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Forte closing in on milestone with payton
Forte closing in on milestone
With 22 yards rushing and 13 receiving, he can join Payton as only Bears in 1,000-500 club
Based on the way coach Lovie Smith gushed about Matt Forte on Wednesday, one would have figured the Bears running back had just surpassed Walter Payton's franchise-record rushing total.
Actually, Forte still needs 13,582 yards to top Payton, but he's looking pretty good right now regardless.
"He's a complete running back. He can do it all,'' Smith said of Forte. "He's an all-down running back as a runner. He can run over you with power. He can make you miss in the open field. He's an excellent pass receiver out of the backfield or splitting him out along the line of scrimmage. He's great in pass protection. There's nothing really he can't do.''
Forte stands just 22 yards away from 1,000 for the season and is 13 receiving yards shy of 500. If he reaches both marks Sunday against the Packers, he will join Payton as the only running backs in franchise history to accomplish that feat in the same season.
Forte's effort and the development of the offensive line have equaled more balance on offense. The Bears are the only team to run the ball more than pass over the last eight weeks, with 238 rushes compared to 231 pass plays. They have been the fourth-most balanced team over that span while posting a 7-1 record.
In six of the first seven games — excluding the Panthers game Todd Collins started in place of Jay Cutler — the Bears had 196 pass plays compared to just 114 rushing attempts while going 3-3.
So much for Martz's pass-happy offense.
`It's something that we made a qualified decision now to do because it was the best way for us to win,'' Martz said of running more. "You look at our defense and we've been lights out. Special teams, off the charts. Our part was to hang on to that ball, get points and protect the lead, and get better as we grow. And we've been able to do that.
"Plus, you look at the quality that we have in terms of runners. Matt right now is just, to me, just outrageous the way he's playing.''
Forte never was concerned about his role despite Martz's reputation for airing it out.
"No, not really, because I like catching the ball out of the backfield too,'' he said. "I think (Martz) gave me more chances to excel in this offense both running and catching.''
Smith was asked to compare Forte to Marshall Faulk, who starred in Martz's offense with the Rams.
"I mean, that's a little early,'' Smith said. "I just think right now we wouldn't trade Matt Forte for many guys. He's not on that all-pro team, but what running back has played better football than him as of late?''
vxmcclure@tribune.com
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Great to see that burst come back from him this year that was missing all of last year with a banged up knee.
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Im impressed with Forte's performance this season with this oline. Everyone is talking about that burst but to me the most impressive thing is how he is lowering his shoulder and trucking people the second half of the season. Im not holding my breath that he will be a long term fixture on the team and it has nothing to do with talent. Just fact is how many rbs in the nfl are long term fixtures anymore? Maybe ten tops? i think this is why Chester Taylor is important even though he isnt performing as expected. Got to keep the load off him.
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Originally Posted by
Bear Goggles 
Great to see that burst come back from him this year that was missing all of last year with a banged up knee.
Agreed, and while many focus just on the rushing yards, that forte avg close to 500 receiving yards a yr in career, really is impressive, his hands and ability in space such a great weapon, think in total yards( rush+receiving), he's already in top 10 and moving up quick.. he's gone 1,700+ 1,450+ and now 1,500+ again
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Originally Posted by
motownbear Im impressed with Forte's performance this season with this oline. Everyone is talking about that burst but to me the most impressive thing is how he is lowering his shoulder and trucking people the second half of the season. Im not holding my breath that he will be a long term fixture on the team and it has nothing to do with talent. Just fact is how many rbs in the nfl are long term fixtures anymore? Maybe ten tops? i think this is why Chester Taylor is important even though he isnt performing as expected. Got to keep the load off him.
Agree 100%, while taylor on the surface "dissapointing" and stats down, think forte's resurgance the last 6 weeks partly the line getting its act together, but ALSO not taking all the inside hits and wear and tear in short yardage all year, so legs and body much ore refreshed now for end of year and playoff's, because using taylor for tough yards and inside wear and tear and forte gets less abuse, think a very smart strategy that is paying off now and in playoffs
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Forte keys revived Bears offense
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 30, 2010, 9:07 AM EST
Matt Forte is no Gayle Sayers or Walter Payton, but he’s accomplished something no other Bears running back has. He’s certainly not Marshall Faulk, but once again a pass-catching running back is the engine to a Mike Martz offense.
When no one was looking, the Bears offense tightened up their offensive line and got dangerous. They’ve averaged 28 points-per-game over the last five weeks. Jay Cutler has 16 touchdowns and only seven picks since the team’s bye week.
Martz’s ability to use Forte in a variety of roles has been a key. Consider this: Forte is the only Bears player in its long history to record 1,400 yards from scrimmage in his first three years. Forte is just 22 yards away from 1,000 rushing and 13 receiving yards away from 500. If he reaches both those marks, he’ll join Walter Payton as the only Bears player to pull that off.
Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune notes the Bears are the only team in football to run more than they have thrown in the last eight weeks. Forte’s versatility gives them an edge.
“Matt right now is just, to me, just outrageous the way he’s playing,” Martz said.
Last year’s Super Bowl teams made it with outrageous offenses and good enough defenses. Teams like the Patriots, Packers, Eagles, and Saints (again) are hoping to take that same approach this year.
The Bears definitely take the opposite approach, but it’s worth noting their offense has been more than good enough lately.
Winston Churchill:
"Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
"If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain."
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He may be able to run over DB's in the open field but he still can't move the pile in short yardage situations and neither can Taylor. His performance this year just about falls in line with that of Orlando Pace. Taylor was an expensive and ineffective pickup considering that we have a guy like Bell waiting is the wings. I think he needs to get his chance next season and maybe just maybe Unga will be the short yardage back we need.
Despite his one short coming I happy as hell with Forte's performance this season and I hope that he stays healthy and gives us many more. What the guy does for the Bears passing game is far more valuable than most give him credit for.
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I see no reason NOT to play Bell heavily against the Packers. Worst case scenario, he's playing just as badly as Taylor, no way he could be any worse.
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Originally Posted by
Henry Burris I see no reason NOT to play Bell heavily against the Packers. Worst case scenario, he's playing just as badly as Taylor, no way he could be any worse.
I'm with you Henry. This week it's Taylor who should be inactive and Bell given the chance to show what he's got. From what little I've seen of him it sure looks to me like he's a player. Give him some carries and maybe he'll surprise the Packers with a long td run like he had against the Eagles last season.
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Originally Posted by
soulman He may be able to run over DB's in the open field but he still can't move the pile in short yardage situations and neither can Taylor. His performance this year just about falls in line with that of Orlando Pace. Taylor was an expensive and ineffective pickup considering that we have a guy like Bell waiting is the wings. I think he needs to get his chance next season and maybe just maybe Unga will be the short yardage back we need.
Despite his one short coming I happy as hell with Forte's performance this season and I hope that he stays healthy and gives us many more. What the guy does for the Bears passing game is far more valuable than most give him credit for.
think keeping the hits and 100 less carries on forte's legs and body really beneficial soul, even if the YPR not there for taylor, in this league Imo with the size/speed need 2 backs and having forte fresh with only 222 caries and not the 300+ had in 2008 HUE and will pay bigger dividends in the playoffs
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