It’s clear enough at this stage that a Jordan Howard comparison doesn’t really matter. People already know the young running back is a potential star in the making. His rookie season proved that. He set a Chicago Bears record with 1,313 yards rushing and went to the Pro Bowl. A dual feat that no other team in franchise history has accomplished.
Considering that history includes Matt Forte, Walter Payton and Gale Sayers it’s saying something. Nevertheless Howard has much more proving to do, and he knows that. He’s the first person to say he wasn’t satisfied with last year. He left a lot of yards on the field and was out of shape. Unacceptable if he’s going to be that driving force for this offense moving forward.
This didn’t stop his new running backs coach Curtis Modkins from reminding people just who the Bears might have in the backfield.
Jordan Howard comparison has a hint of “Beast Mode” to it
Modkins has been around the NFL for almost a decade. In that time he’s seen his fair share of excellent running backs. Among them include former Pro Bowlers Larry Johnson and C.J. Spiller. When asked about what he sees in Howard, the two names he raised were interesting ones to say the least.
#Bears RB coach Curtis Modkins says Jordan Howard is "big and strong like Marshawn was" and "there's a little bit of Fred Jackson in him."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) July 31, 2017
That’s a fascinating mixture and actually pretty accurate. Marshawn Lynch was first and foremost known for his raw power. No back in the league today broke tackles like he did. A stubborn refusal to go down. At the same time the underestimated part of his style that fits Howard the most is his decisiveness. Lynch basically picked a lane and went. He didn’t spend much time contemplating or dancing.
Jackson might be an even better comparison. Though he was never the fastest runner, the former Buffalo Bills star had terrific vision. He saw where the holes were and didn’t waste time getting to them. You’d often see him gash defenses for big plays but had few home runs. That sounds like Howard in a nutshell.
Jackson may not be as revered as Lynch, but he was a tremendous back for a long time. In fact he went for over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in five of six seasons from 2009 to 2014. This included 1,300 in 2011 despite playing in just 10 games. In the end Howard playing like him and Lynch isn’t a bad thing, but it doesn’t mean he’ll mirror their careers.
His course will be charted in a different direction. Bears fans can only hope it will be a good one. One thing is for sure. It should be a fun ride.
