Is Ka'Deem Carey the best option at kick return

[Aesopian]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/blog/ct-biggs-bears-mailbag-kadeem-carey-20151021-story.html

Have the Bears considered using Ka'Deem Carey as a punt or kickoff returner? -- @etwitty007

I would be a little surprised if that is a primary role they would consider Carey for simply because he’s not real fast. Carey was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.65 seconds at the scouting combine and he really hasn’t been used as a returner since 2011, his freshman year at Arizona, when he had 26 kickoff returns.

Marc Mariani has been pretty average handling the role for the Bears to this point. He’s averaging 25.8 yards on kickoffs, which ranks 11th among those with a minimum of six returns. Using the same benchmark, he’s 16th on punt returns at 8.6.

Watching the game this past Sunday, you saw the No. 1 priority for all returners is ball security. Two muffed punts that were recovered by the Bears nearly cost the Lions the game. Mariani is sure-handed and smart in his decision making. It’s a spot the Bears would ultimately like an upgrade but I’m not sure they have a better option on the roster at this point.

Scroll down for more Bears Q&A from Brad Biggs.

[video=youtube_share;oCrxP0v6PLo]https://youtu.be/oCrxP0v6PLo[/video]

 

[ZenBear34]

Ka'Deem Carey

Anyone else think it's weird that he's on the team? With all the injuries and roster moves, he has remained. Has he even been active? Now they're talking about signing Montee Ball? I can only assume they like him but why keep a guy on the roster who you apparently have no intention of using? And if they do like him, why not give him a shot?

 

[Aesopian]

Bears are probably looking at Forte and evaluating him to see if he's worth a new contract. Langford and Carey will take the next spot if Forte is traded or wants to much to resign. Carey and Langford are back up plans. Ball was drafted by John Fox so he may see promise in him.

 

[Poppasmurf]

Why keep young player with dirt cheap contracts? Special teams running back depth to develop?..

Keeping a young running backs while they look at Forte and see if he's worth a contract extension. If the Bears don't resign him they'll promote Langford and Carey as a starters. They also want to see if better options are available.

I mean I think it's a fair question. Why bother with these FA rb's when he's on the roster and not playing. He obviously has some value and I'm wondering what it is just like OP.

It's pretty strange to keep a young guy, not play him and then sign players off the scrap heap. If it's true that we are in talks with Ball, are you not asking yourself "why don't we just play Carey?"

 

[3rd N Long]

Most teams prefer to have more than 2 healthy RB options available to them.

 

[Aesopian]

I mean I think it's a fair question. Why bother with these FA rb's when he's on the roster and not playing. He obviously has some value and I'm wondering what it is just like OP.

It's pretty strange to keep a young guy, not play him and then sign players off the scrap heap. If it's true that we are in talks with Ball, are you not asking yourself "why don't we just play Carey?"

Don't forget we recently signed Antone Smith at RB!

Bears are looking at Senorise Perry,Langford,Carey,Antone Smith,Monte Ball,Rodgers to see who the best potential replacement for Matt Forte is.

 

[Enasic]

Carey hasn't played much in his career, but when he was in there, he did positive things. I would have liked to see him play on Sunday.

 

[ZenBear34]

Carey hasn't played much in his career, but when he was in there, he did positive things. I would have liked to see him play on Sunday.

I like Carey. He's a hard runner with great balance. I'm just confused why they'd be looking a Montee Ball. Presumably you wouldn't sign Ball to be inactive, which would keep Carey on the sidelines. You've got Langford and Smith on the roster, and so little depth at so many other positions. It's just strange you would hold onto a player who is contributing nothing to your team ostensibly for depth and then go sign someone else when Forte goes down.

 

[Enasic]

I like Carey. He's a hard runner with great balance. I'm just confused why they'd be looking a Montee Ball. Presumably you wouldn't sign Ball to be inactive, which would keep Carey on the sidelines. You've got Langford and Smith on the roster, and so little depth at so many other positions. It's just strange you would hold onto a player who is contributing nothing to your team ostensibly for depth and then go sign someone else when Forte goes down.

I like Carey too and I'm just as confused as everyone else. The one positive I was trying to take out of Forte's injury, was getting a chance to see more Carey....don't know what happens now.

 

[PickSix]

Put him in coach. Fish or cut bait time. Let's see what we have.

 

[schizm032003]

I actually would really like to see Carey get a chance. He was a great producer in college, and given a fair shot, I think he'd play really well for us. I would rather see Langford and Carey get carries than for us to sign Ball who is fumble prone. Plus if he was all that, why is he still a free agent? why when Rodgers went down did we not sign Ball then? Like I said if he was worth signing, someone would have grabbed him up by now.

 

[schizm032003]

Carey hasn't played much in his career, but when he was in there, he did positive things. I would have liked to see him play on Sunday.

I agree, and I think he would've caught the pass that Langford dropped, just my opinion. Maybe since Pace didn't draft Carey, he's not getting an opportunity. He drafted Langford, and Ball has ties to Fox/Gase, Carey maybe is being held back because he was a pick of the other regime. All I know is when we've seen him he has played well. He runs hard, can catch the ball, give this kid a shot.

 

[schizm032003]

While Forte is out, let Langford and Carey split carries, until one separates himself from the other. I know Langford is faster, but I think Carey runs harder, is more sure handed is the passing game, and is better in pass protection. Langford has talent, I won't deny that, but Carey does too, give this kid a chance for crying out loud. We don't need to sign Ball, we have two promising young backs, we don't need a guy that's been sitting on the street cause no one has given him a shot. Go with the kids we have, get them experience and we'll be fine.

 

[Defense Wins]

Wind=muffed punts watch how much ground he had to cover just to get in position to catch the ball. Carey is slow not a returner.

 

[schizm032003]

Yeah I don't see Carey as a returner. I want to see the kid in the run game. I know he doesn't have the flashy 40 times, but the kid plays faster than his timed speed. He's more quick than fast, he runs really hard, finishes runs, can run, catch, and block. I actually think he would be more productive in the offense than Langford at this point. I just want to see the kid get a chance with Forte out. He and Langford can split the carries and go from there. Keep each other fresh, and give the defense differing styles to contend with. Give this kid a chance and we won't be disappointed.

 

[Enasic]

He runs really hard. Don't know what the deal is...unless his blocking is the worst of all time.

 

[schizm032003]

I don't think the kid has problems blocking, I actually think he's pretty good at it. I kinda think maybe its a case where this regime didn't draft him, and they have there own hand picked draftee in Langford. I understand Ball has history with this coaching staff, however theres a reason he was cut, and a reason he's still available. To sign him, imo, would be a slap in the face of Carey, cause the kid hasn't been given a chance to show what he can do in this offense.

 

[gwharris2254]

I agree S03203
Lets play the ******.
Fish or cut bait

 

[gwharris2254]

.... and he rarely goes sideways. He makes shit happen when called upon, Give the dude a chance Chicago

 

[dabears253313]

I think his speed is exaggerated. He's not super fast but definitely isn't slow like Keith Traylor as the media makes him out to be. He runs HARD. He also carried the load in Arizona. He had 50 carries in their win against Oregon in his final season.

I hope Matt Forte isn't going to miss time, but if he does I hope they give Ka'Deem Carey a chance. I have a feeling though, that the playing time will be given to only Jeremy Langford and Antone Smith. Smith is an underrated player.

What about Langford as a returner? He's faster.

I heard the Bears were talking to Montee Ball. I'd like that signing. He has potential and wasn't given that much of a chance. He was the backup in 2013 and was injured in 2014. He knows this offense as well. That would be an underrated signing in my opinion.