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Former Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman.
Former Atlanta Falcons working again Devonta Freeman is on the lookout for a brand new workforce after being launched in March. Atlanta launched him, together with just a few different gamers together with promising tight finish Austin Hooper, so as to avoid wasting cap area. Freeman nonetheless had three years and $21 million remaining on his contract, however that’s not legitimate, and he’ll seemingly be prepared to barter now that he’s on the lookout for a brand new place to play. Would the Chicago Bears be a great workforce to barter with?
The Bears didn't run the ball properly final season — that’s an understatement. Chicago averaged 91.1 yards a sport and three.7 yards per try. They scored simply eight dashing touchdowns all 12 months, which was 28th within the NFL, and so they had simply 5 video games the place they broke 100 yards as a unit. That should change, and Bears head coach Matt Nagy appears to know that now, after a 2019 season that left many pissed off with the dearth of working performs he integrated.
Would Chicago Be Good Touchdown Spot for Freeman?
Nagy has been nearly defiant prior to now when being criticized by the press about his play-calling, and at instances, he has refused to take heed to concepts suggesting he incorporate some modifications. However in a few of his newer encounters with the press, he famous the workforce could also be scaling again a bit on offense and he appeared to recommend they have been engaged on altering the issues that didn’t work final season.
“The good a part of the offseason is when you'll be able to undergo your scheme analysis as a workers and also you undergo the whys, and on the identical time you understand OK, right here’s some sure areas the place we are able to get higher,” Nagy mentioned. It’s unlikely Nagy and firm wish to spend a ton of cash on a working again, but when Freeman have been prepared to barter an affordable, one-year team-friendly deal, he may actually give the Bears’ offense a lift. He’s a threat, however he could possibly be one price taking. He turned 28 in March, and he'll seemingly be motivated to point out he can nonetheless play.
Freeman has performed six seasons within the league, all with the Falcons, and he was one of many scarier dual-threat backs within the sport till he had just a few seasons set again by accidents. He suffered a concussion and battled a knee damage in 2017, lacking two video games and time within the postseason, and the next 12 months, Freeman performed in simply two video games and underwent season-ending core muscle surgical procedure. He stayed comparatively wholesome in 2019, however noticed his manufacturing drastically dip.
He began 14 video games for the Falcons final 12 months, carrying the ball 184 instances for 656 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 3.6 yards a carry, which was a profession low. Freeman additionally caught 59 passes for 410 yards and 4 touchdowns in his down 12 months final 12 months, nonetheless, and he stays a authentic menace within the passing sport in addition to the working sport.
Take Tarik Cohen Out of the Equation…Kind Of
GettyChicago Bears Operating Again Tarik Cohen is a dynamic participant. However is he the perfect working again? (Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs)
Think about a working backs room that featured the one-two punch of David Montgomery and Devonta Freeman. Chicago wanted to deal with their offensive line after final season, as properly, and whereas they didn’t do it by drafting a bruiser within the second spherical, they nonetheless acquired free agent Germain Ifedi from Seattle, and so they snagged just a few o-linemen within the seventh spherical. In addition they have a brand new offensive line coach in Juan Castillo, so the Bears may look a bit totally different on the road subsequent season.
However additionally they have to make their working backs room higher personnel-wise, and so they haven’t carried out that but. Including Freeman would give their offense a formidable improve — so long as he’s wholesome, which he appears to be. So the place does this go away Tarik Cohen?
At 5’6″, Tarik Cohen is best used within the receiving sport and in gadget performs than he's as an every-down again. Final 12 months, Cohen carried the ball 64 instances for 213 yards and 0 dashing touchdowns, and he averaged a paltry 3.Three yards per carry, all of which have been profession lows. He is much better within the return sport and catching passes — which is how Nagy ought to primarily use him transferring ahead. Nagy may nonetheless incorporate him into the working sport in sure conditions whereas transferring to the scarier-for-defenses duo of Montgomery and Freeman.
It might be a shock transfer in the event that they made it, however the Bears have over $9 million in cap area in accordance with Over the Cap, so it’s solely potential.
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