barackdhouse
Footballguy
I'm just wondering if Montgomery will be there at 1.04. Or Sanders. Seems a lot of people are going RB at 1.03 and I hold 1.04 in a few spots. But every draft looks a little different so far.
Bears third-round pick RB David Montgomery made a strong impression thought rookie minicamp. "He's very, very … he's extremely focused when he's in practice, which I love, Bears head coach Matt Nagy said. "He's very dialed in to whatever his assignment is. He loves being out here." Montgomery projects as a future every-down running back, and he did nothing to dispel that notion over Chicago's three-day rookie camp. Montgomery may lack elite breakaway speed, but his quick feet and above average lateral movement was easy to spot during drills.
Bears third-round RB David Montgomery said he is "very confident" as a pass catcher.
Montgomery caught 71 passes at Iowa State including 58 over the last two seasons, and that ability in the passing game should allow the rookie to fit in better in Matt Nagy's offense than Jordan Howard did last season. As for the coach, he liked what he saw from his rookie back during minicamp. "He’s extremely focused when he’s in practice, which I love," Nagy said. "There’s not a lot of running going on right now, but when he gets the chance to get that football, he sprints through that hole, he makes some cuts, makes some moves and he’s gone." Montgomery will cede touches to both Tarik Cohen and Mike Davis, but he should operate as the lead back right out of the gate.
SOURCE: ChicagoBears.com
May 6, 2019, 10:07 AM ET
https://yardscreated.com/2019/04/22/yards-created-notebook-2019/Like Sanders, Iowa State’s David Montgomery has an NFL build (5-10, 222lbs) — but the combine revealed several holes in his athletic profile. Home run ability is not a necessary trait to succeed on the ground in the NFL, but Montgomery tested at or below the 50th percentile in the speed, jumping, and agility drills. All told, Montgomery is a 37th percentile SPARQ athlete.
While Montgomery is the top back in the class in missed tackles forced per carry (0.44), exactly 85 percent of those missed tackles came through either power or elusiveness. Montgomery’s lack of short-area burst and speed on his bigger frame significantly limited his ability to accelerate to the second-level and create in crowded interior spaces. On his charted carries, Montgomery created just 2.89 yards per attempt in between the tackles — by far the worst clip in the class. Montgomery is best-suited as an outside-zone runner at the next level who needs the defense to flow laterally so he can set up cutback lanes and make defenders miss with his natural wiggle and power.
This move showed that the Bears are not a team with a good roster building process from a real NFL perspective (probably the subject for a different article though). On the other hand, for fantasy purposes, it’s a GOLD MINE. Previously I mentioned that current head coach Matt Nagy came from a system in Kansas City in which he adored the use of Kareem Hunt That usage was essential in not telegraphing his play selection by which running back was on the field at any given time like in 2018.
I did not profile David Montgomery in my previous article, despite breaking down five running backs they could have potentially selected. I chose not to include him because, at the time, the Bears had not used one of their official player workouts in their facility on him. However, I did break down how I thought Miles Sanders would fit within the Bears backfield. I would compare Montgomery to Sanders favorably as a prospect. Both are skilled as a receiver from all accounts, but Montgomery has more evidence on film to prove it. Montgomery is not the athlete that Sanders is.
I think Montgomery makes up for his relative athletic deficiencies by just being virtually impossible to tackle. Per PFF, he owns the top two seasons for any running back they’ve charted in the era that they’ve charted college players (2014-present) in “forced missed tackles.” He set the record in 2017 with 109 total. That’s more than eight per game! Then he went on to lead the country in 2018 as well, placing second all-time to himself. Yes, he’s the person who owns all the high scores at Pac-Man in your local arcade. If you don’t believe me, have a look at how Mike Renner of PFF breaks him down (you’ll notice he even compares him to Kareem Hunt).
I would look for a year one breakout for Montgomery, barring injury. I think he is in for a Jordan Howard+ role as soon as the Bears take on the Packers on when the 2019 season kicks off. Seeing this, you should throw some added caution onto what you think about Tarik Cohen’s outlook 2019 and beyond. I can’t see him increasing on the volume he garnered last year.
I think it’s fair to say that Cohen could be in line for similar receiving production, as he is still the most accomplished receiving threat they have out of the backfield. His production will likely hinge on how many snaps he accrues as a wide receiver this season. They used him this way extensively in 2018. He ran 306 pass routes in 2018, good for 2.37 yards per route run(top mark among running backs). It may be the primary way in which he sees playing time this year, with more versatile options in Davis and Montgomery on the squad.
