It’s often hard to find highlights during a 5-11 season but the Chicago Bears got a rare exception. This was due in large part to the arrival of Tarik Cohen. Absolutely nobody knew who he was when his name was called in the fourth round of the draft. They just learned that he came from North Carolina A&T, was a running back and stood a very short 5’6″.
Immediately experts stated that he would draw inevitable comparison to four-time Pro Bowler Darren Sproles. Not just because they’re the same height but also exhibit similar traits from the quickness to speed, agility and remarkable playmaking skill. There were plenty of skeptics. Sproles was such a rare oddity who’d never been seen before. It was hard to accept that Chicago may have found somebody who could be just as good.
Always one to embrace a challenge, Cohen set about making them believers. He became the Swiss army knife of the Bears offense, doing little bits of everything. Every week it seemed like he’d deliver a memorable highlight. This week it’s as a running back. Next week it’s as a receiver. Then for good measure, he’ll throw in a big punt return. He did it all.
Yet when Sproles was asked about his young doppelganger, he seemed unimpressed.
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Sproles believes Bears should’ve gotten more from Tarik Cohen
Mind you it had nothing to do with Cohen himself. Sproles was more disappointed with how the Bears coaches utilized him for most of 2017. During an interview at the Super Bowl opening night, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune learned that he believes they didn’t do the best job of maximizing what Cohen does best.
“Quick, fast,” Sproles said Monday during Super Bowl LII’s Opening Night at the Xcel Center. “I think they have to put him in space a little bit more though. Like, they’ve really got to move him around, create mismatches for him…
…I think with the new coach (Matt Nagy) though, I think they might use him a little bit different, move him around,” Sproles said. “They should watch New Orleans film. Watch some of that film. They’ve got to put him in spots like they did with Alvin Kamara.”
It seems rather funny he should mention that. Recently a photo surfaced online of Nagy and GM Ryan Pace on a flight. It shows Nagy appearing to watch game film on a tablet while holding the bridge of his nose as if staving off a headache. One can imagine he was likely watching how previous offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was conducting the offense. Loggains was criticised almost constantly this season for his lack of imagination.
Sitting on bird next to Bears GM Ryan Pace and Coach Nagy, he does look happy watching Bear film. We know the feeling,told them we need that #3 from Bama! Seniorbowlbound @CalvinRidley1 @wscr @seccountryBama@ClayTravis @Marq_Burnett crimsontideFam pic.twitter.com/PTS3f6lxDc
— JD #63 (@Darny99) January 22, 2018
Nagy and Mark Helfrich already have blueprint for how to use Cohen
The good news is Nagy and his right-hand man Mark Helfrich actually specialize in this field. One of the biggest concepts of both the West Coast and spread schemes is taking versatile players like Cohen and finding matchups where they get in space. Nagy did plenty of that down in Kansas City with Tyreek Hill. Helfrich did the same for years at Oregon with the likes of LaMichael James and De’Anthony Thomas.
Nagy lined Hill up everywhere from outside to the slot and even in the backfield. He’d put him in motion on reverses too, both to run one and as a decoy. Defenses had no choice but to respect the moves because Hill was proven so dangerous with the ball in his hands. That is the same threat Cohen poses too. It stands to reason he’ll have his own special package when the 2018 season begins.
