Bears running back Khalil Herbert runs in the second quarter against the Dolphins on Nov. 6, 2022, at Soldier Field. (Stacey Wescott, Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
The Chicago Bears figured to be in the market for a running back when David Montgomery exited via free agency and they signed two, adding D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer.
That provided competition for Khalil Herbert, who led all NFL running backs averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 2022, his second season. While that might have seemed like a full backfield, the Bears then dipped into a talented group in the draft, selecting Texas’ Roschon Johnson in the fourth round, an investment that hints to high hopes for his future.
“Not really,” Herbert said when asked if the addition of Johnson surprised him. “You know how things go in the NFL now. They’re doing things running back by committee. You need one, two, three really good guys that really carry the rock and there be no drop-off. We’ve got a really strong group. I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Running backs coach David Walker said Herbert will get the first reps with the starters as the Bears get rolling. Then the competition is on, and among the variety of options is Trestan Ebner, a 2022 sixth-round pick.
The Bears have more depth at the position than in recent seasons as they hope to maintain a strength a year after leading the NFL with 3,014 rushing yards. No one, Justin Fields included, wants the quarterback to rush for 1,143 yards again. If that goal is achieved — and Fields will certainly remain a threat on the ground on designed runs and scrambles — the backs will need to be more productive for the offense to remain elite at running the ball.
Foreman is on a one-year, $2 million deal with half of it guaranteed. He stepped in as an able replacement for Christian McCaffery in Carolina after the Panthers traded the star to the San Francisco 49ers. Homer got a two-year, $4 million deal with $1.75 million guaranteed. He’s projected to be a core special teams player and could factor in on third downs.
Johnson was an interesting addition as he comes with low mileage playing behind Bijan Robinson, the first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, at Texas. General manager Ryan Poles said the team was surprised Johnson was still available at No. 115.
How it all plays out will be interesting for more than just fantasy football enthusiasts wondering who will be RB1 and how the workload will be divided. Foreman is a bruising back between the tackles. Herbert has a little more speed and ability to make big plays. Neither is elite in the passing game.
“Obviously I want to be the starter,” Herbert said. “Just coming in with the mindset of leading and doing what I’ve got to do and doing what I do every day. I feel like things will work out.”
Herbert said he’s added about 5 pounds in the offseason. He was listed at 5-foot-9, 212 pounds last season.
Herbert had a career-best game in the Week 3 victory against the Houston Texans when he carried 20 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He had 19 carries for 77 yards the following week in a road loss to the New York Giants. Those were the two games Montgomery missed with ankle and knee injuries. In the six games Herbert had 10 or more carries, he produced 50 yards or more and averaged 5 or more yards per carry in every game except against the Giants.
“Just his ability to hit the home run,” coach Matt Eberflus said when asked what he liked about Herbert. “He’s got great vision. He’s got great cutback ability. He can take the ball outside and bounce it outside, but he’s really good at cutting it back when it’s there. We’re excited where he is.”
Where Herbert needs to expand his game is as a receiver and pass blocker. He averaged 19.5 snaps per game when Montgomery was healthy, and to carve out a larger role, he’s going to need to be more multidimensional.
The Bears need to do a better job involving the backs in the passing game. Montgomery was targeted 40 times (34 receptions for 316 yards) and Herbert had 12 targets, nine catches and 57 yards. Herbert also needs to be more effective in pass protection. He said he did boxing training this offseason to improve his effectiveness as a blocker, something that caught the attention of former Bears fullback Jason McKie.
“It helps with your endurance and conditioning in terms of being ready for the season,” McKie said. “I did that a lot before camp. But the main thing it helps with is your footwork. It’s different footwork — boxing and football — but it enables you to get your feet in different positions more quickly. So it enables your feet to work with your hands and that’s what you’ve got to have in pass protection.
“Then having the ability to have that good hand-eye coordination to punch and strike at a moment’s notice. Now I can punch his hip to widen him if he’s trying to use a speed rush around me and if he’s bullrushing, it allows me to punch and recoil, something you have to do fast.”
Given the opportunity, Herbert should be able to improve on the 731 yards he had last season.
But the Bears have a lot of options beyond Fields to carry the ball, so it will be fascinating to see how things unfold in training camp and preseason and what backs are trusted in passing situations.
()
Originally published at Tribune News Service