Evan Rodriguez

[AZ54]

http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/

 

I was watching his highlight tape on the Bears' site (above link) and I have to admit he has one of the most impressive plays I've seen from an offensive player without the ball. On one TD play at the 37sec mark he gets three blocks, falling down on the last one but gets right up and goes after a 4th block but can't quite get there. I am guessing this is what the Bears saw from him, not so much his inline blocking but his open field blocking. Forte should love this and again, it's one more reason to put the contract difference into an incentive because it is now more likely to be earned.

 

I like what Clutts did for us last year but he isn't anywhere close to the athletic open field blocker Rodriguez is. Nor is he as good of a receiver but he might be a better blocker between the tackles.

[Guest TerraTor]

http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/

 

I was watching his highlight tape on the Bears' site (above link) and I have to admit he has one of the most impressive plays I've seen from an offensive player without the ball. On one TD play at the 37sec mark he gets three blocks, falling down on the last one but gets right up and goes after a 4th block but can't quite get there. I am guessing this is what the Bears saw from him, not so much his inline blocking but his open field blocking. Forte should love this and again, it's one more reason to put the contract difference into an incentive because it is now more likely to be earned.

 

I like what Clutts did for us last year but he isn't anywhere close to the athletic open field blocker Rodriguez is. Nor is he as good of a receiver but he might be a better blocker between the tackles.

 

 

Like the player...too early but whatever. Gotta like he lead the team in receiving..

[Stinger226]

Like the player...too early but whatever. Gotta like he lead the team in receiving..

When Tice was head coach, he only had a true fullback on his roster for 1 out of the 4 years. I see Clutts not being around and Evan being the hybrid H back/TE and rolling with that.

[scs787]

Like the player...too early but whatever. Gotta like he lead the team in receiving..

 

Ive read that he was a 5th-6th rounder, I know they could have probably traded back but with them not having a 5th they could have thought he'd be gone by their pick in the 6th....Not sure how many other guys there were in the draft that could play the role he plays so its possible that have plans for him and didnt wanna miss out

[balta1701-A]

Ive read that he was a 5th-6th rounder, I know they could have probably traded back but with them not having a 5th they could have thought he'd be gone by their pick in the 6th....Not sure how many other guys there were in the draft that could play the role he plays so its possible that have plans for him and didnt wanna miss out

The real problem is that when you're talking 6th rounder versus 4th rounder, you're talking about grading the difference between #110 and #180, which means that a subtle difference in evaluation can move guys around big time in slotting.

[bradjock]

When Tice was head coach, he only had a true fullback on his roster for 1 out of the 4 years. I see Clutts not being around and Evan being the hybrid H back/TE and rolling with that.

 

Ideally, yes. But we have trouble in short yardage situation and it's nice to have the "lead blocker." Rodriguez is listed at 244 and Clutts 260.

 

More importantly, it's about roles. We want Rodriguez to be the deep field threat. He wants to be the deep field threat. Will he give it his all in the "bowling ball" role?

[balta1701-A]

Ideally, yes. But we have trouble in short yardage situation and it's nice to have the "lead blocker." Rodriguez is listed at 244 and Clutts 260.

 

More importantly, it's about roles. We want Rodriguez to be the deep field threat. He wants to be the deep field threat. Will he give it his all in the "bowling ball" role?

The question is...do the Bears have trouble in short yardage because of the blocking or because of the running back? My answer until proven otherwise is that Forte just isn't a good short yardage back. He's not a leaper, he's not a big body who can plow forwards, he's an explosive guy who is at his best if you put him in space, which doesn't happen when you put 9 defenders on the LOS and say "Get 2 yards". Which is, for example, the whole reason I liked the Barber signing last year, and he wound up with a touchdown in 5 of the first 7 games he played in, which was exactly what he was supposed to do.

[Stinger226]

Ideally, yes. But we have trouble in short yardage situation and it's nice to have the "lead blocker." Rodriguez is listed at 244 and Clutts 260.

 

More importantly, it's about roles. We want Rodriguez to be the deep field threat. He wants to be the deep field threat. Will he give it his all in the "bowling ball" role?

Actually if you keep him as the third TE and keep Clutts , I can see use for both. We will be running a lot more 2 TEs sets so I am sure we keep 3 TEs.

[jason]

The question is...do the Bears have trouble in short yardage because of the blocking or because of the running back? My answer until proven otherwise is that Forte just isn't a good short yardage back. He's not a leaper, he's not a big body who can plow forwards, he's an explosive guy who is at his best if you put him in space, which doesn't happen when you put 9 defenders on the LOS and say "Get 2 yards". Which is, for example, the whole reason I liked the Barber signing last year, and he wound up with a touchdown in 5 of the first 7 games he played in, which was exactly what he was supposed to do.

 

Wow. I can't believe I'm reading this.

 

The whole notion of not being a good short yardage back is flawed when we know, for a fact, that the OL is not good. That the OL is in the bottom handful for negative rushes, QB hits, QB sacks, and just about every other OL measurable there is out there.

 

Your scenario of 9 in the box and "get 2 yards" is valid, but that's still something a RB needs help on. If there is a DT or DE in the backfield on a consistent basis, you can't expect the RB to do everything. Even the "short yardage specialists" who are considered elite in that niche role typically get some push from their OL.

 

I put this almost exclusively on the OL.

[madlithuanian]

I think your assessment is logical.

 

However, given Barber's success down there compared to Forte's...could there be something to his theory? As bad as the OL was in pass protection, they did pretty good run blocking overall.

