Bears Need to Regenerate Running Game................

Bears must regenerate running game

With Cutler out, Forte has to show form that made him successful earlier

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...0-25171908.gif Bears RB Matt Forte celebrates a touchdown during the team's victory over the Panthers on Oct. 2 at Soldier Field. Forte rushed for 205 yards in the game. (Scott Strazzante/Tribune photo)

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 7:20 p.m. CST, November 25, 2011


The Bears will be without quarterback Jay Cutler beginning with Sunday's game against the Raiders, but they still have the man who has accounted for nearly 42 percent of their offense this season.

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher said Monday the defense will have to rise to the occasion with Cutler sidelined for at least the next month while he recovers from surgery to repair his fractured right thumb, and the pressure also will mount for the running game.

The Bears excelled with a reserve quarterback in 2005 thanks in large part to Thomas Jones leading a stout running game. He found holes behind a more experienced offensive line. Now, Matt Forte needs to get going again after being limited to 121 yards on 38 carries in the last two games.

"It always has been on my shoulders," said Forte, who rushed for more than 100 yards in four of five games before his recent slump. "I don't think it's anything new. I just want to continue to be successful and get some more passes out of the backfield. Then they can't stack the box and we can get the ball out in space."

That's something that hasn't happened a lot recently. Forte has 10 receptions in the last four games after snaring 36 in the first six games, a result probably of Cutler having more success throwing the ball downfield. Caleb Hanie likes to throw the ball in the middle of the field where tight ends and Forte can operate.

But the Bears also need to get back to controlling the ball on the ground, something that has been more challenging the last two weeks as the Chargers and Lions consistently stacked the box with a safety in an eight-man front. The Raiders rank 26th vs. the run, but the Chargers (22nd) and Lions (25th) aren't regarded well for their run defenses.

"We have to do a better job to handle that eighth guy no matter what," offensive line coach Mike Tice said. "There is pressure on the line to make sure we keep Caleb clean because this way he can get settled in and get into a rhythm even knowing they're probably going to blitz a lot."

Forte probably has tried too hard to look for holes against the crowded fronts in recent weeks instead of taking what is there. Marion Barber has become more involved and is most successful in a downhill running game between the tackles, increasing chances his workload will expand. The line still is trying to settle in with Edwin Williams making his second start at left guard.

"You try to design runs that suit your linemen and your back," Tice said. "The inside combination blocks are the ones that take time. For example, there were three, maybe four runs last week that we were a little bit off on our combination blocks on the left-hand side with a new guard."

The Bears can get more explosive plays on the edge with Forte, but those are the runs that also can be stacked up in the backfield for a loss when something goes awry. It happened too much against the Chargers. It's a delicate mix for the line and the back.

"I'm confident Caleb can do an excellent job," Forte said. "He has done it before. I know he studies. He's ready to step in. Everybody is gearing up to stop the run. That's why the passing game has been working pretty well.

"There are so many game films the opposition can watch so they're gearing up to stop some of the most successful plays we're running. Our outside game has been very successful. Now we have to hit them with the straight-ahead running game, kind old-school football, you know, smashmouth."

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

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Well he has the right idea for how to break out of his slump. Get the ball out to him in the passing game which, if the Raider blitz alot, should be easy. Last week it was kind of obvious the lateral runs and trying to pick holed wasn't working. Once we started running straight at them and used cutbacks the running impoved.

I'd like to see Barber getting more carries too. If for no other reason than to take some of the burden off Forte.

This is a duh point but the pass was working so well we had to take what defenses was giving us. And what really needs to be revived is including forte back in passing game.

Has anyone else noticed how much more smoothly the offense has been running since Bennett is back and Hester injuries keeping him of the offense? Hmmm posters understood this years ago

I saw a post on here somewhere that said this game is on Hanie but I think really Caleb just needs to not f*ck up. Don't turn the ball over and play smart and he should do fine.

