Running Back?

[KittiesKorner]

It all starts with the line. Get some good blocking and Forte/ Carey will be fine.

we were 15th in run blocking last year. we have been much worse in recent years

 

[Mongo_76]

huh? you want to go with a zero-RB roster? RBs never pan out for the team that drafts them? i don't understand what point you're trying to make, but whatever it is I'm pretty sure I don't agree with it.

Zero RB roster???? Who the hell said that?

So you are expecting we're cutting Carey and Forte?

 

[ZenBear34]

Zero RB roster???? Who the hell said that?

So you are expecting we're cutting Carey and Forte?

so what's your deal, you come into a very specific thread and start an argument for no reason?

we get it, you don't think the bears should draft a running back. now you can go post in some other thread about something else and leave people that have some interest in discussing this hypothetical topic to do so.

that's how this works.

 

[ZenBear34]

rb in first round? no thanks. second? yes please.

who do you like in the 2nd?

there should be a lot of value in the 2nd and 3rd rounds at the position. i think it'll be a 3rd or 4th rounder personally.

 

[KittiesKorner]

who do you like in the 2nd?

there should be a lot of value in the 2nd and 3rd rounds at the position. i think it'll be a 3rd or 4th rounder personally.

I honestly don't know as I don't follow college except in tbe bowl games. Rb in the first given our needs just seems like a very bad idea. Forte has another 2 years in him

 

[Mongo_76]

rb in first round? no thanks. second? yes please.

Justin Forsett - 7th round.
Arian Foster - undrafted.
Terrell Davis - 6th round.
Pierre Davis - Undrafted.
Legarrette Blount - undrafted.
Fred Jackson- undrafted
Alfred Morris - 6th round


We don't need to waste an early pick on a RB. We likely don't even need to waste a pick at all. We have a solid #1 and a guy who can take the reigns. Move on to a position we actually need.

 

[gallagher]

If Forte is losing a step, he is still a wildly talented player, and would still perform well in a committee attack. To go that route, we would need a thumper to help wind players in the late game.

For that I like Langford. He is the guy to get tough yards, and handle 3rd and short. After that I like Ayaji, he is a tough runner and can be a threat as a runner and receiver.

 

[Mongo_76]

who do you like in the 2nd?

there should be a lot of value in the 2nd and 3rd rounds at the position. i think it'll be a 3rd or 4th rounder personally.

Why are you wanting to take a Rb in the 4th when we have a guy we drafted in the 4th last year?

 

[KittiesKorner]

Justin Forsett - 7th round.
Arian Foster - undrafted.
Terrell Davis - 6th round.
Pierre Davis - Undrafted.
Legarrette Blount - undrafted.
Fred Jackson- undrafted
Alfred Morris - 6th round


We don't need to waste an early pick on a RB. We likely don't even need to waste a pick at all. We have a solid #1 and a guy who can take the reigns. Move on to a position we actually need.

yes, I agree with you.

 

[bearmick]

If they draft a RB at all I hope it's a bigger short yardage back, which can be had in the later rounds if not UFA. Forte still has the skills to do his usual work, but if they're going to run more then get a downhill power back to compliment him. RB is one of the few positions on the team we have genuine quality at and I'd prefer to see the draft focus mainly on defense and OL, especially early.

 

[gallagher]

Justin Forsett - 7th round.
Arian Foster - undrafted.
Terrell Davis - 6th round.
Pierre Davis - Undrafted.
Legarrette Blount - undrafted.
Fred Jackson- undrafted
Alfred Morris - 6th round


We don't need to waste an early pick on a RB. We likely don't even need to waste a pick at all. We have a solid #1 and a guy who can take the reigns. Move on to a position we actually need.

Yeah, running backs have come off the street recently and in the past, and performed well. However, given that it is the draft, taking a guy that can immediately come in and improve the team is never a waste of a pick. We dont have a guy on the roster that can come in for the tough yards, so a short yardage back would find a niche on our offense.

You dont find a lot of guys in late rounds that can win playing time in their rookie year, so getting a guy that can take 3-4 carries a game would improve out team more than someone who might get 1-2 special teams tackles all year.

