Northern_Falcon Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 SourceLAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears officially declared backup running back Marion Barber out with a calf injury for Sunday's regular-season opener at Soldier Field against the Atlanta Falcons."Marion Barber is getting better," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "He won't play this week."The Bears held out Barber from Friday's session. But the running back hasn't worked out with the team since suffering the calf injury in the first half of the club's matchup on Aug. 27 against the Tennessee Titans.Barber carried 20 times for 94 yards in the first two preseason games -- including a 45-yard effort in the exhibition opener against the Bills -- and sustained the calf injury on a 1-yard run in the first quarter against the Titans.According to offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the team will miss Barber's skills as "a violent runner.""He's a guy who can certainly jump cut and do all those things," Martz said. "But he'll take a defender on, too, and break tackles. He's kind of a complete back in that way."With Barber out of the lineup, the team will call upon Kahlil Bell, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry over the preseason."Great opportunity [for Bell], you have to be ready," Smith said. "Kahlil has been in [this] position before. He's a pro. He's had a good camp. There's a reason why he's on our football team right now, and if you're a backup, this is the time that you want. If your number is called, the team expects us to have a running back in that position that can get the job done." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishFalco Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 ****...I would have rather faced Barber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babybanks80 Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Was Barber suppose to start? I thought Forte was their halfback. :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskokas finest © Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Doesn't matter who the Bears skill players are if they depend on that flimsy O-line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JoeSr Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 This maybe a blessing in disguise for Barber. That o-line would have gotten him killed as opposed to being out for the injury he has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KANE337 Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 No Barber means more touches for Forte. I would have preferred Barber sharing the load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackredfellow Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 ****...I would have rather faced Barber.Same. If that means more Forte, that is not good news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 This is good news. Wear out Forte. Barber runs harder and makes defenders pay. Now they have to rely on Bell as the back up. Blitz pick up and talent aren't on his side in my opinion. Now if Forte can handle the whole load himself, then so be it. But I don't see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnrealfalcoN Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 hasn't barber missed the last 2 seasons?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xx FaLcOhoLiC Xx Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 oh well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlbaby Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 It won't matter no way. The Bears will turn one dimensional just trying to catch up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllStarHandyMan Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 the Oline wont help the running backs anyways so no matter it going to be fun watch are D# beasting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishFalco Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 If our rush defense is anything like it was in preseason, than I doubt Forte or their rookie will be doing much of anything besides catching passes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi City Falcon Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Im not sure if this hurts or helps us.Barber is a physical runner, a good compliment to forte.at the same time, more carries for forte. hopefully the bears running game becomes irrelevant by the 4th quarter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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