Tag: bears running backs

Bears 2020 training camp preview: Running backs

We’re taking a look at Bears running backs, where the biggest question is who will backup lead back David Montgomery.

Chicago Bears training camp is less than three weeks away, which means it’s time to start looking ahead at the roster the team is bringing to Lake Forest.

Next up are the running backs, which you could argue is one of the team’s biggest weaknesses at this point. Outside of lead back David Montgomery, who’s entering his second season, and the versatile Tarik Cohen, there are a lot of unknowns.

Perhaps the most important is who will serve as Montgomery’s primary backup, as Cohen isn’t your traditional three-down back. The Bears have three unproven guys that are currently vying for that third running back spot in Ryan Nall, Artavis Pierce and Napoleon Maxwell.

Could they bring in a veteran to compete? Unknown at this point. But given the importance of securing a dependable backup to Montgomery, it shouldn’t be out of the question.

Let’s take a look at the running backs heading into training camp.

David Montgomery

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Montgomery is entering training camp as Chicago’s lead back, and he’s determined to take the next step following a decent rookie campaign. Heading into his second season in Matt Nagy’s offense, expectations are high for the Bears’ top draft pick a year ago.

Last season, behind a struggling offensive line and questionable play-calling, Montgomery had 889 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He also added 25 receptions for 185 yards and a score. Montgomery surpassed 1,000 all-purpose yards as a rookie. He ranked second among NFL rookie rushers in both yards (889) and touchdowns (6) last season, trailing only the Raiders’ Josh Jacobs.

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Where do Bears RBs David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen rank in ESPN’s fantasy projections?

See where Bears running backs David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen rank among ESPN’s 2020 fantasy football projections.

The Chicago Bears offense was one of the worst in the NFL last season, and unless you had receiver Allen Robinson on your roster, they weren’t to be counted on in your fantasy football lineup.

In ESPN’s 2020 fantasy football projections, Bears running backs Tarik Cohen and David Montgomery ranked 100th and 102nd, respectively, overall. By position, Cohen ranks 25th and Montgomery 26th among running backs.

After a solid 2018 season, Cohen’s production took a dip last year as Matt Nagy didn’t find a way to utilize him to the fullest. Cohen’s contributions in the passing game were most valuable, as he 79 receptions for 456 yards and three touchdowns. But his production on the ground really took a hit, as he had 64 carries for 213 yards.

Cohen returns as Chicago’s change-of-pace and extremely-busy receiving back. Believe it or not, Cohen ranks fourth among backs in both targets (261) and receptions (203) since entering the NFL in 2017. Cohen’s 190-pound frame has limited him to no more than 99 carries in a single season and a grand total of four carries inside the 5-yard line. However, 70-plus catches each of the past two seasons has helped him to fantasy finishes of 11th in 2018 and 27th in 2019. Cohen’s efficiency was extremely poor last season (3.3 YPC, 4.4 YPT), and he’ll remain limited as a rusher and at the goal line, but his role isn’t expected to change in 2020, which locks him into the PPR flex discussion.

ESPN projects Cohen will have a better year in 2020, and they even have him ranked higher than starting running back David Montgomery. They have Cohen tallying 69 carries for 291 yards with 4.2 yards per carry (up from 3.3 last season) and a score. They expect Cohen to have a big year in the passing game, where they project 72 receptions for 508 yards and two touchdowns.

Montgomery had a solid rookie season, but it wasn’t exactly what the Bears were hoping for. Then again, Montgomery didn’t get help from a struggling offensive line and some questionable play calling by Nagy. Montgomery had more than 20 rushing attempts in just four games, and there were seven games where he had less than 15 carries.

Montgomery’s rookie season didn’t go as planned, but the 2019 third-round pick remains atop the Chicago depth chart. The Iowa State product wasn’t short on volume in his first season, ranking 12th among backs in touches and sixth in carries inside the 5 (14). The problem was a combination of poor rushing efficiency (3.7 YPC, 1.6 YAC) and a lack of volume and effectiveness as a pass-catcher (185 yards on 37 targets). The end result was two top-15 fantasy weeks and a 24th-place finish by season’s end. Montgomery will continue to defer passing-down work to Tarik Cohen but is certainly a breakout candidate in his second season. Montgomery is a flex option with RB2 upside.

ESPN projects Montgomery to have a higher fantasy value in 2020, although it’ll be more because of his versatility out of the backfield. They have Montgomery getting 212 carries (down from his 242 in 2019) for 849 yards (down from 889 last year) for six touchdowns (same as in 2019). But they have Montgomery getting more production in the passing game with 26 receptions for 215 yards and a score, although you figure Montgomery will be more involved with the passing game in 2020.

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Artavis Pierce is capable backup for Bears’ running game

The Bears signed Artavis Pierce as an undrafted free agent, and he will likely see a considerable amount of playing time in 2020.