 

[Warrior Spirit]

Thinking we should grab Melvin Gordon and trade Forte and Cutler in a package deal.

 

[truthbedamned]

Anyone remember our defense from last year? And we are talking about drafting one of the few positions which we could totally ignore and be ok. With all of the holes in this defense and the needs on the OL I would be truly pissed if they waste a draft pick on a RB

 

[truthbedamned]

Thinking we should grab Melvin Gordon and trade Forte and Cutler in a package deal.

I say we package Forte, Cutler, Marshall, Bennett to Cleveland for their 6th round pick and then draft a RB with that pick.....SB here we come.

 

[Warrior Spirit]

Picture this if you will.

QB - Nick Foles
RB - Melvin Gordon
TE _ Martellus Bennett
WR - Brandon Marshall
WR - Alshon Jeffery

It will be the Greatest Show on . . . well, a real shitty field.

 

[3rd N Long]

i'll preface this by saying i am a huge matt forte fan. that said, he(along with just about every other bear obviously) had one of his worst seasons in the NFL. forte averaged just 3.9 yards a carry. he hadn't averaged less then 4.4 a carry since 2009 when he ran behind a terrible line under a terrible coordinator. forte saw a massive drop in his big plays as well, managing just 1 20 yard run after logging 9 the years before. since turner left forte has averaged 9 20 yard carries a season. it was also the first time he's not broken a single 40 yard run in a season. he had 4 in 2013.

forte will be 30 by the end of the 2015 season. now, it's possible that is fall off was due to other factors, but it's also possible he has already begun the inevitable decline running backs face as they close in on the age of 30.

couple that with fox's desire to commit to the run and an incredibly deep and talented running back draft class and i think the bears might end up addressing running back earlier in the draft then most are expecting. that will also depend on what they think of carey, who i like, but haven't seen enough to say he could step up if forte were to get hurt.

i wouldn't be surprised to see the bears dip into this class as early as the 3rd round.

(by the way, i understand running back is not a priority but it's a dead time for news and the main topics have been discussed to death at this point.)

my quick take on the 2015 running back draft class:

the best: melvin gordon-wisconsin, todd gurley-georgia
both are elite running back prospects. both are likely first round picks. i think minus the injury gurley is the slightly better prospect but both are potential all pro running backs. gurley runs like lynch. maybe not as powerful but faster. gordon looks like a bigger jamaal charles.

under rated: jay ajayi-boise st.
really fluid, aggressive runner. i think ajayi is closer to the top 2 prospects then most people give him credit for. he's a complete back with a lot of uspide.

workhorse: david cobb-minnesota
cobb is not flashy but he is a solid all around back who runs hard. reminds me of travis henry.

speed back: duke johnson-miami
super elusive and explosive, johnson lacks power but runs hard. he will struggle as an inside runner. in most systems a complimentary back. a guy who could be dangerous in the right hands.

power back: matt jones-florida
jones is a no nonsense downhill runner with surprising burst, speed and quickness. he has good hands as well. would be ideal in a two back system.

best of the rest:
tevin coleman-indiana: upright runner with speed and power. early 2nd rounder with pro bowl potential.
ameer abdullah-nebraska: undersized but tough runner with great all around game. 1st round talent but size will kick him to the 2nd.
t.j. yeldon-alabama: tall back with great feet and smooth acceleration. not powerful but runs through arm tackles.

My biggest problems with Forte in 2014 were the following

2014 Forte had a grand total of 1 run of 20 yards or more on 266 rushing attempts. Here is the list of guys who had more and the attempts each one had

