The Bears needed a yard for a first down. Matt Forte gave them 11.
Now that’s progress.
A team that prides itself on running the ball has been stuck in neutral for about a year now. The Bears drafted Forte out of Tulane this year with hopes he would help jump-start the running game. While still a project, he showed flashes in Thursday’s 37-30 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. So did the offense, as a whole.
“Very pleased,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said of the offensive showing in the first half. “We’ve run the ball fairly well. Kyle Orton has done a great job managing the offense and he’s making the throws when he has to.”
Orton, named the starter earlier in the week, showed great accuracy with his passes in throwing two touchdowns to Rashied Davis. The offensive line made it easier on Orton by playing strong up front, a total turnaround from last Saturday night’s dismal showing in Seattle.
Orton completed 10 of 15 passes in the first half for 147 yards and two scores. His quarterback rating was 138.1. He finished the game 10 of 17 with a rating of 126.3.
But Orton would be the first to tell you the Bears full aerial attack won’t be the formula for the team’s success. The running game has to evolve before the Bears start the regular season Sept. 7 at Indianapolis.
Slowly, the pieces appear to be coming together.
Forte rushed 11 times for 44 yards Thursday and was the only running back to carry the ball in the first half. But the Bears figure to have a running-back-by-committee system to help lessen the burden on the rookie.
