Chicago Bears Rumors: Undrafted Rookie Running Back Michael Ford Has Legitimate Shot to Make Roster

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Chicago Bears Rumors: Undrafted Rookie Running Back Michael Ford Has Legitimate Shot to Make Roster
August 16, 2013 9:31 pm EDT by Ryan Heckman

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Last summer, the Chicago Bears had a fierce battle going for their third string running back spot throughout training camp and the preseason. Ultimately, Armando Allen beat out Lorenzo Booker for the job. Oddly enough, the Bears find themselves in the same position this year and Allen could be in danger of getting cut.
The Bears signed undrafted rookie running back Michael Ford out of LSU and brought him to the rookie minicamp back in May. Throughout training camp the last couple of weeks, Ford has performed very well and is making some question why he went undrafted.
The former Tiger only rushed 71 times in his final season for a total of 392 yards and three touchdowns, but with that big 5.5 yards-per-carry average he was definitely a guy worth being in an NFL camp.
In fact, throughout his three year college career he averaged a healthy number of yards per carry each season, with last year actually being the lowest. In both his first two years, he put up 6.0 yards per carry — an undeniably good mark.
So far, the Bears have played two preseason games against the Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers. Both games, Ford played well — really well. In his most recent performance against the Chargers, Ford did it all.
During a second half kickoff, Ford took the return all the way down inside the 10-yard line before being stopped short of a touchdown. The 5’9”, 210 pound back simply ran out of gas but showed some underrated speed and broke free from tackle on his way to one of the biggest plays of the game — a 100 yard return.
Ford got plenty of run as the primary back in the second half and boy did he run hard. He may have only wound up with 28 yards on 15 carries, but he displayed plenty of tenacity. Every single carry he took, Ford rant with authority. In a game where Allen sat out, Ford may have jumped ahead of him on the depth chart and could wind up getting himself a spot on the final roster because of his stellar special teams play.
Bears fans have loved watching this kid in camp so far and he looks to be a diamond in the rough. Not many times do you find a guy who never hit the 1,000 yard mark in college looking to make an NFL roster. Well, there’s a first time for everything and Ford is giving this opportunity everything he’s got.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for RantSports.com.

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I have been impressed with Ford in the pre season. Wish he could have scored on that return. Hope he makes the cut he has earned it.

 

The Bears would be dumb to cut him because he's immediately get scooped up by another team.

 

Like the New Orleans franchise.

 

The author acts like he doesn't realize that Ford made the cover of Sports Illustrated and was #2 on the LSU team in all-purpose yards over the last year (970 yds) and over the last two years (1,736 yds), only behind OBJ (1112 yds / 1803 yds)

 

You look at the LSU RB's as of late, Les and Frank use a bunch of guys. The thing many Pro Coaches/Scouts say is that the LSU RB's still have a ton of tread on the tires, they don't have the wear and tear. Look at what Ridley, Ware and Ford has done early.

If they have good years, you could see three RB's on this years team in Pro camps next year, Blue is a Sr, Hilliard has dropped a few pounds and looks lighter on his feet, a year with Cam helps out. I think this is right, Hill is one that could come out before his Jr. year, like Brockers did a few years ago.

 

I don't look for much from J. Hill 2013. He's got issues.

 

Yep, but we'll see. Much like TM, football keeps him more inline.

 

I totally forgot about Ford in the draft and when I heard the announcers during the game say he was an undrafted rookie, I was shocked. He is a very good running back and simply got passed up by younger RB's at LSU in his last season. He is a big & hard (insert "that's what she said" joke) running RB.

I was surprised he wasn't drafted. It seems if you needed a backup running back you would've seen tape from last season and previous seasons to see his power and prowess at RB. Seems like the Bears got a steal of a deal. He is very similar to Riddley in his style of running, except shiftier IMO. Look what Riddley has done.

 

Ford was one of those guys that I always thought should have had more touches during his career. He was deceptively fast towards the sidelines. He never had much of a chance to run between the tackles, which may have been from having Ware, Hilliard, and Hill to fill that role.