1. Forsett------ 17 --- 235
2. Murray------ 15 --- 392
3. Foster--------- 9 --- 260
4. McCoy-------- 9 --- 312
5. Miller---------- 9 --- 216
6. Morris--------- 9 --- 265
7. L. Bell--------- 8 --- 290
8. Lacy----------- 8 --- 246
9. Hill------------- 8 --- 222
10. Lynch--------- 7 --- 280
11. Anderson----- 7 --- 179
12. Charles-------- 6 --- 206
13. Mason--------- 6 --- 179
14. Gore----------- 5 --- 255
15. J. Bell--------- 5 --- 223
16. Ingram------- 5 --- 226
17. Crowell------- 5 --- 148
18. Stewart------ 4 --- 175
19. Johnson----- 4 --- 155
20. Blount------- 4 ----- 60
21. Pierce ------- 4 ----- 93
22. Rainey------- 4 ----- 94
23. Ellington---- 4 --- 201
24. Murray------- 4 ----- 82
25. Robinson---- 4 --- 135
26. McKinnon--- 4 --- 113
27. West---------- 4 --- 171
28. Williams----- 4 --- 217
29. Bradshaw--- 3 ----- 90
30. Spiller------- 3 ----- 78
31. Matthews--- 3 ----- 74
32. Dixon-------- 3 --- 105
33. Starks-------- 3 ----- 85
34. Hillman----- -3 --- 106
35. Davis--------- 3 --- 134
36. Randle------ -3 ----- 51
37. Taliaferro---- 3 ----- 68
38. Oliver-------- -3 --- 160
39. Jackson------ 2 --- 190
40. Sproles------- 2 ----- 57
41. Greene------- 2 ----- 94
42. Smith------- -2 ----- 23
43. Todman---- -2 ----- 32
44. Martin------- -2 --- 134
45. Bernard----- -2 --- 168
46. Robinson--- -2 ----- 76
47. Blue----------- 2 --- 169
48. Freeman----- 2 ----- 65
49. Thompson-- 2 ----- 54
50. Forte--------- 1 --- 266

Forte longest run of the year was a 32 yard run against the Vikings 25th ranked rushing defense.

So while Matt Forte had a pretty good year receiving for a RB. His running game was pedestrian at best.

Since the offensive line was ranked 12th best rushing O-line in the NFL. It just doesn't make sense, that he was unable to gash the opponents defense, at least a few more times over the course of 266 rushing attempts.

Forte is not a banger, he struggles most of the time to knock out short yardage runs when needed. Which makes the Bears a one dimensional team & leaves little fear in the opposing defense that the Bears will run all over them. Especially with Dr. Death & his stupid ass, offensive game planning.

Forte also struggled in the 10 yards or more department. These are his #'s compared to the other RB's in the top 20 rushing yards in 2014.

Murray 45 for 826 yards off 392 attempts
Forsett 40 for 783 yards off 234 attempts
Foster 34 for 658 yards off 260 attempts
L. Bell 34 for 628 yards off 290 attempts
McCoy 34 for 619 yards off 312 attempts
Lacy 38 for 603 yards off 246 attempts
Lynch 35 for 592 yards off 280 attempts
J. Hill 28 for 564 yards off 222 attempts
Miller 31 for 554 yards off 216 attempts
Gore 31 for 482 yards off 255 attempts
Morris 26 for 454 yards off 265 attempts
Charles 22 for 449 yards off 206 attempts
Stewart 26 for 438 yards off 175 attempts
Mason 24 for 431 yards off 179 attempts
Ingram 25 for 403 yards off 226 attempts
Anderson 25 for 396 yards off 179 attempts
J. Bell 23 for 386 yards off 223 attempts
Forte 22 for 323 yards off 266 attempts
Ivory 18 for 303 yards off 198 attempts
Williams 10 for 223 yards off 217 attempts



Forte also struggled greatly in yards per run in comparison to the other RB's in the top 20 rushing yards in 2014

Forsett 5.4
Hill 5.1
Miller 5.1
Charles 5.0
Foster 4.8
Murray 4.7
Bell 4.7
Lynch 4.7
Anderson 4.7
Lacy 4.6
Stewart 4.6
Gore 4.3
Ingram 4.3
Mason 4.3
McCoy 4.2
Morris 4.1
Ivory 4.1
Bell 3.9
Forte 3.9
Williams 3.3

Now I could be wrong but I think the combination of Forte not being good at making his own holes and banging out tough yards. Combined with the O-line probably not being deserving of being the 12th best run blocking O-line in the NFL in 2014. I think those 2 factors really hurt the Bears offense this year, amongst other things.

