's far from an elite running back (even last year).

Granted, he has fumbled much more than he should and seems much less effective from the good old eyeball test (actually WATCHING his play). But he is FAR from the worst ailment of this team. In my opinion, the biggest injury of the season (aside from Urlacher) was when Kevin Jones went down in the preseason finale. A healthy Jones (and a healthy Garrett Wolfe, who was showing an improved overall game this season) could help a lot.

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I also think

We underutilize Forte, and have not appreciated what we have

It’s easy to chuck him under the bus and say we aren’t running enough, but we need to treat like a Westbrook-type back where a screen or dump-off can be just as effective and consistent as handing the ball off to your back…especially when you have a crap O-line.

But wait, that would require a coaching staff that actually can make gameplan and make adjustments…never mind

by BigAppleBearsFan on Dec 17, 2009 8:40 AM CST reply actions

Good post with some good info

I think once the o-line gets it in gear Forte will get the touches again… he’ll be a serviceable back for the Bears for years to come

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 17, 2009 9:29 AM CST reply actions

Yeah but

he was my first pick (5th overall) in my fantasy draft and has killed me this year. But then again, so is Brandon Jacobs! Ouch, so much for the playoffs.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 17, 2009 10:26 AM CST reply actions

same exact thing

for me in my league, misery does enjoy company, so thanks

by CubsFan87 on Dec 17, 2009 5:30 PM CST up reply actions

If 3.4 YPC is considered a good standard

Than, I’m done with watching football.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 17, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions

Don't think anyone is saying or suggesting that

Also, a 3.4 YPC for a RB is not just the fault of the RB, it can be blamed on the OL’s performance, too. IMO the latter is more likely in Forte’s case.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Dec 17, 2009 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

I'm not saying it's a good standard

just that it’s not that far off from what he did last year…

Never die easy. Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that Linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life. It's okay to lose, to die, but don't die without trying, without giving it your best.- Walter Payton

by Cosmis on Dec 17, 2009 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

last year his stats we ok,not great

this is real football, not fantasy land. this year his stats suck. 3.4 YPC is horrific.

by Hatchetm on Dec 17, 2009 12:12 PM CST reply actions

Personally

I put more stock into Yards Per Touch over Yards Per Carry

by Cosmis on Dec 17, 2009 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

although I agree

the 3.4 ypc is pathetic.

But it’s not like he was setting the world on fire last year with his 3.9 ypc.

Basically the point of this post is to say that while Forte is not having a “good” year, he’s not too much worse, compared to his previous NFL experience.

by Cosmis on Dec 17, 2009 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

You're suppsoed to "raise" the bar

Not “lower” it… or in this case, drop it into Lake Michigan.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 17, 2009 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

but...

it’s not like Forte is solely responsible for that drop, as most of us seem to think.

Forte’s touches are down, so it makes sense that everything else would be down as well.

Like I said, his receptions are actually up, and his total yards per touch is more or less the exact same.

by Cosmis on Dec 17, 2009 5:00 PM CST up reply actions

His stats in 2008

are significantly better than okay, let’s be honest about that.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Dec 17, 2009 4:58 PM CST up reply actions

i prefer quality over volume

of the top 40 rushers, 36 had a higher YPC. normally that would classify as “suck.” but since he was a rookie and was a decent blocker and receiver, i would upgrade it to OK.

look, i don’t care enough to argue about it. you put him behind a great O-line and he can get the job done. but he is not a difference maker. he was a 2nd rounder, what do you expect, bo jackson?

by Hatchetm on Dec 17, 2009 6:51 PM CST up reply actions

Hmmm,

First, Forte is a good blocker and a good receiver not decent as you would have folks believe.

Second, Forte does not need a great line to be a quality RB, he was a quality RB last year behind a mediocre (at best) line.

