Chicago Bears Position Breakdowns: Running back
by BearsFan1 on Feb 17, 2009 7:51 PM CST
61 comments
After a conversation with WCG, I have changed the format of my running series, and it even has a new name, switching the word "Possibilities" with "Breakdowns."
Now although I know that you all love to read about the inner workings of my articles, I think I should probably get to breaking down our running back situation.
The Bears were helped immensely by the addition of rookie Matt Forte, who came out as a second rounder from Tulane and gathered over 1,700 total yards.
Adrian Peterson and Kevin Jones were decent last year as backups, but the Bears ultimately failed as a rushing team, finishing 24th in rushing yards and yards per rush, a very, very, very bad team that supposedly "gets off the bus running."
So how are we looking personnel-wise?
How are we looking now?
Matt Forte was obviously a big help last season, just one look at his stats will show you that he is a player who can become dominant, as he was one of the best rookies in this year's class.
His 1,715 total yards were huge to the Bears; however, Forte struggled with consistency and ultimately was stopped down the stretch, which hurt the Bears and their post-season aspirations.
Forte averaged over five yards per carry three times throughout the season, but also averaged less than three yards per carry another three times, one of those coming against the lowly Detroit Lions.
If Forte is going to become an every down back who will help the Bears become a Super Bowl winning franchise, he needs to work on his consistency or he will risk becoming another Anthony Thomas.
Kevin Jones was thought to be a player who would come in, share the load with Forte, and help the Bears in the running game.
Although he had a great rookie year, he has disappeared from the spotlight and is now trying to make his way back (Anthony Thomas?). However, I don't see him being able to do this with the Bears.
Possible Free Agents?
Deuce McAllister: Although he has had injury concerns, he is still able to run well and could provide a lot of guidance to help Forte avoid a disappointing career.
Fred Taylor: Taylor was just released and Jack Del Rio said that Taylor should have a chance with another team. Could that team be the Bears?
Look out for the next installment on wide receivers, coming likely on Friday.
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I like him but...
durability is a BIG drawback for a guy so small (I just had to).
Make every play lead the way to victory
Deuce will either retire,
Or go somewhere he will have a chance at starting.
Fred Taylor… well he will be on his 12th season… that’s ancient for a running back.
Where’s Jacob Hester when we need him???
Things will get better as they improve...
Use Wolfe and The Original AP...oh, and get a passing threat.
With a pass threat, other teams won’t be able to stack the box and Forte will be able to find holes a heck of a lot easier (provided that we are able to put together a full 5-man line). Then spell him with the two we already have behind him and we’re good. The key there is getting some kind of a receiver to pull attention not just away from Hester, but away from our ground game as well.
I have to think that the real key is
(what you put in parentheses)…
Things will get better as they improve...
Lol... no worries.
Getting a big play WR is very important, you are absolutely right about that. But I really hope our OLine is the top priority..
Things will get better as they improve...
Both of those
are big time worries that need to get solved in the offseason.
Make every play lead the way to victory
Seriously... a poll????
If you take Forte off, and ask about a complimentary back… then maybe. But is there any question who our feature-back will be?
Tebow in 2010!!
Things will get better as they improve...
I'll try to get something else up
Wasn’t sure what to put for the poll there.
Make every play lead the way to victory
Good job making a poll though...
Those always look nice on the front page :)
Things will get better as they improve...
how's about a poll asking who would
be the perfect comliment for forte… to give us a great 1-2 punch… but u gotta add more than deuce and fred
Things will get better as they improve...
I tried
to cut down the possible free agent acquisitions after talking to WCG about another person (I forget who) who is doing a series about free agent acquisitions. I’m trying not to step on his toes so I greatly shortened the free agent acquisition section, which would hurt the poll to add in players who weren’t mentioned in the article. I will look over some more free agent runningbacks and try to compile five guys to put in a poll really quickly so that it can get out there better.
Make every play lead the way to victory
hey throw out whatever names you want on the poll...
it wont make a difference in someones article…
Things will get better as they improve...
Perfect!
Sorry to be hasslin you so much… but I know you are getting acclimated right now.
Looking forward to more great posts!
Things will get better as they improve...
It's no problem
I always love getting feedback and trying to get better.
Make every play lead the way to victory
As Long As
on the new poll, make sure you drop Deuce (hehehe)
"blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda and we'll go from there"
-Lovie Smith
by ifuwannacrownem on Feb 17, 2009 10:26 PM CST up reply actions
I can't wait...
for that Tebow-Forte rushing tandom. I always wanted to have Superman play for the Bears, wait Tebow is more intense than Superman, even better. LOL!!!!
A little article of mine from a while back...
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/35694-a-message-for-running-backs-remember-ricky-williams
Make every play lead the way to victory
Thank you for this
we will never forget the legend of Sticky Icky Ricky.
"blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda and we'll go from there"
-Lovie Smith
by ifuwannacrownem on Feb 17, 2009 10:35 PM CST up reply actions
I watched Garrett Wolfe for three years in DeKalb
For as great as his collegiate career was playing for mid-major NIU I don’t see him having the durability or the physical size to be a legitmate number two complementary back to Matt Forte. Comparison of Wolfe to Darren Sproles is ridiculous. Sproles made his mark as a return man and is of distinct thicker build versus Wolfe.
