Thread: Which free agent was a bigger disappointment?

Originally Posted by Boochee Man

Forte is averaging over 4.5 yards per run with the same offensive line, so that makes Taylor even more of disappointment. It's hilarious that people had him challenging for the starting job during offseason.

Forte definitely is far better then Taylor, but you can't judge ypc when you only get 5 or 6 carries a game. I still like Taylor catching the ball and think he's a great backup to have.

Originally Posted by Boochee Man

Taylor is playing with the same OL as Forte. So with 100+ carries, that is a large enough sample size to put the blame on him.

And as ive said before, there have been plenty of plays where he was called to run up the gut, and got tackled for a loss just like Taylor has. But forte gets his success from playcalls that require him to bounce to the outside and avoid the OL.

But youre right, they are playing with the same OL. So look at Taylor's prior seasons:

http://www.nfl.com/players/chesterta...e?id=TAY110311

Until he got to the Bears, he has averaged at least 4.0 YPC like clockwork, while doing the same job he does with us...backup for a better RB. All that has changed is the OL he is behind and the playcalls. But instead, you would rather place the blame on Taylor, then our OL.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I say it's Chester Taylor. He's having the same running plays called for him as Matt Forte is, but he's not able to pick up the necessary yardage that would make him effective.

But hes NOT getting the same play calls as Forte, thats my point. His calls are usually up the gut short yardage calls, and so many times he gets tackled as he gets the handoff, which results in a loss, which is negative yards. And because he gets tackled in the backfield, that is an indication of a poor OL that allowed defenders to break through.

I dunno, i just think its odd that a RB has years of experience as a backup, averaging 4.0 ypc, all of the sudden becoming a "bust" when going to a new team, which obviously has issues with their OL.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I've seen CT try to go off-tackle and not make it, so I'm not convinced as of yet. Is he over the hill? I don't know. I will agree that our OL sucks and is part of the reason why Matt Forte probably didn't rush for 300-500 more yards this season.

And just as I say that, the Packers go up two touchdowns on the Eagles.

True, its pretty hard to say one way or another. Ive also seen him break a few tackles and get some decent first down runs as well.
We need to fix our OL anyway, so im curious to see how he would perform behind a decent run-blocking OL. If it doesnt work, then im wrong, and it is CT that is the problem. But if he gets better YPC, then all that means is that it was our OL and we still have a solid backup for Forte.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Let's get Pouncey in the draft at all cost! lol.

I'm beginning to agree with you. Maybe it is the playcalling when they call on Chester Taylor's number. Maybe they need to start having him bounce the ball off-tackle more instead of running it inside; even Matt Forte struggles to gain substantial yards when we run RB Dive and ISO plays.

Well i think the reason people are blaming CT is because they really want Bell to get in, and people assume Bell will have more success. Maybe he will, im not sure, since i believe the OL is the problem. I have confidence in all 3 of our Backs, and zero in the OL. I started to notice this problem early in the season, where CT and even Forte were getting tackled literally as they received the handoff. Getting tackled THAT early has zero to do with RB skill, and everything to do with a porous OL. Add to the fact that CT held the same role in minny as he does now, albeit with a better OL, and he avg 4 ypc every year it seemed, and something isnt adding up.

But hey, if we fix the OL and CT seems to be the problem after all, then its all good since we still have Forte and a good OL then.