Thread: Bears may fortify behind Forte

Originally Posted by dabears54

forte while no chris johnson, has reeld off some big runs and NOT caught from behind..

2010- 68 yards carolina,61 eagles, 32 jet's.. and 89 to detriot(screen pass)

2009- 61 yards detriot, 52 yards detriot..37 yard screen pass san fran

2008- 50 yards indy to open season,47 yards rams,

Not saying he has none but he's not known for being a breakaway threat like Johnson or AP. Bell remains an unknown quantity until given more touches and I hope this is the year he gets them. I like his toughness inside but we still don't know enough about his receiving skills or blitz pick up to annoint him as #2 yet. That's what this year should determine.

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

Umm, that sounds more like a reason TO draft an RB. Taylor couldn't beat a cripple to the edge or pound the ball up the middle with any toughness all last year, what makes you think he's a safe bet to be any better than the crap he was then with an extra year of tread on his tires? Bell is a one run wonder, a never-has-been and never-will-be, and Unga is a complete enigma. That's not exactly a stable of horses you want to ride your hopes on, especially in this league where a one-two punch in the backfield is becoming increasingly more valuable.

Taylor is the only one we know much about and after that atrocious season he had in 2010 I think he's on borrowed time. If he doesn't show a hell of a lot more in preseason than he did last year he should be gone despite his relatively small salary.

I don't know how you can make any reasonable judgement about Bell though. He's much quicker to the hole than Taylor and a better inside runner from the little I've seen of him. He may not be a breakaway threat every down but he showed some pretty good opne field speed on the run against Philly. Even when you take that run away he still averaged 3.8 ypc which is about the same as Forte averaged that year.

Unga is a complete unknown at this point in time but I've got to think the Bears felt he'd go much higher than the 7th round in a future draft. He may be a bargain and he may not but we don't know right now what he is or where he'll play.

My guess is that if a RB falls to the mid rounds who JA and the crew is just to good to pass up they'll take him. At that point your're looking for bargains wherever you find them.

Originally Posted by soulman

I don't know how you can make any reasonable judgement about Bell though. He's much quicker to the hole than Taylor and a better inside runner from the little I've seen of him. He may not be a breakaway threat every down but he showed some pretty good opne field speed on the run against Philly. Even when you take that run away he still averaged 3.8 ypc which is about the same as Forte averaged that year.

You mean on the three good runs he's had? He's been out there for anyone to grab for two seasons now, and failed to get any time on the field even while Taylor was sucking more than Jenna Jameson and Wolfe looked like he belonged in the CFL. I have about as much confidence in him to do anything as I do Bullocks or Asiata. I've seen enough to say those guys are fringe at best players, not key role players that we need at their positions.

For the record, I like Unga and think he has a chance, but the confidence I have in him to step into a role where he may have to carry the load is small.

The way I look at it, #2 HB is as big a need for us as LB. Obviously people see players in-house to fill in for a while, but sooner rather than later it needs to be addressed with a legit prospect. Really, after OL, UT and CB, I would just worry about getting the best value round-by-round from HB, LB, S and wait for your big WR in FA.

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

You mean on the three good runs he's had? He's been out there for anyone to grab for two seasons now, and failed to get any time on the field even while Taylor was sucking more than Jenna Jameson and Wolfe looked like he belonged in the CFL. I have about as much confidence in him to do anything as I do Bullocks or Asiata. I've seen enough to say those guys are fringe at best players, not key role players that we need at their positions.

For the record, I like Unga and think he has a chance, but the confidence I have in him to step into a role where he may have to carry the load is small.

The way I look at it, #2 HB is as big a need for us as LB. Obviously people see players in-house to fill in for a while, but sooner rather than later it needs to be addressed with a legit prospect. Really, after OL, UT and CB, I would just worry about getting the best value round-by-round from HB, LB, S and wait for your big WR in FA.

Not sure what you mean by three good runs he's had. As a ball carrier he's been more effective than Taylor and that was my prinicipal point. Taylor sucked as a runner but what he may have brought in blitz pickup or pass receiving may have given him an edge. The other edge came from being paid a gargantuan sum of money for a back up RB. That alone would have assured that he got the nod.

Even now the Bears will be loathe to admit they made a big mistake and cut him but I hope that doesn't prevent them from taking a talented RB in the mid rounds. I agree with you, after filling needs at DT, OT, and CB we take best on the board regardless. LB, C, RB, and Safety are all areas that could use depth.

Originally Posted by soulman

Not saying he has none but he's not known for being a breakaway threat like Johnson or AP. Bell remains an unknown quantity until given more touches and I hope this is the year he gets them. I like his toughness inside but we still don't know enough about his receiving skills or blitz pick up to annoint him as #2 yet. That's what this year should determine.

Agreed, I'm just not as hopeful as you on bell- but hope you are right..

Originally Posted by dabears54

Agreed, I'm just not as hopeful as you on bell- but hope you are right..

It wouldn't break my heart if we found someone better but until proven wrong I'd still put him ahead of Taylor on my depth chart. We'd have been a stronger offense last year if we'd had two good RB's instead of one.