 

Some players are battering rams, others are not. Some don't look it (Marcus Allen) and are. Some look it and aren't... Also, could it also be scheming? I recall a lot of empty back sets with no FB when Forte had many stuffs.

 

I just generally look at it as all of the above in this particular situation.

 

1. Fair to poor OL play

2. a B that isn't a battering ram

3. poor line-up's with no FB

4. poor play calling

 

 

 

Wow. I can't believe I'm reading this.

 

The whole notion of not being a good short yardage back is flawed when we know, for a fact, that the OL is not good. That the OL is in the bottom handful for negative rushes, QB hits, QB sacks, and just about every other OL measurable there is out there.

 

Your scenario of 9 in the box and "get 2 yards" is valid, but that's still something a RB needs help on. If there is a DT or DE in the backfield on a consistent basis, you can't expect the RB to do everything. Even the "short yardage specialists" who are considered elite in that niche role typically get some push from their OL.

 

I put this almost exclusively on the OL.

 

[Alaskan Grizzly]

I think I have to agree with Balta's assessment that Forte is NOT a short yardage rusher. Sure the OL could have been a part of it, but Walter Payton could almost always gain yards, in the open field or with being surrounded on four sides. So could Barry Sanders. When in those last mentioned situations, and in short yardage, Walter would just leap over the top. Forte does not do that...or at least I don't recall him doing that. Many times after Benson left and about the time Forte started I could recall how frustrating it was to watch them both run to the line, meet resistance and stop. In between the two there was Thomas Jones who many times would simply re-direct himself when he met resistence and gain big chunks of yards.

 

So yes it could be that the line isn't helping but I think Forte is simply not a short yardage back. Finesse running and pass catching are his (forgive the puns) "fortes".

[LT2_3]

I put this almost exclusively on the OL.

 

Just like the current high price of gas too.

[lemonej]

I have a couple of points to make on this very subject. Forte IMO could be capable of being a good short yardage back if:

 

1.He actually is on the field in those situations 3rd down and goal line.How many times could you see Forte take himself out of the game after a long gain that got the team down in the redzone? That in itself needs to stop.If he wants to get paid like the "Bell Cow" then he should realize that after those long gains the defenders are tired also man up and finish the drive.To be considered a great back you need to score rushing TDs.

 

2. OL blocking scheme needs to be tweaked a bit with them firing off more on the goal line instead of what looked like the influence or angle blocks they have used.I was frustrated on many redzone plays that you could see the interior guys who are the most important in goal line situations get pushed back in the backfield and having the play disrupted. Why not every once in a while use a 5 man OL.

 

3. When Forte is in the game actually hand the ball off to him on first down instead of 3rd.(Turner) I can remember the ball being handed to a FB named Davis during Turner's tenure that had me going ballistic during a game.

 

4 With the addition of some big WRs as redzone targets it would be wise to have Forte on the field to create some confusion for the defense to figure out.

 

These are keys to Forte being better in this situation and this team as a whole can improve in converting redzone trips into TDs.Gould has made quite a few FGs in his career since he got here.

[madlithuanian]

Just a coule questions on your points...

 

1. Did he take himself out, or did the coaching staff?

 

2. The scheme does need to change. Hopefully Tice will instill that.

 

3. I'd say Tice will take care of that too.

 

4. Bingo! We need threats out there to make defenses think and over-think!

 

 

I have a couple of points to make on this very subject. Forte IMO could be capable of being a good short yardage back if:

 

1.He actually is on the field in those situations 3rd down and goal line.How many times could you see Forte take himself out of the game after a long gain that got the team down in the redzone? That in itself needs to stop.If he wants to get paid like the "Bell Cow" then he should realize that after those long gains the defenders are tired also man up and finish the drive.To be considered a great back you need to score rushing TDs.

 

2. OL blocking scheme needs to be tweaked a bit with them firing off more on the goal line instead of what looked like the influence or angle blocks they have used.I was frustrated on many redzone plays that you could see the interior guys who are the most important in goal line situations get pushed back in the backfield and having the play disrupted. Why not every once in a while use a 5 man OL.

 

3. When Forte is in the game actually hand the ball off to him on first down instead of 3rd.(Turner) I can remember the ball being handed to a FB named Davis during Turner's tenure that had me going ballistic during a game.

 

4 With the addition of some big WRs as redzone targets it would be wise to have Forte on the field to create some confusion for the defense to figure out.

 

These are keys to Forte being better in this situation and this team as a whole can improve in converting redzone trips into TDs.Gould has made quite a few FGs in his career since he got here.

 

[lemonej]

Just a coule questions on your points...

 

1. Did he take himself out, or did the coaching staff?

 

Yes. The way you can tell is when he looks toward the sidelines and puts his hand up.It usually happens after he has broken of a long gainer pass or run.

 

Payton and even Neal Anderson wouldn't come out of the game at that point they wanted to finish the deal.

 

[madlithuanian]

Interesting...thanks for clarifying.

 

Does he lack "fire"?

 

1. Did he take himself out, or did the coaching staff?

 

Yes. The way you can tell is when he looks toward the sidelines and puts his hand up.It usually happens after he has broken of a long gainer pass or run.

 

Payton and even Neal Anderson wouldn't come out of the game at that point they wanted to finish the deal.

 

[lemonej]

Interesting...thanks for clarifying.

 

Does he lack "fire"?

I wouldn't go that far but, the way he works out seems to be more for upper body strength and less for stamina. He needs to do more for endurance similar to what marathoners do. Forte looks good when he reports to came but he hasn't been able to avaid nagging injuries during the season.