Bears running back David Montgomery has been having a solid season, and he’s coming off a an impressive performance against the Cowboys, where he had 20 carries for 86 yards in Chicago’s 31-24 win.
But it’s important to remember that he’s still a rookie, which means that he’s prone to some rookie mistakes.
With the Bears ahead by 17 points late in the third quarter, Montgomery did the one thing you’re taught not to do: Put the ball on the ground. Montgomery took the handoff and did what he usually does — fight for extra yards. While it’s something that benefits Montgomery’s game, it’s also something that comes with risks. There’s a time to fight for yards, and there’s a time to just go down with the ball to avoid a turnover.
During the play, Cowboys players kept Montgomery on his feet and began ripping at the ball, and it was finally forced out by Dallas linebacker Joe Thomas, which resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Jaylon Smith.
“He learned a good lesson the other day,” running backs coach Charles London said. “He runs so hard, and he’s hard to bring down. So I said, ‘That’s how people are going to try to attack you now. They’re going to try to hold you up and strip the ball.’
“He knows you have to do a better job taking care of it. You never want to take away that spirit he has, of trying to fight for extra yards. But that time also has to be calculated, to take care of the ball.”
At the time of Montgomery’s fumble, the Bears were nursing a comfortable lead with the Cowboys showing no signs of life. London’s advice for Montgomery was simple.
“Just go down,” he said. “Take care of the football. Take the profit. Live to play another play.”
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