RB Ka’Deem Carey
Oct 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bears running back Ka’Deem Carey (25) runs against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Bears defeated the Falcons 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Even more so than the last two years, the Bears aren’t likely to use multiple running backs at the same time. The Broncos only used them on about six percent of their plays, and like Chicago’s current roster, they did not carry a fullback. The Bears have too many talented running backs not to rotate the ones they have. I expect to see a better mixture that we saw last year which was all Matt Forte.
Insert second-year running back, Ka’Deem Carey.
He is a physical runner who does not put the ball on the ground and has great vision, cutting ability, and soft hands out of the backfield. He also can show that he can carry a load as he averaged 26 carries/game in his final 2 seasons in college. Being an Arizona Wildcat fan, I can say with confidence that the “video game” yardage that he put up in college is not a fluke.
Now I know many fans and experts are excited about the new rookie on the block, Jeremy Langford, making Carey old news to many. The drafting of RB Jeremy Langford is going to either push Carey out the door or push Carey to the next level. We have not even seen Langford run the ball in the NFL so he’s a bit of an unknown at this point. However, the critics of Langford state that he’s not a physical runner, almost timid at times, and struggles to break tackles.
This does not mean Langford will not a good NFL back but my prediction of Carey really has nothing to do with Langford. But if we’re comparing, I personally would rather have an every down back that is explosive between the tackles as well as a back that can gain more yards after contact.
I know I’m biased and could strike some as a “homer” being a Wildcat fan, but I’ve watched Carey – he’s the real deal and last year did not do him justice at all.
Last season with the Bears, he was not given enough opportunity to truly assess whether or not his college production will translate to the NFL. John Fox wants to run the ball and will run the ball a lot more than we saw in 2014.
Don’t be fooled by the pick ups of veteran backs Daniel Thomas and Jacquizz Rodgers– they are not long-term replacement solutions for the Bears. I’m excited to see Carey become a Chicago household name in the years to come!
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