Chicago Bears running game is key to Week One success
By Alex Beamer
The Bears must get the running game going in week One to stand a chance against the Falcons
The running game is going to be a huge part of the game this week. At running back the Bears have last year’s second leading rusher in second year back Jordan Howard- despite him only starting 13 games as a rookie. The entire offensive line is nearly healthy, despite the fact that Kyle Long is dealing with an ankle injury. However, he will push through the injury and start at left guard.
Behind Howard is fourth round rookie Tarik Cohen from North Carolina A&T. The 5’6 back was sensational during the preseason and rightfully deserved the second spot. Dowell Loggains didn’t use all of Cohen’s special ability in the preseason. Watch for screenplays, drag routes, and tosses against the Falcons this week. Cohen could potentially see 5-10 touches against the 17th ranked run defense.
Another player to watch for is Taquan Mizzell. The Bears claimed him off waivers which was a smart decision by General Manager Ryan Pace. In the preseason, Mizzell averaged 3.2 yards per carry. Certainly, that has to improve if he wants to see more snaps. But, what truly makes him special is his catching ability. He had 12 receptions for 90 yards in the preseason-in his college career he had 195 receptions. If Mizzell can produce the same way in the NFL, the Bears potentially have a great 3rd down back.
The Bears can win this game with their running backs. They have enough talent and versatility to dominate the Falcons defense and wind down the clock. They will be the unit to watch in their week one matchup with the Falcons.