That's not how it's going in bestball or FBG drafts. Montgomery is going 4th or 5th round right around Ingram and Guice.This is a guy I think footballguys are off on. If I look at the current redraft ppr rankings of all the guys on this site, Cohen averages out to rb 21 and Montgomery averages out to rb 41. I think in PPR due to number of touches and his ability also to catch the ball that Montgomery will outscore Cohen this season in ppr. I think Montgomery should be the one in the low 20's. I suspect we'll see this gap close by the time preseason is over but the current discrepancy is shocking to me.
My two cents, this is a case of rookie fever. Cohen can do things that Mongomery just can't. The rookie can run the ball better no doubt, and hes capable as a reciever. But Cohen is one of the best rb pass catchers out there. He will be on the field a lot.This is a guy I think footballguys are off on. If I look at the current redraft ppr rankings of all the guys on this site, Cohen averages out to rb 21 and Montgomery averages out to rb 41. I think in PPR due to number of touches and his ability also to catch the ball that Montgomery will outscore Cohen this season in ppr. I think Montgomery should be the one in the low 20's.
To me, the difference between Montgomery and Cohen is that the defense doesn't know the play call based on who's standing on the field. Cohen wasn't going to run it effectively, ever.But I just dont see the Bears putting him out there instead of Cohen to run routes out of the backfield.
Huh? He is a good receiver but I am not sure what he has done that causes you to say Cohen might be the best deep threat of all times.This is all just my 2cents. But I think you portray Cohen inaccurately. Not just a dump off artist, he might be the best deep threat rb of all times.
What do you mean by special?While still awesome at dump offs too.
But yeah he has limitations. Not your choice on 4th and 1, or inside the 10. His inside running, it's not great. Hes much better with room to work. Its safe to say he is not a work horse.
Im just saying tho, if you dont think hes special in his established role, then one of us is wrong.
I think Montgomery is a better RB than Howard and so he should have similar opportunities as Howard although I think he will be used more as a receiver than Howard was.As for Mongomery, he's a perfect complement to Cohen. They could be the best 1-2 punch of all times.
People are sleeping on Cohen for some reason; maybe because hes not a feature back, if you will. Montgomery isnt either - not on a team with Cohen getting his 150 or so touches.Tarik Cohen is more of a deep threat then Riddick. His speed changes the defensive lineup because he causes mismatch issues.
Neither Montgomery (4.63 40 yard dash) nor Davis (4.61 40 yard dash) will bring that element.
IMO The other side of the discussion is that Tarik's frame is too small to take the pounding of an NFL feature back. You need the hammers that bring the lunch bucket to absorb some of those hits too.People are sleeping on Cohen for some reason; maybe because hes not a feature back, if you will. Montgomery isnt either - not on a team with Cohen getting his 150 or so touches.
The point you've missed, if Cohen were on the Lions, Riddick would never see the field. Riddick is a dump off specialist, and not a great one. Cohen on the other hand, catches the ball down field often. He had one of the highest adot for a rb last season. You're just not getting the same element from Montgomery.Huh? He is a good receiver but I am not sure what he has done that causes you to say Cohen might be the best deep threat of all times.
Cohen had 71 receptions last year and he might have a similar number again in 2019 as well as moving forward. Guys like Theo Riddick have done that multiple times. I see Cohen as having a similar role in the offense. His role is very much more as a receiver than as a runner. The jet sweeps or threat of that is what I am talking about as far as him being a constraint player, or an offensive weapon. To me that role is different than being the primary RB which I expect Montgomery to quickly be.
Cohen averaged just over 10.1 ypc last year, very good for an RB, but hardly classifying him as a downfield specialist. Adam Humphries averaged a higher ypc last year.The point you've missed, if Cohen were on the Lions, Riddick would never see the field. Riddick is a dump off specialist, and not a great one. Cohen on the other hand, catches the ball down field often. He had one of the highest adot for a rb last season. You're just not getting the same element from Montgomery.
You could call Montgomery the primary RB, but Cohen outgained that designee in 2018.
Cohen also catches screen passes, dump offs, ect. He's not just a down field specialist, but it's one of his abilities.Cohen averaged just over 10.1 ypc last year, very good for an RB, but hardly classifying him as a downfield specialist. Adam Humphries averaged a higher ypc last year.
