New York Jets: Player evaluations at Quarterback and Running Back
Matt Forte
FINAL STATS: 103 RUSHES, 381 YARDS, TWO TOUCHDOWNS, 3.7 YARDS PER CARRY; 37 RECEPTIONS, 293 YARDS, ONE TOUCHDOWN
In one sense, we have to give Matt Forte a lot of credit for being a warrior. He was so banged up this year he said that he played essentially on one leg for most of the year. Forte has had a memorable career. He has been a dual threat for his entire career. Keeping himself out on the field despite being hurt is the mark of a leader. He has been a good influence on young players and for that, he deserves credit.
But if we are evaluating the play on the field, it just hasn’t been that good. 2016 was just a continuing of his statistical trip down the 30+ years old mountain, and 2017 continued that trend and then some. 77 yards was Forte’s highest output on the ground in 2017. The offensive line wasn’t good, but Forte didn’t help. To be honest, much of the year he ran as if he had cement inside his cleats. 3.7 yards per carry is not good enough.
Forte did post 37 receptions which isn’t terrible for a back of his age. It’s not what he used to do but it isn’t bad. He wants to continue his career, but it seems like he is not much more than a third down back at this point. Forte just doesn’t have the speed he did as a member of the Chicago Bears, and the speed is just too slow to carry the ball on every down. He could help catching passes out of the backfield. The Jets just don’t need him anymore.