Thread: Who's the Better RB, Ray Rice vs Matt Forte Comparison.............

I still say it's his style Ric. Watch him and you'll see it. He's just not very shifty behind the line. He has a long stride and he needs open space to be most effective.

There was a goaline play two years ago that Taylor scored on where Forte never would have. I forget who the game was against but Taylor took the hand off and headed for a hole between RG and RT. The hole wasn't there so he just shuffled one gap to the side and scored. He had quick feet. Forte doesn't have them

When he's running downhill, straight north/south once Forte is commits to a gap that where he takes it. He runs too high to get much drive into the hole and he doesn't just leap it the way Payton used to do. In short yardage if there's no hole he's stymied. He has nowhere to go.

The reason he does so much better in a one back set and zone blocking is that it creates running lanes for him. When he can move he can almost always make the first man miss and once he gets up to speed he actually has some power and he's very shifty. He's not all that fast but he's another one of those guys who can cut at full speed.

He probably won't get may short yardage carries but when he does watch him this year and you'll see what I mean. It's his style and with or without a lead blocker he'll never be a good short yardage back.

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Which is all the more reason why you would want him w/a FB. The FB opens a hole that would not have normally been there. A rb who has problems w/finding the hole will have an easier time w/someone leading him there and opening it wider.

I also disagree that he's not shifty enough. I would also say he's too impatient behind the line to wait for the holes to open; or the line is just to crappy to really open up the holes. which is a larger concern. One of his positives is his vision and his cutting to find the open area, it's why he has so many big plays via the run.

But his YPC was much better when he played in a single set backfield. So if that's the case why put a lead blocker with him? His cutting ability and vision are only good when he has some room to run and all the FB does is create one more blockade for a cutback style runner.

Timing, lack of patience or lack of man on man power blocking aside you have to watch him play to see it. He's a cutback runner with a long stride and he needs space. He doesn't get that when he runs straight downhill. And you can't really blame the line for their blocking either. MB III and Bell had no problem running up the gut because that's their style for running. They won't get the edge as often or make the big play but both were effective north/south runner last year behind the same line that Forte ran behind.

I'm telling you Ric it's his running style and the fact that he's taller and runs more upright than he should for straight ahead power runs between the tackles. You really need to watch him to see it. It's not gonna show up in any stats except TD's. Look at it this way. If he was a good short yardage back why did we sign MB III last year and why Bush this year? Both of those guys are known for getting tough yards and scoring from inside the five. He's just not a good power runner and everyone who rates him says the same thing.

This is exactly what I meant about structuring the running game around Forte's strengths. The one back scheme with zone blocking opens up "cutback lanes" where Forte can use his best stuff to choose where to go with the ball. He doesn't follow a lead back through a specific hole he cuts back to the blocks into the gap that's uncovered.

The Broncos used this scheme for years while Shanny and Alex Gibbs were coaching and made 1000 yard rushers out of late round draft picks and UDFA's. Unfortunately what's best for Forte won't be best for Clutts. Unless he can stick because of is ST skills he's probably not gonna be kept around. It doesn't appear Tice's offense will use a man on man power blocking scheme. That's good because they sucked at that last year.