Is Jordan Howard the Second Coming of Matt Forte?

Oct 20, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) hands the football off to running back Jordan Howard (24) during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) hands the football off to running back Jordan Howard (24) during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) celebrates his third quarter touchdown with defensive back Kevin Peterson (25) against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bears defeated the Browns 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) celebrates his third quarter touchdown with defensive back Kevin Peterson (25) against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bears defeated the Browns 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

The Future

Langford should be back in the lineup in the next couple of weeks after recovering from his sprained ankle. With that, the Bears will have a decision to make.

It did appear that Langford did not have a solid start to the season in his first game.  Howard has been good, but he has fallen off a little bit in the last couple of games.  Some of that isn’t his fault though as things haven’t been going well for the running game lately.  As we saw in the Bear’s game against the Packers, they are also going with the “hot hand” and that has been Carey.

Decisions will need to be made as to what to do in the remaining games.  You can bet that the Bears will use a multiple back system and go with whoever appears to be hot against that particular opponent’s defense that game.  This may be how it works for the Bears from this point forward.

But who is the better of the bunch?

If you go by the numbers, Howard is probably the guy that the Bears should roll with.  He’s been the better of the group and he has more potential.  But, it would appear as if the Bears will stay with the idea previously brought up and run all three of them.

Howard has a future with the Bears but it might be in a two or three back system where he splits the carries.  Teams are going to a rotational system more and the days of the 1000 yard running back are much rarer (there were only seven in 2015).  So the chances of Howard getting to 1000 yards are slim but it’s still possible.

This is an interesting year for the Bears. They aren’t playing that well but some individual units on the team are strong and doing well on their own.  The linebacking corps is one such unit.  The running backs are another and they are the best of the offense.

If the Bears can put some wins together, the running backs should be a huge part of the offense and any potential victories.  They have the talent to do so much.  And Howard?  He’s the best of the bunch.