[CBFF] [Fwd: Rookie minicamp nuggets: Forte knows the way to the field]

[Tom Shannon]

Definitely smarter than Benson.  Definitely.

Tom S.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Rookie minicamp nuggets: Forte knows the way to the field
Date: 	Sat, 03 May 2008 01:19:57 GMT
From: 	<Brad Biggs>



Does *Matt Forte* know something about the highly drafted back before 
him that didn’t go so well?

``The quickest way to get on the field is to learn your pass 
protections,’’ he said Friday at the conclusion of the first rookie 
minicamp practice. ``If you can block and protect the quarterback, then 
you can run your routes and catch the ball. It's really the fastest way 
to get on the field.’

Pass protection, or a lack of it, is exactly what kept *Cedric Benson* 
off the field at times in 2005 and 2006. Then, when he blew an 
assignment in Oakland last season, quarterback *Brian Griese* was 
injured. For those who don’t have their Quarterback Turnstile Chart 
<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Turnstile.alewife.agr.jpg> 
handy, that led to QB Switch No. 32 since Week 6 of the 1999 season.

***** Running backs coach *Tim Spencer* on comparisons of Forte to a 
player he coached for a while at Ohio State ... *Eddie George*.

``Matt has very good body control and obviously to have body control you 
have to have control of your feet,’’ he said. ``He has the ability to 
make people miss, he has the ability to run good pass routes, so he has 
very good control of his body for a big guy. He’s a big back.’’

For what it’s worth, Spencer said Forte’s feet are better.

**** *Here’s a guy who gets it.

Vanderbilt wide receiver *Earl Bennett*, the third-round pick was asked 
how he feels when people talk about his need to make an immediate impact.

Bennett’s first thought? Covering kicks. Before the Bears could even put 
their newcomers through media training, Bennett was talking about 
rolling up his sleeves and going to work on special teams.

``Just to come in and help the team anyway I can, whether it is helping 
out on punts, going down on kickoffs, or being in slot and going out to 
wideout,’’ Bennett said. ``Anyway I can help the Chicago Bears win the 
Super Bowl, I’m going to do it. It’s overwhelming to hear that.’’

*** Forte was not the only eye-opener on the day.

``A couple of guys caught our eye,’’ coach *Lovie Smith* said. ``This 
camp is set up for skill guys to show what they have a little bit more 
than some of the linemen. Matt Forte, of course, stood out, just like 
Earl Bennett. You want your skill draft picks to stand out that way. As 
did guys like *Craig Steltz* on the defensive side and *Zak Bowman*, I 
really liked what those guys did. It for us to see some of the tryout 
players, too.’’

*** Seventh-round pick *Marcus Monk*, the wide receiver from Arkansas, 
looked like a bigger version of *Justin Gage*. The 6-4, 222-pounder has 
the tools to be an asset in the red zone. He was running on his toes 
though and he’s not going to be able to get off the line of scrimmage 
doing that. He needs to be able to dig a foot in and go.


-- 
Life... is like a grapefruit. It's orange and squishy, and has a few pips in it, and some folks have half a one for breakfast.
  - Douglas Adams