I put this game and I suppose every game on the backbone of any team the Offensive Line. Oh how I wish for a dominating O-line. Lot of pressure on these guys to step up and not only protect Hanie but do some smash mouth run blocking and give Forte a chance to make that cut and go.

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Originally Posted by IrishX(aka bornbear)

I saw a post on here somewhere that said this game is on Hanie but I think really Caleb just needs to not f*ck up. Don't turn the ball over and play smart and he should do fine.

I put this game and I suppose every game on the backbone of any team the Offensive Line. Oh how I wish for a dominating O-line. Lot of pressure on these guys to step up and not only protect Hanie but do some smash mouth run blocking and give Forte a chance to make that cut and go.

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That someone was me Irish. And yes, this game is on Hanie. As I said then, the Raiders are going to sell out to stop the run like teams did the last two weeks. They are going to do so until Hanie burns them. Hence, this game is on Hanie. He is going to have to win this game, because the Raiders will not let the Bears best offensive weapon beat them. Bears had a viable threat in Cutler, so teams could not completely sell out to stop the run, now expect eight men in the box. Bears do not have a viable threat in Hanie, as far as anyone knows, and will not garner enough respect or attention until he earns it from the other team.

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Originally Posted by The Benjamin

That someone was me Irish. And yes, this game is on Hanie. As I said then, the Raiders are going to sell out to stop the run like teams did the last two weeks. They are going to do so until Hanie burns them. Hence, this game is on Hanie. He is going to have to win this game, because the Raiders will not let the Bears best offensive weapon beat them. Bears had a viable threat in Cutler, so teams could not completely sell out to stop the run, now expect eight men in the box. Bears do not have a viable threat in Hanie, as far as anyone knows, and will not garner enough respect or attention until he earns it from the other team.

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I don't think Hanie needs to be Tom Brady out there... I just feel he needs to play smart and not turn the ball over. As someone else posted recently also ( I think Jimmors), the Bears have other ways to win games.

I do believe that without Cutler's mobility and strong arm that the Offensive Line needs to step up even moreso and give Hanie time to do what he needs to do. They need to step up and as the thread title states "regenerate the running game" in order to take pressure off of Hanie so that he and the team have a chance for success.

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Originally Posted by motownbear

This is a duh point but the pass was working so well we had to take what defenses was giving us. And what really needs to be revived is including forte back in passing game.

Has anyone else noticed how much more smoothly the offense has been running since Bennett is back and Hester injuries keeping him of the offense? Hmmm posters understood this years ago

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I like having Bennett start with RWill and Knox alternating at Split End. Maybe this will finally force them to put Hester in the slot where most of us think he'll be more effective just to keep him involved in the offense. I don't know what the fail to see about the potential mismatches that come from playing him there that we seem to.

Keep Bennett out there all the time and use Hurd to give him a breather. Run Knox and RWill on the other side and use Hester and Sanz out of the slot. I think if you keep these guys at those spots and keep working it once we get a better version of RWill we'll have a decent group of WR's.

I think they could get so much more creative with ways to get the ball to Hester playing inside than out and it also allows us to get our better guys out there more often.

I'd like to see Barber more in GL situations and for Pete's sake give the rock to Clutts on a RUSHING ATTEMPT at least once or twice. Not only does the fella deserve it but it might help Forte and co. in being keyed on.

I don't agree sfb that would mess with my fantasy football team lol

Today kind of proved what I was saying about the need to attack straight up the gut and inside the DE's of the other guy. Teams are beginning to play their DE's very wide to take away the edge and force Forte back into the middle and then with the extra man up his cutback lanes are gone.

When they do that it leaves them spread out and if you can get into the second level there's a lot of room. Forte came a shoestring tackle away from breaking a huge run just that way sometime in the second half. Just too many guys to block and the plays take too long to develop when Forte is trying to pick his way through to daylight. Barber ran more and more effectively because he sees a sliver of daylight and just runs through itand picks up a yard or two more with his poower and drive.

As lonf as teams stack the box and play those DE out in that 9 spot we need to use Barber more like we did today.