Tag: David Montgomery

David Montgomery will be key to Bears’ success in 2020

The Bears were a better team when they were handing the ball off to David Montgomery, and they need to do that to find success in 2020.

After officially moving on from the Jordan Howard era, the Chicago Bears tabbed David Montgomery as the running back of the future in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Montgomery was paired with free agent Mike Davis, as well as the versatile Tarik Cohen.

And while the offensive line had its issues last season, there was a key stat that proved Montgomery will be vital in the upcoming season. That stat is simply to give the ball more to him.

The Bears were a perfect 8-0 when Montgomery carried the ball at least 17 times per game, and 0-8 when he had less than 13 attempts. In victories, the Iowa State product averaged nearly four years-per-carry, compared to 3.5 yards-per-carry in losing efforts. It truly goes to show it is a game of inches.

Montgomery’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield had no bearing on the outcome of games. He had nearly as many catches in both outcomes, but, obviously, it helps when he can turn those plays into big gains.

The Bears also need stability at the quarterback position this year, but having a guy like Nick Foles under center will benefit Montgomery. During his time in Philadelphia and Jacksonville, Foles frequently targeted guys like Corey Clement, Jay Ajayi, Wendell Smallwood, Darren Sproles and Leonard Fournette.

If the Bears offensive line can rebound to their 2018 version, look for Montgomery to enter the conversation as being a top-10 running back who’s capable of eclipsing 1,200 yards every year.

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Which Bears player is primed for a breakout season in 2020?

While Bears RB David Montgomery had a solid rookie season, he could be primed for an even bigger sophomore year.

The run game was one of the more frustrating aspects of the Chicago Bears’ struggling offense. But that didn’t fall on rookie running back David Montgomery as much as it did the offensive line and playcalling.

Still, in spite of the run game’s struggles, Montgomery put together a solid rookie season. He had 889 rushing yards and six touchdowns, as well as added 185 yards on 25 receptions and one touchdown. But Montgomery averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, which needs to improve in 2020.

There are many issues that the Bears have been focused on fixing this offseason, and the run game is among them. Chicago brought in some new offensive minds, including offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and offensive line coach Juan Castillo, that have some experience with the run game.

So it makes sense that Bleacher Report believes that Montgomery is primed for a breakout season in his sophomore year.

For the Bears to have success, they need to run the ball. And while Tarik Cohen is still in town, when it comes to the between-the-tackles work it’s all on Montgomery in 2020.

We’ve seen Montgomery play the role of workhorse before—he topped 250 carries during each of his last two seasons at Iowa State. If the Bears are going to even sniff a playoff spot this season, it’s going to take 1,200 yards on the ground from Montgomery—a number that would make fantasy football enthusiasts elated.

One of the things that was lacking for the Bears last season was balance on offense. Matt Nagy would abandon the run at first sign of trouble, which forced Chicago into a pass-first mentality, which certainly didn’t help a struggling Mitchell Trubisky.

Expect the Bears to commit more to the run game in 2020, and Montgomery will be a big part of that.

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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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5 questions we have following Bears’ 2020 NFL Draft

There are still some unknowns continuing through this offseason as a result of the Bears’ 2020 NFL Draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft in the books, but the work has only begun for the Chicago Bears ahead of the scheduled start of the regular season.

While the Bears addressed some issues on their roster — including cornerback, tight end, pass rush and wide receiver — there are still some unknowns continuing through this offseason as a result of the draft.

Here are five questions we have following the 2020 NFL Draft:

1. What’s the plan at strong safety?

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the draft, there was a strong belief that the Bears were going to bring in a strong safety to pair with Pro Bowler Eddie Jackson. When guys like Antoine Winfield Jr., Grant Delpit and Jeremy Chinn were still on the board when Chicago’s second-round picks rolled around, it was a surprise when the Bears chose to bypass a safety for a tight end and cornerback.

The Bears currently have four safeties that figure to battle for that strong safety job — Deon Bush, Jordan Lucas, DeAndre Houston-Carson and Kentrell Brice. But none of those guys inspire confidence on a starting basis in the secondary.

Bush figures to be the favorite to win the job. But if the Bears were confident that Bush was the guy, they wouldn’t have brought in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix last season. There are still some safety prospects on the free-agent market, including Tony Jefferson, that the Bears could bring in. Otherwise, it’s likely we’re going to see Bush or Lucas opposite Jackson in 2020.

