Forte, you are now blessed as "starter", but we'll have "competition"

[madlithuanian]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/...arter/#comments

 

Lovie Smith says Matt Forte will be the starter

Posted by Mike Florio on March 24, 2010 9:10 AM ET

 

Bears running back Matt Forte will earn a base salary of $470,000 in 2010. Newcomer Chester Taylor will be paid $7 million as part of the three-year, $12.5 million contract. But coach Lovie Smith said at Wednesday's NFC coaches' breakfast that Forte will be the starter, per Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

That said, Smith added that there will be "competition."

 

Given the eventual contents of Taylor's W-2 form for the current year, that "competition" could be tilted in favor of the veteran who defected from Minnesota.

 

[bradjock]

This reminds me of a few years ago when we signed Thomas Jones on the first day of free agency. Lovie declared Anthony Thomas was still the starter . . . that lasted about a month.

[Boston Boxer]

i think we have a great 1-2 punch at the rb position this year. who is 1 or 2 does not matter to me as i think both will get touches and whoever has the hot hand that day will get more snaps. With that said, if we dont fix the OLine, then it wont matter who is running the ball.

[nfoligno]

Or last year when Lovie said Beekman was still the starter and Omiyale would have to win the competition, only to be given the job when everyone at camp said he looked like crap.

 

Still though, I am not sure we signed him with the intent of making him our starter. When we signed TJ, A-Train looked more like a backup and I think everyone knew TJ was signed to be the starter. Here, I think it is much more up in the air.

 

I think the staff would love for Forte to step up in camp and be the starter this year, with Taylor still playing a major role.

 

This reminds me of a few years ago when we signed Thomas Jones on the first day of free agency. Lovie declared Anthony Thomas was still the starter . . . that lasted about a month.

 

[bradjock]

Or last year when Lovie said Beekman was still the starter and Omiyale would have to win the competition, only to be given the job when everyone at camp said he looked like crap.

 

To me that was more about not liking Beekman then it was liking Omiyale. For some reason, we liked a bad Omiyale better then a mediocre Beekman. Don't forget that we went back to Omiyale after Orlando was hurt/benched. The Chicago media believes it's just a matter of time before we announce Omiyale is the RT. To me that means we really like Louis or we're searching for a veteran FA guard.

 

Still though, I am not sure we signed him with the intent of making him our starter. When we signed TJ, A-Train looked more like a backup and I think everyone knew TJ was signed to be the starter. Here, I think it is much more up in the air.

 

Is it up in the air? When we signed TJ, we were still thinking Anthony Thomas could be the real-deal. We didn't want to believe he was bad.

 

We ignore the fact Forte looked like crap all last season. We blame the line and we blame his injuries. We forget he looked bad at the end of his rookie year. But all last season he looked slow as hell and he sucked at the goal line. Hell, I thought Bell looked just as good. We also blame Forte's poor number on Turner becoming pass happy. Again, we ignore the fact that the only reason we became pass happy was that Forte could gain any yards. IMO Taylor's the starter.

 

 

[nfoligno]

To me that was more about not liking Beekman then it was liking Omiyale. For some reason, we liked a bad Omiyale better then a mediocre Beekman. Don't forget that we went back to Omiyale after Orlando was hurt/benched. The Chicago media believes it's just a matter of time before we announce Omiyale is the RT. To me that means we really like Louis or we're searching for a veteran FA guard.

 

To me, the key it was about was having in mind the sort of OG they wanted. They wanted to get bigger on the OL and play with more power. Beekman is more finese and small of frame, thus not a fit for what they were looking for. Omiyale sucked, but was more like the sort of OG they wanted. Scheme over talent.

 

I agree he is likely to move to RT. I personlly would rather keep our options open w/ a draft coming up supposedly loaded at OT, but weak as hell at OG, but it sounds like we have all but made up our minds.

 

We ignore the fact Forte looked like crap all last season. We blame the line and we blame his injuries. We forget he looked bad at the end of his rookie year. But all last season he looked slow as hell and he sucked at the goal line. Hell, I thought Bell looked just as good. We also blame Forte's poor number on Turner becoming pass happy. Again, we ignore the fact that the only reason we became pass happy was that Forte could gain any yards. IMO Taylor's the starter.

 

Hey, I was among the few saying Forte sucked last year, despite the awful OL and other aspects. But another reason (at least given) for Forte's slump was injury he was playing with.

 

Taylor may well be the starter, but I simply do not believe this is a situation where we signed him with the plan of making him the starter, regardless what Forte does in camp, like with Beekman/Omiyale. If Forte looks very good in camp, and more like his rookie year, I think he starts. I think this could be a legit competition, rather than one like we have talked about in the past.

 

[AZ54]

Whether he starts or not Taylor is not built to handle fulltime duties at RB, especially at his age. This is going to be a 2-man rotation regardless. I hope the "competition" does light a fire in Forte so he works harder this offseason to get back to what he was his rookie year.

[bowlingtwig]

Whether he starts or not Taylor is not built to handle fulltime duties at RB, especially at his age. This is going to be a 2-man rotation regardless. I hope the "competition" does light a fire in Forte so he works harder this offseason to get back to what he was his rookie year.

I agree. Although with Forte I don't think we need to worry about him whining like TJ did. I just don't see Forte being that kinda person. Lets also factor in the fact that Taylor was just looking to go somewhere to be a part of the offense NOT to just start. I'm sure Taylor could have gone elsewhere to get a little bit more money. I know he is being pd like a starter but to me the money just doesn't matter this year. My case in point is Whitehurst, QB. He is getting pd 10 mil over 2 years, but yet he is going to be the backup.

[bradjock]

To me, the key it was about was having in mind the sort of OG they wanted. They wanted to get bigger on the OL and play with more power. Beekman is more finese and small of frame, thus not a fit for what they were looking for. Omiyale sucked, but was more like the sort of OG they wanted. Scheme over talent.

 

What I thought was interesting is that as soon as that the moment we benched Pace we reinserted Omiyale. We must have liked Beekman's mobility next to the statue-esque Pace. The combination of Williams & Omiyale seemed to work.

 

I agree he is likely to move to RT. I personlly would rather keep our options open w/ a draft coming up supposedly loaded at OT, but weak as hell at OG, but it sounds like we have all but made up our minds.

 

You've been thumping for Sims and I think you're right. That we leave us with good depth at the guard and tackle position.

 

Hey, I was among the few saying Forte sucked last year, despite the awful OL and other aspects. But another reason (at least given) for Forte's slump was injury he was playing with.

 

Taylor may well be the starter, but I simply do not believe this is a situation where we signed him with the plan of making him the starter, regardless what Forte does in camp, like with Beekman/Omiyale. If Forte looks very good in camp, and more like his rookie year, I think he starts. I think this could be a legit competition, rather than one like we have talked about in the past.

 

Taylor's a much better blocker, and he'd have to be better at the goal-line. Forte is going to have to regain is '08 form or Taylor will get the majority of time.