Bears Blitz

Published by John Rozum on April 17, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Since the 2008 NFL season, the Chicago Bears‘ offense has revolved around the production of running back Matt Forte.

This comes as no surprise as Forte has, since his rookie year, averaged over 1,500 total yards per season, accounted for 29 touchdowns and 264 first downs.

At this point through the offseason, though, it continues to feel that Forte won’t be in the backfield for Chicago in 2012. According to Gene Chamberlain of CBS Sports, Forte’s signature is still needed:

The only no-show of note when the Bears started voluntary workouts and meetings Monday was RB Matt Forte, an expected absence because he hasn’t signed his franchise player tender yet.

No good news can come of this for Bears’ fans either. Forte has been the main ingredient to Chicago’s offense and the upcoming season had significantly increased expectations.

With Brandon Marshall on the outside, Forte and Michael Bush create arguably the NFL’s best running back tandem and give the Bears a distinct advantage in the NFC North. Plus, before the Bears were struck by injuries in 2011, they were a legit playoff contending team after losing the NFC title game in 2010.

Last season, Forte had compiled over 1,400 total yards through 11 games before his injury knocked the wind out of the Windy City’s postseason chances.

Although Bush and Marshall upgrade Chicago’s offense for quarterback Jay Cutler, just like the Giants had with Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, that two-back tandem is needed to succeed.

When it was Forte alone in seasons past (and possibly now Bush alone this season), defenses simply double-teamed the Bears’ best receiver and run-blitz to prevent the Bears from being a multidimensional and balanced offense.

It’s a disgrace if Forte hasn’t been offered a long-term deal. He is only 26-years-old and can provide an extremely high-level of production for Chicago for at least another five or six seasons.

Before this season, the Bears didn’t have an overly dominant or potentially dominant passing game to get a defense on its heels.

Forte had to produce against stacked boxes on the ground, and as a consistent check down/screen pass receiving back to get opponents off balance. The 2012 season for Chicago has unlimited potential with Forte in the backfield, as defenses will have to prepare for two dual-threat backs.

And as we saw in 2011, the NFC North has a lot improving to do on defense for the upcoming season. But, Chicago would have arguably the most dynamic offense with Forte to setup the pass from play-action and slice up the middle against weak run defenses.

The Bears are missing a golden opportunity to retake the division and compete for the Super Bowl if they can’t keep Forte in the long run.

Although the NFL has quickly moved to a passing league, an offense must have the ability to effectively run the ball at-will on a consistent basis.

There’s no doubt that Michael Bush provides that running attack, but the inclusion of Matt Forte ensures Chicago can display a much more presentable attack. Together, they’ll make it easier to exploit rival defenses for the division title.

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