The Chicago Bears seem to be in the market for running back help. Whether it’s to find a better fit for the Matt Nagy system than Jordan Howard or simply better depth than Taquan Mizzell? They won’t say. It’s apparent though that they have an interest in adding more firepower to that position. Whatever it takes to make the offense more effective.
What people can’t seem to agree on is who they might actually target coming out of this 2019 draft class. There aren’t any star power names in the group, and it wouldn’t matter if there were. The Bears have no 1st or 2nd round picks anyway. They need to do homework on the back who might be available in the 3rd round or later.
In order to determine certain names that they might target, a useful tool might be the scouting combine. Running backs just finished their drills during the first day of action. This provides useful data for determining which names might fit that “Pace profile.” In order to figure it out, it’s first important to note those he’s drafted before and what, if anything, they might have in common.
Jeremy Langford (Michigan State)
- 4.42 seconds in 40-yard dash
- 34.5-inch vertical jump
- 118-inch broad jump
- 7.22-second 3-cone drill
- 4.32-second 20-yard shuttle
Jordan Howard (Indiana)
- 4.57 seconds in 40-yard dash
- 34.0-inch vertical jump
- 16 reps on bench press
- 122-inch broad jump
Tarik Cohen (North Carolina A&T)
- 4.42 seconds in 40-yard dash
- 31.5-inch vertical jump
- 11 reps on bench press
- 118-inch broad jump
A few takeaways. Obviously, the bench press means nothing in this sense, as does the cone and shuttle runs. Based on the data, the similarities can be drawn with the dash times and the jump drills. Howard and Langford had nearly identical vertical jumps. Cohen was three inches shorter but it’s important to remember he’s 5’6. His broad jump and 40 times were also almost right in line with Langford.
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It’s apparent that Pace seems to prioritize lower body strength in his running backs. Not just in terms of speed but also explosiveness. Keep in mind that Howard was 230 lbs. His 4.57 time was actually the 13-fastest among 36 running backs equal to or over that weight since 2010. Faster than Le’Veon Bell, James Conner, and LeGarrette Blount.
So who among the 2019 class of running backs fall into this strike zone?
Miles Sanders and Darrell Henderson showcase the same traits Pace covets
There were names who may have run faster or jumped higher in this class, but the two names that stood out in the three key drills mentioned above are Miles Sanders of Penn State and Darrell Henderson of Memphis. Not only did their scores match up, but they also have the added necessity of being north of 200 lbs, something else the Bears key on.
Sanders:
- 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash
- 36-inch vertical jump
- 124-inch broad jump
Henderson:
- 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash
- 33.5-inch vertical jump
- 121-inch broad jump
Sanders was the heir apparent to Saquon Barkley in 2018. Not easy shoes to fill, yet he did so with aplomb. He finished with 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns despite running behind an average offensive line. Henderson was among the most explosive runners in college football. He had 1,909 yards and 22 touchdowns on just 214 carries. Both also have the added necessity of being able to catch the ball.
Speed (for their sizes) and lower body strength. There will be other options, but the two names that seem to fit the criteria best are them. Whether they’ll be around when the Bears finally go on the clock? That’s what Pace and his staff are likely to wonder.