On paper, the Chicago Bears running back group looks thin. After the Mike Davis experiment officially concluded in November of last season, only David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen left on the roster who had any significant experience.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Bears would take a running back in the draft or add a veteran back in free agency. While the draft has come and gone, the Bears can still add a solid depth piece with names like Devonta Freeman, Isaiah Crowell, and Carlos Hyde, all looking for homes in 2020.

However, the Bears made an underrated move shortly after the draft, signing Artavis Pierce as an undrafted free agent. The Oregon State product played in 11 games as a true freshman, rushing for 523 yards and averaging 5.3 yards-per-carry.

In both his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Pierce played behind current Bears’ running back Ryan Nall. Now on the same roster again, Pierce has the chance to unseat his fellow undrafted free agent teammate.

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As a junior, Pierce took a backseat to Jermar Jefferson but still averaged 7.6 yards-per-carry on 54 attempts. As a senior, he evenly split carries with Jefferson, rushing for 873 yards and averaging 6.0 yards-per-carry.

Perhaps his greatest strength – and where he can help the Bears the most – is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He played in a similar style of offense at Oregon State, so the transition should be seamless. Pierce hauled in 74 catches for 578 yards – 7.8 yards-per-catch – in four years on campus.

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3 free-agent running backs the Bears should consider signing

The Bears have failed to address the running back position this offseason, and there are a few options remaining in free agency.

While the Chicago Bears addressed other offensive positions through the 2020 NFL Draft, one area that has a glaring weakness is the running back position. If you recall, the Bears were hellbent on trading Jordan Howard in the 2018 offseason.

With Tarik Cohen’s roster spot safe, Mike Davis was added in free agency, and David Montgomery was tabbed as Howard’s replacement in the 2019 NFL Draft. Davis logged just 11 carries for 25 yards with the Bears before being released in November.

Cohen’s production dropped off in 2019, and Montgomery’s was limited to poor offensive line play. Heading into the offseason, I assumed the Bears would add another back to the mix either in free agency or the draft. Neither has yet to happen.

And, as noted, the Bears upgraded the tight end position, taking Cole Kmet in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The wide receiving corps also looks strong on paper with the additions of Darnell Mooney and Ted Ginn Jr.

However, should Montgomery go down with an injury this year, the Bears are in a world of trouble as Cohen displayed time and time again last year that he is too small to run between the tackles.

The white elephant in the room is the salary cap. Spotrac estimates the Bears have $10 million in available cap, which is more than enough to sign their draft class and add another back.

Let’s take a look at three potential fits for the Bears.

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Grading the 2019 Bears by position: Running backs

The running back position was seen as the weak-link on the offensive side for the Bears heading into the 2019 season, and that proved true.

The running back position was seen as the weak-link on the offensive side for the Bears heading into the 2019 season. After trading running back Jordan Howard to the Philadelphia Eagles and drafting his replacement, did they do enough to improve the position not only for last season, but moving forward?

Here are the grades for each Bears running back for the 2019 season:

David Montgomery: B-

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The crown jewel of the Bears 2019 draft class, the third-round selection was billed as the “missing piece” on offense whose skill set was the perfect fit in coach Matt Nagy’s offense. Montgomery’s rookie season, however, didn’t exactly take off like many hoped.

Taking over for Howard, who was traded last offseason, Montgomery struggled to get into a flow early in the season primarily due to his questionable usage, only carrying the ball an average of 12 times through the team’s first six games. When he did get the ball, Montgomery chose to show patience when finding the hole instead of bursting through, which burned him from time to time behind an offensive line ranked 29th in run blocking by Football Outsiders with 3.86 adjusted line yards.

Still, the former Iowa State Cyclone showcased his bruising running ability nearly every carry, refusing to go down on first contact and even carrying multiple defenders for five or more yards. His season was disappointing considering the expectations prior to the season, but a significant amount of blame falls on the play calling and offensive line woes. He finished the season with 242 carries for 889 rushing yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry (ranked 41st in the NFL among players with 100 carries more).

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Bears legends Walter Payton, Gale Sayers named to NFL 100’s All-Time Team

Two Hall of Fame Bears running backs were named to the NFL’s All-Time Team.

As the NFL continues its celebration of its centennial season, they’re continuing to honor some of the greatest moments and players of the last 100 years.

It’s no surprise that two Chicago Bears — Walter Payton and Gale Sayers — were named to the team, considering their two of the best to ever play the game. But two other Bears Hall of Fame running backs, Bronko Nagurski and Red Grange, didn’t make the list.

Payton was among two running backs named unanimously to the All-Time team (Jim Brown was the other). Both Payton and Sayers also made the 75th edition of the All-Time list.

The 10 other running backs named to the NFL’s All-Time Team included Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Dutch Clark, Erick Dickerson, Lenny Moore, Marion Motley, Barry Sanders, O.J. Simpson, Emmitt Smith and Steve Van Buren.