With the Chicago Bears’ training camp in Bourbonnais looming just around the corner, Grizzly Detail is taking a look at some of the new players donning jerseys this season, and today we look at the offensive side of the ball with rookie running back Ka’Deem Carey.
The Details:
A two-time All-American at the University of Arizona, Carey was one of the top running backs in the country during his career. He came close to 2000 yards rushing in his last two college seasons, racking up 1929 yards in his second season at the school and 1885 in 2013. He scored 42 rushing touchdowns in those two seasons, and added 64 receptions and two touchdowns in those campaigns.
In the 2013 season, he finished in second place in the Pac-12 in yards from scrimmage with 2058, and finished in fourth in the entire NCAA. As a result, he finished in 10th place in Heisman Trophy voting.
What the Bears Hope He Will Bring:
Carey is not the fastest guy in the game, running a 4.7 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but his compact frame and instinctive running style will both be key for the Bears as they look for a complementary back for Matt Forte. Like his veteran counterpart, Carey takes good care of the ball, and he has great field vision when he gets to the second level of a defense. He also is really good at other aspects of the game, including receiving and blitz pick-up, and Marc Trestman likes to emphasize both of those facets.
Our Take:
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In an ideal world, Carey would take at least some of the burden off Forte in the running game, but the Bears are likely hoping for more than just a change of pace guy. Carey has the potential to be a game changer when he has the ball in his hands, and he gives the team a great weapon to utilize even if they want to go with a split backs formation. He was projected to be a first round pick, and even though off-field issues derailed those hopes a bit, he still has the skillset necessary to run at an elite level in the NFL.
More than likely, Carey will be looked at simply as an option to spell Forte in order to save the veteran’s legs, but he could easily find himself as a more frequent focal point of the offense if he proves to be adept at picking up Trestman’s offense.
