Martz confident Bears' Taylor will grow in sy

Martz confident Bears' Taylor will grow in system

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz said he was surprised by how a report that running back Chester Taylor would be released picked up steam.

"Why would he get cut? Why would that happen?" Martz wondered. "It wouldn't make any sense, would it?

"We're pleased with him. We're very pleased with him. He really played well, especially in the last few games."

Not to mention Taylor received $7 million guaranteed, so the Bears are determined to get something out of their investment. Taylor is due a modest $1.25 million for 2011.

General manager Jerry Angelo recently said that although few roster spots are guaranteed, there isn't a target on Taylor's back. And the Bears reached out to Taylor's camp and said there was no reason to be concerned.

Taylor, 31, signed a four-year, $12.5 million deal last offseason after leaving the Vikings. He struggled at the start of the season, then was designated as the team's short-yardage back as Matt Forte separate himself as the workhorse. Taylor finished the season with a dismal 267 rushing yards on 112 carries for a career-low 2.4 yards-per-carry average. He had three rushing touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 139 yards.

"He had to learn what we do and we asked him to do a little bit more than he did in the past," Martz said in defense of Taylor. "You've got to remember, too, that's this is a first year in that type of offense. They are not familiar with it. Plus, all of the coaches are not familiar with it. So it's a growing thing."

In contrast to Taylor, Forte grew up fast. He finished with 1,616 yards from scrimmage, including 1,069 on the ground. He had nine touchdowns total.

"Matt played good in the first half of the season and was outstanding the second half," Martz said. "I think Matt started to understand what we were doing on offense better. And we started putting the load on him a little more in certain situations."

Just another example of Martz's bonehead thinking. Why would you have the patience to wait for a 32 year old RB to "grow into your system"? Isn't the reason you signed him and paid him the big bucks is that he was an experienced vet who could hit the streets running? That's one of the most ridiculous comments I've heard yet.

Why would he get cut? You can't be serious Mike. If you look at his pathetic stats and ineffectiveness as Forte's back up you'd know the answer. You're the OC aren't you? The reason he's not gonna be cut is because you and JA get egg on your faces for this "mistake by the lake". Things like this only make me trust you even less and question your sanity.

I don't know about "growing into the system" as you say Soul I agree w/that. But with the way the interior of the line could not run block I say he gets another chance. If we don't upgrade the interior of the line then getting Taylor was a waste.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Just another example of Martz's bonehead thinking. Why would you have the patience to wait for a 32 year old RB to "grow into your system"? Isn't the reason you signed him and paid him the big bucks is that he was an experienced vet who could hit the streets running? That's one of the most ridiculous comments I've heard yet.

Why would he get cut? You can't be serious Mike. If you look at his pathetic stats and ineffectiveness as Forte's back up you'd know the answer. You're the OC aren't you? The reason he's not gonna be cut is because you and JA get egg on your faces for this "mistake by the lake". Things like this only make me trust you even less and question your sanity.

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actually his only $1.275 mill salary is why will not be cut, which is dirt cheap for 2011.

And we disagree about taylor, to me he is "insurance" in case of a forte injury, in that a PROVEN back that can carry 200+ times in a season( bell to me a def. questio mark if can hold up or crry 200+ times), and if forte is heathy, you don't see or get that value, its like insurance, you question each year why pay the premium and "not worth it" if no accident. but if somone broadsides you, or house burns down ONLY THEN do you see the value. Because similar backs, if forte is healthy, you don't get or see the value,,and it hurt the vikes also had value : ).... to me, unfort, taylor very much like forte and good on 3rd downs and catching out of the backfield, which is great to have "if" forte goes down, but as long as forte is healthy you never see that from taylor, because forte prob in top 3 RB's out of the backfield in NFL, so want him in for those plays

I think "grow into the system" is Coachspeak for "wait around for an Offensive Line to show up"

Kal-el Bell

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Originally Posted by short faced bear

I don't know about "growing into the system" as you say Soul I agree w/that. But with the way the interior of the line could not run block I say he gets another chance. If we don't upgrade the interior of the line then getting Taylor was a waste.

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Oh he'll get his chance all right shorty but Forte ran behind the same line with far more success so I'm not willing to give him that out. I just can't see playing him and not playing Bell when with what little chance he's had he shown very well running behind that same line as well. This was a big dollar mistake and they won't admit it.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Oh he'll get his chance all right shorty but Forte ran behind the same line with far more success so I'm not willing to give him that out. I just can't see playing him and not playing Bell when with what little chance he's had he shown very well running behind that same line as well. This was a big dollar mistake and they won't admit it.

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Soul, seriously?? despite him only making $1.25 mill in 2011, you would cut him?.. what he made in an uncapped year with no ramifications to cap or fans... irrevelevant in 2011, and again not sure how $3 mill/yr avg is a "big dollar mistake".. want to call it a small or medium mistake, his total contract only $12 mill, which is a drop in the bucket in the scheme of things( though disagree it was even a mistake), but big dollar?? cmon! , heck his avg cost in 2011, 2012 qnd 2013 is only $1.55 mill/yr going forward: 0

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Originally Posted by dabears54

actually his only $1.275 mill salary is why will not be cut, which is dirt cheap for 2011.

And we disagree about taylor, to me he is "insurance" in case of a forte injury, in that a PROVEN back that can carry 200+ times in a season( bell to me a def. questio mark if can hold up or crry 200+ times), and if forte is heathy, you don't see or get that value, its like insurance, you question each year why pay the premium and "not worth it" if no accident. but if somone broadsides you, or house burns down ONLY THEN do you see the value. Because similar backs, if forte is healthy, you don't get or see the value,,and it hurt the vikes also had value : ).... to me, unfort, taylor very much like forte and good on 3rd downs and catching out of the backfield, which is great to have "if" forte goes down, but as long as forte is healthy you never see that from taylor, because forte prob in top 3 RB's out of the backfield in NFL, so want him in for those plays

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Were taking separate trains for this trip brother. My response to this is;

Taylor's cheap but Bell is about $900k cheaper and has averaged over 5 ypc in his very limited playing time behind the exact same line.

So which is really the better baragin?

If I want an insurance policy it does me no good to have one that may not payoff when I need it. Taylor isn't exactly NY Life. He's more like "Shifting Sands of Florida Mutual". Besides why do I want a guy who can carry 200 times if he can't even average more than 3 ypc?

And why do I need to pay a $1.275 mil premium for that policy when I can get decent coverage for $340k.

We'll never know if Bell can carry 200+ times a season if we never use him. Taylor hasn't done it in years either. Besides unless Forte does go down for the season we may never know if any backup can carry 200 times per season.

As for hurting the Vikes all I can say is that wouldn't be the way I'd run a team and in the final analysis we may have hurt ourselves more by getting hamstrung with his $2 mil cap cost which we will have undoubtedly have on the books because they won't admit their mistake and cut him.

No way I can justify this guy in my mind with Bell sitting inactive. No way, No how!!!

Many of Forte's runs were to the outside and for big gains. Taylor isn't that type of back. I don't think he should have a long leash but I do think Bell should have played and tried running up the gut on this line-I don't think he would have fared much better.