Chicago Bears Season Review: The Running Backs

Before quarterback Jay Cutler came to the Bears, Chicago was known as a running team that set up the pass using the run. In 2008, then rookie Matt Forte had a great season in his first year with the Bears and almost single handedly kept the offense going rushing for over 1000 yards while becoming the most vital part of the offense for the Bears.

Enter Cutler and many experts felt that the running game would all but disappear with the Bears bringing in the best quarterback they have had since Jim McMahon. However, both the passing game and the running game didn’t go as well as they had hoped and the Bears suffered from offensive mediocrity once again.

During the offseason, Chicago signed former Minnesota Vikings running back Chester Taylor with the hopes that he would be a viable second option in the running game as well as a good pass blocker. They also didn’t sign running back Adrian Peterson who, unless something happens to one of the other players at the running back position, will probably not be back next season. It’s going to be a little bit of a new look in the backfield for the Bears this coming season.

Forte didn’t have as good of a season in 2009 as he did in his first year with the Bears. He played in and started in all 16 games last season rushing 258 times for a total of 929 yards averaging 3.6 yards per carry. His longest rush was 61 yards and he scored four touchdowns. Forte also caught 57 passes for 471 yards with an average of 8.3 yards per catch and no touchdowns. He had a long of 37 yards. Forte also had six fumbles losing three.

Forte’s big season as a rookie was good but it wasn’t that good. His rushing average wasn’t as strong as some of the other players in the league had but he was still an important factor in the Bears offense and was a major reason for their marginal success at times in 2008. This year, Forte will be running the ball with Taylor so he should get much more rest and therefore he should be much more effective. Let’s hope that Forte returns to his rookie form and can help out the Bears offense.

The other starter, possibly the co-starter, in the backfield for the Bears next season will be Taylor. Taylor not only gives the Bears someone to rest Forte on a regular basis but it also allows them to throw more passes to the running back as well as have someone in there that can block. He is also still kind of fresh for his age because he hasn’t been used that much. In 2009, Taylor played in all 16 games with no starts and had 94 rushing attempts for 338 yards with an average of 3.6yards per carry. He had one touchdown on the ground. Taylor also caught 44 passes for 389 yards and one touchdown. He did fumble the ball two times but didn’t lose those two.

Taylor will be a very welcome addition to the Bears backfield this season as Forte hasn’t had anyone solid behind him to spell him since coming to Chicago. Look for the Bears to use Taylor as an option on third down as well as helping out as a blocker.

We didn’t get to see too much of Kahlil Bell in 2009 but what we did see what somewhat promising. Many Bears fans will remember his long run against the Eagles last season to start his career with the Bears but after that, Bell didn’t do much. All told, Bell played in a total of seven games in 2009 without any starts and had 40rushing attempts for 220 yards with an average of 5.5 yards per rush (remember he did have that 72 yard run that helps to pad that average.) He also caught one pass for four yards.

If the Bears end up keeping four running backs, which they most likely will do and if Bell can show them enough value in training camp this summer then there is no reason to think that he won’t be on the active roster come the start of the season. He could be a nice change of pace back and his aggressive running style could help him pick up quite a few yards per carry.

Garrett Wolfe hasn’t quite panned out the way that the Bears thought that he would when they drafted him but there is a chance that he might find some success in the new offense that Martz is putting together. Wolfe does have value as a special teams player as well and that will make it hard for the Bears to cut him lose before next season.

In 2009, Wolfe played in a total of eight games with no starts and had 22 rushing attempts for 120 yards averaging 5.5 yards per rush. His longest rush was 36 yards and he had one touchdown. He also caught two passes for 12 total yards. If Wolfe is to stick with the team, he will have to prove that he has some use as a running back beyond his value as a special teams player. Look for Wolfe to be on the bubble throughout all of training camp but make the roster in the end and be one of four running backs that the Bears keep on the roster for all of next season.

Adrian Peterson has been a mainstay on the team for several seasons but it appears as if he may have seen his last season in a Bear’s uniform. Like Wolfe, Peterson has been a valuable addition to special teams and has been considered to be one of the best special teams players in the NFL. In 2009, Peterson played in a total of 14games with no starts and had seven rushing attempts for 51 yards with an average of 7.3 yards per rush. He also caught two passes for 11 yards.

As Peterson is an unrestricted will probably not be resigned by the Bears unless there is an injury or other need. Perhaps his quiet but solid career in Chicago is now over.

Brandon Minor is the Bears newest player at the running back position and has been brought in to help push some Bell and quite possibly Wolfe at the position. Minor, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Michigan does have some skill and if there is an injury up ahead of him then he stands a decent chance of making the active roster. Stay tuned.

Just because the Bears will be passing the ball more in 2010 doesn’t mean that they won’t be relying on their running game to help them set up the pass and get those tough yards. In that, Forte will have to be at his very best this season and will most likely see a lot of short yardage runs as well as passes out of the backfield. Taylor will be an asset and Bell will be a nice change of pace for the Bears. Look for them to have a lot of success with this group next season.