NEWSLETTER
The thing about great expectations is that if you race toward (and not away from) them, you are bound to run into something special.
With that said, here’s Bears running back Tarik Cohen talking about what he and his teammates are aiming for moving forward:
FYI, Tarik Cohen used the word 'dynasty' today to describe what these #Bears are striving for.
'Oh yeah definitely. After we win one, it's not going to be our goal just to win one — we're trying to win multiple.'— Arthur Arkush (@ArthurArkush) July 25, 2019
The Bears broke a lengthy postseason drought last season, but haven’t won a playoff game since January 2011. And yet, Cohen is talking about a dynasty? I LOVE IT.
Last year, the Bears spoke excellence into existence early and often. So why stop now? If you have goals, there is nothing wrong about talking about them publicly. In fact, I would encourage you (or anyone, really) to talk that talk — especially if it’s going to help motivate you to walk that walk. Try it out some time. After all, we saw how well it worked for the 2018 Bears.
Despite his diminutive size (relative to other NFL players), Cohen has never been short on confidence. A fourth-round pick out of North Carolina A&T in 2017, Cohen has climbed the depth chart and grown into a fan favorite in his first two years in Chicago. Cohen is best known for his exploits as an All-Pro return specialist, but Pro Football Focus thinks the world of Cohen’s skills as a running back.
The PFF analysis team ranked the top-10 running backs entering the 2019 season, and Cohen checked in at No. 9. It might be surprising to some to see Cohen crack the list, but the do-it-all back was the second-most valuable running back according to PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric. Cohen did a ton of damage catching passes from Mitch Trubisky, finishing with the most yards per route run (2.37) among running backs, fourth among players at his position with 30 combined touchdowns and first downs on passes, and forced 16 missed tackles on 71 receptions. No, Cohen isn’t going to be a workhorse ball carrier like Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley, Kareem Hunt, or players like that who landed in the top-10. But being a jack-of-all trades who excels in a great many things suggests his landing among the league’s best is well-deserved.
And if there is a tiebreaker to be won by Cohen, it’s that the guy knows how to make an entrance:
#Bears RB Tarik Cohen comes into training camp in Bourbonnais hot. pic.twitter.com/9tQlYKwGfl
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) July 25, 2019
Much respect @TarikCohen. #Bears @walterpayton #HBDSweetness pic.twitter.com/NP42QB2bJR
— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) July 25, 2019