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Ranking each Bears draft class under Ryan Pace

When you put each of Bears GM Ryan Pace’s first five draft classes next to one another, how do they stack up?

We’re down to just hours before the 2020 NFL Draft officially begins in Las Vegas, NV virtually, giving teams yet another opportunity to improve their roster as the offseason marches on.

For Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace, this year’s draft will be his sixth and like most GMs, he’s found his share of diamonds in the rough while missing badly on top prospects.

But when you put each of his first five draft classes next to one another, how do they stack up? Below is a ranking of Pace’s worst to best draft classes between 2015 and 2019.

5) 2019 draft class

Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Key hits – None

Key misses – None

It seems a little unfair to rank the Bears most-recent draft class in last place, considering the players have only had one season to develop. But the truth is, none of the Bears five picks have shown they are true hits yet. They also relinquished their first and second-round picks when they traded for All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack prior to the 2018 season.

Their first selection didn’t come until pick No. 73, trading up in the third round for running back David Montgomery. The former Cyclone was decent and definitely showed flashes throughout the season, but he wasn’t consistent enough and only averaged 3.7 yards per carry. He wasn’t bad by any means, but he wasn’t a standout. Most notably, he was the only rookie to play a significant amount of snaps.

Their next pick, wide receiver Riley Ridley, didn’t play a single down until Week 13 and failed to make an impact. Cornerback Duke Shelley, the Bears’ sixth-round pick, spent a large portion of the season inactive, and their pair of seventh-rounders in running back Kerrith Whyte Jr. and cornerback Stephen Denmark were released and spent the year on the practice squad, respectively.

It was a rough year for this rookie class, but the bright side for this group is Montgomery, Ridley, and Shelley will have more opportunities to prove themselves and take the next step in their careers in Year 2.

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4 don’ts for the Chicago Bears in 2020 NFL Draft

Let’s take a look at four things Bears GM Ryan Pace should not do in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Draft week is upon us, and we’re just days away from meeting the Bears’ 2020 draft class. Unlike last season, when it was best player available mentality, Chicago has several needs both on offense and defense that they need to tackle.

While no one can ever gauge what general manager Ryan Pace will do come draft time — which is exactly how he likes it — I have some suggestions for Pace and co. ahead of this 2020 NFL Draft.

Let’s take a look at four things Pace and the Bears should not do in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1. DON’T: Trade up

Tim Boyle/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

Pace has a reputation for seeing his guy and doing whatever it takes to get him. For better or for worse. Although, typically, for worse. For every Khalil Mack there’s a Mitchell Trubisky. For every Eddie Jackson, there’s a Leonard Floyd.

Pace has traded up each of the last four drafts, including twice in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, he traded up to select Floyd and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. In 2017, Pace traded up to grab Trubisky and Jackson. Then in 2018, he traded up to draft receiver Anthony Miller, and most recently in 2019, to select running back David Montgomery. Pace isn’t shy about trading up to select guys high on his board, but there’s a belief that changes this year.

Considering the Bears are already thin with the draft capital they currently have — they have just two selections in the first four founds — Chicago can’t afford to be relinquishing picks. Now, trading down on the other hand, that would serve to benefit the Bears and perhaps lock up a third or fourth-round selection.

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Bears have met with Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans

The Bears are searching for a backup for RB David Montgomery, and they’ve done their homework by meeting with App State’s Darrynton Evans.

There are no shortage of needs for the Chicago Bears, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. While positions like offensive line, tight end and quarterback will draw most of the attention, you can’t ignore needs like running back and wide receiver.

The Bears are certainly doing their homework, as they were among a handful of teams that have met with Appalachian State running back Darrynton Evans during the pre-draft process, according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

It’s no secret that the Bears run game was abysmal — and a big part of the reason why Chicago’s offense sputtered last season. There’s been a renewed focus to correct the run game, so say the Bears, but they can’t ignore that there’s no solid backup for starter David Montgomery.

Tarik Cohen will be listed as the No. 2 back, but he’s a gadget player. Cohen isn’t someone that could take over for Montgomery should he go down with an injury. While everyone’s hopeful for preseason stud Ryan Nall, the Bears don’t know that they can depend on him to be a dependable three-down back should the situation call for it.

Which is why general manager Ryan Pace needs to address running back in this draft. And maybe Evans is the answer for the Bears. Evans is a versatile back that has the traits to be a three-down back in the NFL, and a nice complement to Montgomery.

