Night Link II: Limiting Matt Forte's Playing Time
by Adam T on May 7, 2009 8:00 PM CDT
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It was no secret that Matt Forte was our offense last year. It is also no secret that we need to limit his playing time to some extent to both increase his in game effectiviness, but also to hopefully extend his career. The Bears took a big step to doing that with the trade for Jay Cutler. The run is still king in Chicago, but Cutler gives the Bears options they didn't have prior.
The next step is to find a capable backup for Forte. The Bears think they have that in Kevin Jones. Last year he was coming off of a knee injury and didn't have a full camp to get ready. This year he will be there and be 100% from the start.
Forte...
...was fourth in the league with 316 carries last season, averaging 19.8 per game. It was not just the carries--Forte was on the field a lot. He averaged being on the sideline less than 10 plays per game, a pretty remarkable number for a rookie.
Forte was on the field for just shy of 84% of the Bears offensive snaps. The Bears could possibly looking to get that number down to around 75.
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I would strongly consider...
taking Forte off the field during the entire 3rd quarter, and let K. Jones carry the ball. The reason is we seemed to have trouble closing out games last year, see Carolina and Tampa Bay. Therefore, I believe a fresh Forte will be able to grind out the yards to get 1st downs at the end of games.
Jones will hopefully be better,
this year. Hopefully Jones will start getting playing time early on in games to allow him to get into a groove. That is the important thing I believe in the two back system. Knowing the backs well enough that the coaches can predict when either one is going to get hot and then getting them into the games while they are.
If I was RT, I wouldn’t be afraid to use Adrian Peterson and Garret Wolf either. Assuming they are both still around for the regular season. Peterson has been on the Bears long enough that hopefully they can tell when he is having a good day. Wolf, well they hardly ever tried.
Disclaimer: I’m not saying that Peterson or Wolf should be used over Jones, just that I don’t want us to become predictable. If Jones isn’t getting into a groove for some reason and Forte should be spelled. Then we shouldn’t be afraid to use them.
2 or 3 backs will be necessary in the future
With the inception of the 16 game season, it has become more and more clear that the days of the One Back offense were going away. Now that they’re considering going to a 17 or 18 game season, teams that have 3 good to serviceable backs will have an advantage. I agree that Jones has a chance of being a real factor in the Bears’ offense this year and if he lives up to his original draft potential, we could have one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. I would have liked to have seen us pick up a RB in the later rounds of the draft to play special teams and develop, if the extended season becomes a reality.
Kevin Jones = Joker in the deck
I fully expect to see him get 8-10 carries per game, and to find the endzone a handful of times. Forte/Jones will be the next awesome RB duo in the league.
12-4, North Champs, here we come!
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I think you may be right
Not the 12-4 part, but the great RB duo part. Kevin Jones has always been an outstanding back, but he could never stay healthy. Looking at Detroit’s offense back then, that’s kind of understandable. He has decent hands as well. If we have a 70/30 or so split between the two of them, we may have a crack at topping the league in rushing yards.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay
This exactly the same problem the Vikings have faced. All you need is a Chester Taylor. I think you have that in Kevin Jones, he was one of the few bright spots on the Lions and should be a capable backup.
In AP I trust
Brett Favre should go die somwhere
by FarvaForTheVikings on May 7, 2009 10:17 PM CDT reply actions
you are exactly correct...
I like Chester Taylor and hope Kevin Jones can be just like him.
Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.
by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 8, 2009 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions
seems to me
the bears are interested in amani toomer =]
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d810349b3/Thursday-s-Around-the-League
Good
I think he still can play at a high level and politics knocked him down the depth chart
Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!
by ifuwannacrownem on May 8, 2009 7:11 AM CDT up reply actions
If anyone remembers what I was yelling last year...
…I’m very surprised that Forte didn’t get hurt and didn’t get his carries limited. I hope it stays that way. I think he’ll be the first rookie to get > 300 carries and not have an injury since LaDanian Tomlinson. I think.
People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. --Bruce Bartlett
knock on my head
Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.
by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 8, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions
I also think that even with Cutler...
and more completions, we will have more plays on offense all together. Not so many three and outs. My prediction = Forte will have a great season and KJ will step up his game. Of course, factored in are new and improved OL.
Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.
by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 8, 2009 10:11 AM CDT reply actions
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