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With free agency and the NFL draft completed, the core of the Chicago Bears 2015 roster is in place. There may be an undrafted player who makes the team via mini-camp, like RB Senorise Perry and CB Al Louis-Jean did last year, or a free agent signing of a cap casualty late in the preseason, but for the most part the roster is in place. Over the next few weeks I will be breaking down the Bears depth chart at every position.
There is no question about who the top running back on the Bears is, but behind Matt Forte it’s wide open with as many as four or five RBs competing for jobs. With a new coaching staff in place, holdovers from last year’s roster like Ka’Deem Carey and Senorise Perry will have to excel to keep their roster spots while newcomers Jacquizz Rodgers, Jeremy Langford, and perhaps Joe Bergeron will look to take their jobs. I’ll breakdown the details of the RB depth chart below.
Position Previews: QB | RB
2015 Bears RB Depth Chart:
Starter
Matt Forte:
One of the most underrated backs in the NFL, Forte finished the season with 1,038 yards rushing with 102 catches for 808 yards for a total of 1,846 yards from scrimmage and 10 total TDs. Forte finished third in the NFL in total yards for the second consecutive season (1,933 yards in 2013). He’s rarely discussed with the top backs in the league like Murray, McCoy, Lynch, and Charles, but over the last two seasons no RB in the NFL has more yards from scrimmage than Matt Forte.
No matter what scheme new HC John Fox and OC Adam Gase decide on running this year, Matt Forte will be a good fit. He’s as versatile as any back in the league with the ability to run inside or out, catch the ball out of the backfield or split out as a wide receiver, and has become a solid pass blocker as well. He’s the starting running back for the Bears in 2015 as long as his holdout eventually ends.