In 2019, Evans rushed for 1,480 yards and 18 touchdowns on 255 carries last year with the Mountaineers. For his career, Evans rushed for 2,884 rushing yards with 25 rushing touchdowns along with 39 receptions for 319 yards and six receiving touchdowns in three collegiate seasons.

Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Evans in his evaluation:

Slashing outside-zone runner with glide in his stride and ability to run with elusiveness and creativity. Evans is a little undersized and might be viewed as a change-of-pace option, but he appears to have the three-down skill set to handle committee carries. He can run with patience, but has the loose hips and agile feet to plant-and-go in a hurry. He sees the field and does a nice job of setting up and eluding tacklers with lateral cuts or stacked moves. While he’s confident in space, Evans lacks the commitment and finishing force to make a living inside the tackles. His third-down and kick-return versatility increases the likelihood that Evans will hear his name called in the middle rounds with a chance to become a solid RB2.

Zierlein projects Evans to go in the fourth round. While the Bears don’t currently have a fourth-round selection — they traded that for quarterback Nick Foles — you figure the Bears would be interested in Evans should he happen to fall to the fifth round, where they own pick 163.

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2020 NFL Draft: Bears expected to trade down in 2nd round

Bears GM Ryan Pace isn’t known for trading down to accumulate draft picks, but it sounds like that might change this year.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has garnered a reputation in the NFL Draft for trading future draft capital and going all-in on players that he believes in. Although, it hasn’t always worked out.

Pace has traded up each of the last four drafts with mixed results. In 2016, he traded up to land outside linebacker Leonard Floyd in the first round and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski in the fourth round. In 2017, Pace traded up one spot to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky No. 2 overall, and he also traded up in the fourth round to land safety Eddie Jackson.

Pace continued the trend in 2018, when he traded up to select receiver Anthony Miller in the second round. Even last year, Pace moved up 13 spots in the third round to select running back David Montgomery.

But something Pace is not known for is trading down to accumulate picks, although he has done so on a couple of occasions.

In a recent mock draft, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune hinted that the Bears are expected to trade down in the second round, which would certainly go against the norm.

The Bears are expected to seek a trade down with at least one of their second-round picks to add depth to their class.

Considering the Bears have just two draft picks in the first four rounds — and with a number of roster needs — it would make sense for Pace to trade back and lock up an extra draft pick, perhaps before the fifth round.

The interesting part about Biggs’ note is that he mentioned seeking a trade with “at least one” of those picks, hinting that trading down with both second-round picks isn’t necessarily out of the question.

This NFL Draft is different from last year’s for Chicago in that it’s not about selecting the best player available. This year, the Bears have several roster needs both on offense and defense that need to be addressed with Chicago’s limited draft capital.

When all is said and done, whether Pace decides to trade back ultimately depends on whether or not one of his guys is still on the board when Pick 43 or 50 rolls around.

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NFL.com believes Bears are well-off at running back in 2020

The Bears’ run game struggled in 2019. Yet, there are some that believe that Chicago is in a good situation with its run game.

The run game was one of the most criticized aspects of an abysmal Bears offense in 2019. And yet, there are some that believe that Chicago is in a good situation with its run game this offseason.

NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman believes the Bears are in good position at running back heading into 2020. He cited the fact that the entire offense struggled as a whole in 2019, as well as Chicago having two running backs in David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen still on their rookie deals and trending in the right direction.

Chicago’s ground game regressed in 2019, dropping from 11th to 27th after the drafting of David Montgomery and the decision to trade away Jordan Howard. There were other variables at play there, namely the frenzied play of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the inconsistency of the Bears as a whole.

But it’s hard to argue that wholesale changes should be made to the backfield, considering Montgomery and Tarik Cohen are both still on their rookie deals and ascending. Chicago should lean on Montgomery much more in 2020 but the Bears could use someone not named Ryan Nall to complement the youngsters. A cheap veteran pickup in free agency is warranted.

Of course, when you look at it from a monetary standpoint, the Bears are in a decent spot, especially when you consider their current predicament in terms of the salary cap. But there’s a reason that one of the focuses of this offseason has been to fix the ailing run game.

Matt Nagy isn’t necessarily someone known to have an affinity toward the running the football, which is exactly why he brought in some new offensive minds that specialize in just that.

New offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, offensive line coach Juan Castillo and even tight ends coach Clancy Barone will no doubt have their fingerprints on Chicago’s plan to address the run game.

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