Thread: ESPN the Magazine- Matt forte and the hills..

I was gonna say- how do you have an article about a rb using hill training, let alone a chicago bear and not mention wp's famous hill?

Matt Forte follows Walter Payton’s lead in offseason training

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 25, 2011, 10:32 AM EDT

During his Hall of Fame career with the Bears, Walter Payton’s favorite method of working out during the offseason — and torturing teammates who agreed to join him — was to run uphill wind sprints. Now the Bears’ current running back is following Payton’s lead.

Matt Forte told ESPN the Magazine that he first started running on hills when he was recovering from a knee injury and quickly discovered the same thing that Payton knew decades ago: It’s a great way to build the explosive muscles in a running back’s legs.

“I noticed a difference immediately,” Forte said. “I had a better burst and outran defenders.”

Forte has a hill near his home that’s steeper on one side than the other, and his workout starts with 10 sprints up the flatter side, followed by lunges on the way down. He then goes to the steeper side and does another 10 sprints, this time wearing a 15-pound vest.

Expecting Forte to become the kind of player Payton was would be too much to ask, but if he’s the kind of worker Payton was, he’s going to have a long and successful career in Chicago.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ason-training/


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This is promising. I'm glad he's learning from Walter Payton's legacy.

That's the first thing I thought of when I read the headlines. "If it worked for Walter Payton it'll work for me". I applaud Forte's approach to his career. He's somewhat underpaid given his productivity but instead of threatening a hold out for a new deal he patiently waits his turn and pulls out all the stops to makes himself a better player.

I love this guy and what he brings to the team. We got a real bargain when we drafted him and if we can just keep him healthy we've got our starting RB for another 5-6 years at the least. I'm curious to see whether or not Harvey Unga can step up and be the Mr. Inside to Forte's Mr. Outside. If he can pull it off we'll have a very good 1-2 punch at RB.

Originally Posted by dabears54

hopefully- forte when all is said and done can at least come close to walter.. and that is saying alot.. : )

I'll settle for close anyday. Walter's shoes will be impossible to fill but Forte could come as close as any to doing it if he can stays healthy. I look at him as a taller version of Neal Anderson in that he has both the running and receiving skills of a top tier back. Neal had a tough act to follow and got overlooked a little despite being picked for the pro-bowl four times in his career and I believe he won an MVP one of those years.

Like I said in the other post on this topic. I love this guy and what he brings to the team. He's paid like the 2nd round choice he was put he consistently puts up 1st round numbers. He isn't holding out for a bigger better deal but instead working to improve his game and quietly waiting his turn for an extension which we'd be crazy not to get done soon. Give me a whole team full of guys like Matt Forte and we go on a Super Bowl streak!