Barber Looks Forward to Expanded Role

Barber set for bigger role down stretch

By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter 9:54 a.m. CST, November 10, 2011


Things must be going good for the Bears. Marion Barber’s coming out of his shell, sort of.

The usually reserved running back insisted he never does interviews, but Barber had plenty to say after scoring a touchdown in Monday night’s 30-24 win over the Eagles.

Barber had nine carries for 31 yards and rushed the ball four consecutive times after Matt Forte’s second lost fumble. Barber's 2-yard touchdown burst in the second quarter was his fourth rushing score in five games played.

"It just felt good, man, and I had an opportunity," Barber said. "Any time you have an opportunity like that, you just have to go in there and take care of business.

"It was great, man. The line was playing well. Matt was doing his thing. And it was just a blessing to have those opportunities."

The last thing Barber wanted was to benefit off Forte’s misfortunes. The two lost fumbles were an aberration for a player who had a streak of 347 touches without a fumble.

Barber encouraged Forte after each blunder.

"As teammate, you have to be there for him," Barber said. "We’re working together for the main cause, the main goal. It's that simple."

Barber, who missed the first three games of the season with a calf strain, could play a key role for the Bears down the stretch, particularly when the weather turns bad and the Bears need to pick up tough yards against the elements.

Barber has five rushing touchdowns in five career games vs. the Lions, so don’t be surprised if he gets another scoring opportunity come Sunday.

The Bears signed him to be their short-yardage back, and the team has improved in short-yardage situations. Last year through eight games, the Bears were 4 for 12 on third-and-1 for 33 percent. This year, the Bears are 7 of 13 for 54 percent.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter @vxmcclure23

It sure is nice when you sign a guy like Barber for a very specific role and he's comes to every game prepared to do it well.

He has a great attitude and maybe RWill could learn a few things from his old Cowboy teamate. Barber never complains that he's not getting enough carries playing behind Forte and that it affects his ability. It's obvious that it doesn't. Every time he comes in he just takes the handoff in picks up yaradage and on the goaline the guy is a battering ram.

He's exactly what we needed in a short yardage back but the bonus is that when he gets some daylight he can tote if for some good yardage. He's not just a 3 yards an a cloud of dust style runner.