Forte was a poor rushing RB during the 2014 NFL regular season.

One of his biggest problems was the ability to gain decent yardage on 2nd & 3rd down runs.

Here is a list of the 1st, 2nd & 3rd down rushing averages in the top 20 RB's in rushing yardage during the 2014 regular season.

Murray 4.9 / 4.3 / 4.7
Bell 4.9 / 4.5 / 3.9
McCoy 4.5 / 3.7 / 4.7
Lynch 4.6 / 4.9 / 4.4
Forsett 5.5 / 5.3 / 5.2
Foster 4.2 / 5.3 / 6.1
Lacy 5.0 / 4.4 / 2.9
J. Hill 5.7 / 4.6 / 2.8
Gore 4.2 / 4.8 / 3.0
Miller 5.2 / 5.1 / 4.2
Morris 3.8 / 4.6 / 4.5
Charles 4.9 / 5.2 / 2.6
Ingram 4.2 / 4.5 / 4.2
Bell 3.8 / 3.9 / 4.9
Anderson 4.7 / 4.6 / 4.2
Ivory 4.5 / 3.6 / 4.1
Stewart 5.2 / 4.1 / 2.3
Mason 5.0 / 2.9 / 3.3
Forte 4.3 / 3.6 / 2.9
Williams 3.4 / 2.5 / 9.7

Matt Forte will make the 5th highest salary for RB in 2015
Matt Forte made the 5th highest salary for RB in 2014

With his salary the team must find a way to get better rushing production out of Forte. Than can ill afford to play out another season with a poor rushing game.

The Bears finished 27th in rushing yards in 2014
The Bears finished 30th in rushing attempts in 2014

I personally believe that Dr. Death play calling & the O-line were awful in run blocking in 2014. Those are the two things I would have addressed first in order to get the Bears rushing game back to producing better. After that Forte needs to start earning that 5th highest RB salary by pounding out some yards between the tackles and making his own holes when he needs to. I don't think I have ever seen an "ELITE" RB fall down due to that many shoe string tackles, so often in my entire life, as I did watching Forte during the 2014 season. That has to change by any means necessary. Hopefully Fox & company will find better ways to use Forte & better ways to run block for him. IE getting rid of Mills first and foremost. He was awful at RT the last two years. He needs to go or be used as depth if they don't want to give up on him just yet. They also need better production from the Center position. Garza was 14th out of the 29 Centers to play at least 50% of the teams snaps in 2014. PFF had his grade for 2014 at -1.3. During the 2013 season he was ranked 12th overall but posted a grade of +9.1. So basically Garza production took a major shit in 2014....at least according to PFF. http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2015/2/12/8025687/chicago-bears-2015-roster-turnover-center

 

[Josh2J]

this seems like it will be a great year to draft a RB, lots of great prospects and value... I'd love the Bears to take one but when is the big question with so many other holes.

 

[TreedBear]

we were 15th in run blocking last year. we have been much worse in recent years

I think that reflects more on Trestmans system. Had we attempted to run the ball more, the OL rank would be much lower. I'm just guessing though.
I like the idea of taking a RB in round 3 or later. Round one and two should be defense.

 

[BearFanJohn]

Of course the blocking is important. But its a two back league and I'm not sure if Karey is that second back. I think they need another RB. Perhaps a big short yardage guy, perhaps a speed guy but they need another. But I would also contend that a guy can be found in the mid rounds. And, if the new regime thinks they're fine then so be it even though I'd like to see another guy on the roster.

 

[playthrough2001]

A guy like TJ Yeldon might be around in the 3rd or 4th and would be a great value in that range. If Gordon is there in the 2nd, they should pick him. I believe he's going to be a great NFL running back. He has top ten talent but the league has devalued the position. I always find that a bit funny when I see Peterson or Lynch running the ball down the other teams' throats. There's nothing more demoralizing to a defense than to be dominated by a great running game. Seattle was one dumb play call from going back to back with that philosophy.