Next Great RB Tandem... Forte-Jones?
by Dane Noble on Mar 12, 2009 2:00 PM CDT
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PrintIt has become a very popular concept in the NFL the last few years, and the Chicago Bears may be the next team to join the club: 2 great running backs.
From chicagobears.com:
This is probably the best move Jerry Angelo has made since the end of the 2008 season:
An unrestricted free agent, he nearly signed with the Bills during a visit to Buffalo late last week. But Jones always wanted to return to Chicago—and he opted to do so after the Bears matched two offers he received in Buffalo and assured him that his role would expand on offense
And, we will need KJ to share the load, just to keep Forte from breaking down:
In 2009, the Bears intend to have Jones share more of the workload with Matt Forte, who set team rookie records in 2008 with 1,238 yards rushing, 63 receptions and 1,715 total yards from scrimmage.
"They didn’t [guarantee] a certain amount of carries or anything like that, but they did assure me that my role would be bigger on offense," Jones said. "I will play an important role on offense.
Another great Jerry Angelo quote:
"I was talking to [general manager] Jerry Angelo and he said it was like kicking tires and checking a car but never really getting to test drive it. That was the analogy he used. So now this year we’re definitely going to get that done. I’m definitely going to play a lot more."
Jones has high expectations (speaking about Forte):
"It’s going to be good to be back in the room with him, and we’re going to do it together this year."
I'm not completely sold on the Forte/Jones tandem just yet, especially with the question marks surrounding our OLine. But, if we can address that properly in the draft, and Jones is truly healthy again, we just might have a nice surprise in store for the league next year.
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Will Forte/Jones be the next great RB duo?
I’d say give it 2 yrs. Like you said, we gotta get the o-line corrected first.
"URLACHER IS GOD"
Potential
is there for them to be a great 1-2 punch. The O-line is swiss cheese though. Fix that, and they could be pretty damn good.
The other "duos"
seemed to have pretty solid O-lines paving the way for them. Jacobs/Ward…. Williams/Stewart…. Turner/Norwood… Peterson/Taylor…
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that.
We know it's the most valuable position on the football team. We've gone through so many scenarios at that position we can write a book, moreso on what not do."
-- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
.
I agree with you guys.
O-line is important, but I think the Bears need to let him play! They sidelined him last year for Peterson because Peterson contributed on special teams. I never really understood why that was, but hopefully they will let him go in there, maybe every 3rd series, to give Forte a rest.
I'm thinking last year
was probably due to his health. I may be wrong, but I can only assume he wasn’t playing due to his knee not being ready… they may have been looking at not wanting to reaggravate it by putting him in too soon. Keep in mind, they signed KJ only 7 months (I think) after his surgery…
Ryan Perilloux in 2010!!
The bears were hit pretty hard with ST injuries
using AP as the backup allowed them to free up one roster spot they could use to fill a ST spot. As soon as Jones said he was willing to play ST, they put him back in the lineup.
Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!
Great attitude
I like Jones because he is working to be a compliment and not trying to take over. They should work well together.
Establish the line of Scrimmage
I really like the potential this duo presents. Jones has accepted Forte as the starter, and is willing to contribute as a change of pace back. It’s great to have people who understand the “team” concept.
With that said, I don’t see these two succeeding unless we continue to address the offensive line. For this reason, I think that it is imperative we draft a tackle with our first pick. If the line is fixed, Forte and Jones have enough talent to make the Bears a top 10 rushing team in the league.
If the ground game takes off, opposing teams will be forced to stack the box. This will make things a heck of a lot easier for Orton when it comes to finding an open receiver.
In short, a better offensive line combined with Jones and Forte elicits a solid running game. A firm ground attack opens the passing game for Orton, giving the offense balance. A balanced offense means the Bears defense will spend more time on the sideline. More rest means fresher legs. Fresher legs means the D-Line can put more pressure on the quarterback. Quarterbacks will be forced to make poor throws in the direction of our play-making corners.
Sounds good to me… I like Angelo’s approach and am confident the Bears will return to form this coming season. Can’t wait!
Tha Gov
by Bear_Nuts on Mar 12, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
With the size and speed of current defensive players
a team needs 2 starting quality running backs to have quality play the whole season (and hopefully the playoffs).
Maybe we can (but probably not)?
by Granny Waiters on Mar 13, 2009 6:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Not completely sold...
on KJ, but give him a chance. I think our AP said he didn’t even want the starting postition, so let KJ play with our man #22 and see how it works. We need a couple of big fat guys in front of them though before they can be truely a solid tandum.
If you just want fat
Smith will probably be there at 18.
Haha! his knees are frickin ashy
GIT SUM COCOA BUTTA BOY!
OH! STEWIE!! GET OUT THE WAY BOY! GET OUT THE WAY!
-Stacey King
by ifuwannacrownem on Mar 12, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Upgrades
Hopefully Omiyale is an upgrade at G, Williams becomes a stud at LT, JA signs a RT in free-agency and drafts another one in the 1st or 2nd rounds. Then Jones and Forte will become a formidable duo.
"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
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