The draft
I can’t remember the guy’s name, but someone on here compared him to Ron Dayne with a little more quickness. He’d be the perfect compliment to Forte, and I believe Wolfe will get more touches as well on third downs.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
He can't get fewer touches
Derrick Rose-2009 ROTY Tyrus Thomas-2009 MIP...hope I'm at least half right
by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Feb 18, 2009 1:43 AM CST up reply actions
PJ Hill
PJ Hill, University of Wisconsin, is who I believe you are talking about. Hill has been compared to Dayne, but with better vision and quicker feet.
Like Forte with the Bears, Hill was the only legitmate offensive weapon for the Badgers this year and he still had a very productive year.
He should be still be available in the 4th or 5th round, so we can address the needs at OT, WR, DB, and still get a quality 1-2 punch for the run game with out mortgaging the future of the franchise.
Unreasonable people make life difficult...
by WisBearsFan34 on Feb 20, 2009 11:22 AM CST up reply actions
We don't need
a high milage RB we need to go young so they can contribute on special teams too.
+1
I would never sign a FA RB. The late round RBs in the draft are as good or better at this point than an older, high mileage guy.
Deuce, in particular, is done. I watched him play at the end of last year, and I have never seen anyone even close to as slow as him in an NFL game.
DEJESUS!!!
That's why I think that...
J.J Arrington would be the best fit. If we weren’t looking for a person who can come in and mentor Forte, Arrington would be the best fit as a change of pace back who has the speed of Arrington would give the speed factor of Wolfe with more durability and less of a size problem.
Make every play lead the way to victory
I voted for taylor
He is used to being phased out by younger backs in a system. He has no problem splitting time or taking less time. Despite him heading towards his 12th season, he hasn’t showed signs that he can’t run anymore. I like his potential as a mentor to Forte.
I really like the idea
of having a bruiser-type running back that could get 6-8 carries a game. This would allow Forte some small breathers, as well as provide a nice change of pace in the running game.
Things will get better as they improve...
I would be cool with JJ Arrington
Having a speed guy who could hit a home run every now and again wouldn’t hurt. I know that Forte has decent speed but he isn’t really a make a guy miss type back. But I don’t know much about JJ I suppose he could be the same type.
by GallopingGhost on Feb 18, 2009 11:13 AM CST reply actions
Anyone feelin,,,
Michael Bush?? I know its been mentioned on this site a few times….apparently, he’d come pretty cheap too
by chicagosports23 on Feb 18, 2009 11:21 AM CST reply actions
Bush
would be bush leagued.
"blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda and we'll go from there"
-Lovie Smith
by ifuwannacrownem on Feb 18, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions
I don't see how u can say that...
the guy has a 4.4 ypc, and a 5.8 in his last 4 games (15 games overall)….he’s a big back that can make a lot of noise as a spell back
by chicagosports23 on Feb 18, 2009 10:10 PM CST up reply actions
Not to mention
his 8.6 yards/catch outta the backfield….sounds like a huge upgrade over AP and could be stolen for maddddddd cheap
by chicagosports23 on Feb 18, 2009 10:18 PM CST up reply actions
OK OK
that was my nephew who wrote that, and yes i’ve always liked Bush
"blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda and we'll go from there"
-Lovie Smith
by ifuwannacrownem on Feb 18, 2009 10:22 PM CST up reply actions
nice
now that i got someone aboard….Forte-Bush 09!!! (ok, that was corny) but i especially loved how he destroyed the bucs in week 17
by chicagosports23 on Feb 18, 2009 10:38 PM CST up reply actions
I would take Bush...
He would feel right at home with the Bears, being that there is no O-Line in either Oakland or Chicago, and he is still averaging 4.4 ypc.
Use AP as FB and draft a RB in 4th or 5th round
AP should be used as FB because he can catch out of the backfield and is good on screens unlike Jason McKie who is useless, and we can draft a RB in the later rounds of the draft theres plenty of them out there
He can catch out of the backfield,
but could you see him playing smash-mouth football with linebackers and DLinemen?
Things will get better as they improve...
Exactly...
All they would have to do to bring AP down is touch his ankles. LOL.
bears should
Try to get a Home-Run Speed Back in the draft. It financially makes sense.
"financially make sense"
how does drafting a home-run speed back over a power back make sense financially?
I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad
Kevin Jones
Will be in his second year off of the knee injury and is still young. Who knows maybe he will be ready to pick up where he left off before the injury. If so, he would be a good compliment to Matt Forte.
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
Part of the issue
is we have a wasted roster spot on Wolfe, and Kevin Jones may or may not be healthy. AP is too productive on special teams to drop. If they sign/draft someone else, someone has to go.
DEJESUS!!!
I agree
Wolfe was a wasted pick. Too small, more quick than fast. Cannot break a tackle or block. Kevin Jones has lost his speed and is not that much of a power back so he is an easy tackle. I think it is time for the AP train to ride into the sunset, he has been good to us but I think as someone stated let’s get a younger guy in the 4-5th round to play. Not sold on Arrington. Why has he not gotten a bigger role in ariz all these years? They bring in James, then Hightower. Something is wrong there.
Arrington
was a bust as a 2nd round pick. I guess they kind of had given up on him but realized last season that he could actually play.
I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad
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