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Unga in line for special-teams, third-back ro
good to seesome info on unga..
Unga in line for special-teams, third-back roles
By Brad Biggs
The Chicago Bears are short on draft picks this year, having used their seventh-round pick in the supplemental draft last summer to select Harvey Unga.
The running back from Brigham Young was sidelined before preseason started with a pulled hamstring and the team conveniently used the injury to stash him on the injured reserve list, effectively giving him a redshirt season when he might not have had the time to pick up the offense and make the 53-man roster.
Now, Unga should be prepared to tackle the playbook and more, even if there is a work stoppage. He and Kahlil Bell, who was tendered an offer as an exclusive rights free agent, are in place behind starter Matt Forte and backup Chester Taylor. The Bears had three running backs active for games last season with the third being Garrett Wolfe, who will be an unrestricted free agent.
"I just know from what I saw on tape," running backs coach Tim Spencer said. "Harvey is a big, strong kid, he has good hands, nice soft hands. You look at him and you don't think he can move, but he's got good body control. It's going to be real interesting to see him come and sort of fit in."
"He is obviously going to have to play some (special) teams and some other things to sort of earn his way in. I think he'll do all right as long as he stays healthy and keeps his weight together, and I don't know what an ideal weight would be for him but I would venture to say it's got to be 235 or 240. He's a big guy. The last time I saw him he was probably 244, so he was close."
Wolfe was a core special-teams performer and was second on the team in tackles in 2010. The third running back has to be a major contributor in this phase and it remains to be seen if Unga can do that. There's no reason to think he can't flourish for Dave Toub, though.
It will be interesting to see if Unga can find a role on offense. Taylor handled short-yardage duties for most of last season. The Bears list Unga at 6-foot, 237 pounds, and that frame at least makes you wonder if he could be a short-yardage back. It's an area the team needs to improve. In 2010, the Bears converted only 11 of 23 (48 percent) third-and-one opportunities.
"I can't really sit here and say," Spencer said. "He's a physical runner just off of what I saw in college. I don't know what he'll be once he gets here with the big boys. His body lends itself to being able to do those things, I know he can do those things based off of what I saw. And I know he can do other things off what I saw. Like I said, he has good body control, he can run good routes, the ones we ask our guys to do. It's going to be interesting."
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Saying he and Bell have breakout preseasons, would you think they cut Taylor, or just keep it a rotation behind Forte?
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Originally Posted by
Henry Burris 
Saying he and Bell have breakout preseasons, would you think they cut Taylor, or just keep it a rotation behind Forte?
think talyor fine for 2011, but can see him cut after this season if either shows potential in 2011
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High Fives / Like - 2 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Yep, the only way Taylor doesn't play is if he's on IR. My guess is that he'll begin the season as Forte's backup but the Bell and/or Unga will have a chance to unseat him as the season progresses.
We really need both of those guys to learn the offense and step up this year. As the article points out we were pretty sad in short yardage last year and both Bell (because he's done it) and Unga (has the size) appear to have better abilities on short yardage inside runs than Taylor.
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I'm really hoping Unga can contribute and if the O-line improves he could be a real surprise.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
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How about this who gives a crfap about Bell. We have our top two rbs and Im more then satisfied with Forte. Taylor easily has another two years in him. As for Unga hopefully he adds a dimension to the team we have been lacking on short yardage.
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Originally Posted by
motownbear How about this who gives a crfap about Bell. We have our top two rbs and Im more then satisfied with Forte. Taylor easily has another two years in him. As for Unga hopefully he adds a dimension to the team we have been lacking on short yardage.
Bell showed pretty good potential in a limited amount of time at the end of 09, when Forte had his bad year and it was a worse line than Taylor had to deal with. He at least needs to be given the opportunity to compete for the backup.
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Originally Posted by
Henry Burris Bell showed pretty good potential in a limited amount of time at the end of 09, when Forte had his bad year and it was a worse line than Taylor had to deal with. He at least needs to be given the opportunity to compete for the backup.
I agree with you. He does deserve a chance to beat out Taylor this year. When you think about it if Forte had not missed games and played hurt in 2009 there would have been no need for Taylor at all. When Bell played in Forte's absence he did fine as a backup. Taylor was vet insurance as a 3 down back in case Forte didn't bounce back.
In truth he's become a very expensive insurance policy.
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So, I'm on the first tee with the Dalai Lama. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Unga galunga... Harvey Unga lagunga.
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Originally Posted by
Butka So, I'm on the first tee with the Dalai Lama. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Unga galunga... Harvey Unga lagunga.
LMAO!!!! What's Bill Murray's Scouting Report have on him?
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