Is Cohen a movable chess piece or just a COP/3rd down back? Looks like you put yourself in the camp which thinks the Bears throw him the ball so much because Howard couldnt catch. I completely disagree.Tarik Cohen is a CoP RB/3rd down specialist. He isn’t any kind of a threat to run between the tackles any meaningful amount.
I'm not missing any point here. I already said Cohen is more efficient than Ridfick.The point you've missed, if Cohen were on the Lions, Riddick would never see the field. Riddick is a dump off specialist, and not a great one. Cohen on the other hand, catches the ball down field often. He had one of the highest adot for a rb last season. You're just not getting the same element from Montgomery.
You could call Montgomery the primary RB, but Cohen outgained that designee in 2018.
I hear you. And I agree there will likely be more targets for Montgomery. But not too many more and those could also come from previous inside run attempts for Howard. I think the Bears are set up to use the backs out of the backfield consistently regardless of who is in the game for the first time I can remember. That is a change from last year too. The real question is how will the short game be affected by the changes?That seems like a possible outcome where the Bears offense stays pretty much the same. They make progress but its a wash due to stiffer competition.
There is still the issue as far as targets for Davis and Montgomery being higher than they were for Howard and Cunningham. I can see them combine for 60 or more this season and if those will mostly come from Cohens part of the pie I think.
I suppose Gabriel could play less and Cohen more? But Gabriel led all skill players in snaps played.
No way Montgomery only has 26 targets imo.
I was thinking about another scenario where the Bears throw more than last season and perhaps those 60 targets I was talking about comes with fewer overall rushing attempts from all the RB.Hairy Snowman said:I hear you. And I agree there will likely be more targets for Montgomery. But not too many more and those could also come from previous inside run attempts for Howard. I think the Bears are set up to use the backs out of the backfield consistently regardless of who is in the game for the first time I can remember. That is a change from last year too. The real question is how will the short game be affected by the changes?
Personally, I think it is a full blown RB-by-committee. My guess is we see Montgomery primarily in the red zone initially, Davis subbing for both Cohen and Montgomery between the 20s (when the matchups or fatigue dictate) and Cohen in basically the same role; fantasywise inconsistent performer with a high ceiling, from a player perspective tipping off man or zone coverage for Trubisky. I think Montgomery's fantasy value early in his career will likely come from his ability to make people miss/break tackles in limited space in the red zone. The Bears NEED him there. IMO He will probably score the most TDs of the Chicago RBs. But I can't see Cohens role changing (or receptions changing dramatically) because of that. If no other reason, because of how Nagy uses him. Just my opinion.
To counter that I would say it’s pretty silly to look at one specific game and project a season’s worth of usage. Especially a playoff game.Cohen’s the same guy Nagy didn’t use in the playoffs vs the eagles despite the fact his offense couldn’t move the ball, and we expect him to take a significant amount of touches away from Montgomery?
I agree. Especially against a team that the Bears historically struggle against. I think the Fog Bowl may have been the last time they beat the Eagles.To counter that I would say it’s pretty silly to look at one specific game and project a season’s worth of usage. Especially a playoff game.
I agree up to Montgomery getting 220 carries. I think that is little too much for a rookie. But I am close. I would put a ceiling at 200. I expect him to come on with a bigger role later in the year as the Bears head towards the playoffs.I was thinking about another scenario where the Bears throw more than last season and perhaps those 60 targets I was talking about comes with fewer overall rushing attempts from all the RB.
I appreciate the discussion.
The Bears were very balanced as far as run/pass ratio last year and maybe this will be more 60/40 now due to personnel changes, Trubisky growing, and a more difficult schedule causing fewer leads, thus more passing.
In this scenario I would project perhaps 20 fewer runs for Cohen and Mongomery getting 220 rushing attempts with Davis getting 30 or so.
Montgomery and Davis being better pass options means less need to use Cohen for his run/pass versitilty and more as a receiver, thus not being in position for the part of the RPOs.
Do you think they only put Cohen in the game because Howard couldnt catch?In this scenario I would project perhaps 20 fewer runs for Cohen and Mongomery getting 220 rushing attempts with Davis getting 30 or so.
Montgomery and Davis being better pass options means less need to use Cohen for his run/pass versitilty and more as a receiver, thus not being in position for the part of the RPOs.
No.Do you think they only put Cohen in the game because Howard couldnt catch?
is it more silly to ignore the data we have at hand or to take it into consideration?To counter that I would say it’s pretty silly to look at one specific game and project a season’s worth of usage. Especially a playoff game.