Not since Devin Hester have the Chicago Bears had a player known primarily for his speed and dynamic playmaking ability.
If all goes well, Tarik Cohen can change that.
Cohen was one of the fastest running backs in this NFL Draft class, but had a few things working against him. His small frame and the fact that he played against lesser competition at the FCS level made him a risky pick for teams looking for more of a sure thing. Even still, the Bears jumped up and accepted the challenge of trying to implement a potential speedster into an offense that sorely lacked quick-twitch athletes.
Adam Hoge of WGN Radio unearthed this doozy of a highlight-reel run by the newest Bears back:
This Tarik Cohen play is fun… pic.twitter.com/uLcXDWuNUF
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) April 29, 2017
THE PICK (ROUND 4, PICK 119)
STATS TO KNOW
HIGHLIGHTS
NFL COMBINE RESULTS (POSITION RANK)
THREE STRENGTHS
THREE WEAKNESSES
NFL.COM COMPARISON: Darren Sproles.
WHERE COHEN FITS
Cohen can step into the Bears’ running backs room now and be the best receiver of the bunch. With some strength training and reps, he could grow into the team’s third-down back right away. If he continues to take positive steps from there in his development, he could provide a nice change-of-pace aspect to the Bears’ offense the team doesn’t currently have. Howard and Cohen running in tandem could be interesting.
There are other areas in which Cohen could be a helpful contributor. He could play a role in special teams, especially if he can get a grasp on the return game. Cohen could also help the Bears’ passing game if they can get him the ball in the open field.
NOT SURE WHERE THIS PLAY IS IN DOWELL LOGGAINS’ PLAYBOOK, BUT HE BETTER FIND IT
I don't know what play this is, but I hope it's in Dowell Loggains' playbook. Especially if it results in a Tarik Cohen TD. pic.twitter.com/blOsmJC7wN
— The Ten-Yard Line (@TheTenYardLine) April 29, 2017