Finally, as for being a 2nd rounder, I think teams have the right to expect players taken in round 2 to be difference makers.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Dec 18, 2009 9:47 AM CST up reply actions

7 pro bowl RBs last year

5 were first rounders.

watch one of those guys, you’ll quickly realize that forte is not in that class.

by Hatchetm on Dec 18, 2009 10:44 AM CST up reply actions

Hmmm again,

How many of them would be difference makers running behind this season’s Bear OL?

Also, that 5 pro bowl RBs were 1st round picks does not mean a 2nd rounder cannot be a difference maker.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Dec 18, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

agreed

even this year, he has been a more than acceptable reciever (especially the San Fran game). This year has not been bad enough for us to “cut forte!” or “fire his ass!” like I’ve seen on this site. That shit is just repugnant.

by Cosmis on Dec 18, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, I hate the overreactions.

He is a valuable piece. What’s that old saying? Jack of all trades, master of none? Just because he isn’t special doesn’t mean he isn’t very good with the right pieces around him.

When you have seen some anger with him is when it doesn’t look like he hits the hole hard enough. I understand that there aren’t the running lanes that were there last year, but he looks lost when there isn’t a hole where he’s expecting it to be. I wish he would either bounce it back outside and try to get around the pile or put his head down and hit whatever hole is there really REALLY hard. Get that tough yardage. It sucks when I see him get a case of happy feet at the line and go down after some contact.

That said, I expect him to bounce back and show us that same guy from last year sometime soon.

by ChiLobo#23 on Dec 19, 2009 12:18 AM CST up reply actions

agreed, on all counts.

I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been REALLY upset with him at times this year, but he’s still been somewhat productive, at least more than you would think at first glance.

by Cosmis on Dec 19, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

So Walter Payton was a great RB b'coz of his OL? right...

I’m tired of hearing that Forte & Cutler are doing well but the offensive line is to blame for them being not as productive this year. It’s like a carpenter blaming his tools! What I’ve seen is the lack of burst that Forte had last season. Also, would like to see his stats when he was put in for short yardage situations. likewise, Cutler’s record 25 interceptions means that he is more likely to throw an interception than a touchdown. Would like to know how many NFL QB’s have thrown 25+ interceptions in a season & gone on to win a SuperBowl? Is this bad judgement on throws… or bad OL…you decide!

by AKK on Dec 27, 2009 4:42 PM CST up reply actions

If a carpenter does not have the right tools for the job

he will be unlikely to do a very good job wouldn’t you agree? No one is saying or even implying that Cutler and Forte are playing well, but what many are saying is that with better OL play, both Cutler and Forte would have much better numbers.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Dec 28, 2009 8:26 AM CST up reply actions

good post

people that call him a bust. his receptions will match what he did last year or hell have more. he just was never able to get on track with this o line

by Bear Lovin 21 on Dec 17, 2009 1:09 PM CST reply actions

He hasn't really gotten worse,

I think that since he hasn’t had as many carries, it has been harder for him to get into a groove. If there is one place that I think he has slipped on it is blocking in the backfield. IMO he looked better at that last year. That is not necessarily from anything that he is doing wrong, it could be a function or poor line play, and even just bad scheming that doesn’t put Forte in positions to succeed. Both of which we have seen this year.

The Bears do need another back to compliment Forte and so that they will be able to show more looks on offense. IMO he is best suited as a 3rd down back through the 1st three quarters of football to keep him fresh for the the 4th quarter. I would like to see a bigger brawler of a back on 1st and 2nd downs in the 1st-3rd quarters. That would wear down the defense while keeping Forte fresh to finish them off.

by Fridge72 on Dec 17, 2009 1:09 PM CST reply actions

Oh,

Great post by the way.

by Fridge72 on Dec 17, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions

he jsut isnt punishing back.. hes got great hands and great out of the backfield but they need to get BEAST in there to mix it up!! he also doesnt hit the hole as fast as id like..

by achilles10 on Dec 18, 2009 6:58 PM CST reply actions