Matt Forte : Not In a Slump

The 2nd-year-pro from Tulane is not in a "sophomore slump".

Forte,24 years old,doesn't have the line that the Bears have had in recent years. Granted,they gave up many sacks,Grossman,Orton,and now Cutler have very limited time in the pocket.

Matt Forte in his rookie season,burst onto the scene with a 123 yard break out in his first career NFL game,with only 23 carries,averaging a sparkling 5.3 yards per carry.

The highlight of that game was his 50 yard touchdown run. The rookie showed great vision,speed,and potential,taking the handoff from Orton,bursting behind a block by RG Roberto Garza,and juking the safety out of his shoes on his way coasting to his first career touchdown in his first career game,let alone start.

It didn't stop there for the Los Angeles native.

He showed what he was capable of throughout the season,ending with 1,238 yards in 16 games. Also,Forte was the Bears' leading receiver with 63 receptions for 477 yards.

While Matt Forte has excelled more in the receiving side of his position this year,he has only put up numbers of 754 yards on 221 attempts,an average of 3.4 yards per rush. 

Many think that Forte has lost his burst and speed from last year.

While that is partly true,I don't see a drastic difference. He does seem to have lost the speed and burst we have seen from Forte his rookie season,but that is not the reason why he hasn't "come off the bus running",as Bears' Coach Lovie Smith would say.

The Bears have a mixture of young potential from left tackle Chris Williams,who the Bears drafted 2 years ago but did not start the previous year due to injuries,to having worn-out veterans in Olin Kreutz and Orlando Pace,who is currently out with an injury of his own.

Neither Cutler or Forte have had any blocking from the group up front.

While I still believe the Bears made a valuable mistake by letting go Thomas Jones,current New York Jets' running back from Virginia,Forte certainly has the talent and tools to fulfill Jones' job,he does not have near the blocking that he had in his rookie season.

My solution to get Forte off to a good start in the final 2 games are simple.

For starters,put young Tight End Greg Olsen,who is our best receiver,in the game for passing plays only.

Greg Olsen cannot block worth 2 cent. 

Let veteran Desmond Clark block for Forte,as he is our best blocking tight end to seal off the end.

Also,let Kevin Shaffer start in for Orlando Pace (if he comes back from injuries) and move him to Right Tackle to let Chris Williams take his natural position he played in Vanderbilt which is Left Tackle.

Finally,put Josh Beekman in for Frank Omiyale at Left Guard. I think Beekman brings in some younger talent and decent run blocking for Forte to cut up behind the guards.

If the Bears can acquire a line in the offseason,we will see the old Forte that so many of us are used to seeing. Cutler will have time in the pocket to throw downfield,and buy a number 1 receiver to have a bigger threat besides Devin Hester,Greg Olsen,and the emerging Johnny Knox.