Emma: Bears Can Count On Jeremy Langford
By Chris Emma--
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- Being drafted in the fourth round creates relative uncertainty for an NFL future. There are no guarantees and nothing promised to a player picked in the middle or late rounds of a draft.
From his first day with the Bears, running back Jeremy Langford embraced his opportunity. He was added to a roster that boasts one of the NFL's best running backs in Matt Forte and entered a crowded depth chart, but none of those challenges mattered. He was willing to earn his place in Chicago.
Langford will move into the 2016 with potential to be the Bears' starting running back, with questions of Forte's future looming with his contract set to expire. Langford views it the same way as his rookie season.
"Whatever role they put me in, I feel like I can do my best to step up in that role," Langford said. "For me, it's about winning games. Whatever I got to do to win games and be successful in the NFL, I'm going to do it."
Ever since Langford got to Chicago, he's had the guidance of Forte to take him through the daily grind of an NFL season -- from training camp on through these final weeks of playing for pride. Forte has groomed his potential replacement for a successful professional career.
Langford has rushed for 523 yards and six touchdowns while adding 22 catches for 279 yards and a score in the first 15 games. Moving forward, he hopes to be more consistent with his hands and improve his yards-per-carry mark to a stronger place. Still, Langford has impressed as a rookie, serving as the feature back for three games while Forte recovered from an injury. He has since been worked into a steady rotation.
The bond between Langford and Forte has gone a long way for the Bears. While Langford doesn't like to look past each week, he's able to reflect on what Forte has meant for him.
"I was truly blessed to be in a situation playing behind a player like that who really helped me out a lot, as a veteran player who's been doing it for a long time," Langford said of Forte. "I feel like I'm really blessed. I can't explain how happy I am to be here."
Feelings like these are mutual for Forte, too, who has spoken highly of Langford. He can appreciate the rookie's work ethic and willingness to be taught. Forte was drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft, rising from the relative unknown in a stellar career at Tulane to becoming one of the NFL's premier running backs.
Forte has expressed no plans to retire this season, but he's certainly aware of that his future in Chicago could be coming to an end.
"Do I want to come back? Yes," Forte said. "That would be ideal for me, but that doesn't always happen in this business.
"There's not much to hope for right now. I've talked to them earlier, and they haven't said anything back."
The Bears are certainly prepared to move forward at running back with Langford and second-year pro Ka'Deem Carey, who has emerged as a short-yardage threat for Adam Gase's offense. The young backs put around Forte offer stability for the years ahead. These are all questions for Bears general manager Ryan Pace, the man who will make these decisions.
Inside the locker room, Langford is among many Bears with promise to make an impact in the seasons to come. How that pans out will be decided by coach John Fox and the Chicago front office.
What Langford learned in his rookie season reflects the demeanor of the man he learned from -- and could soon replace. There's a lot of Forte instilled in Langford.
"Really, play every game like it's your last," Langford said. "Don't take the NFL for granted. You never know what could happen."
Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.