Eagles Improved Run Defense Aims to Slow Down Bears’ Matt Forte
Eagles middle linebacker Jamar Chaney will be key to containing Bears running back Matt Forte.
NOVACARE COMPLEX, PHILADELPHIA, Pa — When the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears square off on Monday Night Football, the key to the game could very well be whether or not the Eagles 19th ranked rushing defense can slow down Matt Forte. The fourth-year back is having a career year and leads all running backs with 155.9 yards from scrimmage per game, proving he’s lethal both as a runner and receiver.
“He’s one of the few running backs that they probably keep him in there in any situation, whether it’s pass, run, long yardage, short yardage,” said Eagles middle linebacker Jamar Chaney.
Forte’s rushing numbers are good enough on their own. The 25-year-old is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, with 672 yards and two touchdowns on 124 carries. Those numbers are good enough to rank Forte fifth in rushing yards per game and in a third place tie in yards per carry.
“[Forte's] elusive, has this cutback move he does,” said strongside linebacker Moise Fokou. “Hard to tackle. He’s their number one offensive threat right now, you know what I mean? It’s definitely going to be important to get all 11 guys around him, or most of us around him.”
Forte’s not just the Bears number one rushing threat, though, he’s their top threat overall. Forte leads the Bears with 38 receptions, second among NFL running backs, and 419 receiving yards, tops at his position. That production in the receiving game isn’t just coming out of the backfield. The Bears use Forte much like the Eagles used Brian Westbrook, splitting him out wide frequently. That makes him tougher to cover, especially for linebackers, who can get stuck covering him as an extra wide receiver when he goes in motion.
“Most of the time [when] a running back comes out of the backfield, unless he sprints right out of the backfield, he’s pretty much checking to help out the offensive line or making sure you’re not blitzing, but when they split him out he’s pretty much out there to go out for a route,” said Chaney. “Most of the times when a team puts a running back out there, they’re not looking to throw to him sometimes anyway. They’re looking to throw to Forte.”
Chaney said Forte is often the primary receiver for Jay Cutler when he’s split out wide. One of the easiest ways to avoid getting stuck with a linebacker in coverage on Forte is to avoid being in short yardage situations on second and third down that force the linebackers to stay on the field, vulnerable to being taken in motion to cover Forte.
“Contain him, put him in one dimensional [situations],” said Fokou. “Stop that ‘G’ play first of all, then get the DBs out there and let them do all the passing they want to do.”
Fokou is referring to the Bears bread and butter play offensively, an outside run in which the play side guard pulls and leads the way for Forte. Sometimes the Bears will pull a guard and a tackle, which turns the play into a “GT” play.
“[It's] kind of a like an outside zone, but it’s a man play that they do a great job with and they feature that play,” said defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. “That one G play, he’s really done a great job with that, he’s a great runner.”
To defend the play, the Eagles need an outside linebacker to take on the guard who pulls and set the edge, keeping Forte from turning the corner. Then the next linebacker has to fill the gap that’s left and make the tackle.
PAGE TWO: HAS EAGLES “IMPROVED” RUN D ACTUALLY GOTTEN WORSE?
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