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Yesterday marked 100 days until the kickoff of the 2016 NFL season and ESPN dropped a list of 100 predictions of things that they believe will frame the 2016 season. There are four Chicago Bears-centric predictions, but it was the back to back predictions (#44 & #45) from Mike Clay and Jeff Dickerson that prompted this poll.
The two beat writers differ on who will end up the lead running back for the Bears this season, even though Chicago head coach John Fox will most assuredly ride the hot hand all season long. Maybe one of the active backs on the roster really outshines the others, but Fox has always been OK in mixing things up. Clay believes the Bears will eventually go with rookie 5th rounder Jordan Howard of Indiana, while Dickerson thinks 2nd year pro Jeremy Langford is primed for a big year.
Here's what Clay had to say,
Fifth-round pick Jordan Howard will prove to be the Bears' top RB. It won't take long for the 230-pound bruiser out of Indiana to overtake the underwhelming Jeremy Langford.
And here's Dickerson's response,
Agree to disagree, Mike: Jeremy Langford will the Bears' featured rusher, even though John Fox likes the RB-by-committee approach. Eclipsing 1,000 all-purpose yards isn't out of the question for Langford.
Langford does have a rep for being better out of the backfield, even though he struggled with the dropsies as a rookie. Howard should be OK on 3rd down in picking up the blitz, so the Bears may feel confident with either in the game on passing situations.
The wildcard in this is 3rd year tailback Ka'Deem Carey, but he only got on the field last year when Jacquizz Rodgers went down with an injury. With Rodgers back in the fold, we'll have to see what type of offseason Carey had, and if he can hold off Rodgers for a prominent role in the offense.
But as for today's poll, who do you see as the leading rusher for the Bears in 2016? Do you agree with Clay or with Dickerson?
I'll throw an "other" in the poll, just for the Ka'Deem Carey fan club.